Best Budget Cameras

Best cheap digital cameras under $250

If you want the best camera under $250, experts say the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 (*Est. $220) is it. "It's hard to imagine how the Sony engineers pulled this one off," say testers at DigitalCamera-HQ.com. It's extraordinarily tiny -- little bigger than a business card and less than 9/10ths of an inch thick -- and it easily outclasses all other cheap cameras.

Most cheap cameras are slow, with paltry zooms and mediocre photos and videos. Not the Sony WX150. It starts up nearly instantly and shoots up to 10 frames per second -- far faster than other pocket cams -- with almost no shutter lag or dead time between shots.

Its 18-megapixel photos look great, even in dim light -- a rare feat among cheap cameras, which usually leave indoor shots grainy or smeary-looking. HD video (1080i) looks fantastic, "on par with an entry-level video camera," says Joshua Goldman at CNET. "If you'd like a single device for capturing good photos and videos, this is one of the better options available."

The 10x zoom is impressive; rivals usually top out at 5x. The Sony is crammed with features, too, including 3D and panoramic modes. Finally, testers say it's incredibly simple to use -- a true point-and-shoot.

"Any casual, novice, or otherwise easy-going photographer should be pretty happy with this in their pocket or purse," says Liam McCabe at DigitalCameraInfo.com.

One runner-up might suit you better, though, if you're big on shooting self-portraits and posting them online. The Samsung DV300F (*Est. $175) has an extra little LCD screen on the front (so you can snap your own photo without cutting your head off) and built-in Wi-Fi for instant sharing. It's slow, though, with only a 5x zoom, and photos and videos look OK -- so unless you really need the front screen and Wi-Fi, stick with the Sony.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 (*Est. $155) packs a 10x zoom for less -- we found it at major retailers from $130 to $180. It's a step down from the Sony in almost every way: It's a little slower, with a few less features, and photos and videos don't look quite as nice. But for the price, experts and owners are very satisfied.

Other cheap cameras just can't compete with the Sony. The Samsung MV800 (*Est. $230) is a lot like the Samsung DV300F, only it substitutes a swiveling touch screen, drops Wi-Fi -- and costs about $50 more.

Canon usually dominates the cheap-camera category, and a few reliable experts do recommend the Canon PowerShot Elph 110 HS (*Est. $180) -- but none of them has tested the Sony WX150. When experts do test both cameras, the Canon's got nothing on the Sony: It's slower, zooms shorter, has fewer features and shoots worse photos and video.