If you still want the quality and portability of a good compact, it makes sense to go for one of the new rugged options now available on the market.
Look for shock- and waterproofing — after all, a compact really comes into its own when you’re on holiday. Enter Sony’s latest Cyber-shot, the slim TX20, which is built for punishment: it can be submerged in up to 5m of water and safely dropped from a height of 1.5m.
It also laughs in the face of dust and freezing conditions, so that’s beach and skiing trips sorted. As for the pictures? Thanks to good quality low-light sensitivity, noise reduction on images and the ‘Pixel Super Resolution’ technology (which boosts the impressive zoom range without losing quality), you get a lot out of the 16MP camera, including HD video. The 3.3in OLED touchscreen is super clear and bright, too.(£330, Sony)
Photograph by Studio 33
