It’s generally agreed that two hundred dollars is the optimum price for compact digital cameras.  Reviewers and buyers alike see that price as being the point where features reach an acceptable minimum and price reaches and affordable maximum.  But as with anything else in life, there are always a few bargains to be had if you hunt around and in fact there is a fair range of cameras to be bought for under a hundred dollars.  We look at some of the best of them here.

The GE A1250 isn’t the most compact of compacts, but it will fit in a largish pocket.  And there’s plenty of compensation for the chubby body in this camera.  First of all, it produces really sharp images from its 12.2 megapixel sensor, one of the biggest at this price range.  It’s also fast and responsive to use.  This one’s hard to beat at the price, although shooters used to modern LCD displays might find the one on the GE A1250 a bit small.

Fuji’s FinePix Z20fd is another compact that’s good value for under a hundred dollars, although the garish colours may be off-putting for some, unless you can find it in black.  Fuji has always performed well at the bottom end of the camera market and this model shows it knows its business.  The camera offers a decent range of features which include a 2.5 inch LCD, a 10 megapixel senso and a 3x optical zoom.

HP has produced a cheapie that’s unique in this price range: the CW450t’s LCD is only 2.7 inches, but it’s a touch screen which makes all the difference.  That’s an indicator of the quality in this brilliant little camera which boasts 12.2 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom.  This is a beginner’s camera that really outperforms its promise with good colours and sharp images.  The camera is also designed for one-hand operation which is a definite bonus in any compact.  It’s hard to go past this in terms of value for money.

Kodak has finally got the hang of making low-end digital compacts with its excellent EasyShare C195.  This point and shoot has a 14.1 megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom and a 3 inch LCD display.  For under a hundred dollars that’s a pretty good feature set.  It’s also has the ability to tag photos and upload them automatically to email or social networking sites.  Battery time isn’t a problem here either, as the EasyShare runs on two AA batteries which are easily replaced.  Like a lot of cameras in this price range, it comes in a number bright colours.

The Casio Exilim EX-Z16 is a camera for the most basic or beginner photographer.  It has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 3x optical zoom and a 2.7 inch display.  It’s cheap and cheerful and easy to use, but it does have one thing going for it: it takes excellent pictures.  Not bad at this price.

There are any number of under $100 digital compacts, but these are the ones to beat at this price.

The past year has seen a flood of new digital cameras on the market, each promising the best pictures, the simplest operation and the best value.  So what are the best ten of these?

Samsung has a serious entry in this list with the brand new TL500.  It boasts an advanced CCD sensor, is RAW capable and has an excellent lens.  This is slightly bigger than pocket size, but is excellent for low light photography.

Also excellent for low light situations is Canon’s very reliable PowerShot SX230.  This produces vivid, sharp images and has brilliant colour reproduction.  It also features

Samsung’s older NX-10 shouldn’t be overlooked among the current top ten.  With 14.6 megapixels and most of the features usually only found on an SLR camera, this is a very good buy.

Panasonic has an entry in this list too, with the Lumix ZR3.  This is an amazingly compact camera which packs a lot of punch with its 14.1 megapixel sensor and brilliant 25mm Leica lens.  It’s also worth noting that, despite its size, this nifty little Panasonic also has excellent video recording.

The new Nikon Coolpix P500 is also great value with a 36x wide-angle optical zoom.  However this otherwise excellent camera lacks image rotation and does not export in RAW format.

Canon’s also got you covered if you’re thinking of moving up to an SLR.  Best value in their digital SLR range is the Rebel XS 10.  This is not a high megapixel camera but is excellent value.  For most amateur photographers this is more than adequate.

If you’ve already cut your teeth on an SLR and want to tackle something more serious, there’s also Canon’s excellent EOS 60D.  This has an 18 megapixel sensor and will be a perfect solution for anyone but the most demanding professional.

Olympus is a brand which should never be overlooked and there’s certainly room on this list for the PEN E-PL1 Micro.  This is a tiny DSLR camera with a 12.3 megapixel sensor and an amazing range of features.

The Olympus SP 800UZ is also a contender with its 30x wide-angle optical zoom and a three inch display that’s very easy to see under all lighting conditions.

The nine cameras above are all excellent in their own right.  Each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s important for the buyer to decide exactly what he or she needs in a camera before making a choice.

But when it comes to flexible and cameras which have a wide range of features and are simple to use, it’s Sony that has been leading the field in digital cameras for the past few years and.  For quality, value and features, it’s hard to go past their new Cybershot DSC-W370, which comes with a range of innovations not the least is the Sweep Panorama feature for assembling panoramic shots.  This 14 megapixel compact has a huge 14 megapixel sensor.  For sheer versatility and good value, it’s hard to beat.