The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 was announced in January 2008, exactly one year after its predecessor, the enormously successful Lumix DMC-TZ3. The earlier TZ3 was arguably the perfect travel camera, a pocketable compact which managed to squeeze in ...

10x optical zoom with 28mm and stabilisation., Large detailed 3in screen with 460k pixels., HD movies and zooming when filming., Uncannily good automatic mode., 10x optical zoom with 28mm and stabilisation., Large detailed 3in screen with 460k ...

Noise becomes a problem above 200 ISO., Little or no manual control., HD movies still no match for a camcorder., Extra screen detail only seen in playback., Noise becomes a problem above 200 ISO., Little or no manual control., HD movies still no ...

Note: Panasonic launched the Lumix TZ5 alongside the slightly lower-end TZ4. The TZ4 is identical other than having 8.1 Megapixels, a 230k 2.5in screen and no HD recording facilities. Also note the Lumix TZ5 is known as the Lumix TZ15 in Asia, ...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 is a slim 10.1 Megapixel compact with a 4x optically stabilised lens. Announced in January 2008, it comes just six months after its predecessor the Lumix FX33, which itself came only seven months after the Lumix FX30

25mm wide angle and optical stabilisation., Slim body and shorter than many rivals too., Very good Intelligent Auto mode., HD video recording but no zoom., 25mm wide angle and optical stabilisation., Slim body and shorter than many rivals too., ...

Noise becomes a problem above 200 ISO., Little or no manual control., HD movies still no match for a camcorder., 10x zoom and 3in screen of TZ5 are tempting., Noise becomes a problem above 200 ISO., Little or no manual control., HD movies still ...

Note: The Lumix FX35 is known as the Lumix FX36 in Asia, Australia and New Zealand; both models are identical other than the name. Also note some portions of the following review are based on our existing review of the Lumix TZ5, where some features ...

The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is an 8 Megapixel super-zoom camera with a 12x optically-stabilised lens and a 2.5in flip-out screen. Announced in May 2007, it's the successor to the popular PowerShot S3 IS, and has since become a best-seller

12x optical zoom with IS., Fully articulated 2.5in screen., Manual control and flash hotshoe., Optical zoom and stereo sound in movies., 12x optical zoom with IS., Fully articulated 2.5in screen., Manual control and flash hotshoe., Optical zoom ...

Noise visible throughout ISO range., Fringing on high contrast subjects., Widest-angle 'only' 36mm., No RAW recording facility., Noise visible throughout ISO range., Fringing on high contrast subjects., Widest-angle 'only' 36mm., No RAW ...

The PowerShot S5 IS is certainly a powerful super-zoom camera with some neat features. The 12x range gives you decent coverage, the stabilisation is effective, the flip-out screen allows for unusual angles, the movie options are some of the best ...

The Pentax Optio Z10 is an 8 Megapixel compact with a 7x optical zoom lens and 2.5in screen. Announced in August 2007, it has the highest zoom of any compact in the Pentax range at the time of writing

7x optical zoom gives relatively long reach ; Lens doesn't extend from body ; Lens can zoom while filming video ; Sharpness, contrast and saturation controls ; 7x optical zoom gives relatively long reach ; Lens doesn't extend from body ; Lens can zoom ...

No optical or sensor-shift stabilisation ; Poor results in our resolution test ; No true wide angle or alignment grid ; More compelling rivals ; No optical or sensor-shift stabilisation ; Poor results in our resolution test ; No true wide angle or ...

Viewed in isolation, the Z10 is a fair compact with a bigger than average zoom, and a non-extending lens which unusually can be used while filming a video. But the lack of optical or sensor-shift stabilisation is pretty unforgivable in this day and ...

The Olympus 790 SW, or Stylus 790 SW as it's known in North America, is a 7.1 Megapixel compact camera with a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5in screen. Announced in August 2007, it's the successor to the 770 SW (Stylus 770 SW), and like other models ...

Works 3m underwater without accessories ; Shock-proof at 1.5m & ; freeze-proof at -10c ; Live preview of exposure compensation ; LED lamp can provide super-macro lighting ; Works 3m underwater without accessories ; Shock-proof at 1.5m & ; freeze ...

Soft images throughout ISO range ; Pedestrian 38-114mm lens range ; No optical or sensor shift stabilisation ; Better models if you don't need toughness ; Soft images throughout ISO range ; Pedestrian 38-114mm lens range ; No optical or sensor shift ...

