Competent but not outstanding, the DC C50 is worth a look if you want a compact 5 megapixel camera.

A nice, cheap advanced 5 megapixel model. It doesn't have the best image quality in the world, but at this price it is a decent buy.

If you want a carry-around camera capable of handling a wide range of tasks, including good-quality video, the S2IS is well worth a look.

Although it's quite bulky, the S80 offers an excellent list of features for a compact digital camera.

Canon's EOS 5D is the most affordable full-frame D-SLR yet, allowing lenses to be used without affecting their field of view. It's quite a premium to pay even considering the 12.8Mp resolution, but if you curse the cropped view of cheaper D-SLRs, this could be the camera you've been waiting for.

Another brilliant IXUS unit, the Canon IXUS 80 IS packs image stabilisation and good image quality into a compact and sexy body. A great package for users looking for a new point and shoot.

Much lighter and smaller point-and-shoot cameras are available, but the S60 is a great choice for people seeking a camera that has powerful creative controls.

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.

This model has a good set of features, but it suffers from mediocre image quality and its ridiculously large size. Give it a miss unless your other interests include bodybuilding.

Canon's A570IS is a brilliant advanced camera, combining exceptional image quality with all the features you'd expect. It packs in two technologies, image stabilisation and face detect, that are sure to make an impression on consumers.

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.

Whilst it has some minor flaws, the IXUS 800 is a very attractive choice in the compact camera space, offering lightning fast operation with great colour balance and a nice design.