Top 5 Best Digital Cameras under $100

By Alice Ross | GADGETS & TECH

Nov 29

So, you’re looking for a digital camera, huh? This probably is your first, perhaps it is your third. No matter how many times you have purchased for the digital camera before, it could still be an overwhelming and puzzling venture. With a lot of digital cameras on the market today and new ones coming out, it’s hard to choose. However, there’s one problem… you have a limited budget! But worry no more, we are here to help. This article will help you find the best digital camera under 100 dollars!

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**Below, you'll find more detailed reviews, but you can also click links above to check current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.

You’ll be happy to know that with a limited budget, you are able to have a lot of choices. But at the same time, it can be mind-boggling.

If you’re looking for the best digital under $100, it is important to compare what is available to you. With this, choosing will be easier and make the right decision is a lot likely. If you want to learn the basic guidelines to draw a fair comparison between what’s available in the market, then read further.

Types of Digital Camera

camera

Cameras normally are divided into categories: ultra-compact, ​compact, semi-pro, and DSLR, and a lot of brands make models in different classes so as to take hold of the consumers. Generally, the ultra-compacts are probably the most convenient ones to use, normally fit inside pockets easily and used as key rings, while on the other hand, the DSLRs are bigger and come with different accessories such as lenses, flash, and tripods.

Megapixels (MP)

Choosing a camera by only basing it on the megapixel rating alone means you are able to overlook further options that are found in the digital camera such as add-ons, portability, and a high-quality flash. But then again, it remains to be an essential factor.

Cameras below 3 megapixels can produce simple photos; the camera will almost certainly be compact and necessarily good enough to capture basic photos. However, the photos would not be as different if you’re looking to take something that is larger than common 4x6 pictures.

guy camera

Cameras that have megapixels of between 3 and 5 are ideal for both every day and holiday use. You can easily fill your photo albums with pictures taken using these cameras as they are good enough for medium-size quality photos.

From 5 to 10MP, you can find bigger digital cameras for enthusiasts who want to turn digital photography as their hobby or even source of income, the photos will need extra storage space but will work perfectly with operation on top of producing bigger dimensions.

You can find a lot of digital cameras from different groups with 10MP or maybe more, of course, this kind of image resolution is normally too much when it comes to informal day-to-day usage. Choose a 10MP or higher if you are a professional and you can expect top of the line quality photographs.

Zoom

a zoomed in picture of a flower

Zoom is another important feature you want to consider, and you have to know that there are two types for you to choose from: digital zoom and optical zoom. The optical zoom feature is one that will count on the camera lens itself by magnifying the lighting that comes in, so what is located far will show bigger and closer to the photo. On the other hand, a digital zoom is a type of zooming lens that takes the actual succeeding picture and enlarges it afterward. Obviously, the optical zoom lens component is a lot more important than the digital zoom component.

Media Storage

Another important feature is a memory. Memory is what you need to save the images you shoot using your camera. You have to make sure that they have the right amount of memory for how you will use your camera specifically. If you’re planning to take a lot of pictures, make sure your camera can accommodate memory cards that have large sizes. Wouldn’t it be a bummer to find out that your memory card is full while you are in the middle of your trip?

memory cards

Connection

Today, almost anything we do in our daily lives is posted online – the places we go, the activities we do, and even the food we eat. So, for many the convenience of uploading photos online a big consideration. Luckily, many cameras today feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and/or USB port so that you can easily transfer the file to your computer or smartphone if you want to upload them to social media right away.

Power Supply

The power supply should also be considered when looking for the best digital camera under 100 dollars, well, actually at any price range, this is important. While it doesn’t affect the image quality, it will affect the overall function of your camera. There are cameras that are run by popular AA batteries, which normally last not more than 50 shots. You can also find digital cameras that are powered by lithium batteries. Sometimes they’re built into the camera, which is convenient as you don’t have to change the battery or remove them when you need to charge.

hold camera

Picture Display

The advantage of using digital cameras is that they come with the LCD screen. First of all, they will allow you to see the pictures during and after taking them. Secondly, it offers a chance to set your camera according to your preference. You can choose what filters to use, how much you want to zoom, and you can see the current battery life of the camera. You see, it’s so convenient to have it. Fortunately, you can find a digital camera with LCD display without spending more than $100.

Our Top Picks for the Best digital cameras under $100

best-camera-for-wildlife-photography

Via Amazon.com

This lightweight, black Sony DSC-W800 Digital Camera is a small point and shoot camera that has 20.1 megapixels within the 1/2.3-inch Super HAD CCD sensor, and offers a professional Sony 5x optical zoom lens that has a 35mm corresponding focal length of 26-130mm. The bright 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD 230k-dot monitor located at the back lets you see the photos clearly and HD 720p videos.
If you fancy zoom, its 10x digital zoom function doubles up the reach of the camera and SteadyShot Image Stabilization of Sony with Active mode recompenses for camera shake to help offer better images with nominal low noise and blur, even while you’re walking around. If you want to shoot at an even wider angle, you may want to try the 360˚ Sweep Panorama that lets you press the shutter button and sweep the camera all over to gather in your whole landscape and take a lot of HD images and combine them automatically into one picture.

