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Best budget digital camera
Canon PowerShot A610  with video
If you want an affordable camera with a great feature set and quality photos, the Canon PowerShot A610 is the choice for you. This 5-megapixel snapshot camera shoots sharp, colorful images and decent VGA video, all for less than $300.
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Best midrange digital camera
Casio Exilim EX-Z850 with video
The 8-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z850 puts a lot of power into a little
camera. This small shooter weighs less than 6 ounces but packs great
features such as a 2.5-inch LCD, electronic image stabilization, and 30
different shot presets.
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Best high-end consumer digital camera
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT with video
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT is a zippy, affordable dSLR that offers more creative control than the original and boasts an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor alongside Canon's Digic II processing engine. While the Rebel XT lacks some features found on the more solid and slightly pricier Nikon D70, the XT is the clear winner when it comes to resolution and dynamic range. The Rebel XT has been on the shelves for almost 10 months, but it's still our top choice for prosumer digital SLR, and it will probably remain so well into 2006.
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Best compact camera
Canon PowerShot SD700 IS with video
The 7-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD700 IS has practically everything you could want in a compact camera--great photo quality and performance, plus optical image stabilization--though you might think the price tag a bit steep.
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Best prosumer camcorder
Panasonic AG-DVC30
The AG-DVC30 raises the bar for prosumer camcorders, offering perhaps the most bang for the buck of any three-chip DV camcorder available. It's a compact model with a broad range of pro features for its price, making it an excellent choice for either the serious amateur or the accomplished pro seeking a discreet second camera. We gave the AG-DVC30 our Editors' Choice, and we can easily recommend it as the best bet in an increasingly competitive field.
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Best budget camcorder
Canon ZR400
The Canon ZR400 shows that you don't have to go broke to shoot great holiday videos. With a wide-angle lens adapter and a bigger sensor than its predecessors, the ZR400 is an affordable camcorder that makes great movies. Unfortunately, like most budget camcorders, it stumbles with low light.
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Best home-movie camcorder
Panasonic VDR-D300 with video
With great image quality, flexible controls, and one of the lowest price tags we've seen in a three-chip DVD camcorder, the Panasonic VDR-D300 is a great choice for any home movie buff. Its videos are as pretty and sharp as those of MiniDV camcorders, and the convenience of DVD only sweetens the deal.
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Best ultracompact camcorder
Sony Handycam DCR-PC1000 with video
Sony's Handycam DCR-PC1000 is one of the most flexible compact three-chip camcorders we've seen. Beyond the standard automatic and scene assist modes, the PC1000 has several advanced functions, such as scene assist and camera gain. Features including frame and interval recording, white-balance shift, and a histogram that will help users get the most out of this camera. It even has a 24-frame video mode for film-style movies. The PC1000 is a great choice for those who want total control over their movies.
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Best semipro dSLR
Canon EOS 30D
With class-leading 8-megapixel resolution, excellent image quality across a broad range of ISO settings, and fast performance, the EOS 30D is made for serious photographers. Its sturdy, well-designed body and intuitive control layout make it a pleasure to shoot with, and it's compatible with a broad range of Canon lenses and accessories.
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Best still/video hybrid camera
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-M2 with video
With solid still photos and good MPEG-4 videos, the Sony Cyber Shot DSC-M2 is the perfect all-in-one device for taking holiday photos and movies. The M2 delivers decent 5-megapixel images, a solid snapshot feature set with some novel additions, and a video mode that's impressive, as long as you can afford the high-capacity Memory Stick Duo Pro media.
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Unlimited long distance $24.99/mo
