Digital Cameras, 3x Zoom

Olympus mju Tough-6010

Ernest Shackleton would probably have been mightily taken with the shockproof, waterproof and freezeproof mju Tough-6010. Its picture quality isn't going to blow anybody's mind, but it looks smart, offers good value for money, and can withstand a fair degree of punishment

Editor's rating 6.1

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

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

Casio Exilim EX-Z90

Casio's stuffed plenty of features into the 12.1-megapixel Exilim EX-Z90 compact camera, including a 3x zoom and an intelligent autofocus system that can work out what to focus on and how to adjust the exposure to match. The body's very neat and attractive, and it's fairly inexpensive too

User rating 9.0

Editor's rating 5.2

Nikon D3000

The 10.2-megapixel D3000 digital SLR is very much suited to beginners seeking to dip their toes further into the photographic ocean. Not only does it offer guidance on how to use it but there are full manual controls for when your know-how increases. The best thing is that its photo quality is first-rate

User rating 8.0

Editor's rating 7.5

Olympus FE-3010

The 12-megapixel FE-3010 isn't the fastest camera in its class when it comes to taking shots, but it offers good colour and white-balance performance. Considering how cheap it is, it also sports an attractive and impressively compact design, as well as solid build quality

Editor's rating 6.2

Olympus E-450

The 10-megapixel E-450 makes a number of subtle but welcome improvements over its predecessor, the E-420, and, as a result, is a worthwhile entry-level digital SLR. Offering good picture quality, comfortable handling and diminutive dimensions, it's a strong contender if you're looking to step up from a compact

Editor's rating 7.9

Sony Alpha DSLR-A330

Those who want to step up to a digital SLR could do far worse than opt for the 10.2-megapixel Alpha DSLR-A330. As long as you steer clear of its default settings, it's capable of taking some very good photos. It's also reasonably fast and offers some pleasing design touches

Editor's rating 7.0

Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

The 10.2-megapixel Alpha DSLR-A230 is a decent entry-level digital SLR for those seeking to delve deeper into the world of photography. It's reasonably fast, offers useful design features and is capable of taking some great photos. Just steer clear of the default settings

Editor's rating 7.0

Nikon Coolpix S220

The 10-megapixel Coolpix S220 is a good option for those who want a straightforward, inexpensive camera that will take photos of a sufficient quality for posting online. It's also incredibly small and lightweight, and offers very good features for its class

Editor's rating 6.8

Sony Alpha DSLR-A380

Sony has revamped its old, entry-level Alpha DSLR-A350. The result is the Alpha DSLR-A380, which sports an innovative live-view mode, a smaller and more user-friendly body, and an improved and quieter 18-55mm kit lens. Most importantly, it also takes very good pictures

Editor's rating 6.1

Canon PowerShot A480

Considering how cheap it is, the 10-megapixel PowerShot A480 takes good photos. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to better them at this price point. You should look elsewhere if you're after anything besides basic snapshots, but, otherwise, this small, attractive and fuss-free snapper delivers the goods

Editor's rating 6.8

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

Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP

We can't help but like the 10-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP, even though it's not without its faults. It looks so neat and appealing that its comparatively low price comes as a surprise, and it's waterproof up to 3m, making it a good choice for casual snappers looking for a camera to take on holiday

User rating 7.0

Editor's rating 6.5

Olympus E-620

The 12-megapixel E-620 is a solid and inexpensive entry-level digital SLR. Because it offers a host of advanced features and its interface is more complicated than it needs to be, some beginners might be put off. But those that persevere will be rewarded with good performance and picture quality

Editor's rating 7.3

Casio Exilim EX-FS10

Judged solely as a stills camera, the 9-megapixel Exilim EX-FS10 is too expensive. But it's really all about capturing movement and action, and it does that remarkably well, thanks to some truly unique and startlingly effective high-speed shooting technology

Editor's rating 8.4

Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS

The Digital IXUS 95 may be pretty, and it may be a Canon, but if you've got around £180 to spend and all you ask is a 10-megapixel sensor and a 3x zoom, it'd take you a week to read through the list of candidates. The IXUS 95 stakes its claim with beautiful design, an optical viewfinder and better-than-ever face-detection

Editor's rating 6.7

Canon Digital IXUS 110 IS

The Digital IXUS 110 IS isn't the smallest compact camera on the market, but you won't find many that are better-looking. Boasting an understated design and elegant control layout, it also shoots excellent 720p videos, sports a good screen and offers useful face-detection capability

Editor's rating 7.4

Canon EOS 500D

The 15-megapixel EOS 500D is an impressive entry-level digital SLR, offering sharp pictures and speedier performance than some more expensive models, as well as solid hi-def video capability. There are some annoyances, such as the viewfinder, but the camera's performance offers adequate compensation

User rating 9.0

Editor's rating 7.8

Nikon Coolpix L19

The inexpensive, 8-megapixel Coolpix L19 is an unpretentious and sturdy compact camera that's well suited to the rough and tumble of family use. The resolution is modest and you get very little manual control, but, in a perverse kind of way, it's a very likeable camera

Editor's rating 6.0