If you have been thinking about trying your hand at photography, what better day to start off than World Photography Day (today). First things first, we start by picking up a good camera. Although you can get a decent entry-level point and shoot digital camera under Rs 7500, an extra thousand or two can get you lot more useful features like higher zoom, Wi-Fi connectivity, and of course, better image quality. So if you are willing to stretch your budget a bit more, without burning a large hole into your pocket, then here are a few sub-10k snappers you can consider in no particular order:

Canon Digital IXUS 510 HS (Rs 8150)
Between Canon's IXUS and PowerShot series of point and shoots, the latter is better known for colour reproduction. However, that also makes it more expensive. But Saholic.com has shown us otherwise with the Canon Digital IXUS 510 HS. It has a respectable 10.1-megapixel sensor with 12x optical zoom, and packs in a CMOS sensor. Moreover it also lets you shoot 1080p videos and ships with a 4 GB SD card. Other significant features include Wi-Fi support, high-speed USB, and Mini HDMI port, and camera effects that include Fish-eye effect, Miniature effect, Toy camera effect, Monochrome, Super vivid, Snow, and Fireworks. The camera is retailing at Rs 8,150, which is quite a bargain for this snapper.

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX60 (Rs 9000)
If megapixels sway your decisions, then the WX60 with 16.2 megapixels and an Exmor R CMOS Sensor is a good option to explore. Equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, the snapper has 8x optical zoom, and is said to be good with low-light shots. The camera can record 1080p HD video, and packs in a Micro USB as well as mini HDMI ports. It offers several shooting modes including panorama, HDR, miniature effect, toy camera, illustration, selective colour effect, 3D, and background defocus effect among others. For a street price of Rs 9000, this camera is quite compact and a good buy.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 (Rs 7900)
If you are looking for a DSLR-like snapper but without the expensive price tag, then the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 is your friend. The 16.1 mp camera with a CCD image sensor comes with a stunning 21x optical zoom. It supports HD video recording, and comes with 109 MB of internal storage, apart from SD card support. The camera supports panoramic shots, and is powered by 4 AA batteries which is a bit of a turn off. Priced at Rs 12490 on its product page, the camera can be yours for as less as Rs 7900 that too with a 4 GB SD card and carry case. Don't forget to spend a few more hundreds on a set of rechargeable batteries along with a charger.

Samsung ST200F (Rs 9200)
While Samsung's smartcamera offering has been disappointing, to say the least, the Korean giant does have some decent cameras to pick from. For those looking at pro-zoomers, the ST200F is a 16.1 megapixel camera with a CCD image sensor that offers 10x optical zoom and built-in OIS (optical image stabilisation). Apart from 720p HD video recording, the camera supports Wi-Fi connectivity between devices, USB 2.0, and offers a sharp 3" 430k dots display. Other features include in-camera panorama and lots of other effects to have fun with your images. While the official store lists it at Rs 10,190; you can get it for Rs 9200 with a 4 GB SD card and a few more freebies thrown in.

Canon PowerShot SX160 IS (Rs 9000)
For Canon aficionados, who want a camera with impressive optical zoom, there is the Canon PowerShot SX160 IS. This 16-megapixel camera with DIGIC 4 image sensor boasts of 16x optical zoom. What weakens its case is support for 720p video recording instead of 1080p, and that it needs AA Alkaline Batteries to power up. Other features include the fish-eye effect, miniature effect, and toy camera effect. While it is listed at Rs 10k on its official page, you can pick it up online for a grand less. Again, set aside a few hundreds rupees for a set of rechargeable batteries. A lot of online vendors do bundle a charger along though.

Tags : Cameras, Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Samsung, IXUS, Lumix, Cyber-shot, PowerShot