Camera buying used to be easy: compact for casual use, a hefty SLR with a big lens for the more advanced. Now things have turned digital, you can take great shots with one the size of a pack of cards. It’s not hard to find something snappy-looking and pocket-sized, but there’s such a range to choose from it can be hard to find the best.
In the early days you could judge digital cameras by the number of megapixels: the higher the number, the more pixels in the light sensor and the betterquality the image. Now, these ratings are so high as to be meaningless.
Just to complicate matters, some cameras have high megapixel ratings that actually give worse photos, adding extra ‘noise’ and purple distortion to the images. Bottom line: don’t just judge by the number on the front.
More important is the size of the memory card you get with it. Often cameras only come with one big enough for only eight photos, so seek out deals that throw in larger ones. Also worth having are desktop charging cradles and complimentary software such as Photoshop Elements.
Below are our pick of the best. All work perfectly with Windows Vista, swiftly transferring their contents to Windows Photo Gallery.
For taking out and about
Olympus Mju 760 £159
Product Olympus Mju 760
Price £159 (from pixmania.co.uk)
Web
www.olympus.co.uk
The Olympus is an aesthetically appealing camera, which makes it all the more unfortunate that it’s not the best at actually taking photos. It’s far from terrible, but the 7.1- megapixel sensor is oh-so-slightly sluggish in operation, and the resulting photos are slightly dull, lacking the really rich colours you get from the Canon.
The controls are fiddly, too, with both a mode dial and a profusion of buttons on the back. This is slightly alleviated by some very good on-screen help, which gives you text descriptions of the desired effect – ‘brightening subject’, ‘shooting subject in motion’ – which you can choose to set up the camera for.
In all other respects it’s a capable, if not exceptional performer. It starts up quickly, there’s very little shutter lag, and it generally performs very well.
The only real operational problem is the lack of a normal viewfinder, so you’ve got to use the screen to frame the shots. This isn’t unusual – the same is true of all the cameras here – but the 760 suffered more than most when used in bright sunlight, when the screen was hard to see.
Buy it if... You want a camera that’ll withstand physical violence more than most.
Don’t buy it if... You want the best-quality images or extreme simplicity.
For the best photos
Canon Digital Ixus 75
Product Canon Digital Ixus 75
Price £189 (from pixmania.co.uk)
Web
www.canon.co.uk
Compared to the peacocks elsewhere in this test, the Canon is positively dowdy, with a rather glum silver-andblack finish. On paper it doesn’t stand out much, either, with the same 3x optical zoom as the other cameras in this test and sharing the same 7.1 megapixel resolution as the Olympus.
But from the photographer’s viewpoint, the view is much better. For starters, it’s a lot bigger: a three-inch display gives plenty of space to frame your photos and peruse the extensive on-screen menu options.
The real selling point, however, is the image quality: using the preset settings, this produces consistently great photos. It can do even better if you’re prepared to get your hands dirty with the more advanced options.
All these extra features do come at the expense of the camera being not quite as easy to use as others, but if you want to go that bit further – be it having a touch more control over how the images come out, or using other features such as the panoramic stitching – it’s the best choice here.
Buy it if... You want great photos and more control over how you take them.
Don’t buy it if... You want something very simple or something very cheap.
For superior photos without expert knowledge
Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 £149
Product Casio Exilim EX-Z1050
Price £149 (from pixmania.co.uk)
Web
www.casio.co.uk
If you’re still new to this digital photography lark, or can’t be bothered to sit down and work out what the numbers mean, try the Exilim. This camera makes it easy to pick a ready-made shooting mode, with a whopping 38 presets tailored for subjects ranging from food to football.
Rather than giving you a jog wheel of symbols, you just press a button and pick a mode from the thumbnailed list on the screen. It’s a fairly minor simplification, but it makes a real difference: you’re much more likely to switch to the right mode if you don’t have to spend a frustrating amount of time trying to find it.
The pictures are very good, too. The 10.1-megapixel sensor trumps the other cameras here, and the auto-focus is remarkably good. To top it off, despite the big screen and sensor, the Exilim is still small too, coming in only slightly bulkier than the others in the test.
Buy it if... You want big, good-looking images with the minimum of fuss.
Don’t buy it if... You want the smallest possible size, or the best possible photo
For looking sharp
Fuji FinePix Z5fd £143
Product Fuji FinePix Z5fd
Price £143 (from pixmania.co.uk)
Web
www.fujifilm.co.uk
While it may look like it’s been designed purely to fit into a Barbie-approved handbag, the Z5fd is a surprisingly capable camera. The lens might be fixed, but there’s a 3x zoom hidden behind it and it gives really impressive images.
There’s no sign of any distortion or irregular colours, even in extremely detailed outdoor scenes, despite the 6-megapixel sensor being the lowest amongst its contemporaries. Indoor shots are equally impressive. It’s quick, too: from snapping the cover open to taking the fi rst shot takes seconds.
Problems with the FinePix really are minor; relying on the cover as the on/off switch means it’s easy to inadvertently switch it on in your pocket, and any resultant lens grease can be a pain to get rid of – it’s well worth investing in a carry case. Other than that, it’s an impressive device that looks sharp and gives really impressive results.
Buy it if... You want a stylish camera that takes great photos
Don’t buy it if... You want something understated
Conclusion
You’ve probably noticed that of all the problems you face when buying a digital camera, quality should not be one of the prevalent issues. All the models here are fundamentally sound devices, and none of them are out-and-out bad: you’ve got to delve deep into the realms of dubious Korean imports with brand names that sound like Pokémon characters for that.
If you go with more than three megapixels from a known manufacturer, you’re unlikely to encounter many problems.
However, there’s still a wide variety in terms of ease of use. If you’re still quite new to it all, though, you can’t really go wrong with the Casio. It reduces all those options for white balance, ISO and more to a mere 38 presets. Which might not sound like much, but it makes a big difference when all you’ve got to do is pick one and you’re set up for your shot.
The Fujifi lm is almost as simple, and has better looks on its side as well as great image quality – it’s really much better at taking photographs than you’d expect from something so obviously designed for the styleconscious. It’s a very competent all-rounder, and a great choice if you want something to haul around the summer barbecue and wedding circuit. It’s also, mercifully, available in more subdued colours than our raspberry pink one.
The appeal of the Olympus is earthier; while it doesn’t have the simplicity of the Casio or the élan of the Fuji, it’s competent and should prove more resistant to the trials of family life.
However, in terms of sheer quality the Canon comes out on top. The pictures were the best of all the devices we tested, the screen was the biggest, and while you’ve got a few more controls to learn, the results are worth it. It’s also the most reassuringly built of the four: there’s pleasing solidity and a sense of being well screwed together that makes it very satisfying to use. If you cherish quality above all else, it’s worth the extra money.
