As the holiday season approaches, one tool you may find helpful for finding just the right camera gift at just the right price to fit your budget is my list of the best cameras at various price points.

I recently compiled a new list: The best inexpensive cameras under $250, which includes the Kodak EasyShare Z950 (pictured here).

Some sub-$250 cameras lack in one particular area versus $300 and $400 models -- such as the Casio Exilim EX-S12's 3X optical zoom lens -- but the sub-$250 cameras still have a very nice collection of all-around features. The EX-S12, for example, includes 12.1 megapixels of resolution and measures only 0.58 inches in thickness.

I even found one sub-$250 camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 that can be purchased with an underwater housing ... a feature that isn't found with many cameras that are more expensive.

Whether you want to emphasize style or substance, these sub-$250 cameras should make very nice holiday gifts.

Photo courtesy Kodak

Those who want the flexibility of a DSLR camera but the small size of a point and shoot camera will want to take a close took at the latest slim DSLR camera from Panasonic.

The Lumix DMC-GF1 camera is small and lightweight, and it contains a built-in flash, which makes it far different than most DSLR cameras. However, with its interchangeable lenses, the DMC-GF1 carries the flexibility that advanced photographers want. This model, like other Lumix G cameras, does not use a pentaprism mirror, as do most DSLR cameras.

Several automatic features are included with the DMC-GF1, which should make less experienced photographers a little more comfortable with this camera. You can shoot HD video with this model, reviewing your shots on a 3.0-inch LCD. Look for the DMC-GF1 to ship with one lens for about $900. (Compare Prices)

Photo courtesy Panasonic

2009 has been a very good year for digital cameras, with plenty of innovations. As they have for several years, prices continue to drop, giving photographers more value for their dollars.

Having had a chance to fully test and review dozens of cameras during the year, and having had a chance to informally test and consider several more models, here are some of the best cameras I've seen during 2009.

• Samsung DualView TL225 (about $300-$350). The DualView TL225 (pictured here) will turn heads of your friends and neighbors, thanks to its LCD screens on both the front and back. Unlike some cameras that look really great but have no power, the TL225 carries several strong and easy-to-use photography features, too.

• Nikon D5000 DSLR (about $600-$750). Few entry-level DSLR cameras can match the features and performance level of the D5000.

• GE A1250 (about $90-$150). The A1250 is probably my favorite low-priced, budget camera that was released in 2009. It provides a lot of value for your dollar.

• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 (about $240-$300). If you want a cool design in your camera, the T90 is a great option, thanks to its unique look and touch screen LCD.

If you want to find some of the best cameras for 2009 that give you good value for your dollar, there are some great options in my best cameras for under $300 list.

Hopefully the 2010 list of camera models will feature as many innovations and great deals as the best cameras for 2009!

Photo courtesy Samsung

A big zoom lens plus a small camera body equals a pretty solid camera model, as my review of the Casio Exilim EX-H10 camera shows.

The EX-H10 is one of those point and shoot cameras that you don't see every day. It includes a 10X optical zoom lens that also includes some wide angle options. Few sub-$300 cameras can provide such a wide range of telephoto and wide angle capabilities.

The EX-H10 does have a few drawbacks, especially in its low-light shooting performance, but its very strong lens means it deserves to be on the short list for photographers looking for a big zoom lens in a small camera body.

Photo courtesy Casio

Digital cameras from Kodak, Samsung, and Sony were among the top 10 consumer products purchased on "Cyber Monday," according statistics from a credit card processing company.

The company, Retail Decisions, did not list specific models of cameras that were the most popular. However, Retail Decisions said that Kodak's cameras were second in popularity in Cyber Monday sales, behind a GPS navigation system from TomTom. Sony's digital cameras ranked fifth, while Samsung's cameras were 10th.

Cyber Monday refers to one of the busiest days for holiday sales from Internet retailers, which is the Monday after Thanksgiving. Retail Decisions estimated U.S. online sales on Cyber Monday 2009 were $2.2 billion, a 35% increase from 2008.

For comparison, Retail Decisions says Black Friday's U.S. online sales -- the Friday after Thanksgiving -- reached a record $3.1 billion this year, a 52% increase from 2008.

If you missed Cyber Monday and still need some camera gift ideas, try reading my 2009 holiday camera gift guide.

The CES has named the Olympus E-Pen 1 DSLR camera a 2010 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree. The E-Pen 1 is the first Micro Four Thirds system camera from Olympus.

A panel of independent designers, engineers, and members of the media select the award winners. The E-Pen 1 and the other award winners will be on display during 2010 International CES, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas.

The E-Pen 1 is available for purchase now, at a price of about $800-$900 with a starter lens. (Compare Prices) Olympus recently announced the successor to the E-Pen 1, called the E-Pen 2, which will be available in December.

Photo courtesy Olympus

If you're interested in underwater photography, take a few minutes to check out a new Web site from Fujifilm, called the FinePix Lagoon.

Much of the site's information is geared toward FinePix cameras and toward photographers who already own Fujifilm photography equipment, but you'll also find some tips for shooting underwater photos. Most of the tips at the site are aimed at those new to underwater photography.

For additional tips on underwater photography equipment, take a look at my Best Underwater Cameras and Accessories article.

Screen shot courtesy Fujifilm

Panasonic's Lumix FP8 point and shoot camera might not match up with other cameras in the sub-$300 price range in terms of LCD size (2.7 inches), but it excels in a couple of other key areas.

My Panasonic FP8 review shows a stylish looking camera with excellent response times and image quality. In fact, few point and shoot models can match the FP8's strong response times.

A slightly lower starting price (Compare Prices) than the FP8's $299 MSRP would be nice, but the FP8 is still a strong enough beginner camera to make my list of the best digital cameras under $300.

Photo courtesy Panasonic

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