Today's point-and-shoot cameras make great pictures easier than ever

From baby's first steps, to that dream vacation in the islands, these cameras make it easy to capture life's greatest hits. Today's cameras have helpful automatic features, like face detection and scene recognition that make shooting more foolproof than ever. And they all have plenty of megapixels for detailed photos that stay sharp, even when you enlarge and print them.

High-end features in a compact camera

As camera technology advances, we're seeing more high-end features trickle down to less expensive point-and-shoots. The Olympus SH-50 iHS is an excellent example, incorporating a DSLR-grade processor and sophisticated image stabilization into an easy-to-use compact camera. In addition, the SH-50 includes a whopping 24X zoom, with digitally enhanced 48X zoom with minimal image degradation. Combine that impressive range with the 16-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, and you've got an incredibly portable camera that'll serve you well in almost any lighting.

Innovative image stabilization drastically reduces blur

All compact digital cameras feature some form of image stabilization to offset shake and movement. The SH-50 borrows a mechanism from Olympus's OM-D hybrid camera to correct shake not only along the horizontal and vertical axes, but also to correct for rotational movement. Similar technology is applied to HD video shooting, applying stabilization across five axes. So whether you're recording home movies while walking behind your child's tricycle or struggling to keep your hands steady while snapping stills from odd angles, the SH-50 keeps your photos and videos blur-free.

Quick on the draw

Think point-and-shoots aren't built for speed? The SH-50 challenges that premise, with Olympus's TruePic™ VI processor offering fast auto focus and burst shooting, letting your fire off up to 11.5 frames per second at full resolution. Even with high shutter speeds in low light, you'll capture detailed, low-noise shots thanks to the high-sensitivity backlit CMOS sensor. The touchscreen display is perfect for reviewing photos, as well as making on-board color and tone adjustments — even before you snap the picture. There are lots of features to explore in the compact SH-50 iHS, at a price that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago.