Samsung EX1 compact digital zoom camera

Even if you're after more professional pictures, that doesn't mean buying a big and bulky camera that's too big for a pocket. Samsung's EX1 is a case in point, being able to take pictures at a resolution of 10 megapixels.

The 3x zoom of the lens is reasonable but unspectacular, and the camera is very sturdily built. It also has a brighter-than-average lens which means it lets in much more light than most, which will always make for better pictures.

Because of that we were able to turn off the pop-up flash and shoot away in low light. On most compact cameras this would mean a drop in resolution or an increase in noise, but the EX1 suffered from neither. To counterbalance the blurred images that result from shaky hands the lens is supported by two kinds of image stabilisation.

There's no automatic lens cover so a clip-on cap is provided in the box. A narrow rubber section on the right provides grip, and the lens has a roughened surround for added support. There's a single cable to connect it to the computer and recharge the battery, or you can charge it from the mains.

Although it has an HDMI connection for attaching a flat-panel TV, the video it shoots isn't in high-definition, which is a shame.

Because the camera has lots of buttons the rear-panel layout was confusing at first. It took time to learn but the buttons did save time that would have been spent wading through menu screens.

The ‘Amoled' screen offers deeper black levels and more vivid colours than other screens, and the 3in screen here handily rotates and swivels to allow compositions from a variety of otherwise-awkward angles. Pictures looked very bright and sharp on the screen – there's no viewfinder, so shots must be composed on it too.

The Samsung EX1 is fairly expensive, but it combines a rock-solid, good creative options and excellent sharp pictures with great-looking colours. People looking to enhance their photography might be better off with a digital SLR (see Also Consider) but if you're after a top-quality compact camera, the additional spend on the Samsung EX1 is worth it.