Pic of 2009's digital cameras

WE’RE being bombarded with new compact digital cameras--all smarter than the last, packed with mind-boggling new features that virtually edit the pictures as you take them.

Here's a guide to the highlights of the Spring launches.

PIC of the bunch has to be Canon’s rugged 12.1 megapixel Powershot D10.

Waterproof to a depth of 10 metres, drop-proof from a height of 1.22 metres, dust-proof and freeze-proof to minus10 degrees centigrade, it's designed for outdoor enthusiasts.

But anyone who has smashed their camera on the pavement or absent-mindedly jumped into a pool with it in their pocket on holiday could do with one of these. And just because it's tough doesn't mean it's insensitive.

The 12.1 megapixels give you huge high-resolution poster-size shots and the 3x zoom helps you frame your subject with ease.

There’s an anti-blur feature which takes the movement of both camera and subject into account when the shutter captures your shot.

The D10 comes with Canon’s most intelligent automatic suite of features to date.

Smart Auto mode uses scene detection technology to work out every variable in the frame including subject brightness, contrast, distance and colour. It then selects the best mode from 18 choices to give the best quality picture.

The face detection feature includes blink detection so your subjects won't be caught with their eyes closed.

Other ultra-rugged cameras include the Olympus Mju (right) TOUGH-8000 (shockproof to 2m, waterproof to 10m, crushproof to 100kg and freezeproof to -10°C) and Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TS1 (left) (waterproof to 10 feet, shockproof to 5 feet, and dustproof).

Since compact digital cameras were launched, Canon’s Ixus range has led the way in style and function and the latest 110 IS 12.1-megapixel model (below left) freeze-frames that tradition.

With a 4x 28mm wide-angle image  stabilizer lens and HD video, it is beautifully powerful and slimline.

Comes in silver, gold, pink or blue for £349.

This 9-megapixel Samsung PL10 (right) knows who your friends are even if you  don't.

The face detection feature on this camera recognizes your subjects and sorts them into favourite faces.

There’s even a beauty shot mode which retouches faces to give brighter and smoother skin tones.

Available from April 2009 in silver, royal black, arty red, candy pink and purple for £179.

Samsung’s 12-megapixel WB550 (left) includes a world-first 10x optical zoom and 24mm ultra wide angle Schneider lens for around £299.

TEN years ago, who'd have thought you could buy a Nikon for £149?

Well the new Coolpix S220 (below right) won't cost you a penny more and for that you get a highly compact 10-megapixel camera with 16 automatic settings, making it very versatile.

There's also a NIKKOR 3x zoom lens, vibration reduction, good low-light capabilities and motion detection.

At just 18mm thick and weighing 100g, it is stonking good value. Comes in aqua green, red, cobalt blue, magenta and black.

Further up the range comes the Coolpix S630.

With 12-megapixels and a 7x optical zoom, the quality is enhanced by smile mode and a blink proof function which automatically shoots two sequential frames and saves the shot in which the subject's eyes are wide open.

It even shoots at 10 frames per second in sports continuous mode. Also amazing value at £289.99.

Kodak have launched another winner in their Easyshare range—the Z915 (left), with an image stabilised 10X  optical zoom lens.

And the smart capture feature means the camera works on capturing the scene in top quality from the split second you press the shutter.

Lightweight and compact, the Z915 is available in a variety of colours: red, blue, black and grey.

Helpfully, it also takes AA batteries so you don’t have to remember to lug a charger around with you. Available at £179.99 from May.

SONY’s new flagship model in the Cyber-shot range is brilliant for action photography, offering big 9.1-megapixel shots at high-speed shooting of up to 10 frames per second.

The HX1 (below right) has an eye-watering 20x optical zoom and 28mm wide angle lens with a steady shot feature to keep pictures clear when you are at full zoom.

It uses technology adopted in Sony’s bigger SLR and you can create some breathtaking landscapes by holding down the shutter button and sweeping the camera across the horizon.

The HX1 quickly and seamlessly stitches together a high-speed burst of frames to create an extra-wide, high resolution image.

Panoramas can be viewed as a scrolling preview on the HX1’s three-inch LCD screen, on Sony’s new S-Frame digital picture frames or even on a PS3 games console.

It also has anti-blur and a quiet-shooting mode for taking wildlife pictures. You can even take HD movie clips with this camera.