While it isn't the best ultra zoom on the market, Kodak's EasyShare Z812IS is a good all around package combining a ton of features with solid image quality and a big zoom. The high-definition video recording in particular will appeal to some users.

A competent entry into the 8 megapixel arena.

Overall the Z850 is a solid advanced camera. It doesn't take the best photographs in the world, but it performed above average in most of our tests and crams a robust feature-set into a relatively small design.

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.

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.

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

A decent feature set, a nice physical design and an easy-to-use menu system are all offset by a sensor that takes relatively poor quality images. However, at well under $200, the image quality is a moot point and this camera is well worth a shot.

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

A good camera that does many things very well. It is let down a little by its design and the fact that it costs about the same as many higher resolution models.

A solid advanced ultra-zoom from Sony that takes high quality pictures and offers a variety of advanced functions that should please.

If you're after a point and shoot, happy snap camera, Samsung's L730 might suit you well. It does have some image quality issues but it packs in all the features you'd want as well as a pretty good video mode.

With several advanced controls and 6.3 megapixel imaging, the FinePix E550 should suit intermediate photographers on a tight budget.