Canon PowerShot SX110 IS

Reviews say the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS (*Est. $240) is a great budget-priced, ultra-zoom digital camera, even though it can't compete with the top-reviewed 18x Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 (*Est. $275) or 20x Canon PowerShot SX10 IS (*Est. $380). The 9-megapixel PowerShot SX110 IS lens is just a 10x zoom, with a focal range of 36 mm to 360 mm; the Lumix FZ28 and the PowerShot SX10 IS both have larger range and wider-angle lenses. Likewise, you can't zoom while shooting video, sound recording is limited to mono and shutter speed isn't as fast. Still, Lori Grunin of CNET says the SX110 has "first rate photo quality." With a full range of manual settings, the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS takes great shots, even though it lacks RAW image support. Image quality is very good at ISO 200 or lower and photos look sharp. The SX110 also has a large 3-inch LCD display, but no viewfinder.

The Canon PowerShot SX110 IS is more compact, affordable and user-friendly than its competitors. It's more than an inch narrower, and at 8.6 ounces weighs considerably less than the 19.8-ounce SX10 IS and 13.2-ounce FZ28. Reviews say versatility is the camera's strong point: the automatic modes make it easy enough for beginners to use, yet the generous palette of manual features makes it viable for more experienced shooters. Overall, it garners accolades for value. Most users posting at Amazon.com are extremely positive, though some complain about shutter speed and battery life.

CNET and ConsumerReports.org offer easy-to-digest reviews and clear ranking systems for comparing cameras. Longer, more technical coverage can be found at Imaging-Resource.com, Steves-Digicams.com and DigitalCameraReview.com. Most of the nearly 250 user reviews at Amazon.com help to reveal how the Canon PowerShot camera performs under a variety of conditions with different users.