Not everyone has the ability to be a professional photographer. Many people use cameras simply to capture memories or to create images that are not necessarily for artistic purposes. If this sounds like you then you obviously don't need to buy the most expensive camera on the market or a sophisticated camera that you will have to first learn how to operate in order to use. Fortunately, many of today's digital cameras come with automatic settings, basic lenses and simple scene modes that help you take wonderful pictures without all the fuss -- and they are reasonably priced. Below is a list of just such cameras that Consumer Guide has reviewed and recommended.


Nikon D40

The Nikon D40 is a beginner SLR (single-lens reflex) digital camera. For less than $600, the Nikon D40 can be purchased as a single camera or as a kit. The kit includes a rechargeable battery and a basic lens with zoom and wide-angle capabilities. In addition, other lenses will also fit well with this camera, and automatic mode, scene modes and manual settings are very handy for any beginner. There is little to no shutter lag and you can take the next picture within less than a second of the last shot. The downside to the D40 is that there is no focus motor in the camera itself, so if you prefer to have auto-focus capabilities, you must purchase a lens with that feature built into the lens. Also, remember to buy a memory card with this camera, as you will surely need it. But for the price, the quality and the kit, this camera is an excellent buy.

Nikon D40

Canon PowerShot A410 digital camera

The PowerShot A410 is a great little number -- one that anyone can use. It works well in indoor and outdoor lighting with 3.2 megapixels of resolution and a 3.2X optical zoom lens. Images come out sharp in different types of lighting and for close-ups. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable shot-to-shot lag when using the flash, especially for long distances. In some instances, we noticed a 7-second lag in between shots. Fortunately, the battery life makes up for this. We were able to take a few hundred photos with this camera on only two AA batteries. And the price is great: For about $100, the PowerShot A410 works well for everyday use by the beginner photographer.


Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55

If you're in the market for a digital camera that handles well, is fashionable and is available for a reasonable price, then you can consider the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 to be a bargain. For less than $200, the DSC-W55 offers 56MB of internal memory, simple point-and-shoot picture taking and 7.2 megapixels of resolution. In the right lighting conditions, images will come out sharp, but watch out for low lighting as this will affect image quality on just about any camera. As a bonus, add-on lenses are available for different purposes such as wide angles and zoom. The DSC-W55 comes in three stylish colors: black, silver, or pink and blue.


Olympus SP-500 UZ (UltraZoom) digital camera

Thinner is not always better. Despite that many digital cameras are made to be thin, the Olympus SP-500 UZ is about the size of a traditional 35mm camera that aims for quality photos at a reasonable price of $350. At 2.8 inches, this camera doesn't fit in most pockets. However, it definitely has its perks. The SP-500 UZ has a 10X optical zoom lens with a megapixel resolution of 6.0. Image quality is good, except for some shaking when in extreme zoom. This is a point-and-shoot camera that has a lag of 2 to 4 seconds between shots, and a 2-second shutter lag. You can actually edit photos on the camera, which makes printing directly from the camera even more of a perk.


Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

It's not easy to find a thin camera with a 10X optical zoom lens. Fortunately, there exists the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. At 1.58 inches of thickness, this camera is small for its capabilities. This is classified as a beginner camera because it lacks manual-setting features. You need not worry about changing settings for each new place you take a picture. Image quality appears decent with a 5.0 megapixels of resolution, especially for outdoor photos. Unfortunately, the built-in flash does not do the camera justice. Images appear noisy in low light without the flash, and any other photos taken with the flash appear to be just okay. Luckily, the Lumix DMC-TZ1 comes with image stabilization technology (IS), which reduces shake and blur. This camera is available for less than $300 in the color of silver or black.

Kodak Easyshare C533

Kodak Easyshare C533

The Kodak Easyshare series was created with the intent of making the storing, sharing and organizing of photos easier. The C533 digital camera is a point-and-shoot camera with a 5.0 megapixel resolution. As with most digital cameras, you will want to buy a memory card; however, this model at least comes with 16MB to get you started. Time lapsing shot-to-shot is between 1 to 3 seconds. The image quality isn't too shabby for its price range, but be aware that there will still be some noise and focus issues from time to time. This small but sharp camera can be found for less than $150 -- not bad for an average and affordable digital camera.