Labs

One of the cheapest 7-megapixel cameras, the Sanyo has a 3x optical zoom and a 2.5in TFT. But like the Canon, it doesn't come with rechargeable batteries.

We like the choice of focusing modes, including a continuous option to track a moving subject. There's also manual white balance and a novice mode with voice prompts and onscreen messages.

Image quality was slightly sharper than the Canon - and with more detail - but at the expense of more noise and compression artefacts. It wasn't quite as good for macro shots, not being able to shoot as close, but the Xacti's anti-shake mode was far superior in low light.

Overall, the Xacti VPC-S7 can't quite beat the A460, but it does have the bigger TFT and is more pocketable.