College will give you a wealth of photo opportunities, from stealth shots of your roommate drooling on a pillow to your best friend’s tabletop performance of Soulja Boy at the last dorm party.
If you’re still on the search for the right digicam to help you memorialize your college years and blackmail your friends, we might be able to help you narrow down your choices.
We’ve already done the research for you: From affordable pocket-sized point-and-shoot options to a pricier entry-level DSLR, here’s a side-by-side comparison of five digital cameras that deliver the most for your money.
The biggest drawback to the L12 is its plodding speed: It takes 2.5 seconds to power on and capture its first image, and averages about 2.4 seconds between shots with the flash off.
And once you use the flash, you’ll have to wait an interminable 8.6 seconds for the cam to reset, during which the screen blanks out, preventing you from checking out your photo or even changing settings like disabling the flash so you can take another picture.
On the plus side, the L12 is one of the least expensive 7-megapixel digital cameras out there with optical image stabilization.
There are some distortion issues with the wide-angle zoom, and you don’t have a lot of manual exposure controls. But overall, as a point-and-shoot camera, the L12 is reliable, compact, very easy to use, and all you’ll need to power it are a pair of common AA batteries.
| MSRP* |
$179.95 |
| Megapixels |
7.1 |
| Zoom |
3.0X optical |
| LCD |
2.5 in |
| Weight |
4.4 oz |
| Battery Type |
2 AA |
| Battery Life |
150 shots (alkaline), 600 shots (lithium), or 370 shots (EN-MH1) |
| Color |
Silver, Black |
| Special Features |
In-camera red-eye fix and D-lighting, which rescues dark images by improving brightness |
| Debut Date |
March 2007 |
In some respects, this camera, named Amazon’s best-selling electronic product of 2007, is the Canon version of the Nikon L12.
Like the L12, the A570 IS runs on AA batteries and shoots slow with the flash on — although even at a crawl of about 4.82 seconds between shots, the A570 IS is still only about half as slow as the L12.
The A570 IS boasts a 4X optical zoom lens, better than the L12 3X lens, which is typical for this class of cameras, and unlike the L12, it has an optical viewfinder.
The auto mode makes the A570 IS a great point-and-shoot option, but with a full set of manual exposure controls, this camera also gives you some of the versatility of a higher-end DSLR at a fraction of the price.
| MSRP* |
$179.99 |
| Megapixels |
7.1 |
| Zoom |
4.0X optical / 4X digital |
| LCD |
2.5 in |
| Weight |
6.2 oz |
| Battery Type |
2 AA |
| Battery Life |
400 shots |
| Color |
Silver |
| Special Features |
Three focus types: auto, macro and manual. In-camera red-eye correction and ability to attach sound memos. |
| Debut Date |
March 2007 |
Some reviewers have found the H3 design slightly boxy and awkward, but if you’re looking for portability in a superzoom camera, the H3’s small body will fit easily in a jacket pocket.
And if you’re the always-on-the-go type, the H3 allows you to “hot swap” — change memory cards with the camera up and running — while Sony’s Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization will help compensate for a few hand jitters.
The H3 also gives you the flexibility of a full manual mode in a powerful point-and-shoot camera, although it lacks shutter and aperture priority modes.
| MSRP* |
$249.99 |
| Megapixels |
8.1 |
| Zoom |
10.0X optical |
| LCD |
2.5 in |
| Weight |
10.3 oz |
| Battery Type |
Rechargeable NP-BG1 lithium-ion (battery pack and charger included) |
| Battery Life |
330 shots |
| Color |
Silver, Black |
| Special Features |
Pro-quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lens. Face Detection technology can recognize and autofocus on up to eight faces in a frame. |
| Debut Date |
September 2007 |
There’s no optical viewfinder on the SD870 IS, but Canon tries to compensate with a larger 3.0-inch LCD screen that takes up nearly the entire backside of the camera.
While extremely user-friendly, the SD870 IS has no manual exposure controls, so what you’re getting here is a high-end point-and-shoot. But be warned: With the weak flash, characteristic of many compact digitals, shots from more than 10 feet away will be left in the dark.
Key features on the back panel, including a touch-sensitive click wheel, make for quick and easy navigation during both shooting and playback modes. And the stand-alone playback button is especially convenient if you’re a frequent photo reviewer.
| MSRP* |
$349.99 |
| Megapixels |
8.0 |
| Zoom |
3.8X optical / 4.0X digital |
| LCD |
3.0 in |
| Weight |
6.3 oz |
| Battery Type |
Rechargeable NB-5L lithium-ion (battery pack and charger included) |
| Battery Life |
270 shots |
| Color |
Silver, Black |
| Special Features |
Advanced Face Detection technology can pick out and autofocus on up to nine faces in a frame |
| Debut Date |
September 2007 |
If you want to venture away from the point-and-shoots but you’re not sure you’re ready for the complexities of a full-on DSLR, the Nikon D40 is a great transition camera. You can start off in the auto modes — the D40 takes high-quality pictures right out of the box — and progress to the manual exposure modes as you get more comfortable.
One of the smallest and lightest of Nikon’s DSLRs, the D40 offers DSLR newbies the flexibility of a full array of creative options without being too overwhelming. The camera has an easy-to-use interface and includes plenty of guidance and help features to walk you through figuring out which setting does what.
The D40 does have a couple drawbacks: Most setting changes aren’t one-touch, requiring you to navigate through the settings menu, and the autofocus can lag a second or two when you’re switching between a nearby and far-off subject. But these will be issues more for experienced DSLR users than beginners.
| MSRP* |
$599.95 |
| Megapixels |
6.1 |
| Zoom |
3.0X optical with the 18–55 mm lens kit |
| LCD |
2.5 in |
| Weight |
16.8 oz |
| Battery Type |
Rechargeable EN-EL9 lithium-ion (battery pack and charger included) |
| Battery Life |
470 shots |
| Color |
Black |
| Special Features |
Multiple in-camera editing capabilities: apply D-lighting, correct red-eye, trim images, create a monochrome (B&W, sepia, cyanotype), apply filter effects, use image overlay to combine two RAW images |
| Debut Date |
December 2006 |
Not sure if you should spring for a DSLR or stick with a more affordable point-and-shoot? Check out these articles on DigitalPhotographySchool.com and The Tech Lounge for a run-down of the pros and cons of both types of digicams:
* Manufacturer suggested retail prices as of February 18, 2008.