Canon PowerShot A540
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The PowerShot A540 is a compact camera that has a 6 Megapixel CCD and a 4X zoom lens. It packs features usually found on much more expensive cameras including full manual controls and support for conversion lenses. The camera has nice movie and continuous shooting modes as well.

Canon PowerShot A570 IS
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The PowerShot A570 offers more bang for the buck than virtually any entry-level camera on the market. It features a 7 Megapixel CCD, 4X optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, 2.5" LCD display, full manual controls, conversion lens support, and more. The biggest downside is the relatively low LCD resolution. Otherwise, it's a great choice.

If you want a little more zoom, then consider the PowerShot A720 IS, which offers a 6X lens.

Canon PowerShot A630
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The PowerShot A630 is a midsize camera that offers nearly every feature imaginable, all for a bargain price. You get an 8 Megapixel CCD, 4X optical zoom lens, rotating 2.5" LCD, full manual controls, support for conversion lenses, and much more. The higher resolution A640 adds a 10MP CCD and support for RemoteCapture.

Canon PowerShot A710 IS
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The PowerShot A710 is what I call the poor man's PowerShot G7. It has a 7.1 Megapixel CCD, 6X optical zoom lens, image stabilization, a 2.5" LCD (that doesn't rotate, unfortunately), full manual controls, and a VGA movie mode. Optional accessories include an underwater case and various conversion lenses.

Canon PowerShot S3 IS
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While not a huge upgrade over the S2, the PowerShot S3 is still one of my favorite ultra zoom cameras. It features a 6 Megapixel CCD, 12X optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, a rotating 2-inch LCD, and a superb movie mode. The S3 has full manual controls and a great continuous shooting mode as well.

While still available, the S3 has been replaced by the PowerShot S5, listed below.

Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH
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The SD800 may not be the top-end model in the Digital ELPH lineup, but it certainly is the most interesting. You get a stylish, ultra-compact camera with a wide-angle 28 - 105 mm lens, optical image stabilization, a sharp 2.5" LCD, great performance, and a VGA movie mode (with more recording time than on previous models). Like the other ELPHs, this is a point-and-shoot camera, with very limited manual control.

Fuji FinePix F30
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The FinePix F30 is quite possibly the best compact camera on the market. The F30's SuperCCD sensor has lower noise than traditional CCDs, which makes this camera great at low light shooting. Other features include a 3X optical zoom lens, 2.5" LCD display, manual controls, and a VGA movie mode. Battery life is excellent. There is an update to the F30 known as the F31fd, which adds face detection.

Fuji FinePix S9000
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The FinePix S9000 looks so much like a digital SLR that you may find yourself trying to remove the lens (don't try -- it doesn't work). While the S9000 doesn't have SLR image quality, it's still a very competent ultra zoom camera, with an impressive focal range of 28 - 300 mm, a 9 Megapixel sensor with above average high ISO performance, tilting 1.8" LCD display, full manual controls, and much more.
Note: This camera has been replaced by the FinePix S9100.

Olympus EVOLT E-500
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After a slow start with the E-300, Olympus has finally figured out how to produce a high quality entry-level D-SLR. The E-500 costs less than most D-SLRs but it doesn't skimp on features. It has an 8 Megapixel CCD, dust reduction system, full manual controls, dual memory card slots, and a hot shoe. It uses the FourThirds system which offers lenses for every occasion. Available with one lens, two lenses, or just the body only.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 is one of the best ultra zoom cameras on the market. It certainly doesn't skimp on features: you get a 12X Leica lens with optical image stabilization, full manual controls, widescreen movie recording, snappy performance, and conversion lens support. Not bad for under $300, eh?

Need more zoom? Then check out the similar DMC-FZ18, which packs a whopping 18X zoom lens.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
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The DMC-FZ30 is darn close to the perfect ultra zoom camera. Its biggest flaw is its noisy images, but otherwise it's great. It has a 12X optical zoom lens, image stabilization system, manual zoom and focus rings, full manual controls, a hot shoe, support for conversion lenses, and much more.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
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Though it has its share of flaws, the Lumix DMC-FZ50 is still one of the top ultra zoom cameras on the market. Offering a SLR style body (it's a big camera) with a 12X Leica lens, manual zoom and focus rings, a rotating LCD display, full manual controls, a hot shoe, and much much more. Its big flaw is the overaggressive noise reduction system, which really smudges details at higher ISO settings. Still, the FZ50 is worth a look.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1
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If you want an ultra zoom camera, but don't want to lug around something like the PowerShot S3 or DMC-FZ30 then check out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1. It features a 10X optical zoom lens and image stabilizer in a midsize body that can go just about anywhere. It's a point-and-shoot camera, though, with no manual exposure controls. Other features include a 2.5" LCD display, widescreen movie mode, and really snappy performance.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3
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The DMC-TZ3 may look like an ordinary compact camera, but it packs a whollop. It has a 10X, 28 - 280 mm zoom lens, optical image stabilization, and an enormous 3-inch LCD. It doesn't have any manual controls, but there are plenty of scene modes to choose from. Photo quality is decent, though noise reduction is heavy at higher ISOs. Overall though, it's a fun to use camera that lets you take any kind of photo, whether wide-angle or super telephoto.

Pentax K10D
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The K10D is a camera offering features typically found on cameras twice its price. You get a 10 Megapixel CCD, image stabilization, a 2.5" LCD display, full manual controls, and a dust reduction system. The body is built like a tank, and weather sealed. The camera's downside is the straight-out-of-the box JPEG quality is poor -- but workarounds (mentioned in the review) can make things look a lot nicer.

Pentax K100D
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The K100D's biggest claim to fame is its value for the money. For $600 you get a 6 Megapixel digital SLR with image stabilization that works on every Pentax lens ever made. Despite its low price, the K100D doesn't feel cheap at all. It features a large 2.5" LCD and a bright optical viewfinder. Being a D-SLR, the camera has full manual controls and snappy performance, though the buffer memory fills up too quickly.

Note: this camera has been replaced by the K100D Super, which adds a dust reduction system.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2
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While not a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the DSC-N2 remains a top choice in the ultra-compact field. It offers a 10.1 Megapixel CCD with surprisingly good image quality, a 3X zoom lens, limited manual controls, and an enormous 3-inch LCD display. The camera doubles as a portable image viewer, with a 500 shot photo album built right in.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T30
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This ultra-compact camera sports a 3X optical zoom, optical image stabilizer, huge 3-inch LCD, plenty of built-in memory, and a VGA movie mode. Battery life is also top-notch. This isn't a camera for those who like manual controls though: there are none.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50
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The DSC-W50 is a compact and stylish 6 Megapixel camera. The W50 features a 3X optical zoom lens, 2.5" LCD display, VGA movie mode, and great battery life. Other features include USB 2.0 High Speed support and availability of numerous accessories (including lenses and an underwater case).

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55
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While not much of an upgrade over its predecessor, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 remains a good choice in the compact camera field. It offers a 3X optical zoom lens, a 2.5" LCD display, point-and-shoot operation, and great photo quality. It comes in a compact, stylish metal body, available in four colors.