As you start getting into the $400s on the pricetag, a lot of great features get added. There is typically more manual control, and zoom lenses get more powerful. The megapixels creep up higher. Here are the top digital cameras for less than $500.
1. Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera
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The impressive G-series of prosumer Canon cameras deliver amazing results in this price range. The 12.1-megapixel G9 offers JPEG or RAW image modes, an optical viewfinder, face detection, and a cool face selector button to choose which person to focus on. It also feature a 9-point autofocus, and produces dazzling images.
2. Olympus SP-560 UZ Digital Camera
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Wow! An 18x optical zoom (27-486 mm equivalent) makes this camera especially powerful for photography enthusiasts who like to get close-up. There are few point-and-shoot cameras that are this compact and inexpensive with such a rich list of features. You get 8 megapixels, dual image stabilization, face detection and the ability to shoot bursts of 15 frames per second.
3. Sony DSC-H9 Digital Camera
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This 8.1 megapixel digital camera offers a great value in the low $400-something price range. The 15x optical zoom lens is one of its best selling points, but it also features a nice sports mode for capturing action shots and a cool Nightshot Infrared System for shooting after dark. There are also some advanced features like manual control over exposure and focus.
4. Canon Powershot S5 IS Digital Camera
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This 8-megapixel digital camera is the ideal choice for those who want both high quality photos and great video options in one unit. The 12x optical zoom allows for some nice close-ups, and you can choose between 22 shooting modes and nine special scene modes. For video, you can shoot up to an hour or 4 GB up to 60 frames per second.
