Photos: Low-price cameras

Equipped with a relatively large screen (2.7 inches) and 400-shot battery life, the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z57 is easy to use, even if images are only snapshot quality. It retails for $254.

The 6.3-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F10 is priced at $280. It takes good, grain-free photos even in low light, according to New York Times consumer technology writer David Pogue, although the camera includes few scene presets or manual controls.

The HP Photosmart R817 features 5x zoom and 5.1-megapixel resolution, with 32MB of internal memory and a 2-inch display. Price is about $255.

Priced at $250, the Kodak Easyshare V530 offers 5-megapixel resolution, a 2-inch display and a zoom lens that can operate while the camera is filming.

An 8-megapixel camera with 2.5-inch screen, the Konica Minolta Dimage X1 costs about $280. It is pretty but also "dog slow," says consumer technology writer David Pogue.

With 16 scene presets and 5.1 megapixels, the Nikon Coolpix S1 can focus on objects only 1.6 inches away. It sells for about $233.

The Stylus 600, priced at about $238, features an "all-weather" body (in red, blue or silver) resists rain, snow or dust, and, in dim light, the screen shows the scene with vivid clarity and brightness. The screen is 2.5 inches, resolution 6 megapixels.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 features a 6x zoom, image stabilizer and 5-megapixel resolution, all for about $204.

The Pentax Optio S6--billed as small enough to fit in an Altoids tin--includes a 2.5-inch screen and 6 megapixels of resolution. It costs about $282.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W5 offers 5.1-megapixel effective resolution and a 2.5-inch screen, with just over 400 shots per battery charge. It sells for about $260.