Best Family Digital Camera

Imaging Resource Picks section. They're well known for their exhaustive testing of digital cameras. They investigate various aspects of each digital camera to help you pick the best one for your needs. But they know that sometimes you just want someone with experience to tell you which digital camera to buy. To serve that need, they've revamped their Picks to get straight to the point, listing your top digital camera choices by category.


Best Family Digital Camera

Canon PowerShot S3 IS
6.0 megapixels, 12.00x zoom
$307.01



Canon's flagship long zoom digicam gets better and better Offering a complete range of auto and manual exposure controls, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS is equally suited for novice users and experienced amateurs alike, with a big image-stabilized zoom for getting the shot no matter the situation. The Canon S3 IS's Auto mode keeps things simple for novices, while the manual settings offer the opportunity to take more control when you need it. Its 6.0-megapixel CCD captures high quality images, quite suitable for printing as large as 8x10-inches with good detail, and the increased sensitivity to ISO 800 with image stabilization is a better attack on red-eye than using the flash in red-eye reduction mode. The design is reasonably compact given the increased magnifying power of the 12x optical zoom lens, and the camera should fit in a larger coat pocket or be comfortable when using the neckstrap. The Canon S3 IS reaches beyond the normal limits by offering not only a long-ratio zoom lens, but a very effective image-stabilization system as well, that makes the long lens much more usable than it would be otherwise. Even at wide angle, image stabilization can help capture available light images without blur as low as 1/4 second shutter speeds. The Canon S3 IS also offers a movie mode capable of nonstop recording to the limits of the memory card's capacity, even at 640x480 resolution and a 30 frame/second frame rate. The PowerShot S3 IS is priced competitively, but its features and capabilities set it apart from the myriad camera choices in its price range, so the price will drop only slowly. If you're looking for a long-zoom camera with image stabilization that captures excellent photos and videos, the PowerShot S3 IS looks like a great choce.


Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3
8.0 megapixels, 10.00x zoom
$271.51



Packed with features, the Sony H3 has a fast shutter, a long zoom, and turns out great 13x19-inch prints Sony has developed a knack for packing a lot of high-end value in the entry-level model of each of their digital camera lines. In the long-zoom H-Series, the Sony H3 continues that trend with a 10x optical zoom, Advanced Sports mode, a Bionz processor, face detection technology, High ISO, Super SteadyShot, in-camera editing, and HD output signal. Gone is the electronic viewfinder found on the other H-series digital cameras, and the Sony H3's LCD has shrunk from 3.0 to 2.5 inches. That, along with a move to lithium-ion power from AA power, makes the Sony Cyber-shot H3 a much smaller camera. The real appeal of the Sony H3, though, is its image output quality: ISO 100 shots look great at 13x19, and even ISO 400 shots look good at 11x14. A good candidate as the enthusiast's second camera, the Sony H3's fast shutter, 10x zoom, and image stabilization make it a great digital camera for anyone looking for a little more quality in a small, long zoom package