Which digital cameras provide the best bang for your buck? That's an important question in these tight times; and to help answer it, we've rounded up some of the best compact and ultracompact cameras that $250 can buy, according to the numbers from our PC World Test Center lab evaluations and our own hands-on field testing.
Even in the bargain class, these cameras cover a lot of ground, from slick and fashionable (Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, Pentax Optio A40, and Nikon Coolpix S210) to teen-focused and YouTube-friendly (Casio Exilim EX-Z150) to bulky best-in-show (Canon PowerShot A590 IS). If you're looking for a low-cost point-and-shoot to do all of your snapping--or for a secondary, pocketable camera to complement your big, bad digital SLR--one of these sub-$250 models should be at the top of your wish list.