A solid all around compact camera, Sony's Cyber-Shot DSC-W55 will appeal to users looking for a no-fuss entry into the digital photography market.

A solid compact camera that combines speedy operation with above average image quality. If you're making enlargements the over sharpening may become an issue, but otherwise this is a good choice if you're after an all purpose model.

The DSC-T700 is a well-rounded compact camera that can also moonlight as a digital photo album. It might be a little pricey for a 10.1-megapixel camera, but its excellent playback functionality is arguably worth the extra dosh.

A solid compact camera from Nikon, if you have a bit of money to spend the S600 offers a few nice features such as vibration reduction and in-camera red-eye correction on top of some fairly good 10 megapixel images.

With its sleek design and interesting control scheme, as well as a few nifty features, the Samsung NV24HD is a fairly solid compact camera.

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

Ricoh's R7 is a great compact camera for those after a speedy model with a big zoom and optical image stabilisation. There are units out there that take better pictures but this model is more than adequate in that regard.

The DMC-FS5 inarguably puts the fun back into photography by giving you quality shots that you don't have to work towards. If you're in the point-and-click brigade, you definitely won't be disappointed.

The NV4 is a camera that is average at all tasks, whether it’s photography, video recording or multimedia playback. It’s stylish and simple, so if these factors are important then it could be the camera for you.

While the price tag is a little hefty for an 8.1-megapixel model, you get what you pay for with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ11. It packs in a huge 10x optical zoom supported by optical image stabilisation, as well as a 28mm wide angle lens with Panasonic's array of intelligent auto modes, meaning there is something for everyone here.

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.

The R4 is a sophisticated compact with a big zoom that performs more than adequately in most regards.