If picture quality is paramount, you are not going to find a much better point and shoot than the A620.

If you subscribe to the theory that more megapixels is better, then Casio's Exilim EX-Z1200 will be right up your alley. Sporting a 12.1 megapixel sensor, it captures extremely crisp pictures and offers a range of manual shooting options combined with a sturdy design, making it a strong all around choice.

While it does have a few things going for it, including a big zoom and comfortable design, the soft edges and colour reproduction issues mean the FZ8 isn't as impressive as it could have been.

The Z2 delivers a wealth of features for a cheap camera and turns out fairly nice photos. With a little practice, you should be able to get better images using its manual modes.

With high levels of chromatic aberration and slow operation, the SP-350 is far from a perfect camera, but the images look great at smaller levels and so it could definitely be worth a look if you need a compact, powerful advanced model

If you desperately need an advanced model with a 12X optical zoom then maybe the H2 is for you, but the poor sharpness level and strange design mean there are probably better choices elsewhere.

The Olympus C-7000 Zoom packs plenty of features into its small frame--and its image quality ranks among the best.

Another strong ultra-zoom digital camera from Canon, the PowerShot S5 IS is no longer the dominating choice in this market as its predecessor was, but it still offers a good overall package if you can look past some minor flaws.

An easy-to-use camera that delivers versatile and adaptable functionality and performance.

Whilst the V700 may have a solid design with an average feature-set, the image quality and shutter lag simply make it very difficult to recommend over any of the competition.

This is a decent model to choose if you want a long zoom range and versatile controls, yet don't want a bulky digital SLR. It's good for travellers in this respect, despite its soft pictures and slightly underdone colour.

A competent entry into the 8 megapixel arena.