A decent but not outstanding unit, the Coolpix L11 will suit those who are after a compact camera to throw in their pocket or bag and whip out at parties.

The Nikon CoolPix L16 is an extremely simple camera but at this price you can't expect too much, and if you're looking for a budget, entry-level unit it isn't a bad option.

The 8700 is a great enthusiast's camera, delivering excellent, detailed images and a long zoom lens in a light, compact package

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.

Nikon's CoolPix S520 doesn't do anything out of the ordinary. It provides decent image quality, a simple set of features and has a nice design, but it does have some speed problems and the pictures aren't perfect.

Small and powerful -- thanks to an 8.1-megapixel sensor -- the P50 is suitable for almost all situations and it even has a decent manual mode to tinker with.

An exceptional camera with a long list of excellent features and impressive image quality.

While the COOLPIX S500 is a decent camera when operating in perfect circumstances, the aversion to low light coupled with slow focusing make for a less than satisfactory unit.

Nikon's COOLPIX L10 is a decent choice if you're looking for a low price unit to use as a backup camera or are taking your first steps into the world of digital photography. However, the 5 megapixel sensor does exhibit a few problems and the slow shutter speed will be unbearable for more experienced photographers.

Nikon's S700 isn't an incredible compact camera, but it does the job combining good pictures with a reasonable feature set, which will be fine for most consumers.

If you want a camera with a powerful zoom, a long focal length, and extensive controls, but an SLR is too big or too expensive for you, the Coolpix 8800 makes an excellent choice. Be prepared to invest some time in mastering the controls, however.

If you can get the wireless technology working easily, this is a brilliant purchase. Definitely on our watch list.