What is the best compact (pocket size) digital camera for 拢250/US$475?

Hey Chris,

Best in that price range imho is the Canon Powershot A700 Digital - see the website below and look it up (I take it from the 拢 in question you are in the UK!)

Great optical zoom (canon lenses are the best in the world under 拢2000) and versatile so great for family pics, holiday snaps and most other needs. Also very easy for beginners to use, very forgiving.

I know the BEST compact digital camera to buy is the Casio EXs500. I have one myself. Its 5meg pixel,and you can take one hour of movie on 1gig SD ram. It real the Best for your Money.Price was $350.

canon powershot A620 or A700 the a620 is around 175 pounds online and 277 in shops

Talk about how long is a piece of string ! Everyone has their idea of best because everyone has slightly different requirements. I recently bought a Panasonic TZ1 - if falls into your price range is only 5MP but has a 10 x Optical Zoom - and I have been quite pleased with it.

I can only vouch for the Canon Ixus range - they're very compact, solid, and capable little cameras, and will slip into any pocket. I've seen smaller ones with better specs on the shelf in Jessops but I haven't seen them going, so they could give crap colour or something for all I know. I saw a Panasonic compact digital in use though and it wasn't that good really.