Which is the best digital camera for under $250.00?

If you want the "best" and can find just a LITTLE more money than $250, look into the Canon Powershot A630. My son owns this camera and it is great.

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

If you are on a tight budget, though, 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.

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.

any panasonic with a 12x zoom

(FZ3)

try www.cnet.com for reviews

you should check out Canon PowerShot SD630

or for about $20 more.. Canon Powershot S2 IS
(which is the better option between the two)

kodak easyshare. 8.0mp 5x zoom option, very easy to use.