Casio QV-3500EX

If you crave more control, exposure compensation can be set for +/- 2EV in 0.3EV steps. This will override the metering, which is a combination of multipattern, centre weighted or spot. This is a very useful feature and exactly what you'd expect on a serious picture-taking machine.

Apart from the standard program, there are portrait, landscape and night-scene programs too. A bulb mode (up to a maximum of 60 seconds) is also available and single images can be stitched together to form a panoramic shot. The QV-3500EX also incorporates the Best Shot mode, which compares 28 pre-programmed exposures with the scene in front of the camera for improved exposure potential. However, there are always going to be situations not catered for, and I also feel this is a slightly gimmicky feature for a serious digital camera.

One area where this camera really excelled, though, was the flash. The basic exposure is very good, doesn't over-light a foreground subject and produces balanced, natural results. It will cover up to 4m at a 100 ISO rating and the sensitivity can also be set for 160, 500 or 800 ISO.

The Casio QV-3500EX is an excellent digital camera, capable of producing superb results even at A3 sizes and above. It also feels solid and has a good spread of features, although some are, perhaps, superfluous. It's not quite a match for the C-3040Zoom, but at £426 it's good value, especially for those looking for a basic camera with few added extras.

Author: John Clements