With a 4-megapixel sensor and a 4X optical zoom lens, the Canon PowerShot A430 ($179.95 list) is a really nice buy for an inexpensive, compact digital camera. The lens offers a 5.4mm-to-21.6mm range (equivalent to a 35mm lens with a 39mm-to-156mm zoom) and corresponding maximum f-stops of f/2.8 to f/5.8. But I wish Canon would offer more ease-of-use and help features in the menus; this would be a big help to beginners who never crack the camera's manual.