Toshiba PDR-M25

Thanks to the huge upsurge in interest in the field, there's cut-throat competition in the digital camera market.

Specifications are shooting skyward while prices are wedged in the basement as manufacturers try to wean folks off their film fixation. The hottest part of the market is around the £200 mark, and this is where Toshiba's new PDR-M25 is pitched.

Anyone familiar with digital cameras will spot that this is a chunky piece of kit. It still fits in the pocket but, if something dinky is required, this is not the best choice.

While we're at it, the other niggle worth mentioning is the fact that the plastic lens cap is very easily dislodged when the camera is being carried about, putting the lens at risk from scratches and other damage.

With the grumbles out of the way, we can discuss the positive aspects of the PDR-M25. Firstly, the camera is very fairly priced. With a resolution of 1,792 x 1,200, the 2.2 megapixel camera is very good value.

The Toshiba's 8Mb SmartMedia card will hold about six to eight photos but the cheaper price means that you can spend the money you saved buying more storage. Image quality is as good as we'd expect, while the 3x optical zoom provides plenty of tinkering opportunities when lining up shots.

Snappers new to digital cameras are often annoyed by the second or two that the cameras need to reset between shots, but we were impressed by the speed at which the Toshiba recovered.

The 1.5in LCD screen for viewing images and subjects is easy to see and the menus are simple to navigate. It is powered by four AA batteries, which could prove expensive compared with the rechargeable cells found in other cameras.

Price: £187

Contact: 0115 976 6958
www.home-entertainment.toshiba.co.uk

Also consider: Nikon Coolpix 775
A well-specified mid-range camera. £300 *****.