Digital Cameras, Compact

Samsung ST1000

The 12.2-megapixel ST1000 is a classy camera, with a great design and top-notch, ultra-high-resolution touchscreen. The real stars of the show, though, are its Wi-Fi, bluetooth and GPS features. We've seen wireless cameras before, but Samsung's finally shown how it should be done

Editor's rating 9.1

Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS

Canon has played it safe with the Digital IXUS 200 IS, aiming for steady evolution rather than technical innovation. The result is a perfectly decent compact camera. It offers good colours and details at low ISOs, its touchscreen is effective and its 5x extra-wideangle zoom is very useful

Editor's rating 7.5

Canon PowerShot S90

The 10-megapixel PowerShot S90 is brilliant. At last, we have a compact camera that really does have dSLR-style features, really does approach dSLR image quality and really will fit in your pocket. As well as offering a straightforward interface, it's extremely well-built and elegant to boot

User rating 9.5

Editor's rating 9.1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Part of a new breed of camera that aims to combine the image quality and features of a digital SLR with the convenience of a compact, the 12.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-GF1 is a tantalising proposition. It costs a packet, but its photos are excellent and its build quality is really something special

Editor's rating 8.9

Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1

Fujifilm deserves a substantial pat on the back for creating the FinePix Real 3D W1. Not only does it function as a normal compact camera, but it can also use its two lenses to produce strikingly effective 3D images. This snapper's not without its downsides, but it's capable of some impressive results

Editor's rating 6.5

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1

Sony has packed an impressive amount of technology into the 10.2-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-WX1, while keeping it tiny and lightweight. Capable of delivering some very good photos, it's also one of the quickest cameras we've tested in its class, making it well worth considering

Editor's rating 8.0

Ricoh CX2

The 9.3-megapixel CX2 compact superzoom with 10.7x zoom offers capabilities that wouldn't be out of place on a cutting-edge digital SLR, including plenty of focusing options and an excellent dynamic-range mode. It also feels very well-made and responsive

Editor's rating 7.1

Canon PowerShot G11

The pro-orientated, 10-megapixel PowerShot G11 is expensive and heavy, but it's one of the best serious compacts on the market. Its cast-iron body and chunky external dials are excellent, its image quality is good, and its 5x wideangle zoom is sharp right through its focal range and right to the edges of the frame, too

Editor's rating 8.2

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj

The world's first camera with an integrated projector, the 12.1-megapixel Coolpix S1000pj's most interesting feature will either have you chortling with delight or feeling totally unimpressed. But it's not all about the projector -- the S1000pj is a pretty good compact in its own right

Editor's rating 7.8

Ricoh GR Digital III

With a fixed-focal-length lens and steep price tag, the 10-megapixel GR Digital III won't appeal to the average user. But photography professionals and enthusiasts who want a 'proper' camera in a compact body will be delighted with its rock-solid build and fantastic photo quality

Editor's rating 8.8

Sigma DP2

The DP2 is how cameras used to be -- a box with a lens, and just enough controls to let you get the picture you want. And the picture quality is excellent, offering clarity that's on a par with 10- to 12-megapixel digital SLRs and streets ahead of any other compact. You'll have to fork out for it, though

Editor's rating 7.7

Canon PowerShot D10

The 12-megapixel PowerShot D10 adds a welcome splash of style to the ruggedised camera market. Although it's not as shockproof as some of its rivals and the basic 3x zoom is nothing to shout about, it's waterproof to an impressive 10m and the lens is unusually sharp for this class of camera

Editor's rating 7.5

Casio Exilim EX-FC100

Particularly suited to action photography, the 9-megapixel Exilim EX-FC100 offers continuous shooting speeds that are out of this world, as well as plenty of other hi-tech tricks. It also takes good photos, which makes up for the fact that it's not the most beautiful camera in the world

Editor's rating 8.3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1

Other ruggedised compact cameras might be tougher, but the 12-megapixel Lumix DMC-FT1 is very well specified for its class, with a 4.6x wideangle zoom and hi-def movie mode, making it a great all-rounder. If versatility is more important to you than having the hardest camera available, it'll be worth a gander

User rating 9.0

Editor's rating 8.2

Ricoh CX1

The 9-megapixel CX1 looks smart, produces good-quality images and offers plenty of features to get your teeth into. Its high-dynamic-range mode isn't perfect, but the CX1 offers excellent 4 frames per second full-resolution shooting, and its high-resolution LCD screen is great too

Editor's rating 7.4

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

The 10-megapixel Lumix DMC-LX3 is a compact, elegant camera that offers an enthusiast-friendly feature set and takes sharp, saturated photos. Shot times could be better and the camera's not without its quirks, but the LX3 is well worth considering if you need something more discreet than a digital SLR

Editor's rating 7.4

Nikon Coolpix P6000

Nikon's 13.5-megapixel P6000 looks so good on paper you might wonder whether you need a digital SLR at all. Its sensor matches the pixel count of any low-medium range dSLR, its 4x zoom is more than the average kit lens, it shoots raw files, has a full set of exposure modes and there's vibration reduction too

Editor's rating 7.3

Canon PowerShot G10

Still the Godfather of compact cameras, the Canon G10 is a worthy successor to the G9. A wideangle lens, accessible controls and a list of features as long as your arm put dSLR power in your pocket. The 14.7-megapixel snapper is chunky by anyone's standards but it packs in enough power to make it worth it

Editor's rating 8.7

Sigma DP1

The DP1 is the companion camera to Sigma's SD14. It uses the same unique three-layer Foveon sensor, but this time in a compact body with a fixed focal-length lens. It's designed for photographers looking for simplicity, clarity and quality rather than gimmicks, and are prepared to invest serious cash in their hobby

Editor's rating 7.6

Ricoh G600

If you live life on the edge, you need gadgets to match. The Ricoh G600 is a camera designed for extreme(ish) conditions: this 10-megapixel snapper is waterproof, dustproof and drop-proof. Though the frame is rubberised and the controls oversized, giving it a toy-like quality, the G600 produces good-quality pictures nonetheless

Editor's rating 7.4