Canon IXUS 50

OK – This camera is a great size and quality for general happy snaps. The picture quality is generally great, the menu has a good variety of options (including fun colour-swap ones), a clever date/time feature which changes colour when the camera is shaken (entertaining!) and a somewhat small but clear LCD screen. While the camera is generally solid and durable, the port and battery covers are made of a brittle plastic which break easily. As with most canons, it does not have a permanently available battery-life indicator, which means that you are often caught out with a flat battery as the indicator only turns on when a dead battery is imminent. reliable, easily navigable menus, decent quality pictures no low battery indicator until it is about to go flat, flimsy plastic port covers.

Bad – In general, the cost was not worth the trouble and unpleasant photos we've had with this camera. I have own much better digital cameras for much lower prices. Photos are too often blurry, making functions like zoom and general photography without flash to be unpleasant and disappointing in most instances. If you want to take photos and enjoy the outcome, don't pick this camera. If you want something cheap to take random shots that you may never look at in future, consider getting something cheap and barely decent, like this camera. Small in design, fast on-off time for quick snaps, nice solid feel because of brushed metal enclosure, nice features for people new to photography such as 'kids mode' and 'night shots' fragile LCD screen that isn't covered by warranty (it broke within a month of purchase), rather poor photo quality without flash due to excessive blurring at low shutter speeds (1/30 or slower), poor colour management with flash photos -- photos turn out very pale and poorly saturated)

Excellent – Still the best, but the 5MP, 3xOpt Panasonic with Optical Stabiliser and 2.5" screen is close. The software is excellent and the photos very clean. Small, light, 2" Screen, cheap and common SD memory cards Not much, only a 32mb card standard and no bag, same with all brands