Kodak EasyShare M853

Proof that a high megapixel count does not guarantee excellent photos, the M853's image quality is mediocre, at best--many of my test shots had noticeable noise (or color speckling). Scenic shots captured in bright sun had a slight bluish tinge; color saturation and contrast were acceptable. Earning an overall score of Fair in PC World's formal lab testing, the M853 scored slightly below average in color and exposure accuracy, and well below average for distortion. The movie mode was fun--if you like those old, slightly jumpy and faded 8mm movies.

Creating a panoramic shot with the M853 is quicker than with most of its competition, but with dicier results. Each panorama is limited to just three source shots (most cameras with this feature allow significantly more), and stitching happens in-camera, whereas most of this Kodak's competitors do the stitching via software in your PC. In-camera stitching makes the process extremely simple, but it also means you can't make often-necessary fine adjustments during the stitching process.

The M853 comes with Kodak's EasyShare application--a capable, easy-to-use utility for managing your digital photos. The photo editing tools are fine for casual photographers, and you can use the software to order prints online or to back up your photos to CD or DVD.

The M853 is, in short, adequate for family snapshots, where photo-quality expectations are modest.

For other, similar models, see our chart of Top 10 Compact Cameras.

--Tracey Capen