Winner: Nikon Coolpix L14, $130

Anyone who has felt the pain of losing a one-of-a-kind shot to a dead battery will appreciate the L14’s nine-hour standby (or 1,000-shot) battery life — and its ability to recharge anywhere AA batteries are sold. Other highlights: a 2.4-inch LCD screen, 7.1 mega-pixels, and a face-recognition focus feature.
To Buy: www.nikonusa.com for locations.

Runner-Up: Samsung L830, $150

A cherry red finish and add-ons like photo “frames” and speech bubbles make the Samsung an appealing choice for the young at heart, while its eight megapixels, 3x optical zoom, photo-editing features, and optional manual mode allow for more advanced experimentation. Also available in black.
To Buy: www.walmart.com.