Samsung's WB500 is a compelling super zoomer on a budget

The Schneider lens on the WB500 goes all the way from a super-wide 24mm equivalent to a super-zoomed 240mm. It's a heck of a range, and genuinely useful for getting shots that would be impossible otherwise.

The downside is a lot of added bulk, bringing the size to a pocket-unfriendly 105 x 61 x 37mm (WDH).

Like the other Samsung, absolute image quality isn't quite as good as the Canon, Nikon and Sony rivals, with slightly less detail resolution and less-effective auto white balance that's prone to giving outdoor shots a slightly cold colour cast.

That isn't the end of the world, though, and the Dual IS mode - which combines optical and digital image stabilisation, while magically retaining the full 10-megapixel image resolution - even allows you to take handheld shots while fully zoomed in, at a pinch.

If you're looking for a super-zoom for as little as possible, the WB500 is superb value. It probably doesn't quite have the looks, slim lines or gadget factor to make the ideal camera, but you're getting a lot for your money.

And if you've outgrown a standard compact and might appreciate the extra zoom range - and especially that 24mm wide-angle setting - it could be the ideal choice.