Compact cameras group test

With a multi-megapixel camera in your mobile phone, do you even need a separate digital camera anymore? You do when it looks as good as one of these stylish snappers. Forget the bulky, sluggish digital cameras of old – today’s slimline snappers are confident, speedy and packed with useful features such as movie recording (some even in high definition), face detection trickery and image stabilisation.

You should look for a camera that is light and thin enough to slip into your bag or pocket, but with a large screen for easy framing and a generous battery life to get you through a full day (or longer) without recharging. Another feature worth paying a bit extra for is good low light performance, indicated by a high sensitivity rating of ISO 1600 or above.

Fujifilm FinePix F60fd

If you need a little hand-holding when taking your pictures, the F60fd is an ideal choice. It has more (and more useful) automatic features than almost any camera out there. In fact, it’s pretty tough to take a bad photo with it, even if you want to. Delve into the menus on its bright 3-inch screen, though, and you’ll find manual features to let you take control of the shutter, colours, sharpness and more. Pictures throb with vibrant colours and detail (it has a hefty 12MP chip) and the TV-sized movies aren’t too shabby, either.
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Go to the Fujifilm FinePix F60fd product page >>

Nikon CoolPix S60

Nikon has stuffed the svelte S60 with all manner of automatic goodies – there’s even an anti-blink lock to prevent your subjects looking sleepy. But the touchscreen keeps it easy (if not particularly quick) to use. Photos look very crisp and sharp from the 10MP chip, although you might want to boost the colours to see them at their vibrant best. And don’t be fooled by the HDMI connection for HD TVs – the S60 shoots video in old-school standard definition only. Still, the best choice on test for style, features and price.
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Go to the Nikon CoolPix S60 product page >>

Olympus 1050SW

This is the perfect camera for anyone who’s regretted leaving behind their camera when they’ve gone kayaking, skiing, mountain biking or simply sunbathing at the beach. It’s small enough to fit into the tightest rucksack and gives bright, colourful 10MP snaps whatever the weather. A motion-sensitive Tap control system even lets you adjust basic settings (such as the flash) while you’re wearing ski or scuba gloves. Smart, tough and sexy.
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Go to the Olympus Mju Digital 1050SW product page >>

Panasonic Lumix FX150

This is a camera for someone who takes photography seriously – a digital SLR user who’s travelling light, perhaps. Build quality is simply superb, from that beautiful Leica lens to the razor sharp 2.7-in LCD display. Geeky features include a multiple exposure mode, monochrome and sepia shooting and the ability to tweak colours and exposure. However, it’s pricey and if all you’re going to use it for is snaps of your cute puppy, you might feel a little short-changed.
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Go to the Panasonic Lumix FX150 product page >>

Sony Cyber-shot T77

It’s rare that an all-out style product can hold its own against more traditional designs but the T77 manages it and then some. The slide-down lens cover and large touchscreen mean that it is easy and fairly quick to use, and its 10MP pictures look good enough to grace any catwalk. The Smile Shutter feature is the best in class, reliably tripping the shutter just when your subjects are grinning – handy when taking pictures of younger kids. Perhaps the only drawback is its Gucci-level price.
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Go to the Sony Cyber-shot T77 product page >>

PriceRunner Recommended
Nikon CoolPix S60

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Go to the Nikon CoolPix S60 product page >>

This group test features the best products from the most popular price range for Compact cameras – under £250.

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