5 Camera Deals: CNET-Approved Sony DSLR, Editors' Choice Canon Lens

Whether you've been waiting for a sale on the latest and greatest DSLR lenses or are looking to upgrade from your old point-and-shoot, these camera deals are poised and ready for you. We found deals on a Canon T3i bundle, a 16-megapixel Sony DSLR, and models from Olympus and Nikon.

1. Sony Alpha 16.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Bundle
   Store: BuyDig
   Price: $499 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $21

   Is It Worth It?: With a single click you can land this Editors' Choice camera bundled that includes the Sony Alpha SLT-A57K DSLR, Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens, and an in-cart bonus Sony 32GB Class 10 UHS-I Secure Digital High-Capacity Card for a mere $499. CNET gives this camera a thumbs up despite having dropped GPS, and it also feature a 3" LCD, 2x digital zoom, 15-point auto focus system, 3D sweep PanoramaMode, and more.

2. Refurbished Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera bundled with Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens
   Store: Canon
   Price: $475.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $60

   Is It Worth It?: Smile and say "savings!" This deal comes in at the lowest total price we could find for a refurb T3i with a Canon warranty; the savings amounts to $60 cheaper than a new T3i. And with the T5i $340 overpriced, this previous generation refurb remains an excellent entry-level camera. Features include a 3" vari-angle LCD, 1080p video recording, 3.7fps continuous shooting, mini HDMI output, SDHC/MMC card slot, USB, and more. A 90-day Canon warranty applies.

3. Refurbished Nikon Coolpix L810 16.1-Megapixel 3D Panorama Digital Camera
   Store: Adorama
   Price: $137.95 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $4

   Is It Worth It?: Though we saw this camera for $23 less in January, it's still offers a $92 savings, compared to a new unit. So focus on the savings, if you will, and check out these features: a 3" touchscreen LCD, 26x Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens, 720p video capture, image stabilization, 3D photography, panorama mode, SDHC card slot, USB connectivity, and more. CNET notes that the Nikon Coolpix L810 has a great range of specs, but if you need fast shooting performance, you should opt for a different model. Note that a 90-day Nikon warranty also applies.

4. Olympus SZ-12 14-Megapixel Digital Camera
   Store: newegg
   Price: $119 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $49

   Is It Worth It?: While we did we see this camera in Black for $20 less in December, it's now available in Red at the low price of $119. It features a 3" LCD, 24x optical zoom, 720p video recording, 59MB internal memory, SDHC card slot, and USB and HDMI. And those are just some of the reasons PC Magazine loves this camera: "The compact Olympus SZ-12 is an excellent value. Its 24x lens can capture wide landscapes" too.

5. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Camera Lens
   Store: BuyDig via eBay
   Price: $299 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $51
   Expires: May 1

   Is It Worth It?: Now that you've got your new DSLR, how about outfitting it with an additional lens? This Editors' Choice lens is tied with our January deal and remains the cheapest we could find. This 50mm lens is "sharp, small, [and] light" and weighs 10.2 oz. It's compatible with Canon EF-mount SLR cameras.

Front page photo credit: Morgue File