Credit-crunch compact: Canon PowerShot A495

The PowerShot A495 is one of Canon's most affordable compacts. The specifications are what you'd expect for the price, with 10 Megapixels, a 3.3x unstabilised zoom and 2.5in screen, and in these respects it doesn't seem to represent as good value as the Nikon COOLPIX L22 below. But don't let the average specifications fool you, as the PowerShot A495 is capable of surprisingly good results; indeed in our tests it delivered superior image quality to some models costing more, while also offering greater manual control over settings than most budget compacts. It's a good choice for anyone on a tight budget, but compare closely with the Nikon L22 below.

Pros: Great image quality for the money; simple and elegant design.
Cons: No stabilisation; relatively small screen; slow flash recycling.
Overall: A capable budget model with great image quality.