Digital point-and-shoot cameras are almost as ubiquitous as cell phones, laptops, and TVs. Most people have one, even if they hardly use it. Since they’re small, affordable, and easy to use, they appeal to everyone from novice photographers on a budget to pros rounding out a serious rig with a carry-anywhere backup. They’re all designed to take solid photos right out of the box, even without any hands-on know-how. We’ve gathered up a few of our favorites for 2011 below; each one offers an excellent balance of image quality, performance, and features for its price point.
