Product Reviews

Once, nothing came close to the Digital Ixus for sheer miniaturisation. Now there's the Kodak DC3800... and it's over £100 cheaper

Image quality

They say size doesn't matter, and the DC3800 proves it. Its dinky little body has a fixed focal length lens, but the 2.3-megapixel CCD inside is more than a match for rivals, producing results every bit as crisp, contrasty, saturated and well-exposed as the rest. The two FujiFilm models were fractionally sharper, but at the expense of a slightly grainy

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effect.

The DC3800's exposure system coped better than any except the Toshiba with the bright skies in our test shots, and its overall performance puts it very near the top of the heap.

Features

If the DC3800 had a zoom lens, it might have won this round-up - but then, it would probably have priced itself out of contention. Chic styling goes some way to making up for it. It has auto-exposure, built-in flash and everything else you need for everyday snaps.

There's no space for a mono LCD status panel, so you'll need to use the full-colour LCD screen for picture info, putting a bit of a strain on the batteries (particularly as there are only two AA cells rather than the usual four.

The great thing about the Kodak DC3800, though, is that a CompactFlash card reader is included in the price.

Overall

OK, you don't get a zoom or more advanced manual options and effects, but what you do get is a camera that's blindingly simple to use. And that card reader is sooo much handier than wiring up your camera to your PC. If only it were a few quid cheaper...