Sony Cybershot DSC-U10

The Cybershot DSC-U10 is smaller than most mobile phones, but still manages a 1.3megapixel CCD and a small 1in LCD screen.

Some compromises have had to be made to shrink it down to this size, but by and large they're worth it.

The biggest pain is the lack of a zoom - you'll have to use image-editing software on your PC if you want to get close up to a particular area of a picture.

There's also no optical viewfinder, which means you have to frame your shot using the LCD screen.

This is easy to see, even in moderate sunlight, but in the brightest conditions it could be obscured.

This is a proper point-and-shoot camera - there's very little you can change in the intuitive interface besides image resolution and focus range.

This will appeal to some more than others, but we liked it. The whole point of the U10 is that you can take it anywhere and shoot snaps quickly, so you won't want to be fiddling with loads of different options.

Our test unit took just two seconds to turn on, which will assist these instantaneous types of shots no end.

Picture quality is good; not tremendous, but streets ahead of other, cheaper alternatives that lack LCD screens, and better than webcams we've seen that double as cameras.

You can fit about 23 pictures on the supplied 8MB Memory Stick at the camera's maximum resolution of 1,280 x 960. That's good for a 6 x 4in print if you stick to a resolution of 200dpi (dots per inch).

The U10 can also shoot short mpeg movies at up to 160 x 112.

There's a small price premium for this level of portability but, unless you enjoy lugging an expensive, heavy, professional camera around with you, it's worth coughing up.

SPECS

• 1,280 x 960 max resolution
• 1in LCD screen
• On, off, auto and red-eye flash modes
• 8MB Memory Stick card
• 160 x 112 mpeg movies (no audio)
• 2 x rechargeable AAA batteries

Details:Price: £200 (£170.21 ex VAT)

Contact: Sony 0870 511 1999
www.sony.co.uk