Four back-to-school cameras from the reasonable to the ridiculous

In this all-new product review shootout, we put four products to the test. Read on to learn how Digital Blue 732 Disney Pix Micro Pirates III Digital Camera from Prime Entertainment, Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom from Canon, Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) from Canon, and Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder 60 Minutes (Black) from Pure Digital Technologies Inc. stand up to our editorial review.

Digital Blue 732 Disney Pix Micro Pirates III Digital Camera

This is the perfect camera to hook on your back pack or bag and go. Be ready to take pictures any time. Photos are easily downloaded into your computer. Get creative with Disney Pix photo editing software! You're picture perfect and now your photos can be too! Disney Pix photo editing software lets you create awesome photos and graphics. You can even customize your photos with Disney characters stamps frames and more.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

You'll look like a dork and your pictures will will be pretty crappy as well. But we've seen this thing for as low as $17, so it's probably your cheapest path to something resembling a digital camera. Should you buy it? Probably not. But if you're on an incredibly low budget, this is something of a substitute. Honestly, we'd recommend you just get a free-with-service camera phone. It'll take better pictures and it won't look like Mommy bought you your first camera.

Digital Blue 732 Disney Pix Micro Pirates III Digital Camera, produced by Prime Entertainment, has a retail price of $19.99. We give Digital Blue 732 Disney Pix Micro Pirates III Digital Camera a rating of 2 out of 5.

Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

The PowerShot A590 IS will astound you with its power-packed performance and impressive value. It's got 8 megapixels a 4x optical zoom, an Optical Image Stabilizer, and a large 2.5-inch LCD. A range of shooting modes -- from manual to automatic including Canon's new Easy Mode -- make picture-taking carefree. A DIGIC III Image Processor with Enhanced Canon Face Detection assures natural-looking results while Motion Detection Technology reduces blur. For added creativity, attach wide or telephoto converter lenses.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

This is a nice middle-of-the-road camera that'll suit virtually any student. We've seen it as low as $150, so it's also reasonably affordable. It's a good choice for most back-to-schoolers.

Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom, produced by Canon, has a retail price of $179.99. We give Canon PowerShot A590IS 8MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom a rating of 4 out of 5.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is an engineering tour de force which true to the EOS-1 legacy redefines the state of the art in no uncertain terms. An entirely new 21.1-megapixel full-frame Canon CMOS sensor delivers astounding image quality and creates new photographic possibilities.

Dual "DIGIC III" Image Processors work in tandem to speed up data handling and camera operation while further refining imaging performance. Tough, high-durability body and shutter designs combined with the unique EOS Integrated Cleaning System set new standards for professional dependability. Cutting-edge features-such as a large 3.0-inch LCD monitor with Live View Function and a fast precise 45-point AF system-make the EOS-1Ds Mark III powerful and versatile.

And of course the EOS-1Ds Mark III is part of the unparalleled EOS System which with more than 50 EF lenses, 15 interchangeable focusing screens, and extensive wireless remote control and lighting accessories is the most advanced and powerful digital photography system in the world.

The EOS-1Ds Mark III incorporates Canon's newest CMOS sensor which delivers approximately 21.1 effective megapixels (5632 x 3750 pixels). The recording area of the sensor is 36 x 24mm which is equivalent to the full-frame size of the 35mm film format. The tremendous pixel count delivers high-resolution images of exacting precision with Photoshop file sizes over 60MB for outstanding quality at large print sizes and post-processing cropping flexibility.

Despite the higher pixel density, Canon CMOS sensor technology ensures exceptionally low noise and the widest usable ISO range (from 50 to 3200 using ISO range extension).

Connected Photographer's evaluation

This beast costs more than most students' cars and doesn't even come with a lens. But if you've got to have the best and you don't mind leaving it sitting around in your dorm room to get nicked, this is the camera for you. Do we recommend it for students? Of course not. Should you buy it? Well if Daddy's flush and wants to make up for missing all those assigned weekends with you while he was tooling around town in his sports car with a woman young enough to be your sister, sure. Go ahead and get it. Ask Pops to throw in some bucks for therapy as well.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only), produced by Canon, has a retail price of $7999.00. We give Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) a rating of 4 out of 5.

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder 60 Minutes (Black)

Mino is a camcorder that goes anywhere. Simply put it in your pocket! Then easily share your video on the Web on MySpace, YouTube, and AOL (have some self-respect -- don't use AOL!).

Weighing in at just over three ounces, the remarkably slim, yet powerful Flip Video Mino raises the bar for high-quality portable and easy-to-use video. Smaller than most cell phones, Mino fits neatly into a jeans pocket to capture life's stories whenever and wherever they happen -- at a party, a concert, the beach, even on a bike ride.

The Mino also features Flip Video's built-in software that lets you simply plug the camcorder's signature flip-out USB arm into any computer for immediate editing and sharing. For the first time, the Flip Video software lets you easily upload video directly to MySpace as well as to YouTube and AOL Video making it even easier to share video.

In addition to quickly posting videos on sharing and social networking sites, you can email videos and video greeting cards, create custom movies with your own music, capture still photos from video, save and organize videos on the computer, and for the first time seamlessly order and send DVDs anywhere in the world.

Connected Photographer's evaluation

If you need to get drunk and upload embarrassing videos to YouTube, this is your camera. Its adequate quality, fits in your pocket, and is sure to get you kicked out of almost any Ivy League school.

Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder 60 Minutes (Black), produced by Pure Digital Technologies Inc., has a retail price of $179.99. We give Flip Video Mino Series Camcorder 60 Minutes (Black) a rating of 4 out of 5.