Sony's Cyber-Shot DSC-T200 is an interesting camera. Its pictures suffer from some sharpness and chromatic aberration issues, but are still good enough for small and medium sized prints.

Another solid touch screen offering from Sony, the Cyber-Shot DSC-T70 is a slightly slimmed down version of the T200. It offers relatively good quality pictures and combines them with a touch screen interface and a slick design.

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.

If features like live view, image stabilisation and dust reduction appeal to you, then the Olympus E-510 might be just what you're looking for. While its pictures are a little on the soft side compared to competing models, they are perfectly adequate for most uses and the feature set is certainly enticing.

While the FujiFilm FinePix Z10fd is a smooth and simple looking camera, its pictures are less than impressive. If you merely want a happy snap camera for the occasional 4x6in print then maybe this model will suit you, but there are equally intuitive units on the market that capture much better snaps.

For at least a little while it appears the Canon 40D is king of the hill. While the Nikon D80 and D200 both provide reasonable alternatives for enthusiasts, and the Nikon D40x and Canon EOS 400D are both more suitable options for amateurs, the 40D's blend of great pictures, rugged construction and speedy operation make it a great purchase.

Panasonic's FZ18 is a solid ultra-zoom camera. While the price tag is high, many users would be better served spending that money on an SLR, whereas those after a huge zoom lens and a mass of features along with several beginner-friendly shooting modes may find what they're looking for here.

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.

While image quality isn't the FX33's strong point, it still produces perfectly fine small prints, and thus its novice-friendly feature set and speedy operation makes it a good choice for those after a happy snap camera.

The Sigma SD14's Foveon sensor manages to capture exceptional colour, however in terms of image noise, sharpness and general ease of use, it is a little lacking. Considering the price tag there are much better buys in the SLR space unless extremely strong colour reproduction is your focus.

The IXUS 960 IS is a great compact camera from Canon. Consumers looking for a high-end camera to back up their SLR or to take their photography to the next level will love this unit.

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.