Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - $250 - $400 Cameras

In part 2 of our 2012 digital camera holiday gift guide, we looked at a series of $150 to $250 cameras that currently offer a step up in features from our first round of sub $150 cameras. In part 3, we will dive into the best cameras in the $250 to $400 price range. These cameras will feature new aspects such as great low light performance, touch screens and higher quality lenses. This lineup of digital cameras are targeted at the upper end of the point & shoot crowd, ideally for those seeking cameras for outdoor use or cameras that offer more unique features than standard point & shoot models.  

So jump into the third part of our 2012 Holiday gift guide, the $250 to $400 digital camera range. Our following recommendations are based on quality, features and the best value available on the digital camera marketplace between $250 to $400 dollars (MSRP).

Canon's new PowerShot S100 follows in the line of the PowerShot S90 and S95 from the last two years. These slightly more advanced digicams were designed for people with a little more photography and camera knowledge, but with its Smart Auto mode, anyone can use it the first time they pick it up. This popular and powerful digicam has been blessed with some major internal upgrades: a new 12-Megapixel "High Sensitivity" CMOS imaging sensor, DIGIC 5 image processor, f/2.0 5x optical zoom lens, Neutral Density Filter, GPS and full 1080p HD video capture will really make you drool; especially if you own one of the previous models. All of this has been inserted into a very similar sized and shaped body that includes the pop-up flash unit and 3.0-inch 461,000 dot LCD screen. The new 12-Megapixel High Sensitivity CMOS imaging sensor and DIGIC 5 imaging processor produce sharp, well exposed images with less image noise that with a standard CCD sensor. This HS system is not only more sensitive when it comes to capturing light, but it also allows the camera to capture images at a much higher rate of up to 9.6fps. Canon's PowerShot S100 is a fantastic compact digicam that has been designed with the quality and features that a professional can enjoy, while still providing the ease of use for any first time photographer. With all of the above, and more, it's easy to see why Canon is a leader in the industry. Available in black or silver, pick up the S100 if you'd like to capture some of the highest quality images we have seen from a compact digicam.

(Full Review) 

Olympus's Tough TG-1 is the new standard for 'lifeproof" compact digicams. As one of the toughest cameras that we have seen -- waterproof down to 40 feet, shockproof up to a 6.6 foot fall, freezeproof down to 14F, and crushproof up to a weight of 220pounds -- the TG-1 also leads the way in external accessories and converters to add additional versatility. Basically, if those stats aren't enough, there's an optional underwater housing capable of depths down to 135 feet! Image quality is as good as we have seen in a "Lifeproof" camera, thanks to a 12-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor powered by Olympus' proprietary TruePic VI image processor, a 4x optical zoom lens, FAST AF system technology from the more expensive PEN series cameras, 10 frames-per-second high speed burst shooting, Full HD 1080p video recording, GPS, and various iAuto Modes. Shooting performance was also great, with the camera out performing most compact digicams. With an MSRP under $370, it falls right in line with the Panasonic Lumix TS-3 and the Canon PowerShot D20 in both price and features; while outdoing them in the performance department. Available in any color as long as that color is silver, pick up the TG-1 if you want 2012's toughest digicam.