Nokia N82
The best shooter, $998

A SPEEDY Gonzales, it fires almost instantly, so that you can bag slick, sharp shots.

Not only does this gadget boast an ultra-fast shutter speed (pictures are captured in less than two seconds), but the images produced are also razor sharp and unpixelated.

Even better, the phone reproduces images that look bright and clear, even when the image was shot under low-light conditions. Great for those shows held in dimly lit venues.

My only gripe? The icons do not rotate when I flip the phone from landscape mode to portrait mode.

LG Viewty
The head-turner, $798

ATTENTION fashion-forward photophiles: This is your sexy point-and-shoot.

Tipping the scales at just 112g, and sporting a glossy piano-black chassis, the Viewty is a handsome snapper that yields sharp images.

For one, the phone was great when shooting under low-light conditions - images looked bright and distinct.

Too bad I can't say the same when the flash was on: it renders pictures white-washed and pixelated.

And don't try to zoom. When I zoomed in to 75 per cent, the image was unacceptably grainy.

Although photo quality isn't anything to shout about, its saving grace lies in its array of editing features. Users can crop a picture, include text messages and even stamp designs on a photo.

Perfect for those who like tweaking things.

One more thing - this gizmo is a perfect companion for avid bloggers as it allows you to upload pictures to your blog with a quick button press.

Samsung SGH-G800
The best editor, $838

UNLIKE its anorexic cousins, which the market is awash with, the SGH-G800 looks decidedly fat and unglamorous. At 18.8mm thick, it made an unsightly bulge when I stuffed it into my back pocket.

But looks aside, the phone will endear itself to most photography fanatics. For one, it turns out vivid images, with colours that are bright and punchy.

Its anti-shake function lets you snap crisp shots even when you are trembling with excitement at the hottest Chanel garb being trotted out.

For people who love customising their shots, this gizmo comes packed with a variety of effects - like sepia tones, black-and-white colours and mosaic prints - which you can use to make your photos look pretty.

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Apr 1, 2008.