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Bottom line - the Stylus 730 is an attractive competitor in the 7-megapixel class of consumer digicams. It is stylish, weather-resistant, light weight and easy to use, while having enough resolution to make high-quality prints of 13x19 inches or larger. With a street price of about $250 at the time of this review (March 2007), it offers a good value for a 7-megapixel all-weather digicam.

Bottom line - With a street price of $250 or less, the Kodak Easyshare V705 is a very stylish digital package for anyone wanting point-n-shoot simplicity and it’s easy to carry. With its 23mm ulta-wide-angle lens, along with a 5X zoom, 22 scene modes, and Kodak’s PERFECT TOUCH and Anti-blur Technologies the V705 provides an appealing package. Since this camera is part of the Kodak Easyshare System you can easily edit your pics with the included software, share them over the Internet, or dock with an Easyshare printer and print your photos with ease.

The bottom line - Nikon’s Coolpix L5 is an appealing entry-level model. While suffering from poor shooting performance, like we have seen with all of the “L” series models, it does offer great image quality along with various high-end features. With a street price of US$249 or less, it offers an Ok value for a 7-megapixel digicam. If you liked the L5, but want a more compact model, be sure to check out our review of the 6-megapixel Coolpix L6, which can be had for about $50 less.

Bottom line - The Pentax Optio M20, with features such as Auto Picture, Blur reduction, Movies with Anti-Shake, Face Recognition AF and AE, and an outstanding battery life, make this an impressive model. It’s compact, yet fits well in your hand and has enough features to keep most camera buffs happy. With a price of under $200, the M20 is a well-balanced addition to Pentax’s Optio line.

Bottom line - Like the A500, I have mixed feelings about Fujifilm’s FinePix A700. While it does produce nice photos, the sluggish shooting performance, poor LCD display, and disappointing movie mode makes it difficult for us to recommend this model. At US$199, I feel you could find a much better model for the same price or less, with greater performance and versatility. I suggest taking a look at various other entry level models, like Sony’s 7-megapixel Cyber-Shot DSC-W35.

Bottom line - Sony has put together yet another awesome “W” series model. The Cyber-shot DSC-W35 is an affordable “ultra-compact” that offers performance and features that rival more expensive 7-megapixel digicams. That said, the W35 offers and outstanding “Bang for your Buck” with a very reasonable street price of only US$179 or less.