5 Editors' Choice Camera Deals Worth Snapping Up: Canon, Nikon, & Panasonic

We've got some great bargains up for grabs this week on three of the most trusted brands in photography: Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic. Every single deal this week ranks as an Editors' Choice, and we're spotlighting merchandise at a variety of price points for both the advanced photographer and the hobbyist shooter. We bet you can picture yourself taking advantage of at least one of these fabulous finds.

1. Canon 5D Mark II 21MP DSLR Camera Bundle
   Store: B&H Photo-Video
   Price: $1,999.95 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $675

   Is It Worth It?: Team up B&H Photo-Video with Canon, and you've got two of the powerhouse names in photography. This Editors' Choice deal isn't cheap at $1,999.95, but you'll get the Canon's EOS 5D Mark II 21.1-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body (pictured) bundled with the Red Giant B&H Video Production Software Bundle, a SanDisk 16GB Extreme Pro Compact Flash Card, and Lowepro Adventura 170 Camera Bag. And wow, what a camera. CNET editors rave that "the EOS 5D Mark II is in many ways a must-have upgrade, especially for the wedding photography crowd for whom the 5D is a workhorse."

   It features a 3" LCD, 3.9 frames per second burst mode, "Live View" (for framing pictures with the LCD), 30fps 1080p HD video capture with sound, USB 2.0 connectivity, magnesium alloy exterior, and EOS Integrated Cleaning system which includes a self-cleaning sensor unit. The Red Giant bundle includes Magic Bullet QuickLooks, Magic Bullet Grinder (Mac only), Magic Bullet PhotoLooks, and Knoll Light Factory for Photoshop.

2. Canon PowerShot SD4500 IS 10MP 10x Digital Camera
   Store: Beach Camera via eBay
   Price: $129.98 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $36
   Expires: December 25

   Is It Worth It?: If a $2,000 camera isn't in your budget, how about one that's just over $100? The Canon PowerShot SD4500 IS 10-Megapixel Digital Camera in Brown (pictured) or Silver features a 3" LCD, 10x optical zoom, 1080p video recording at 24fps, optical image stabilization, SDXC/HC MMC+ card slot, USB 2.0 connectivity, HDMI output, and more. CNET's verdict: "The Canon PowerShot SD4500 IS delivers a long lens in an ultra-compact body, as well as nice low-light photos and full HD movies." The site notes however that it doesn't hold a charge for very long.

3. Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS9 14MP 16x Digital Camera
   Store: Amazon
   Price: $129.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $21

   Is It Worth It?: The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-ZS9 14.1-Megapixel Digital Camera in Black comes bundled with a $2 Amazon MP3 credit. At 14 megapixels, the resolution on this little guy is stunning. It includes a Leica 24mm ultra wide-angle 16x optical zoom lens, 3" touchscreen LCD, video recording, stereo microphone, optical image stabilization, SD/SDHC card slot, USB 2.0 connectivity, and more.

4. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Camera Lens
   Store: B&H Photo-Video or Amazon
   Price: $707 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $13

   Is It Worth It?: At just 1.1 lbs., this 17-40mm ultra-wide-angle zoom lens with f/4 maximum aperture works well with most Canon SLR cameras. It's weather-resistant and can focus as close as 11 inches. What's more, Amazon photogs love it. And even though it's only a price low by $13, most stores charge $750 or more.

5. Refurb Nikon COOLPIX S8100 12MP 10x Digital Camera
   Store: Adorama via Buy.com
   Price: $129 with free shipping
   Lowest by: $28

   Is It Worth It?: This factory-refurbished Nikon COOLPIX S8100 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera boasts lots of features and versatility: a 3" LCD, 10x optical zoom, backlit CMOS sensor (which allows shooting at faster shutter speeds and in lower light conditions), optical image stabilization, up to 5 fps continuous shooting, 1080p video capture at 30 fps, 102MB integrated memory, SD/SDHC card slot, USB connectivity, HDMI, and more. For comparison, it's a full $31 under our November mention of a new unit (which came with a photobook), and yet it still comes with a full 1-year Nikon warranty.

Front page photo credit: Drifting Focus