An adequate but not particularly impressive compact, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T77 wins points for style and size but it has a few image quality issues and a somewhat irritating touch-screen interface.

Samsung’s entry-level S860 has plenty to help new camera users, but its images don't help it stand out from the crowd.

The S1070 packs the standard range of point-and-shoot features into a body backed up by capable technical specifications. Apart from a few niggles, it takes accurate, good quality photographs.

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-T500 is a decent compact camera with some nifty features such as 720p video recording. However, its touch-screen interface is irritating and its images are noisier than normal.

A good, high-end compact camera, the Samsung NV 100 HD has a few image quality issues but they can be overlooked. The manual shooting modes combined with the touch-screen interface will be enough to attract some users. Its price tag is perhaps a little high, but touch screens don't come cheap.

A great mid-range compact camera, the Olympus MJU 1010 should serve most happy snappers well with its combination of style, good image quality and useful features.

A good but not great entry-level ultra-zoom, the Kodak EasyShare Z1012 IS should satisfy users looking to take the next step up from a compact, as long as they can put up with a bit of lag between their shots.

Kodak's EasyShare V1273 is a decent compact camera that is hampered by its poorly implemented touch-screen interface. The shots are fairly good although a tad soft, but the controls will get the best of even the most tolerant user.

A good choice for novice photographers, the Canon PowerShot A1000 offers a mixture of high quality 10-megapixel pictures and a beginner-oriented feature set. It does, however, capture quite noisy shots, making night photography somewhat difficult

Olympus' MJU 1060 is a pretty decent beginner camera with its large screen and bevy of novice modes, but its images have some issues and it can be slow at times.

It won't produce fantastic pictures but if you're after a no-fuss camera for the occasional happy snap then maybe the Nikon CoolPix S560 will fit the bill.

While some competing units may be better for more advanced users, Sony's Alpha A300 is a compelling option for first-time SLR buyers with its combination of image quality, features and an intuitive menu.