Digital cameras are one of the most popular electronics devices out there. They rank just behind cell phones for millions of us.  When we’re deciding which one to buy we obviously need to consider our budget, but features like face detection, optical zoom, image stabilization, ISO settings, resolution, lenses, and other things are what we fret over the most.

There are times however, when a digital camera under $100 is the better option despite some of the possible limitations it may have.  For instance, if you are purchasing a first camera for a pre-teen or even a teenager, keeping the cost low can be important. Sure a kid over 12 years of age will present a lower risk of simply dropping and breaking it on the first day than a smaller child, but they are often more likely to toss it in a pocket or purse resulting in damage. A kids lifestyle often means they want their camera to be ultra-portable and that sometimes results in some less than ideal situations.

Additionally, one of the more affordable digital cameras can be a good choice when you have a really nice camera that you don’t want to use in every situation. For instance, perhaps you like to hike several times a year and don’t want to take your $400 camera along to be exposed to the environment but you do want to grab some nice shots of the landscape. Or maybe you’re a realtor and just need some basic shots of the homes you sell. Why risk your best camera, when a cheaper model can do the job? 

One of the most positive attributes of these cheaper cameras, is that they are often ulta-compact. This means that even if you’re heading out on a business trip and don’t want one more thing to carry, these affordable models may allow you to take a camera along without excess baggage.

Another instance when more affordable options make perfect sense, is when you simply don’t take that many photos, and most of the ones you take are basic landscape shots on vacation or portrait type shots of family and friends. You don’t need anything very complex and aren’t interested in developing a new hobby. In these cases, why spend a lot of money on features you won’t really use? You’ll set your camera on Auto and snap away, getting pictures that will be just as precious to you as if you had spent a few hundred dollars more.

For those looking for an affordable camera to use in any of the instances above, nearly every manufacturer has models available; Canon, Kodak, Olympus, Sony, Casio, and Fujifilm for example. The other cost saving option is to consider a camera phone. At their best, they can rival some of these more basic digital cameras, but obviously they can save on costs only if you would be purchasing a cell phone anyway as the price of the phone and/or the plan would be significant.