Cheap cameras make great gifts. Sacrificial/pocket cameras.
Here are my favorite that I have used and that are current as I know.
Panasonic ls2(5mp 3x, Optically Stabilized, ISO 400)
Canon a530(5mp 4x zoom, ISO 800)
Sony s600(6mp 3x zoom, Starts at 31mm thus is wide,ISO 1000)
They are all fast, good screens, video, and run on AA's relatively good lenses too.
The Panasonic has a good lens and exceptionally easy to use with a simple mode for simple people :P It looks nice as well. Uses SD Cards which is cheap, has a good burst mode but no optical view finder. In good light with the high speed auto focus mode this camera focus's the quickest as well.
The Canon A530, is great has a manual mode! and program. High ISO range means lower ISO images are smoother, has a cool/gimmick with the color swapping and de-saturation features, fast and reliably focus. Uses sd and has good burst mode. Extra zoom is helpful for those who do not like sneaker augmented zoom.
The s600 is not as nice to operate as the other two but has a wider lens , optical view finder, High ISO, Slightly higher res at 6mp. This is by far the snappiest camera in the group, has a good shutter noise as well(trivial but satisfying). Uses Sony memory sticks which in NZ cost more.
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