Value4Money: Digital Cameras
HP Photosmart R707 €299
Highs: This 5.1 megapixel camera is the cheapest of the cameras tried. It has a nice brushed chrome front and a 1.5 inch colour LCD display with all the controls arranged in a fairly intuitive fashion. It comes with 10 shooting modes and what HP calls Adaptive Lighting Technology, which promises to digitally correct harsh contrasts. The in-camera red eye removal is good, the time lag between pressing the button and taking the picture is short and the menu driven system is clear.
Lows: It's heavier than some of its rivals and the zoom is just average.
Verdict: Good camera, great value.
Star rating: ****
Sony Cyber-shot DSCL1 €349
Highs: This is dinky, yet at 4.1 megapixels will take flawless snaps, presuming that is, you have a flawless eye. It comes with one of the world's smallest mechanical 3X zoom lenses, the 1.5 inch LCD display is incredibly clear and the seven preset modes make it hard to mess up. The on-screen menus are intuitive and the digital video camera is good too. Keenly priced.
Lows: This camera is, if anything, too small. People with even slightly large fingers will struggle to hit all the right buttons and everyone will miss the optional viewfinder.
Verdict: A little too small, maybe?
Star rating: ***
Kodak EasyShare DX7590 €519.99
Highs: Of all the cameras tested, this looks most like an old-school point-and-click. 10X optical zoom lens, 5.2 megapixels, high-res electronic viewfinder and a surprisingly fast click-and capture time. Its video capture function is good and the ergonomic design puts all the buttons within reach. It's very easy to use straight out of the box and has the least bulky recharger.
Lows: While the recharger may be dinky, the camera isn't. It's the bulkiest tried and won't fit comfortably in your pockets. It is also the dearest of the models tried.
Verdict: Looks like a Kodak moment.
Star rating: ****
Fuji FinePix F10 €429.99
Highs: There's nothing here to frighten even a technophobe and it's simple to get up and running without the manual. The screen size is excellent and, with 6.3 megapixels, it offers more, if unnecessary, detail than any of its rivals.
Lows: The on-screen menu system can be a little baffling and the recharger is definitely so, coming in a gazillion pieces - well, okay three, not including the camera, but assembling it for the first time was unnecessary hassle. Like the Sony, it also lacks a viewfinder, but unlike the Sony it doesn't have an excuse.
Verdict: A pretty sleek model.
Star rating: ***
