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 Sensor size. Almost without exception, compacts have much smaller sensors than SLRs. If the lens is good they’ll probably still produce decent results at moderate ISO ratings but start to struggle at higher speeds (typically 800 and above), and they’ll never match a decent SLR for dynamic range, which can count for a lot in uncontrolled outdoor light. But not all compacts are equal. Sensor sizes do vary. Unfortunately, sizes are usually given as a reciprocal (eg 1/2.5in). We can only assume this is done deliberately, to obscure the truth of how small these sensors are. Take the common 1/2.5in size, for example; this sensor measures about 5.8 × 4.3mm, which is less than one-fifteenth the light-gathering area of a typical SLR. 1/1.8in is a large sensor for a compact. It’s still a lot smaller than an SLR but it is at least another way of narrowing down the excess of choice.

 Speed of response. This used to be a major weakness of compacts in general compared to SLRs. The delay between pressing the button and actually taking the picture could be half a second or more. This may not sound much but in fact it’s excruciating. Fortunately most compacts are now much livelier, although they still trail behind SLRs for real action shooting. In choosing between compact cameras, shutter response (aka shutter lag) definitely helps narrow down the field. However, many manufacturers are still coy about it; you may have to drill deep into spec sheets for this figure, or go to independent reviews. Be careful not to confuse this with ‘shooting speed’, which usually refers to how many frames per second a camera can capture. Being able to shoot four or five frames per second is helpful, but it’s no substitute for a nippy shutter response.