Top 5 Digital Cameras Under $300

PowerShot cameras traditionally have been strong models that provide a good value, and Canon's SD780 follows that formula. The SD780's 2.5-inch LCD is very sharp and bright, which is handy because it's the only viewfinder. With 12.1 megapixels of resolution, this camera will meet the needs of any consumer-level photographer. The SD780 offers plenty of shooting modes and photo effects, which will appeal to a variety of photographers. With models available in black, gold, silver, and red, you have plenty of stylish choices.

If standard-looking, black digital cameras don't appeal to your stylish side, you'll want to skip the Coolpix L100 from Nikon. If you're more interested in shooting power, though, the L100's 15X optical zoom lens offers a lot of versatility in a sub-$300 package. You'll find 10.0 megapixels of resolution with this model, which lags behind some models in this price range, but which should be plenty of resolution for most photographers. The L100's 3.0-inch LCD is big and bright. The L100 even offers some wide-angle capabilities with its built-in lens, increasing its versatility. It runs from four AA batteries, which makes it a bulky model at 3.0 inches in thickness. Is it stylish? No. Is it versatile and powerful? Yes.

If a company includes the word tough in the name of its digital camera, it had better live up to that billing. Olympus' Stylus Tough-6000 does exactly that. It's a sturdy, well-built model that can survive tough weather conditions, underwater photography, and a fall from up to 5 feet. Such features aren't commonly found in a sub-$300 camera, so the Tough-6000 excels in those areas. However, as a trade-off, it offers only 10.0 megapixels of resolution, a 3.6X optical zoom lens, and a 2.7-inch LCD, all of which are slightly behind some other models in this price range. Still, this model's toughness makes it a great choice for a sub-$300 camera. (If you'd like a few more features in a Stylus Tough camera, check the Stylus Tough-8000 review.)

The first thing you'll notice about the Sony Cyber-shot T90 digital camera is that it doesn't look like any other sub-$300 camera. The front panel of the T90 is almost all a solid color (black, light blue, pink, bronze, or silver), only marked by a small 4X optical zoom lens in the corner that does not extend beyond the camera body. It is an ultra compact model and measures only 0.59 inches in thickness, which is an amazingly small number. With 12.1 megapixels of resolution, it can create very large prints. Finally, the T90's 3.0-inch, touch-screen LCD is a great feature. This camera is definitely one of the coolest models out there in this price range.

Looking at the HZ10W camera from Samsung, you see a basic black, rectangular camera. It's what's on the inside that counts with this model, though. You'll find a 10X optical zoom lens with the HZ10W, which is a handy feature. Even with its large zoom lens, it measures only 1.44 inches in thickness. With 10.2 megapixels of resolution, this model can make large prints. Its 2.7-inch LCD is bright and sharp. Finally, the HZ10W offers many manual-control features, which gives you more control over your photos than you'll find in most sub-$300 cameras. (For a slightly less expensive Samsung model, click through to see information on the L210.)