If there's someone in your life without a digital camera, there's never been a better time to get them started. Compact cameras now offer 8-12 megapixels for under $500, and provide large LCDs for easy viewfinding and shot setup as well as automatic face recognition, multiple focal points and more!

In issue 119 of PC Authority, we took eighteen cameras and put their images under the microscope. Now you can too.

With huge LCDs, underwater capabilities and high resolutions for under $450, now is the time to buy.