Value (7.5)
While the Stylus Verve lacks some of the performance elements offered on competing models, the fashionable design, ample automatic controls, and affordable price makes the camera a strong deal. Ideal for point-and-shooters in search of portability and style, for under $300, you really can’t beat the Verve.

Comparisons
Olympus Stylus 410 – An earlier compact point-and-shoot camera designed by Olympus, the Stylus 410 includes a 1/2.5” CCD with 4.0 megapixels of resolution. While the body is not as stylized and flashy as the Stylus Verve, the image quality is somewhat equitable. The Stylus 410 is headed by a larger 35-105mm variable focal length lens, spanning 3x optical and 4x digital zoom, as opposed to the Verve’s 2x optical zoom. The Stylus 410 includes a slightly smaller 1.5” 134,000 pixel TFT color LCD screen, although a more extensive sensitivity range of ISO 64-480 is included. There are 5 preset white balance settings provided but again, no custom option offered. The movie mode on the Stylus 410 will record video with audio at 15fps at 320 x 240 pixels for up to 20 seconds. The more traditional Stylus 410 frame is slightly larger then the Verve, ranging 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches and weighing 5.6 oz without the battery or memory card.

Pentax Optio S5i – The Optio S5i is Pentax’s ultra-slim, portable camera, with similar performance features to the Stylus Verve. The Optio S5i contains a 1/2.5” CCD with 5.0 megapixels of resolution as opposed to the Verve’s 4.0. The Option S5i contains a larger 36.5-107mm (equivalent) zoom range from its 3x optical, 4x digital smc Pentax Power Zoom lens. There is a 7pt AF system and lots of digital filter effects included. The Optio S5i contains an equally sized 1.8” TFT color LCD, but only provides 85,000 pixels of resolution to the Verve’s 134,000, although a Histogram is available. The two compact cameras contain equal ISO 80 – 400 sensitivity ranges with all the same options in between. One advantage and distinct characteristic of the Optio S5i is the inclusion of a custom white balance setting. The Option S5i has a similar 15fps frame rate to the Stylus Verve when shooting in Movie mode, recording video at 320 x 240 pixels of resolution. The predecessor to the Option S5i, the S4i was touted for its extremely compact frame, noted for being able to fit into an Altoids box. The S5i follows suit, spanning just 3.3 x 2.0 x .81 inches and weighing 4.2 oz WITH batteries and card. This is significantly smaller and more compact then the Stylus verve, but is it as fashionable? Guess that depends on personal preference.

Canon PowerShot SD110 – Part of Canon’s compact Digital ELPH line contains an equally sized 1/2.5” CCD with only 3.2 megapixels of resolution, compared to the Verve’s 4.0 MP. The PowerShot SD110 offers a 35-105mm zoom range with 3x optical and 3.6x digital zoom. There is a smaller, 1.5” low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD screen with 118,000 pixels of resolution included on the PowerShot SD110. The included ISO range available offers an ISO 50 setting as its lowest available rating, rather then the Verve’s ISO 64, but both extend to the same maximum ISO 400 rating. There is a long shutter mode available on the SD110, for low light shots and long exposures, as well as a custom white balance setting. A histogram is also available in playback mode. The Canon PowerShot SD110’s 3.38 x 2.10 x .83-inch frame weighs 4.06 oz (without batteries or card).

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1 – Prior to the release of the Stylus Verve, the Sony DSC-T1 was the “hottest camera” around and garnered significant attention for the T1’s compact design and fashionable allure. While the T1 currently sells for over $100 more then the Stylus Verve, it does offer significantly more in terms of performance. The DSC-T1 contains a 1/2.4" 5.0 MP Sony Super HAD CCD sensor and 38-114mm Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens, with "Smart digital Zoom," utilizing the full CCD image to avoid degradation of image quality. The back of the compact T1 is almost entirely consumed by its 2.5” 211,200 pixel TFT color LCD monitor. As one of the first movie modes to record full motion video at 30fps, the DSC-T1 captures MPEG VX video at 640 x 480 at 30fps with audio until the card is full. The user can record 5-40 seconds of audio with still images when desired and can use the camera’s speed burst mode to record up to 4 frames at 0.33 frames per second with the LCD monitor disengaged. The DSC-T1 frame measures 3.6 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches and weighs 6.3 oz with battery and card.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters - Designed for the trendy, fashion-conscious point-and-shooter, the Stylus Verve boasts an array of automatic features, portability, ease, simplistic controls, and a flashy appearance.

Budget Consumers – Currently listing for just under $300 USD online, the Stylus Verve is far cheaper than most cameras garnering as much recognition and praise. The price is right; however, the camera’s performance will only be acceptable for a specific type of user.

Gadget Freaks – Gadget freaks may be intrigued, but then likely disappointed by the Stylus Verve. Though the obscure mode dial is bound to draw some glances, that’s about all there is on the Verve that qualifies as a “gadget.”

Manual Control Freaks – The Stylus Verve is not designed for the true manual control freak. Features on the Verve are simple and elegant, so there’s not much to hold the manual freak’s attention for long.

Pros/Serious Hobbyists –A pro might pick up a Stylus Verve for the family or as a sleek, portable sidekick for acquiring day-to-day snapshots, but no serious hobbyist would use this camera as their primary imager.