For those after a small yet powerful camera to capture high-resolution shots, the 12 megapixel Kodak EASYSHARE Z1275 will do the trick. Its pictures aren't the best we've seen, but they should satisfy many users.

Kodak's M873 is a decent but not outstanding compact camera. The long exposure feature is nice and it is both slim and sturdy, but the pictures are marred by prominent haloing and a slightly grainy look.

While the big zoom and advanced feature set will appeal to some users and the price certainly is low, the sluggish operation and underexposed over-sharpened pictures produced by this model may be an issue.

Olympus' latest tough model, the 790 SW, is a brilliant camera suited to a wide variety of users. Whether you want a family device that you can give to the kids or a rugged photography machine for skiing and hiking, it will do the job, and while its pictures aren't exceptional they will be more than adequate for most.

Entry-level cameras are created for novice photographers and the Kodak EasyShare M753 is no exception. If you want to leave all the settings to the camera so you can get on with enjoying the moment then Kodak is still holding true to its old advertising slogan "you push the button, we'll do the rest". The ease with which this camera can be used to good effect far outweighs the criticisms of picture quality in poor light -- whether you choose form over function is another matter entirely.

While the design and feature set are fairly attractive, the Kodak EasyShare M883 unfortunately suffers from the same image quality issues that plagued its predecessor. If you're making small prints and want a simple to use point-and-shoot then this may be a reasonable choice, but otherwise you should probably look elsewhere.

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.

Samsung's i85 tries to do a few too many things at once and falls into the 'jack of all trades, master of none' trap. While it is an adequate still camera, if you're looking for solid travel or media functionality you best look elsewhere.

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.

If you're after a decent digital camera, there are better options on the market than this one. If you want an MP3 and video player that can also take a photo here or there, then the i7 can be considered, but it's not a high quality product.

If you can live with the very slow shot-to-shot times and low resolution burst mode Olympus's MJU 1200 offers a sturdy and stylish compact, which captures good images and has a nice array of features.

It doesn't take the best pictures on the market but they are fine for small- and medium-sized prints and the combination of style, strength and features makes the MJU 840 an attractive all-purpose point-and-shot.