Ultracompact cameras

Round-up reviews let you compare four related products and find out which one is best for you

Last updated: 05 May 2005

Slide an ultracompact camera into your pocket and you can capture the moment -- any moment -- wherever you go. The smallest models are about the size of a credit card, with a simple rectangular design. Look for a lens that slides right into the body and streamlined controls that won't catch on anything when you put the camera away.

The other key feature is a big, bright LCD screen. An ultracompact may not have an optical viewfinder, so the screen is your window on the world. Having a big screen also enables you to pass the camera around and show everyone your latest and greatest photographs. The bigger the screen, the more fun you'll have.

Latest videos

Compare Products

	Canon Digital IXUS 40	Casio Exilim Card EX-S100	Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z57	Pentax Optio S5n
Review date	10 Mar 05	25 Mar 05	9 May 05	9 May 05
Editors' rating	7.4	7.5	7.3	7.3
Price range	£200	£180	£230	£200
Review summary	Putting excellent performance in an ultracompact package, the Digital IXUS 40 should please photographers who don't want manual controls or plentiful scene modes Read full review	It's ultracompact and equipped with highly versatile scene modes, but the Casio Exilim EX-S100's average image quality and limited LCD are significant flaws Read full review	At first glance, the standout feature of this camera is the huge 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD. In practice, though, we found the screen offered few advantages over the smaller 51mm (2.0-inch) screens of other ultracompacts. We were more impressed by the wide range of scene modes, the innovative tools for finding and sharing images, and the generally pleasing photographs Read full review	The latest model in Pentax's credit-card-sized Optio S range is instantly desirable thanks to its size, tidy design and bright LCD. Ease of use, a wide range of scene modes, a high-res movie mode and generally good snapshot performance add to its appeal Read full review
User rating	8.0			8.0
Form factor	Ultracompact	Ultracompact	Ultracompact	Ultracompact
Size (W x H x D)	86 x 53 x 20 mm	88 x 57 x 17 mm	87 x 58 x 23 mm	83 x 52 x 21 mm
Weight	130 g	113 g	157 g	120 g
Sensor resolution	4 megapixels	3.2 megapixels	5 megapixels	5 megapixels
Lens type	Zoom	Zoom	Zoom	Zoom
Focal length	5.8-17.4 mm	4.8-13.5 mm	5.8-17.4 mm	5.8-17.4 mm
Equivalent 35mm focal length	35-105 mm	36-102 mm	35-105 mm	35.6-107 mm
Optical zoom	3 x	2.8 x	3 x	3 x
Flash type	Built-in	Built-in	Built-in	Built-in
Expansion slots	1 SD Memory Card	1 SD memory card	1x SD memory card	1 SD memory card
	Full specification	Full specification	Full specification	Full specification