The Kodak EasyShare ZD710 is a compact digital camera that looks just like a small digital SLR, thanks to the rather large Schneider lens.

However, the ZD710’s lens suffers the same problem as many compact digital cameras with large lenses - it’s not stabilised and you’ll have to provide manual support.

The Kodak ZD710 offers 10x zoom and 7.1-megapixels of resolution. This will allow you to make prints of up to 35×26cm. It can also take 640×480 movies in either 10.5fps (frames per second) or 20fps. It can shoot in either full auto or Program AE mode and you can choose from three scene modes from the main dial (sports, portrait and night). For more scene options you’ll need to access the menu.

The EasyShare ZD710 weighs in at around 300 grams. It features two viewfinders - one is above the lens and the other is an LCD screen. Because it’s styled as a “mini dSLR”, it’s not the most compact digital camera in the world, and nor is it meant for digital photography novices. However if you’re looking for the next step up from an entry-level digital camera, the ZD710 is an option to consider.

Click here to find offers on Kodak digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The S630 is Samsung’s entry-level digital camera, and they don’t come much more affordable than this.

It carries a recommended retail price of $149, which is good value in itself, however retailers often offer significant discounts on this Samsung.

Of course, for this price tag you can’t expect anything too flash from the S630. It’s a basic, lightweight camera with minimal features and specifications, including 6-megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.

Operating the camera couldn’t be easier - this really is the epitome of “point and shoot”. There are three large buttons on the back of the camera that guide you through the whole process.

Last but not least, considering the price range, the S630 delivers fairly reasonable image quality. The camera represents good value for anyone looking for a basic digital camera.

Click here to find offers on Samsung digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Don’t be deceived by the Nikon Coolpix P5100’s looks - it’s not actually a digital SLR (dSLR) camera.

This is actually a compact digital camera - though the price tag alone should give that fact away.

As compacts go, the Nikon Coolpix P5100 is pretty chunky. In fact, it weight in at 200g, which is more than the slimmest compact digital cameras on the market.

However the P5100’s extra bulk allows the camera to pack a hefty punch in terms of performance. It’s a 12-megapixel model that has the handy inclusion of an optical viewfinder (as well as an LCD display).

For a compact digital camera, the P5100 has a lot of manual controls, making it suitable for anyone who is looking to move up to a dSLR camera in the future. Its controls and handling are also similar to a dSLR, if you want to get a taste for it.

As with most Nikon digital cameras, image quality is excellent - both for still images and in video mode. Speed performance is slightly sub-par, however you may be willing to forgive this if you’re on the lookout for a more advanced compact digital camera.

Click here to find offers on Nikon digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The Canon IXUS 80 IS compact digital camera won’t be in stores until March, however chances are that anyone who wants this camera likes to know about things way ahead of time.

That’s because the IXUS 80 is shamelessly designed to appeal to style hunters: it comes in a choice of five colours (blue, camel, pink, brown or silver, pictured here) and with a lightly curved chassis.

This 8-megapixel Canon digital camera comes with a 2.5-inch LCD screen, which reproduces colours faithfully (or so the manufacturer claims). The screen is dirt and scratch resistant, too, so you can slip it into your pocket or handbag.

Other key features include a 3x optical zoom lens with optical image stabliliser, face detection technology with in-camera red eye correction, motion detection and noise reduction technology.

The recommended retail price for the Canon IXUS 80 IS will be confirmed closer to its March release date.

Click here to find offers on Canon digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re looking to get your first digital Single-Lens Reflex (dSLR) camera, the Canon EOS 400D makes an ideal entry-level model.

dSLR cameras are generally preferred by more experienced amateur and professional photographers. So if you feel you’ve outgrown your compact digital camera and are looking for more precise photos, it may be time to step up to the next level.

Unfortunately dSLR camera tend to be far more expensive than compact digital cameras - they may set you back several thousands of dollars, depending on what features you require. However, this is not the case with the Canon EOS 400D. It’s one of the most affordable dSLR cameras on the market - and Canon hasn’t scrimped on the features, either. The EOS 400D boasts a good mix of automatic and semi-automatic controls so you can start experimenting with photography without being thrown in the deep-end.

But the Canon EOS 400D isn’t just for beginners. If you’re already familiar with using a dSLR camera, you can make the most of the included manual controls to show off your skills.

Keep in mind that if you want to take photos in high resolution, you should pick up a CompactFlash card also as the internal memory won’t fit more than a few high-resolution images.

This digital camera is incredibly portable and easy to use, and is also very fast so you won’t miss out on that great shot while you’re waiting for your camera to ready itself.

Click here to find offers on the Canon EOS 400D digital SLR camera near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Jumping off high things, skiing down a mountain in a blizzard, surfing a 20-foot wave - these activities aren’t for everybody.

However if you are a member of that exciting breed known as an “extreme sport enthusiast”, you’ll want to get your hands on the Oregon Scientific Waterproof Action Cam.