We tested a final production version of the Olympus 790 SW. Following our convention of using default factory and best quality JPEG settings to test cameras unless otherwise stated, the 790 SW was set to its best quality SHQ JPEG mode, Auto White ...

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-T70 is an 8 Megapixel compact with a 3x optically-stabilised zoom lens. Announced in August 2007, it features a number of gadgets including a 3in touch-sensitive widescreen monitor and the capability to not just recognise faces, ...

Slim body with non-extending lens ; 3in touch-screen monitor ; Smile Shutter mode really works ; Optional cable for HDTV slideshows ; Slim body with non-extending lens ; 3in touch-screen monitor ; Smile Shutter mode really works ; Optional cable for ...

Pedestrian 38-114mm lens range ; Noise and compression artefacts throughout ; Smile Shutter more fun than practical ; No manual control over aperture and shutter ; Pedestrian 38-114mm lens range ; Noise and compression artefacts throughout ; Smile ...

There's no denying the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 is a desirable-looking compact with some neat features. Sony's distinctive styling and unique gadgetry will see it immediately appeal to some people. And to be fair the gadgets are pretty good - the touch ...

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33 is a slim 8.1 Megapixel compact with a 3.6x optically stabilised lens. Announced in July 2007, it comes just seven months after its predecessor the Lumix FX30

28mm wide angle and optical stabilisation ; Slim body and shorter than many rivals too ; Very good Intelligent Auto mode ; Quick and easy access to settings ; 28mm wide angle and optical stabilisation ; Slim body and shorter than many rivals too ; ...

Best-used at 200 ISO or below ; Little or no manual control ; No control over noise reduction ; Bigger 3in screen of FX55 may be tempting ; Best-used at 200 ISO or below ; Little or no manual control ; No control over noise reduction ; Bigger 3in ...

Ultimately the Panasonic Lumix FX33 may not offer a great deal more than its predecessor, but it brings genuine benefits to what was already an excellent compact. So you get the small, well-built body of the FX30 with its 28mm wide angle coverage, ...

The Canon Digital Ixus 860IS - or PowerShot SD870 IS Digital Elph as it's known in North America - is an 8 Megapixel compact with a 3.8x optically-stabilised zoom lens and a large 3in screen. Announced in August 2007, it's the successor to the popular ...

28mm wide angle and optical stabilisation., Large and great quality screen., Very good build quality and design., Quick and easy access to settings., 28mm wide angle and optical stabilisation., Large and great quality screen., Very good build ...

Higher RRP than rivals., Little or no manual control., Slow continuous shooting., No Live Histogram ; coarse zoom steps., Higher RRP than rivals., Little or no manual control., Slow continuous shooting., No Live Histogram ; coarse zoom steps

The Canon Ixus 860IS / PowerShot SD870 IS has a lot going for it. The great build quality, large screen, quick response, wide angle coverage and respectable quality will be sufficient to sell it to many people.

In these respects the 860IS / SD870 IS is undoubtedly one of the best compacts we've tested, but this degree of quality and performance doesn't come cheap. Canon cameras can be heavily discounted, but in terms of official RRPs, the 860IS / SD870 IS ...

28mm wide angle and optical stabilisation., Large and great quality screen., Very good build quality and design., Quick and easy access to settings

Higher RRP than rivals., Little or no manual control., Slow continuous shooting., No Live Histogram ; coarse zoom steps

The Canon Ixus 860IS / PowerShot SD870 IS has a lot going for it. The great build quality, large screen, quick response, wide angle coverage and respectable quality will be sufficient to sell it to many people.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 is an 8.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with a massive 18x optically stabilised lens. Announced in July 2007, it comes just seven months after its predecessor the Lumix FZ8

18x optical zoom with OIS and little fringing ; Decent quality 2.5in screen ; Intelligent Auto a useful auto mode ; Good manual control and RAW facility ; 18x optical zoom with OIS and little fringing ; Decent quality 2.5in screen ; Intelligent Auto a ...

Noise visible throughout ISO range ; 50% pricier than earlier FZ8 ; No flip-out screen ; May be too small and light for some ; Noise visible throughout ISO range ; 50% pricier than earlier FZ8 ; No flip-out screen ; May be too small and light for some

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 may cost 50% more than its predecessor but it's still hard not to be impressed. While it no longer offers the same sheer value, it does give you the flexibility of a longer and wider 18x optical zoom with decent ...