Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS

Most reviewers consider the Canon PowerShot Elph 100 HS a great little camera for the money. Although the 100 HS is the entry-level model in Canon's Elph lineup, it offers full HD video (1080p with slow-motion recording) along with a 12-megapixel, high-sensitivity sensor that gives it more latitude in low light than most compacts. These are uncommon features in a sub-$200 camera and a key selling point for critics. Editors at Which? magazine say the HD video mode produces "commendable" picture and sound quality, while editors at Steves-Digicams.com say the low-light capabilities are "unmatched" among rivals.

The 100 HS has a 28mm wide-angle lens with 4x zoom, a 3-inch LCD (230,000 dots) and an HDMI port for TV playback (the cable costs extra, however). The compact, sturdy metal camera is easy to grip, but critics say the controls are cramped. Reviewers also say the camera's optical image stabilization is mediocre, and there's no optical viewfinder or optical zoom in video mode. However, the 100 HS produces good image quality overall and offers a trove of fun features, including creative filters, stitch panorama and in-camera editing. The total package earns the Canon PowerShot Elph 100 HS several Best Buy awards. You can get a longer 8x zoom with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25 (Discontinued) , or save some money with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 (Discontinued) , but neither of these can match the 100 HS's photo and video quality in reviews.

Technology and photo-enthusiast sites such as PCMag.com, Steves-Digicams.com and PhotographyBlog.com provide comprehensive reviews that compare the Canon PowerShot Elph 100 HS to class rivals. ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine offer brief evaluations based on rigorous tests, while plenty of users weigh in at Amazon.com.