It's going fast

Sony Alpha a7 CSC + 28-70mm Lens - £1,499 from jessops.com

This new breed of CSC or Compact System Cameras offer all the functionality of larger cameras but have removed the mirror so they're smaller and lighter. This unit is Sony's flagship snapper right now, offering a 24.3 megapixel sensor into a sturdy magnesium unit weighing in at just 416g. Clever internal workings mean it has super-fast autofocus tracking for quick-moving targets (be that sports' day, or a trip to the Grand Prix).

Colour portable

Nikon 1 S2 Compact System Camera 11-27.5mm Lens - £379.99 from jessops.com

We were initially drawn to this one for its summer inspired casing, but on further inspection the internal workings and image delivery are just as impressive. There isn't a viewfinder but you'll soon get over that when you see what the 14.2 megapixel sensor does offer; shooting at speed and delivering 20 frames per second in autofocus and up to 60 in fixed focus. These are specs to make bigger and more expensive cameras weep - and a built-in flash just adds to their woes.

Starters orders

Canon EOS 1200D with 18-55 mm lens - £439.99 from currys.co.uk

To coincide with the launch of this new model, the folk at Canon have released an EOS companion app to help get beginners through their first DSLR experience. But though it may be aimed at newbies to the big camera market, with an 18 megapixel sensor and a decent ISO light sensitivity level that enables almost see-in-the dark performances, this Canon definitely has a serious side too.

Tough nut

Ricoh WG-4 - £289.99 from currys.co.uk

If you're inclined to be a tad clumsy with your gadgetry, this Ricoh is the one for you. The 16 megapixel WG-4 is built to put up with water, bumps, knocks and shocks, and (for those not clumsy but inclined to extreme adventuring), it can also work in freezing temperatures and underwater to depths of up to 14 metres.

Send and share

FujiFilm FinePix F900EXR - £159.99 from amazon.co.uk

This little belter is almost half its launch RRP, but a year on, can still (easily) hold its own with later arrivals. Inside, you get a very decent 20x zoom lens plus 16 megapixel images and a load of feature options to tweak your shots. On-board WiFi makes it easy to send images to your tablet or PC for saving and sharing, too.

Mobile style

Samsung Galaxy WiFi Digital Camera - £199 from jessops.com

By incorporating the Android operating system, this Samsung Galaxy camera really packs a punch in the feature list. The 16.3 megapixel camera has a touchscreen interface accessing a huge 21x zoom via the 4.8-inch HD touchscreen display. It takes pretty decent video footage too. Oh, and it features Samsung S Voice inside that responds to commands like smile, record video and zoom in. Clever.

App of the week

Gift Fix- Free on Google Play and iTunes

In a near instant this app lets you choose from 50 very cool gifts and send them to those on your last-minute (or belated) birthday present list. Just select your gift from the app, pay and confirm and you're done. The gift of convenience.

Amazon Top 10 Paid Apps

1. Minecraft - Pocket Edition

2. Tipping Point

3. Plants vs. Zombies

4. The Chase

5. World Escape

6. Birds of Britain

7. Monsters University

8. Nav for Google Maps

9. Montezuma Puzzle

10. Kindle Security Pro

Amazon Top 10 Amazon Free Apps

1. Pet Rescue Saga

2. The Secret Society - Hidden Mystery

3. CSI: Hidden Crimes

4. Get Water!

5. Sonic Dash

6. BBC Media Player

7. Moshi Monsters Village

8. Tap Black: Avoid white tile

9. BBC iPlayer

10. Facebook