Question on Digicams:

I am looking for a camera that offers a good balance between style and substance. So far, the Canon IXUS range and Sony T300 seem to be the most sensible choices. What do you say? My budget is about S$600.

Submitted by CNET Asia reader, via email

Answer:

S$600 is quite a generous budget for a compact shooter these days, so you should have quite a selection to choose from. Canon and Sony are good choices if you want a shooter that looks good and yet delivers on performance.

For Canon, take a look at the Digital IXUS 80 IS or the three latest models, Digital IXUS 85 IS, 90 IS or 970 IS. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T300 scores well for its design and large 3.5-inch screen (currently one of the largest for cameras), but not everybody agrees with its performance. So do read our review on the T300 before you head down to the store to get a better feel of the camera.

Another camera I would recommend is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX520. While it may not be the slimmest shooter out there, the metal body exudes a unique charm that may appeal to some people. The hybrid touchscreen and joystick controls are easy to use, too. Its image quality is, by far, one of the best we've seen for a point-and-shoot.