To make a choice between cameras of any type, you need to look at how easy they are to use, the features they offer and, of course, the quality of the images they produce. This is even more true of digital cameras and here there are winners in each of the two main price categories.

As far as ease of use is concerned, it's a toss up between the Canon PowerShot A-20 and HP's PhotoSmart 618. Canon uses a more conventional design, but HP offers the advantage of easy infra-red connection to its dedicated photo printer. Although there were problems with the colour balance of some shots, previous experience with the camera suggests this is not a general problem. At under £350, therefore, look at the PhotoSmart 618 first.

In the higher price bracket, the Fujifilm is easier to use, has the larger CCD array and takes better pictures straight out of the box. Only look at the Olympus C-700 if you need comprehensive manual controls for professional picture-taking.