Hey, I thought it’s time I went looking for a good beginner digital camera for myself. Nothing expensive, I couldn’t see my hard earned money going down the drain. $150 is the most I was going to spend for a beginner digital camera. Of course, I was also looking to get myself a camera that would make me look like the new whiz kid photographer from Time magazine – and not show up the truth, which is, I am nothing but a dummy who can’t tell a mug shot from a portrait! So I went and took a look at the under - $150 beginner digital camera market, and you know what, here are some interesting beginner digital camera models that I found!

Kodak Easyshare M853 (8.2 MEGAPIXELS, $150)

The USP of this beginner digital camera is its exceptional User Interface.

Pros –

The Easyshare offers a simple, tidy user interface, with on-screen menus lucidly spelling out the options on offer. It delivers optimum color rendition in amply lit and outdoor conditions, and sharp close up shots.

Cons –

After the nice user interface, a number of pretty ordinary features are a big letdown. First of all it’s not compatible with my Mac! The LCD display is too small, photographs shot in low light and without flash were disconcerting, and battery life was abysmal. Whatever limited manual options are available don’t have their buttons properly marked.

The Ruling –

This is a good beginner digital camera for shooting away the moment you lay your hands on it, but could be disappointing when you want to grow.

 

Nikon CoolPix L18 (8 megapixels, $140)

This is definitely the beginner digital camera that’s the easiest to use by a long margin.

Pros –

It’s so easy to use that it practically has two modes – easier and easiest! There are some pretty useful scene options for particular situations, though. Tested outdoors, it took some impressive snaps just as it did with the close up shots. But it’s the large, 3” LCD display which takes the cake – it is the largest beginner digital camera that I looked at.

Cons –

It’s way too simple for most people. The aspiring photographer would like to have at least some sort of creative control over their shots. Granted, we are talking of the beginner digital camera here. But there is hardly any way to go beyond the presets. ISO setting and exposure can be adjusted, but don’t help much. On top of that it uses two AA batteries, and I don’t like them in my cameras!

The Ruling –

This camera is more like a disposable in its digital avatar – a camera for dummies. But it does take reasonable pictures at a reasonable price.

Canon PowerShot A580 (8 megapixels, $150)

This beginner digital camera can best be described as a no-frills, sensible camera. 

Pros –

The camera takes really good shots, especially in outdoor photography. Outdoor photos came out fine when there were not too many distracting elements in the background. Manual overrides are wide-ranging and you can clearly see how the adjustments you make are affecting picture quality. And the brightest pictures in low light conditions were taken with this camera.  

Cons –

The camera is too big, and a no-looker. Distant shots have some focus issues and didn’t look good. Shots taken indoors and those taken in well lit conditions were pretty ordinary. Close up shots without flash didn’t come out nice, but then maybe that’s too much to ask from a beginner digital camera. It also runs on AA batteries, which I have stopped using long back.

The Ruling –

The Canon A580 is a good option if you are looking for some of the best shots in the beginner digital camera category under $150. But it is not going to be at the winner’s podium in the best looking compact camera of the year contest.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S750 (7.2megapixels, $150)

This beginner digital camera is the gadget freak’s joy.

Pros –

Shots taken with it were sharp and clear. The quality did not falter outdoor, and indoor close up photos were as good. Lots of manual options and overrides allow you full creative control over your shots.

Cons –

This camera is not exactly for the raw beginner – you will be at home with the excellent manual options if you have some prior digital camera experience. It has a good auto mode but you’ll have to find out the limited scene modes from the camera dial rather than an on-screen menu. Low light performance too was ordinary. A big negative is Sony’s own memory stick, rather than a memory card.

The Ruling –

More than just a beginner digital camera, the Cyber-shot is a total package. It is feature–rich, has a friendly user interface, and can cope with all kind of situations – just the camera to learn how to take better photographs with.

GE A735 (7megapixels, $100)

This is by far the cheapest beginner digital camera.

Pros –

The A735 prices out the competition by around $40 - $50, but not at the cost of offering fewer features. It has ample options in the manual mode, and good color saturation in well lit conditions.

Cons –

Picture brightness is a big issue, and most shots turned out to be too dark. Focusing was poor indoors as well as badly lit conditions, and the user interface can leave you scratching your head! To top it all, do I have to say that again? I hate AA batteries in my cameras!

The Ruling –

If you are absolutely penniless, wait until you can save up for something better. You are not going to like the photos this camera takes. Plus it is not the cheapest digital camera.

The Last word

You cannot expect to get complete mastery over photography with a beginner digital camera in this price range, something like that is only possible with a good Digital SLR.  But if you don’t want to go the DSLR way, or even take the next step forward from a beginner, you don’t have to buy a trashy compact. All the cameras I tried out had something going for them, like the Canon’s photo quality and the Nikon’s LCD. But I would definitely shell out my $150 for overall the best deal – the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-750.

That, of course, is unless I had $50 more to spend. If I did, I’d definitely plunge for the Norcent DSC-760.

At $199, it’s quite a powerhouse with its 7 MPs, 3X optical zoom, large 2 ½” display, and shooting modes numbering 15.

Features –

The camera doesn’t boast of any cutting edge technology; it scores over others in the beginner digital camera category in offering an extremely useful set of extra features.  

Some examples are a built-in flash with a host of options including slow sync, forced flash, forced flash off; fifteen picture taking modes including text, snow, food, buildings, and fireworks; movie mode, Voice Memo up to 30 seconds with image/video files; ISO ranging from 50 to 400 with auto and default auto; and an extremely wide-ranging white balance feature covering all available light sources plus custom that are available in manual modes too. A good digital camera for beginners. 

Pros –

It handles wonderfully, is value for money in megapixels, and has oodles of extra features that make creative control over your shots a cakewalk! This is one of the best digital camera for beginners.

Cons –

Shutter reaction time is a bit slack, and menu buttons will take a bit of time to master. But overall the glitches are surprisingly insignificant.

Icons in the menu navigation panels are not high end graphics; slower reaction time implies that you have to be careful when shooting children; and the navigation dial needs a bit of practice.

That’s it! But these are minor issues and only higher- end, much costlier compacts do better in these aspects.

To sum up -

The Norcent DSC-760, being a compact, does not have some high end prosumer digital camera features that advanced users want, nor does it have the frills of a cosmetic stunner. 

It is a bit more than a beginner digital camera, and is suitable for both the beginner and the intermediate photographer looking for creative pleasure and large prints. Visit our online store for a large selection and bargain prices on digital camera for beginner photographers.