Labs

The NV15 is a very stylish compact that has a reassuringly solid build quality. The 10.1-megapixel sensor and 3x zoom are joined by an 'intelligent' touch-sensitive menu and a shake-reduction system. The Samsung is really nice to hold, as there's a raised handgrip to help you grasp the camera body. That means the selection dial sits naturally under your thumb so choosing settings is a doddle.

The menu system split opinion with our testers, as some loved the fact that the Samsung highlighted the selection you were about to make, as it knows which button your finger is resting on. Others found it confusing, especially with the use of symbols for options. Unless you have a photographic memory, pun intended,

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for symbols and signs, the NV15 is singularly unhelpful when it comes to the first-level menus. It might be best to have a go with the Samsung before parting with your hard-earned cash.

Any issues with the operation of the finer details of the Samsung were put to bed when presented with the image quality. The colours were bright, punchy and accurate. The overall result was fantastic and up there with the best in this labs, although we deducted a few points for some noise issues, but otherwise the file was really impressive. In terms of skin tones the Samsung performed really well. Like the Canon PowerShot G9, the Samsung captured really natural and pleasing tones, but unlike the G9 it managed to team this with fantastic fine detail.

This is a really great compact camera when it comes to image quality and the specification is certainly one worth looking at more closely, although the menu system may well put you off. The reality might be that you never delve that deeply into the settings but when you do you may well find it an infuriating guessing game.

The touch-sensitive buttons might have seemed like a good idea at the time but in operation they're not actually needed. So, put any fears about operation aside if image quality is important, as the Samsung will not fail you.