Canon PowerShot A3100 IS

We can't evaluate image quality based on a pre-production camera, but based on feel and features, the 12.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot A3100 IS seems like a solid choice at the $179.99 price. The fully automated mode is a sophisicated scene-recognition system, program mode provides all the basic control freedom most point-and-shooters will want, and My Colors provides useful image-tweaking option. The switch to rechargeable batteries is a mixed bag: you lose the convenience of using off-the-shelf AAs, but you also get a slimmer, lighter camera. Video enthuasiasts will prefer a camera that shoots in high def, and more sophisticated shooters will hold out for aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full manual exposure modes. For point-and-shooters, though, the A3100 IS is worth considering, along with the nearly identical A300 IS, which drops camera resolution to 10 megapixels and the price to $149.99.