You don't have to spend over $200 to take great digital pictures.

In the past, digital cameras costing under $200 had a paltry resolution of 640x480 (VGA) or sported (oft-boasted and criticized) digital zoom. Some were toy-like, while others just plain sucked. Now you can find good two, three, and the occasional four-megapixel camera for under $200, and many include the coveted 3x optical zoom. On today's "Call for Help," I'll round up the best of the cheap. They shoot excellent images suitable for 8x10 printing, are easy to use, and make great everyday point-and-shoot cameras.

  • Olympus D-395 ($149.99 street)
    Resolution: 3.2 MP
    Zoom: Digital

    Olympus D-395 Digital CameraOlympus's $129 2-megapixel D-390 sold out so fast, we couldn't even get one in for review. Now, the D-395 takes over with a 3.2-megapixel sensor, a sleek intuitive design, and good photo quality. Six preset shooting modes, a nice 1.5-inch LCD, and QuickTime movie mode make this no-frills camera a great buy if you don't seek an optical zoom. The included 16MB xD PictureCard will hold six shots at best quality and 165 shots at the lowest resolution. I'd buy this camera for my mother for its size and ease factor, despite the lack of optical zoom.

    Pros: Slim size; good bargain; simple to use; good picture quality
    Cons: No optical zoom

  • Fujifilm FinePix A210 ($180 street)
    Resolution: 3.2 MP
    Zoom: 3X optical

    Fujifilm FinePix A210 Digital CameraFujifilm has a habit of delivering fine sub-$200 cameras. The A210 continues the tradition, boasting a 3.2-megapixel sensor, fine optics, and a real zoom lens. The camera snaps stupendous looking photos, features a nice bright flash, and includes a 320 x 240 Motion JPEG movie mode. The included 16MB xD PictureCard will hold 19 shots at the best quality and 122 at the lowest quality.

    At 3.9 x 2.6 x 2.1 inches, I find the camera a bit bulky. I also don't like the two-step shoot process of sliding open the lens cover and then powering up. It also has a slow startup time of nearly ten seconds.

    Pros: Excellent price for 3 MP; 3x optical zoom; awesome photo quality
    Cons: Bulky; slow startup and processing time

  • Nikon Coolpix 2200 ($179.95 street)
    Resolution: 2 MP
    Zoom: 3x optical

    Nikon Coolpix 2200The 2-megapixel Coolpix 2200 includes a Nikon 3x optical zoom lens, 15 convenient scene modes, amazingly easy controls, and 14.5MB of internal memory. Sorry, the price doesn't include a removable media card. Although the Fujifilm A210 has better resolution for the same price, some might choose the Nikon for its small size (3.5 by 2.6 by 1.5 inches). You won't get the fine quality of a good 3-megapixel camera, but it produces great photo quality for a 2-megapixel camera (thanks in part to great optics).

    Pros: Tiny size; simple to use; excellent 2 MP imaging; 3x optical zoom
    Cons: High price for 2 MP

  • Kodak EasyShare CX6330 ($199.99 street)
    Resolution: 3 MP
    Zoom: 3x optical

    Kodak EasyShare CX6330The CX6330 offers a good 3-megapixel sensor with a 3x optical zoom. TechTV Labs likes this camera for its ease of use and full feature set. You can select five scene modes (auto, landscape, night, burst, and close up) and a movie mode from the main power dial. An orientation sensor, 3 frames per second burst mode, and exposure compensation fill out the feature set.

    It also includes a Share button so you can mark a photo for emailing or printing when you transfer images to a computer. Expand the 16MB of internal memory using the SD/MMC slot.

    This camera offers excellent photo quality, but I found it hard to push down the selection button without accidentally pushing another button.

    Pros: Lots of features; share button is good for beginners
    Cons: Selection button needs work

  • Gateway DC-T23 ($129.99)
    Resolution: 2 MP
    Zoom: 4x digital

    Gateway DC-T23 Digital CameraIf you're into tiny gadgets, you'll love the T23 from Gateway. This ultra-compact little guy measures only 3.4 x 1.5 x 1.25 inches but still manages to pack in a standard 1.5-inch LCD. The 2 megapixel (interpolates up to 3 MP) camera has no optical zoom and photo quality is average at best, but the solid body and responsiveness makes it much more than a toy. At $129 who's going to complain?

    The T23 includes 16MB of internal memory, which you can expand via the SD/MMC slot. It also has a 320 x 240 movie mode and you can use it as a webcam.

    Pros: Ultra compact; ultra-compact price, too
    Cons: Average photo quality; difficult to focus; no optical zoom