Those looking for a mid-range DSLR camera heading into the holiday season will want to consider an interesting candidate from Canon that's now available in stores: The EOS 7D.

This Canon model has an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor sporting the latest technologies, including a 19-point autofocus system, high-end ISO settings (100 to 6,400) for low-light photography, full HD video capture at up to 30 frames per second, and a built-in dual-axis electronic level.

The EOS 7D starts at about $1,700 for the body only. (Compare Prices) Several accessories are available for the EOS 7D, too, including a wireless file transmitter (the WFT-E5A for about $700), which allows for remote photography, controlled over a laptop or smart phone. (Compare Prices)

Photo courtesy Canon

My recently published list of the best intermediate cameras for under $400 contains a nice mixture of models.

You'll find the very cool DualView TL225 from Samsung (pictured here), which offers LCD screens on both the front and the back of the camera. The Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 made the list, because it operates well in tough environmental conditions.

In addition, a few fixed-lens cameras fit in this price range, including the Nikon Coolpix P90, which carries a 24X optical zoom lens.

If you're looking to give a camera as a gift this holiday season, take a few minutes to look through all of my recently updated lists of the best cameras as various price points. You're sure to find a camera that will meet your needs as well as your budget.

Photo courtesy Samsung

The D5000 DSLR camera from Nikon has received rave reviews throughout 2009. I sure appreciated this model when I had a chance to post a D5000 review recently.

Add another favorable mark in the D5000's column.

The Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA) recently selected the D5000 as a winner of its DIWA Gold Award, thanks to what DIWA called "superior image quality, innovative functionality, and user friendliness." DIWA is a collaboration of product testing and review Web sites based in the United States and Europe, and it was established in 2003. Products that undergo testing and achieve the highest scores receive the Gold Award.

The D5000 made my 2009 camera holiday gift guide as a great DSLR gift option. Look for the D5000 to start at about $600 for the body only. Kits with interchangeable lenses start at about $750. (Compare Prices)

Photo courtesy Nikon

Don't let the Casio Exilim EX-G1 point and shoot camera's sleek looks fool you: The EX-G1 can handle rough photography environments, no matter how good it looks.

In introducing the EX-G1 today, Casio is also announcing a new line of "G" brand digital cameras, which Casio says will fit into an "endurance category" of cameras. Casio has a history with developing tough pieces of consumer electronics, such as watches and mobile phones, with the "G" designation.

The EX-G1 measures only 0.78 inches in thickness and is available in red (shown here) and black. It includes a shock-resistant technology that has shown in Casio testing to protect the camera from falls up to 7 feet. The EX-G1 can be used under up to 10 feet of water for up to an hour as well.

Look for the EX-G1 in stores in December for a price of about $300. It should provide a unique mix of style and toughness.

Photo courtesy Casio