On this page I’m going to give some examples of performance in more detail. These are just a few of the cameras which have passed through my hands over the last year or so and will give an idea as to their performance capability. I’ve tried to give a cross section of the better known and not so well known makes to show that these lesser knows have a lot to offer in terms of value. Manufacturers produce a huge range of cameras and many are re- branded and these can vary in quality greatly from one model to another. The name on the badge is not always the manufacturer, many are bought in units. There are, however, companies who have an excellent reputation for producing a wide range of good cameras with few serious problems.

As well as the thumbnail pictures on this page there is also a gallery including the same images at a normal viewing size of approximately 6 x 4

Not well known but quite a good performer. A simple fixed lens unit which uses AA batteries and SD memory. Point away from the sun.

Stunning lens, metering good in the right light. Struggles a bit in dull and overcast conditions . Uses AA and Smart Media. Olympus are generally good cameras.

Very popular unit back in the day, pulled out of the UK market. Good performer for its pixel size but limited.  Fixed lens unit using AA batteries and Compact Flash (only up to 64mb).

Vivitar range varies from good to poor. This one is good. Robust metal casing with 3x zoom lens. Uses AA batteries and SD. Good range of functions.

Robust fixed lens unit with excellent performance in the right conditions. Battery is Lithium and relatively expensive, memory is Smart Media.

Excellent performer, not unusual for Sony, with 3x zoom lens. This one uses Sony Memory Stick Pro and AA. Many models use Lithium rechargeable, expensive to replace.

Given the limitation of 2.4mp an excellent performer. Particularly good colour and metering. Fitted with 3X zoom lens and uses AA batteries and SD memory.

Good solid performer with 3x zoom uses AA and SD. Can’t go far wrong with Kodak, not outstanding but always good. 100 years in the business accounts for that.

The examples of cameras shown on this page I would expect to range from £5 to £25. With only a few exceptions cameras at 4mp or less have little or no value and will commonly be found for £5 or less. Cameras from 5mp to 8mp will hold their price at bit better but even then only with the higher end models. All of the cameras shown here have produced good pictures under the right conditions, even down to 1.3mp, showing that a bargain can be found. More importantly they are all honest, none of these have been marketed with outrageous claims. There are many units out there for which the makers claims are not true. For example cameras which claim to be 12mp but which are actually only 2mp but expanded by interpolation. Look for the effective mp rating. Digital zoom is another somewhat misleading sales pitch, not really dishonest but of little value in photographic terms.  All this does is crop the centre of the picture and resize it, quite often with noticeable pixelation and distortion. A 3mp camera with 3x digital zoom is effectively a 1mp crop of the centre resized by interpolation.