Canon PowerShot A520

This 4-megapixel camera comes in a large chassis that’s less pocketable but easier to hold steady when shooting pictures. It also makes the most of this extra space by including a 4x optical zoom – a third more than any other camera we’ve tested at this price point. The camera doesn’t come with batteries included – it takes two AA-sized ones though, so will run off rechargeable or standard versions.

A dial on the top of the camera can be used to change a lot of the basic settings, with the usual options for still or movie modes, but also providing quick access to the pre-selected settings for shooting portraits, landscapes, night shots or fast-moving objects. If you’re more serious about your photography it’s also packed with extra manual settings that are quick and reasonably easy to use.

Picture quality is great, producing really clear, sharply focused images. The only downside is that it only shoots to a maximum of 4 megapixels, which leaves it a little behind in terms of image detail.