The Z5fd is a good balance of size, style and function and its video capture is very impressive for a compact digital camera.

The R40 is a great compact model. It doesn't offer anything really innovative, but the solid image quality combined with a wide angle lens and a larger than normal zoom make it a nice choice

If you're after a decent digital camera, there are better options on the market than this one. If you want an MP3 and video player that can also take a photo here or there, then the i7 can be considered, but it's not a high quality product.

Another solid compact camera from Canon, the IXUS 90IS packs in image stabilisation and good image quality. It is only let down by sometimes sluggish performance and some slightly annoying controls.

A big optical zoom combined with robust features and solid image quality make this a good overall performer.

With good features and picture quality, it doesn't do much to distinguish itself from the pack, but if you're after a 5 megapixel camera with 10X zoom, you could do a lot worse than this.

Another strong compact camera from Sony, the Cyber-Shot DSC-T20 will suit fashion conscious buyers who want a stylish point and shoot model that captures great pictures

Kodak's V1253 takes great shots, is well designed and offers HD video recording; however, the speed to recover between shots can sometimes be in excess of five seconds, which really detracts from the user experience. Still if you aren't going to take lots of snaps in succession, it is an impressive offering.

Olympus' latest tough model, the 790 SW, is a brilliant camera suited to a wide variety of users. Whether you want a family device that you can give to the kids or a rugged photography machine for skiing and hiking, it will do the job, and while its pictures aren't exceptional they will be more than adequate for most.

Not a bad camera. It looks stylish, but if you're after quality photos and a bunch of manual settings to tweak them, look elsewhere.

While the Ricoh R8 offers a few excellent features such as the 28-200mm lens and the brilliant LCD screen, its images have a few issues that mean it may not be right for everyone.

An incredible looking camera with enough battery power to go all day. For its price it is a reasonable alternative, but if taking brilliant pictures is the primary concern buyers may want to look elsewhere.