What is the best digital camera I can get for under $180?

I think best the camera in your price range is the Canon Powershot A540. You can find it "everywhere" for about $170. I've recommended this camera within my own family, so I'll be living with the results of this recommendation right along with you. You can use the rest of your budget to buy a decent memory card.

Go here and read an extensive review:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_revi...

Check the sample images, too.

This will blow your mind. The A530 is now discontinued, but it was the "little brother" to the A540.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/150-vs-5...

Canon just introduced the A550, which has more pixels, but offers less user control. I'd be happy with the A540, but the A550 is probably also worth considering.

A550 review: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_revi...

You will need to add a memory card and I suggest the Sandisk or Lexar brand in any speed. You will spend from about $20 for a 512 KB card, which is perfectly adequate, to about $40 for a Sandisk Ultra II, which is as good as you'd ever want for this or many other cameras.

My brother has the A540 and my mother-in-law has the A530 - on my recommendation - and neither one has stopped speaking to me yet.

You can try to buy Canon A530 or A540. Both are very good point and shoot cameras. Hope that helps.

Well if you go up to $200 there the Kodak 875 and excellent value 5 power zoom 8 MP

There's the Sony WC-30/50/55 at $200

The Canon A550 at $200

The Nikon L6 at $200

The Kodak 701 charger bundle at $160

The Kodak 733 at $160

The Nikon L2 at $130

you can get the Canon A550 with 7.1 MP at some retail stores for under 180. that'll probably be the best deal possible for a very good camera for the money. im not sure but either Circuit City or Best Buy has it for 179.