Olympus SP-570UZ

If you're not quite ready for a D-SLR but want more than a point and shoot camera can offer, the $500 10 mega pixel Olympus SP-570UZ super zoom provides a respectable middle ground.

This camera packs an easy to adjust 20X zoom lens, Perfect Shot Preview, Shadow Adjustment Technology, and a lot more into its hefty frame.

Image quality, while not stellar, will likely please most shooters and is easily bolstered by flexibility and a wealth of innovative features.

In fact, the SP-570UZ is one of the best all purpose cameras we've seen.