Top 10 Camera/Photo Bestsellers as of January 1, 2011

We just passed the beginning of the month, so it’s time for my monthly roundup of the bestselling camera and photography items as calculated by Amazon.com.

Given that this list includes sales from December, it would seem to be a good picture of what was popular as Christmas gifts this year.

1. Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera – Last month’s #10 item, this compact camera jumps up to the number one spot. It’s sleek, has great specs, and is quite affordable. A popular Christmas gift for sure.
2. Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens – Nikon’s super-popular entry-level DSLR ranks high on our list. For about $600, you get a decent camera aimed at the consumer audience. A worthy contender for a first DSLR.
3. Flip UltraHD Video Camera – Black, 8 GB – The Flip UltraHD has become the standard for a pocket HD video camera. It offers high-def video recording (up to two hours) in a simple to use package.
4. Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera – Kodak’s Zi8 is similar to the Flip, with the additional useful feature of an external microphone input which means you’ll be able to record higher-quality audio. Another great choice for quick and easy video.
5. Canon PowerShot SX130IS Digital Camera – a nice sub-$200 point and shoot that features a big rear display along with a 12X optical zoom to get up close without having to get too close. I’ve always been happy with Canon’s PowerShot line of cameras.
6. Nikon Coolpix S8100 Digital Camera – a nice compact Nikon camera, featuring a 10x zoom and built-in vibration reductions (image stabilization) system.
7. Canon PowerShot SD1400IS 14.1 MP Digital Camera – another great little Canon camera. Whereas the last item above featured a huge zoom, this one features a wider-angle lens with built-in image stabilization which can help make the shot in lower-light conditions.
8. Canon EOS Rebel T2i and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens – Canon’s current-model Digital Rebel kit is priced around $800 and offers great quality for both still photos and HD DSLR video. This is my recommended kit for folks wanting to purchase their first DSLR.
9. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera – Panasonic has made some great compact cameras lately and this is a decent one at the lower- to mid-range area. With a 12x zoom and image stabilization it should help anyone create great photos.
10. Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Bundle – Kodak’s waterproof video cameras were popular during the summer months and as we enter the season for wet winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding I bet this would be a great package for those events.

Photo gear was popular as gifts this holiday season and I know a few people who are looking to spend gift money. If you use the links above and end up purchasing through Amazon, a small commission will be returned to me that helps fund the operation of this site. Thanks for your support!

Tagged as: cameras, canon, D3100, flip, flip ultra hd, kodak, nikon, panasonic, t2i