The good: Has aperture- and shutter-priority exposure controls; sensor-shift image stabilization; wide ISO range.

The bad: Sluggish between shots; shows minor noise even at ISO 400; no full manual exposure mode.

The bottom line: The Fujifilm FinePix F50fd should works for most photographers, in fact, it would even please those who are slightly more advanced.

The good: 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens; HD-video recording; stylish design.

The bad: 3.6x zoom only; no battery charger supplied; proprietary port for charging and data transfer.

The bottom line: The NV24HD is a stunning camera, but the performance is only typical of the usual point-and-shoot.

The good: Stylish design; intuitive 3-inch touchscreen; manual exposure control; 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens; improved image quality.

The bad: Slow startup time; Face Detection didn't recognize faces with spectacles; oddly shaped stylus.

The bottom line: Besides the startup time and stylus, it is hard to find fault with the FX520. Image quality has also improved and we really like the features that are incorporated with the touchscreen.

The good: Optical image stabilization; optical viewfinder; decent photos.

The bad: Poor shot-to-shot performance; small LCD; awkward design; no optical zoom in movie capture.

The bottom line: A solid compact snapshooter, the Canon IXUS 970 IS nevertheless disappoints when compared with its predecessors and line mates.