Agfa ePhoto 780c

At such a low price of £169, it's hardly surprising that the 780c doesn't win any prizes for image quality. The lowest 320 x 240 setting is of limited use, and the maximum image size the Agfa can handle without interpolation isæonly 640 x 480. Even at the highest picture quality setting of 1,024 x 768 the word 'sharp' isn't an adjective that springs readily to mind. The fixed-focus optics only make for blurred results and an inability to resolve any real level of detail. Aæhalo-type effect also appears on high-contrast edges, possibly as a result of the PhotoGenie image enhancement routine that PhotoWise applies in the course of downloading images.

The software supplied is limited to Agfa's usual application, which handles image downloading and organisation, plus Kai's Photo Soap SE. With these, you're able to do some basic photo-editing, which is all that's really needed for a camera such as this.

In terms of quality, the 780c isn't a viable replacement for a traditional 35mm film camera - you still need to spend significantly more money to approach chemical film quality. Email users, however, could find that its low price, ease of use and the lack of time it takes for the unit to process images make it a definite contender for party snaps.

Author: David Fearon