You don't have to spend a fortunet to get a better camera than the one on your phone.

Buying a compact camera can be a tricky business thanks to the mind-boggling range of models to choose from, so here's our pick of the best budget-conscious models available today.

All have at least 10x optical zoom with image stabilisation to give them an edge over a camera phone. If your budget can stretch slightly further, a 22x focal range can be had, meaning even the most distant subjects will fill your frame.

Each camera also packs wireless image sharing that'll make it a breeze to fire an photo across to your phone or tablet and upload it to the web. Add NFC pairing to the mix and the connection process is even quicker, providing your mobile device has compatible tech.

But what really matters is image and video quality. It's easy to get sucked into the megapixel myth that more pixels equal better results, but that's not always true. Extra resolution is important when it comes to video recording though, as while you'll be hard-pressed to find a camera that won't record HD video, not all offer the highest Full HD quality.

149.00/$179.99

If you're after an easy to use compact camera for taking on holiday or capturing a night out, something from Canon's IXUS range has long been a smart choice.

The IXUS 265 HS isn't a flagship model, but it still packs a 16-megapixel sensor that's back-illuminated to improve low light performance. There's also a 12x optical zoom lens squeezed into the sleek chassis that provides a useful focal range of 25-300mm (in 35mm camera terms).

You get plenty of features too, like Full HD video recording and Wi-Fi image sharing, with the added bonus of NFC pairing that'll let you connect a compatible device with a simple tap. Another nice touch is the Hybrid Auto mode which captures a couple of seconds of video before each shot and compiles everything into a funky montage.

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Best cheap compact camera