Casio QV-3500EX

The holiday season's here, so a camera will no doubt come in handy. Casio proposes the QV-3500EX for documenting the hazy sunny days - a new version of last year's QV-3000 which proved a big favourite among both amateur and serious snappers.

A winning feature of the QV-3000 was its clear resemblance to a traditional camera, which has been retained in the QV-3500EX. Using this camera is easy even for the first-time user. Switching between record and preview modes, for example, is simple using a function wheel around the shutter release button.

The flash, timer and focus have buttons that double-up to adjust the white balance, exposure and metering when the shift button is pressed, thus removing the need to access the menu while setting up a shot. The option menu is painless to navigate through, with a well planned layout and key functions displayed along the bottom.

The QV-3500EX performs well. A maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 is good for this price, but the included 8Mb Compact Flash card will only store five images at that level. However, 43 photos at a compressed 1024 x 768 pixels will still provide adequate snaps.

Casio has included a Best Shot function that automatically decides the optimum settings for specified scenes. For example, 'Sunset' uses a red filter for enhanced results. The camera has 28 set-ups built in with another 36 on the CDRom and all can be easily selected using the Best Shot button.

Select 'Landscape with Person' and a blue outline appears on the LCD screen in which you frame your subject.

Using a flash with the LCD screen will wear out the four AA batteries in around two hours. A mains adapter would help but there is a passable viewfinder to reduce LCD use and save power. Although the Best Shot feature allows you to get good results, the manual is brief so a basic knowledge of digital photography is helpful.

Contact: Casio
020 8450 9131
www.casio.co.uk

ALSO CONSIDER: Agfa CL20. An excellent option for the more budget-conscious buyer that packs a lot in for the pennies. £152.