In the market for digital cameras there are so many options, some packed full of features that really only the most discerning, photography-inclined customers would ever use. An average person shopping for a digital camera today might not even fully know what the digital camera that he or she ends up purchasing is truly capable of.

One of the areas in which customers often to know what they want is size. Gone are the days when it was perfectly acceptable to carry around a brick-like camera, unless of course it is for professional photography reasons. Today, most casual users have adopted a smaller-is-better attitude, mostly because of the convenience of carrying around a slim and pocket-able camera. In this regard, the Samsung l200 makes for a decent buy, as it measures only 3.5x0.8x2.2 inches, and weights a meagre 4 oz.

Another aspect of a camera that is often looked at is the image quality, which most would know now to be measured in megapixels. Unlike size, this time bigger is better, and as the Samsung l200 has a grand 10.2 megapixel resolution it certainly is no slouch. More resolution means greater detail, and with 10.2 megapixels worth, the end product is practically guaranteed to satisfy most tastes.

At this juncture, things can get slightly hazier, as, for casual snap photographers there really isn't much else to consider. However, the Samsung l200 packs a godsend of a feature that will appeal to both casual and serious photographers alike, namely its optical stabilisation technology. By merit of this technology, blurry images can be avoided almost entirely, making it absolutely crucial for any handheld camera user, especially when using any sort of zoom function where even the slightest movement can make a difference.

Other aspects bound to come in handy include the various preset 'shooting programmes' that can be adjusted according to preference in order to make for higher quality photographs in certain situations. For example, some of the included presets are a night scene, landscape, fireworks, beach or snow, and close-up mode. Granted, none of these will ever match the skills of a professional photographer that can actually adjust at will, however it is a nice starting point and does provide better images.

Wrapping up the entire package are a number of miscellaneous additional, including the much famed face detection that can 'lock on' to faces and focus on them to give greater clarity in any picture. Also some functions that allow for minor editing of an image including sharpness control, contrast control, saturation control, resizing, as well as digital image rotation are all included.

In short, for any casual photographer that wants a compact, light camera that can be carried practically anywhere in the comfort of a pocket or handbag while still retaining various features that help produce good quality pictures, then the Samsung l200 is a great buy. For those thinking that one of the better mobile phone deals that offer a great inbuilt camera would suffice, think again, as yet, even the top-end mobile phone cameras cannot match a good, solid, digital camera.