98
/100

Editor's Rating: 98/100

Price On Amazon: from $86.94


Pros

  • It is very compact and lightweight
  • It is charged through USB
  • It has panoramic mode
  • It has 10x optical zoom

Cons

  • It doesn’t have viewfinder
  • It has slow shutter speed
best-camera-for-wildlife-photography

Via Amazon.com

Another perfect option for those who are looking for the best digital camera under $100, this point and shoot camera by Nikon might be what you are looking for. With the quality it offers, it is not easy to believe that it’s barely 100 dollars! Weighing in at .65 pounds and measuring at 3.3” x 5.4” x 7.8”, this lightweight compact camera will basically fit into a pocket. It produces 20.1 megapixels photographs so expect to get high-quality images. It also has up 5x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD screen that will make it easy to see your pictures during and after taking your photos. You could also take 720p HD videos using this camera. it also has image stabilization, so it means it is perfect for taking videos even if you are walking.
Our favorite thing about Nikon COOLPIX L32 is its unique feature called Smart Portrait. This feature means your camera will basically search for faces within the frames and focus in on them. On top this, you can also enjoy additional feature called Glamour Retouch, which will enhance your face – it softens your skin, conceals your blemishes, and brightens your skin if needed.

97
/100

Editor's Rating: 97/100

Price On Amazon: from $95.00


Pros

  • It has Image Stabilization
  • It has Smart Portrait and Glamour Retouch for better selfies experience
  • It has impressive Battery Life
  • It has selfies-friendly LCD display

Cons

  • It does not have full HD video resolutions
  • It has no built-in Wi-Fi
best-camera-for-wildlife-photography

Via Amazon.com

Kodak has been unwavering in the camera industry for many decades now. Furthermore, if you are looking for a budget-friendly camera, Kodak will surely have a lot of models to offer. Kodak PIXPRO Friendly Zoom FZ43 is not only a great option if you are looking for the best digital camera under 100 dollars, but it’s also perfect for those who are just starting out with cameras.
Weighing only .26 pounds and measuring 2.37” x 3.67” x 1.05” this is another compact camera perfect for you’re on the go. This camera has user-friendly controls as well as easy-to-see 2.7” LCD display. You could also take advantage of its 4X optical zoom and 16-megapixel resolution. Shooting videos at 750p is also a piece of cake.

95
/100

Editor's Rating: 95/100

Price On Amazon: from $79.95


Pros

  • It is very easy to use
  • It has good battery life
  • It has fast shutter speed
  • It is lightweight and compact

Cons

  • It has no built-in viewfinder
  • It produces low-quality pictures under low light
best-camera-for-wildlife-photography

Via Amazon.com

Regardless of being affordable, the Fujifilm FinePix S2950 offers the specification that will produce high-quality images. It offers 18x optical zoom, covering a focal range of 28 or 504mm in 35mm equivalent terms, this camera also has a mechanical sensor for stabilization. It has a sensor of 1/2.3in CCD variety, which offers a resolution of 14MP while also features HD movie recording at a 720p and 30fps resolution. The movie capture is boosted with some additional functionality.
The Fujifilm FinePix S2950 supports easy-upload to social media sites like YouTube and Facebook through the available MyFinePix studio software. However, if you want to just view your images and videos on a bigger scale, you can connect your camera to your TV through integrated mini HDMI port. Other basics specifications offered by this camera include a large 3in 230k-dot LCD screen that comes with a 200K dot resolution EVF. Shooting functionality is provided through PASM modes, even though a host of scene recognition functionality is also there, as is motion panorama and other capture modes.

93
/100

Editor's Rating: 93/100

Price On Amazon: from $84.99


Pros

  • It offers many zoom options
  • It has a lot of features
  • It has panoramic mode
  • It has easy-to-use manual controls
  • It has HDMI connection port

Cons

  • It has noise performance from ISO800 
  • It doesn’t offer optical zoom on videos
best-camera-for-wildlife-photography

Via Amazon.com

Last on our list is the Canon Powershot SX160 which features a 16x optical zoom lens with image stabilization and has a user-friendly mode dial with settings perfect for beginners as well as those who are an advanced user who prefers using manual controls.
This camera offers a great range of external control with ISO shortcuts and big buttons, and with the use of AA batteries, this makes for a good travel camera. Because of its quite high noise at and more than ISO200, it’s an ideal camera for outdoor photography, and the camera creates images with impressive color, with outstanding macro performance.

90
/100

Editor's Rating: 90/100

Price On Amazon: from $99.95


Pros

  • It has 16x optical zoom lens
  • It has sleek and elegant design
  • It has manual controls
  • It has AA batteries readily available
  • It offers excellent macro performance
  • It has impressive color and white balance performance

Cons

  • It has low-resolution 3-inch screen display
  • It doesn’t have auto panoramic mode
  • Since it uses alkaline batteries, battery life could be shorter

Summary

​As you can see, even with a low budget, you could find a digital camera without compromising the quality. Just make sure to follow the tips mentioned above in order to find the best digital camera under 100 dollars. The cameras mentioned here, of course, offer limited features, but they are still good if you are looking for travel camera or a camera for any other purpose.

So, what do you think of this list? Do you think we miss something that is worth mentioning here? Tell us your thoughts in the comment below!

Rating: 4.5 (10 votes)

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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