Fujifilm Finepix Z900 EXR

Price: £199.99

The perfect blend of style and performance, the Z900 EXR sports a 16mp back-illuminated (BSI) EXR-CMOS sensor, which is capable of producing superb images with low noise. Throw in a 3.5" touch-screen, 1920 x 1080 HD movies and sensor-shift image stabilisation and you can see why we're recommending this one!

Key specs: 16mp, 3fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (28-140mm), 3.5" TFT Touch Screen LCD with 460,000-dot resolution, 1920 x 1080 HD movies.

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

RRP: £149

If you want a solid, reliable camera at a great price, look no further. Easy to use, great image quality and well-controlled noise for a camera at this price-point, there's little room for criticism here.

Key specs: 16mp, 0.8fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (28-140mm), 3" TFT LCD with 230,400-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Nikon Coolpix S3100

RRP: £129.99

A decent all-rounder with a feature-set that includes 14mp sensor, 5x optical zoom lens and 720p HS movie mode, all in a slim line body that boasts plenty of aesthetic appeal.

Key specs: 14mp, 0.7fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (26-130mm), 2.7" LCD with 230,000-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Olympus VR-310

RRP: £116.99

This budget-friendly compact can be snapped up online for far less than the RRP and the number of features it has to offer - including a big 10x optical zoom lens, Dual Image Stabilisation, 720p HD Movie mode and 14mp sensor - really adds to the VR-310's appeal in terms of value-for-money.

Key specs: 14mp, 0.6fps continuous shooting, 10x optical zoom (24-240mm), 3" LCD with 230,400-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS37

RRP: £199.99

Slim and stylish enough for the most fashion-conscious photographer, the FS37 is also very well-equipped, sporting a 3" touch screen, HD (720p) movie mode, 16.1mp sensor and big 8x optical zoom lens. Pick it up for far less than the RRP online.

Key specs: 16.1mp, 4fps continuous shooting, 8x optical zoom (28-224mm), 3" TFT Touch Screen with 230,000-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W570

RRP: £149.99

This camera is all about delivering a fuss-free user experience. Simple controls and a stylish slim line body are combined with a 16.1mp sensor that's capable of producing very good images, 720p HD movies, Sweep Panorama mode and 5x optical zoom lens, making this an ideal option as an everyday point-and-shoot.

Key specs: 16.1mp, 1fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (25-125mm), 2.7" LCD with 230,000-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Pentax Optio S1

RRP: £119.99

A reliable no-frills point-and-shoot that can currently be snapped up for under £100. Featuring a respectable 14mp sensor, 5x optical zoom and HD 720p movie recording capability, the S1 couldn't be easier to use - a stylish option for first-time compact users.

Key specs: 14mp, 3.2fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (28-140mm), 2.7" LCD with 230,000-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Ricoh PX

RRP: £179.99

Aimed at intrepid outdoor shooters and holidaymakers who want added peace-of-mind, the colourful PX is a rugged beginner-friendly compact that boasts a 16mp image-stabilised sensor, 720p HD video and a 5x optical zoom - all in a water-, dust- and shock-resistant body for a very reasonable price.

Key specs: 16mp, 1fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (28-140mm), 2.7" LCD with 230,000-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Casio Exilim EX-Z800

RRP: £149

A wallet-friendly entry-level compact that offers a good range of features and performance for the price. A responsive compact, the Z800 features a 14mp CCD sensor, 4x optical zoom and HD 720p movie recording, making it an ideal beginner's everyday camera.

Key specs: 14.1mp, 4fps continuous shooting, 4x optical zoom (27 to 108mm), 2.7" LCD with 230,400-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.

Samsung SH100

RRP: £199.99

In terms of the technology crammed into this little compact, the SH100 offers great value for money. If you don't mind the slightly lower quality LCD, this camera offers built-in Wi-Fi, HD movies and innovative Smartphone-compatible features that will suit tech-savvy photographers to a tee.

Key specs: 14.2mp, 2fps continuous shooting, 5x optical zoom (26-130mm), 3" LCD Touch Screen with 230,000-dot resolution, 1280 x 720 HD movies.