It is 12x8x9.5cm, add the 18-55mm lens and this adds up to another 7cm to the second figure the width. The main difference between reviewing a digital camera and a DSLR for me is that the manual is essential reading. With a multi language digital you might get a dozen pages in English and what they have to say you probably knew anyway. Here it is 196 and all in English and unless you are a professional photographer I doubt that you could claim I knew that most of the time.

I think the majority of professional photographers use a Canon unit of some sort. This is quite light and a semi professional photographer friend of mine was quite envious. Of course the real professionals have umpteen lenses and numerous tripods. What I tested was with a single 18-55mm lens. I rarely start with the weight but this was only 770grams with neck strap attached, the only extra a professional would need to use would be an external flash gun.

The Canon PowerShot A580 is 9x6.5x3.5cm, the last figure is maximum and only applies at the right side where the pair of 'AA' batteries are. When the lens is extended in use the total width is 6.5cm. The plastic case is a silver/grey colour with the shutter release and lens surround in chrome. Quite unusually for a small digital camera it has a viewfinder and for those who still prefer this there are not many near entry level offerings that have them.

The total weight of the Canon HG10 is 570grams. The dimensions are 12.5x7.5x7cm. The middle figure the width can increase by another 8.5cm should you choose to use the TFT screen while capturing images and have it at 90degrees to the unit.

Like all of the Ixus range it is small at 9x6x2cm the last figure the width doubles when the 3.8 to 1 optical zoom lens is fully extended. This is very solidly constructed unit so it weights 120grams. The base has the optional tripod screw, and cover that hides the li-ion battery and also where you would insert any SD/MMC card. The right side has a very solid anchor point for a wrist strap. On the face is the 4.6 to 17.

This is not a small unit, but somewhat less in size than a DSLR. It is 11x7x4.5cm and weights close to 400grams with it's 4x'AA' batteries inserted. I found it surprising that such a powerful unit only comes with 'AA' batteries. The case is silver in colour apart from the right hand side 'the grip' area which is black. Almost all the controls are also in this area.

Adding to its already impressive range of digital cameras, Canon has released the to replace the A530 model.  This is a 7.1 mega-pixel camera that is tastefully decked out in silver lightweight casing and small enough to fit in a pocket without causing too much of an unsightly bulge.  The reason for placing the camera in a pocket is that no carry pouch is provided although you do get a wrist strap.

It seems strange to call a 30x optical zoom entry level but of the three in this grouping it is. I took both movie and still images with the and was perfectly happy with both. Canon DC201 It is 13x8x4.5cm and it's weight is around 400grams. The recording method is not the old fashioned tape or by hard disc but by DVD's. It works with both 'R' and 'RW' DVD's. However this model can also support DVD-R DL (dual layer for added recording time).

The great day dawned and the parcel delivered. The had arrived. The first shock was its size - it is very small. This feeling of inadequacy was soon dispelled as the camera had a good solid feel and sat well in the hand.

It is small and weights only around 450grams. The dimensions are a maximum of 12x10x4.5cm. The optical zoom is 10x (a lot less than some) and a standard DVD-R disc can record around 30minutes of action. The battery is said to last for around 80minutes between charges. If I said a 2.2MP camera most would say not enough. However this is a camcorder and indeed an HD one with 16:9 display.

Perhaps we could all join together and sing a chorus of Happy Birthday to Canon.  This would be to celebrate Canon's 50 years of existence in Europe and the current 20 years of sales built up by the EOS system at the heart of Canon's range of camera products.

First the size it is 10x4.5x2cm and weights less than 150grams. Silver in colour part shiny and part matt. The unit is supplied with a dock that can be used to transfer images to the PC and must be used to charge the solid battery. There is a 4x3cm TFT display on the rear that is easy to read in all but the strongest sunlight, there is - not surprisingly - no viewfinder and I can see that taking images in strong sunlight could be a problem.

The is 11.5x6.5x5cm and weights around 350grams. This is an 8mega pixel unit with 4x optical zoom. The SD card supplied is only 16MB (down probably to pressure from retailers) but I was very surprised to find it comes only standard with (4) AA batteries. Canon PowerShot A630 The TFT screen is all but 5x4cm and is described as a 2.5 inch LCD. The lens is 7.3-29.2mm giving the 4x optical.

The DC100 is Canon's entry level model in the camcorder field of digital video.  The kit consists of the DC100 camera, instruction manual, battery pack, power adapter, AC cable, stereo video lead and a SCART adapter for connection output to a television.  It should be immediately obvious that this list does not contain any mention of recording media.

Small enough to fit in a wide pocket, the is 12x5x8.5cm and given that the mini DVD are 8cm it could not be and smaller. The weight is around 400grams. Canon DC100 This unit can use DVD-R or DVD-RW discs the differences are not just that a DVD-R can only be recorded once it is then finalised and the disc taken out, place it in any DVD player - either PC or standalone - and watch your work.

The is 8.5x5.5x2cm and weights only around 200grams. Certainly the images taken with this camera look excellent. It is a 6mega pixel offering and has 4x optical zoom. Canon Ixus 800IS I have only very minor gripes to make about this unit so lets get them out of the way first. Images are stored on an SD card but only a 16MB card is supplied.

This Canon camcorder weights around 400grams and is 11x4.5x9cm when closed. The screen when open adds another 7.5cm to the 4.5cm width. The screen is itself is 6x3.5cm with four push buttons and a five position wheel below the TFT display that controls all the display movements. The rear has the battery and the viewfinder, I found the latter a little small but it did have an adjustment underneath to allow focusing to your eye.

Canon A530 It is 9x6x4cm maximum and weights less than 200grams with the two 'AA' inserted. I was rather surprised to find what looks to be a quality offering with standard 'AA' batteries. While on disappointments the 16MB MMC card is there as well, I thought that for Canon at least 32MB would now be the entry point.

I wonder if any manufacturer will be brave enough to produce a camera designed for those of us who are left handed? The majority of the body is only around 3cm thick that's until the right side where another 2cm creeps in to make your grip secure for the right handed. The total dimension are 10x7.5x6.5cm and the weight is around 350grams. Let me explain the 7.

3.2 seems to be the words for this unit. 3.2x optical zoom and 3.2mega pixel the latter to be enough to produce a decent A4 print. stated Having recently reviewed a number of quite complex offerings it is nice to look at something that is - in it's setup configuration - point and shoot. The top has two buttons on/off and the shutter.