Top 5 cameras under Rs. 20,000

The market, these days is full of cameras catering to all budgets. More importantly, the kind of cameras being ...

The market, these days is full of cameras catering to all budgets. More importantly, the kind of cameras being launched, these days is such that even those who've never played around with a digital camera before, can still find their way around, quite easily with above-mid-range point and shoot cameras, further broadening a manufacturer's audience base. It also presents photography enthusiasts with an opportunity to hone their skills. With features being the most crucial factor among various cameras, brands tend to add a lot of them in their products.Here is a look at the top cameras ranging from Rs.15,000 to Rs.20,000 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 – Rs. 17,899 If the price is not an issue and style is your thing, then the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 is a no brainer. This camera oozes style, class and functionality and the best feature about it is that it is the world’s slimmest camera, measuring at just 12mm at its thinnest point. This camera acts as a style statement for those who own it and it is so tiny, that it can easily fit into one’s pocket or purse. While the main feature of this camera remains its slim profile, Sony has not neglected the task of adding other features in it, making it seriously competitive. The TX 55 features a 16.2MP CMOS sensor as well as a 5x optical zoom lens. A neat feature of this lens is that can use up to 10x Clear Image Zoom without reducing the pixel count or lowering the image quality or sharpness. A large 3.3-inch OLED display adorns the rear of the camera and all features of this camera can be accessed using this touchscreen interface. AVCHD Full HD video recording, 3D image capture and the ability to capture images, while recording are some of the other interesting features found here.   Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX55 Olympus SZ-30MR – Rs. 20,000 When one thinks of superzooms they usually associate it with cameras that are fairly large and sport the bridge camera look. Olympus changed this concept when they launched their stylish SZ-30MR, a travel compact with a 24x lens that has a focal range that can compete with superzoom cameras. With the focal length of 25 – 600mm, one can conveniently capture images of subjects that are far off, with ease, without the excess weight that comes with bridge cameras. The SZ-30MR features a 16MP CMOS sensor that shoots images at a resolution of up to 4608 x 3456. The iAuto mode is more than sufficient for capturing images in most light settings, so people who do not want to play around with any settings can just capture images on the fly. The camera also has a 3D mode, a Magic mode with 8 filters, a panorama mode and the ability to record videos in full HD 1080p. Olympus SZ-30MR Nikon Coolpix P7100 – Rs. 20,000 Professional point and shoot cameras have always been on the pricier side, owing to their professional capabilities. But when the price of the Nikon P7100 dropped to below Rs.20,000, we just had to include it in our list. This point-and-shoot is slightly larger than most compact cameras available in the market, but then again it contains more features than most other compact point and shoots. The camera features a 10.1MP CCD sensor, along with a 7.1x optical zoom. Settings are completely tweakable and the camera is filled with a load of dials that can assist in adjusting the various options. An optical viewfinder is found here and image stabilization is taken care of by a Lens Shift type image stabilizer. The ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 3200 and the widest aperture available on the camera is F/2.8. Other features of this camera, include a flip-out display, the P7100’s ability to capture 16 images in a single burst, 720p HD video recording and a range of scene modes. Nikon Coolpix P7100 Nikon Coolpix P500 – Rs. 18,199 The price of bridge cameras are usually on the higher side and the main feature of these type of cameras are their superzoom capabilities. The Nikon P500 had to definitely feature in this list, as it was arguably one of the best superzoom cameras to be launched. It has a massive 36x optical zoom lens and features a 12.1MP, backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. The sensor also has dual image processors and Nikon’s EXPEED C2 image processing engine, which helps in shooting detailed images with minimal noise. The camera has manual and semi manual shooting modes, allowing one to fine tune the settings, before capturing an image. The flip-out screen at the back aids in capturing images from either high or low angles. 1080p full HD video recording is also available on this bridge camera, making it quite an ideal solution for photography and videography. Available in two colour options, black or red, this camera is suitable for either gender. Nikon Coolpix P500 Sony Cyber-shot HX100V – Rs. 20,000 The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V is a superzoom camera that features a 16.2MP CMOS sensor, along with a 30x optical zoom.This camera is one of the best superzooms that have been launched. It boasts of an extensive feature list that includes manual controls, where settings can be tweaked to get the best possible images. The lens type featured on this camera is Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T featuring a 30x optical zoom. This translates to a focal length of 27 - 810mm, which is really good for a camera of its size. The camera comes with a flip-out display that can be adjusted, allowing one to capture the perfect shot from either high or low angles. The camera records video at 1080p, allowing this camera to stack up as one of the top cameras to feature in this price range. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V