Very good image quality ; smart automatic mode ; wide-angle lens ; numerous scene presets ; effective image stabilization

Few manual settings ; slow startup

The DMC-FX33 takes better point-and-shoot photos than your typical pocket camera.

Great looking ; slim ; fast performance ; 39 scene modes, including YouTube and eBay modes ; YouTube direct-upload software

YouTube software is Windows-only ; mediocre low-light performance

One of the better slim shooters we've tested—with a ton of features and only minor complaints.

7x optical zoom ; compact and slim, considering zoom reach ; fast startup ; stylish ; good video quality and features

Below-average image quality above ISO 400 ; lens position prone to stray fingers ; noticeable purple fringing

Slim and tiny, the L77 has a 7x optical zoom lens and decent performance. If you're highly concerned with image quality, though, you'll probably want to give it a pass.

Good overall image quality under the right conditions ; easy one-handed grip and operation ; high-end features

Performance slows when shooting with flash on ; image quality noisy in low light

A nice price and plenty of features can't make up for some performance and image-quality issues.

Compact ; 10x optical zoom ; shoots HD video ; excellent audio recording

Awkward to hold ; noisy images at high ISO settings ; short battery life

With its highly compact size, long zoom reach, and HD video recording, the TX1 offers unmatched flexibility for a pocket camera.

As long as you don't need fast performance or low-light shooting, the Kodak EasyShare V803 is a reliable compact digicam for beginner and casual photographers.

Attractive design available in eight colors ; good low-ISO pictures ; simple operation ; handy in-camera editing, sharing options ; lots of scene modes, including Panorama

Slow overall operation ; mediocre images above ISO 400 ; button layout might frustrate some users

The EX-V7 delivers good zoom reach in a very compact package, but it has awkward controls and only decent image quality.

Small ; long-reach, image-stabilized zoom ; numerous automatic modes ; full manual controls

Awkward zoom slider ; ineffective red-eye reduction ; noisy images at high ISO settings ; occasional focus problems ; charging on the road requires cradle

Its image quality is merely middling, but the Stylus 770 SW has ruggedization features that let you shoot under conditions lethal to most other cams: in a snowstorm, out in the rain, or even while scuba diving.

Drop-proof, crush-proof metal body ; can shoot underwater ; resists cold ; very compact ; digital image stabilization works well

LCD lags slightly, hard to view in sunlight ; inconsistent image quality, especially indoors ; button-heavy navigation ; panorama mode requires Olympus-branded media