Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3

Very few $100 digital cameras earn any recommendations at all from expert testers, but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 wins PCMag.com's cheap-camera comparison and impresses critics at PhotographyBlog.com, CNET (U.K.) and elsewhere. It boasts the same 14.3-megapixel image sensor you'll find on Panasonic cameras costing twice as much, and experts say it shows: Photos shot in bright light look great, although image noise, smearing and color loss make dim-light photos disappointing.

The lens extends from a wide-angle 28 mm -- good for group shots and landscapes -- out to 112 mm, a 4x optical zoom. Even though the camera weighs only about 4 ounces, experts say the optical image stabilizer keeps things steady. You can't use the optical zoom while shooting video, but that's par for the class. Critics are divided on the 720p HD video quality: PCMag.com and some other testers are impressed, but CNET (U.K.) finds motion looks "jerky" and "wobbly," with "unpredictable" colors and soft edges. And although we found no owner complaints about this camera's sturdiness, CNET (U.K.) cautions that the featherweight plastic body feels "like a toy." If you're looking for better image quality (including full 1080p HD video), reviewers recommend stepping up to the top-rated Canon PowerShot Elph 100 HS (*Est. $160) .

PCMag.com tests the Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 and compares it with seven other ultra-cheap cameras. ConsumerReports.org also tests and compares it with far more cameras in a ratings chart, but with very little written description of the camera or how it performed in the test. PhotographyBlog.com writes its usual thorough, test-based review of the DMC-S3, and CNET (U.K.) publishes a shorter but still complete review. Amazon.com isn't shy about posting negative owner reviews, but most owners like the DMC-S3.