Up until the arrival of the Action Cam, cameras that could safely film extreme sport activity were pretty much the domain of professionals making documentaries and so on, given the hefty price tags. However Oregon Scientific claims its Waterproof Action Cam is the world’s first waterproof and shockproof hands-free digital video camera for amateurs.

It comes equipped with mounting equipment for handlebars, helmets, your arm and more. This means you can strap the camera on and capture all the action from a first-hand perspective as you’re skiing, surfing or jumping out of a plane. It can even go underwater.

It films in resolutions of either 640×480, 320×240 or 160×120 and at either 30 frames per second or 15 frames per second (30fps will give you a smoother recording while 15 will give you more recording time). The image quality is surprisingly good, too, considering its recommended retail price is just $199.

The Action Cam comes with USB and RCA cables included so you can play your footage back on a TV or computer.

Click here to find offers on waterproof digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Panasonic has never really been known for its digital cameras, particularly in the digital SLR (dSLR) category.

However Panasonic’s latest dSLR camera, the Lumix DMC-L10, is definitely an improvement over previous models and brings the manufacturer within striking distance of its more established competitors.

The DMC-L10 is a smallish digital camera, aimed at newcomers to the dSLR market. It’s a 10-megapixel model that features some nice inclusions such as live-view mode, which allows you to view your photo on the LCD screen before you capture it. This is a feature that’s common to compact digital cameras. Beginners will also appreciate the array of scene and film modes, which is a nice way of easing into the more complex world of digital SLR photography.

The L10’s performance could best be described as solid. That’s not necessarily a bad thing - in the competitive dSLR market, there are many sub-par performers and only a handful of truly outstanding cameras. The L10 falls neatly around the middle of the bunch.

It’s not the fastest camera around in any respect, so if you need something that can be fired up and ready to go at a moment’s notice, you may need to look elsewhere. However image quality is above average, thanks to accurate colour reduction and noise minimisation.

Click here to find offers on Panasonic digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are big news these days.

This is particularly true for anyone under the age of 30, with users taking advantage of the photo-sharing aspect of these sites to keep their friends up-to-date with their lives.

Fujifilm launched its FinexPix Z10fd to target online photo-sharers. It’s a pretty basic and affordable 7.2-megapixel camera that comes in a range of bright colours anyone who likes shiny pretty things will drool over.

That being said, the Z10fd wll appeal more to someone who’s always dreamed of having a camera coloured “wasabi green” or “sunset orange” than someone who is looking for a camera with a lot of features and outstanding performance. Its affordable price tag is reflected in the performance, which could best be described as standard.

If you’re looking for a bargain-price camera that you can use to simply take some happy snaps for your Facebook or MySpace page, the Z10fd is a feasible option. For more expert requirements, look elsewhere.

Click here to find offers on Fujifilm Finepix cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re an outdoorsy person who spends a lot of time at the beach in summer or at the snow in winter, you need a waterproof digital camera.

As the name suggests, the Olympus Tough Lite 790SW is a hardy camera that can withstand some pretty harsh treatment - it’s waterproof at up to 3m, can shoot in temperatures of up to 10 degrees below zero (Celsius) and can withstand drops of approximately 1.5m.

However for all its hardiness, the Tough Lite 790SW is surprisingly sleek and compact in its looks. It’s not a heavy camera and comes with either a black, silver or orange fascia.

The 790SW doesn’t have the biggest array of features you could possibly find on a compact digital camera, however it does have some nice inclusions, such as 23 shooting modes (four underwater). There is also a movie mode and automatic flash adjustment, as well as a tool to repair red eye or images that are blurred or exposed poorly.

This is the perfect camera if you’re looking for one that will take you from the beach to the snow.

Click here to find offers on Olympus digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The Sony A700 digital SLR (dSLR) camera is the successor to the A100, which was introduced by the manufacturer in mid-2006 with much fanfare.

Despite being Sony’s very first dSLR camera ever, the A100 performed as well as some cameras from more experienced manufacturers, and carried an extremely affordable price tag of around $1500 or so.

That being said, you should be warned that the A700 (known technically by Sony as the Alpha DSLRA700) is considerably more pricey than the A100. By comparison, Sony lists the RRP as $2249 (body only), though often you’ll be able to find it for less in-store.

If you’re ready to take the next step from the entry-level A100, then the A700 has a lot to offer, including greater configurability and features. These include a handy wireless flash transmitter, dual memory card slots and SteadyShot image stabilisation. The CMOS chip is 12-megapixels, and image quality is good.

Another nice feature is the ability to display your photos on a high-definition TV via HDMI - and if you own a Sony Bravia TV, the image quality and performance is excellent, though this feature can be used with all HDTVs.

The A700 comes in several packages, depending on your lens needs, so head in-store for more information.

Click here to find offers on Sony digital cameras near you.

By Caroline Warnes