Best Advanced Cameras Under a $500 Budget

The Canon EOS Rebel XS is the manufacturer's cheapest DSLR camera, and it is very much aimed as a "first DSLR" camera for photographers looking to advance beyond the typical point and shoot.

It's $200 cheaper than Canon's next step up camera, the Rebel T2i, and it lacks some of the features that makes the T2i such a good camera. The XS includes 10.1 megapixels of resolution with a CMOS image sensor and a 2.5-inch LCD. It has no movie mode.

The Rebel XS is a slightly older DSLR model, which makes it pretty inexpensive compared to other DSLRs, and which makes it one of the best entry-level DSLRs.

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Canon's G-series cameras have always brought high-end features to point and shoot cameras, and Canon's latest G-series model -- the PowerShot G12 -- continues that tradition.

Canon has included a technology it calls a "High Sensitivity (HS) System" that allows the PowerShot G12 to excel in low-light shooting conditions and to reduce noise at high ISO settings. The HS system includes a 10 megapixel high-sensitivity CCD image sensor. The G12 is the first G-series camera to shoot 720p HD video.

Ultra-zoom cameras are extremely popular entering this holiday season, including the Panasonic FZ150, the Fujifilm HS20EXR, and the Nikon P500. Add another strong camera with a big zoom lens to the mix in the recently announced Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, which has a 35X optical zoom lens.

The SX40 HS also includes a 12.1MP CMOS image sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD that rotates away from the camera, and full 1080p HD video. The PowerShot SX40 HS, which is only available in black, carries a reasonable price.

With a point and shoot camera that costs nearly $500, you'd expect top-of-the-line features and technologies, and Fujifilm attempts to deliver with its FinePix HS20EXR digital camera.

The HS20EXR makes use of the same CMOS EXR technology you'll find in the F500EXR camera. With the HS20EXR, you'll find 16 megapixels of resolution, a 3-inch high-resolution LCD, 1080p HD video, and a 30X optical zoom lens. The FinePix HS20EXR, which is called the HS22EXR in some parts of the world, is available in black only.

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Nikon's idea of including a built-in projector with some of its digital cameras is an interesting one. I had a chance to review the Coolpix S1100pj projector camera recently, and it was fun to use with some nice photographic features.

Nikon recently released its third-generation and latest projector camera, the Coolpix S1200pj. It offers 14.1 megapixels of resolution, a 5X optical zoom lens, a high-resolution 3.0-inch LCD, and the built-in projector with 20 lumens of brightness.

The Coolpix S1200pj is a thin camera body that's available in pink or black.

Olympus has created what it calls the world's smallest and lightest PEN camera, which, considering the history of the PEN family of cameras, makes it one of the smallest and lightest interchangeable lens cameras from any manufacturer. The PEN E-PM1 is a fun camera, and it may be the most colorful DIL camera, too, as Olympus is offering it in brown, black, pink, purple, white, or silver camera bodies.

The PEN E-PM1 offers some really nice features, too, including 12.3 megapixels of resolution with a CMOS image sensor, full 1080p HD video, and a 3.0-inch LCD. It measures only 1.33 inches in thickness (before you attach the lens) and it weighs only 7.65 ounces for the camera body. 

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For the first time, Olympus has included a built-in f/1.8-2.5 Zuiko lens with a compact camera with its award-winning Olympus XZ-1, and it should provide high-quality images. Additionally, the XZ-1 includes a larger CCD image sensor than you'll find with other compact cameras, which will improve performance in low light. These high-end features should give the XZ-1 improved performance and image quality.

With its larger, 1/1.63-inch image sensor, the XZ-1's 10 megapixels of resolution will still provide high-quality images. Additionally, the XZ-1 includes 720p HD video capabilities, a 3.0-inch OLED screen, and a 4X optical zoom. The XZ-1 is available now in either black or white.

A powerful 24X optical zoom lens highlights the Lumix DMC-FZ100 from Panasonic. Its high-speed shooting options -- 11 photos per second at a full 14.1 megapixels of resolution or 60 photos per second at 3.5 megapixels -- give the Lumix FZ100 some interesting features.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ150 is an extremely impressive ultra-zoom camera, offering a 24X optical zoom lens. Its image quality is outstanding, and the FZ150's autofocus is sharp and accurate.

As I found in my Panasonic Lumix FZ150 review, this camera works well for either beginner or intermediate photographers. It offers 12.1 megapixels of resolution, a 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD, and 1080p HD video.

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The Panasonic Lumix GF2 makes use of the Micro Four Thirds standard, meaning it uses interchangeable lenses, like a DSLR camera. However, because of its mirror-less design, it's not a DSLR. Panasonic calls the GF2 a DSLM (DSL micro), although DIL and EVIL are common acronyms, too.

The Lumix GF2 features a 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor, which combines the low power usage of a CMOS sensor with the image quality of a CCD sensor. You'll also find a 3.0-inch touch-screen LCD with the GF2.

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The recently released Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V camera is one of two new Sony cameras that include 27mm Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonar T* lenses (along with the HX9V).

The HX100V includes a 30X optical zoom lens, making it a very powerful compact camera. The HX100V also includes 16.2MP of resolution, full 1080p HD video capabilities, and a 3-inch high-resolution LCD screen that can swivel away from the camera.

In addition, the camera's back-illuminated CMOS image sensor is great for low-light photography and for high-speed autofocus. Finally, the HX100V includes 3D capabilities and "sweep panorama," which is great for creating panoramic photos.