Digital Cameras, Compact

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37

The Panasonic FX37 may just look like a normal digital camera, but its compact body is full of impressive features, most notably the 5x optical wideangle zoom lens and the Intelligent ISO system, which combine to turn out high-quality images. It's one of the smartest cameras on the market

Editor's rating 8.5

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300

Sony's Cyber-shot W series is the one to choose if you just want a top-quality everyday camera. For around £190, the top-of-the-range W300 gives you an amazing 13.6-megapixel sensor, a titanium-coated body, advanced face and smile detection, ISO 6,400 and 5fps shooting

Editor's rating 7.5

Kodak EasyShare M1063

The Kodak EasyShare M1063 is a 10.3-megapixel point-and-shoot camera. It's similar to the M1073, so we took it for a spin to see what distinguished the M1063 from its siblings, and other budget snappers. It's pretty easy on the wallet for under £90

Editor's rating 5.9

Kodak EasyShare M1073 IS

The Kodak EasyShare M1073 IS is a 10.2-megapixel point-and-shoot. While we've seen some scorching-hot cameras from Kodak in recent months, the blocky M1073 doesn't quite inspire the same kind of love at first sight. It does have a good 69mm LCD, optical image stabilisation and face detection, though

Editor's rating 5.7

Nikon Coolpix S52c

We've often wondered why cameras don't come equipped with wireless transfer as standard, especially as Bluetooth and, increasingly, Wi-Fi are ubiquitous in mobile phones. The Nikon Coolpix S52c bucks this trend -- it's a 9-megapixel snapper that allows for wireless email, upload and back-up of images

Editor's rating 6.6

Kodak EasyShare V1073

Everyone is jumping on the touchscreen bandwagon these days. The Kodak EasyShare V1073 is bringing its 10 megapixels and style-conscious metal body along for the ride, too. It's a classy little snapper and your images will come out looking bright and smooth

Editor's rating 6.8

Samsung NV24HD

The Samsung NV24HD makes the best of the NV series' smart touch interface. The intuitive menu system does away with wading through menus and with two mode dials, you have plenty of control. Add in excellent image quality and you've got one enormously clever compact

Editor's rating 8.6

Nikon Coolpix P60

Do you miss the days when cameras looked like cameras instead of flashy, new-fangled machines? Enter the Nikon Coolpix P60, a compact that makes retro styling cool again. A solid point-and-shoot, it strikes a balance of basic tweakability with general simplicity

Editor's rating 6.5

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170

Underneath its plain exterior, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170 hides a wealth of clever features and an extremely intuitive graphical interface. It also includes a viewfinder -- a compact rarity, these days -- and good a face detection system among its many tweakable options

Editor's rating 7.1

Pentax Optio V20

First came face detection; smile shutter mode followed shortly after and now the Pentax Optio V20 sports a 'blink detection' feature. This compact also boasts a generous 5x zoom lens to produce sharp images without distortion. With its large screen, this camera is a good budget option

Editor's rating 7.8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500

You can't go wrong with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500. This excellent compact features a 25mm wide-angle lens and a 5x optical zoom. Plus, it has myriad features, including the proven Mega OIS system, and you can tweak most of them, making this an excellent shooter

User rating 9.0

Editor's rating 8.7

Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS

You shouldn't be afraid to take the Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS home to your parents. Despite its old-fashioned LCD display size, the specification is certainly up to scratch, boasting 10 megapixels, face detection and image stabilisation. It's an affordable option with luxurious looks

Editor's rating 8.0

Canon PowerShot A580

If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful point-and-shoot compact, the Canon PowerShot A580 could be right up your street. With its cute, plastic yet sturdy body and running on AA batteries, it features image stabilisation and 15-second long shutter for interesting night shots

Editor's rating 6.2

Casio Exilim EX-Z200

The Casio Exilim EX-Z200 ticks almost every box on a point-and-shoot wishlist. Its large LCD screen and wide-angle lens plus optical image stabilisation and features galore add to the company's signature build quality and friendly interface, making it one of the best compacts available

Editor's rating 8.1

Nikon Coolpix S600

The Nikon Coolpix S600 is an attractive 10-megapixel compact. Its small dimensions and elegant brushed metal case means it won't be out of place at a party. It's one of the fastest performers in the Coolpix range and produces good images, particularly out of doors

Editor's rating 6.6

Kodak EasyShare V1273

With an all-steel casing, the 12-megapixel Kodak EasyShare V1273 is one of the best-looking, well-built compact cameras on the market. It has a larger than normal touchscreen LCD, and it produces bright and colourful photos, which cope well with high ISOs

Editor's rating 6.6

Olympus mju 1010

Another off the mju production line from Olympus, the compact 10-megapixel 1010 is slim and sleek, with good picture quality and reliable focus and exposure. The CCD-shift stabilisation works well -- this is particularly important with its impressive 7x optical zoom. Face detection is effective too, particularly with full-face portraits

Editor's rating 7.9

Olympus mju 1030SW

The Olympus mju 1030SW is a very tough and rugged 10-megapixel compact camera. It works to water depths of 10m, can be dropped from 2m and can even withstand a 100kg force. The camera takes great pics and is perfect for use in extreme conditions. Menus are easy to navigate

User rating 8.5

Editor's rating 8.1

Kodak EasyShare M1033

A budget 10-megapixel compact camera with high-definition movie mode, the Kodak EasyShare M1033 is a good choice for anyone who doesn't want to break the bank. It looks great, with a matte finish and large screen and produces bright colours. Face detection is another added bonus

Editor's rating 7.4

Olympus mju 850SW

The 8-megapixel Olympus mju 850SW is a solid super-tough camera, which is waterproofed to 3m, freezeproofed for those extra cold conditions and rugged enough to withstand the impact if you accidently drop it. Its images are warmly coloured, while exposure and focus are excellent too

Editor's rating 7.8