Fuji FinePix M603

Many digital cameras are supposed to be able to record video, but the quality of the image is generally poor, with little or no sound.

Combined with limited storage space, this has meant that the video function of most digital stills cameras has been little more than a gimmick.

Fuji hopes that its FinePix M603 will change all that. It's not much bigger than a packet of cigarettes with a sleek, silver design.

Most of the M603's functions are available via its menu system, which is easy to navigate using the mini toggle stick on the camera's rear. Coupled with a large 2.5in LCD screen, in the absence of a viewfinder, the M603 is very pleasant to use.

Picture quality is excellent too. The 3.1megapixel camera uses Fuji's 'Super CCD sensor' technology to bump up the recorded pixel count to about six million. As a result, still images are sharp and colourful.

Where the M603 really stands out is in its ability to record full-screen 640 x 480 resolution video. A built-in microphone records audio too, and you can plug the camera straight into a TV set to watch your clips.

The quality of the video is surprisingly good and, while it might not be quite as sharp as a true digital camcorder, it is perfectly good for casual use.

You aren't limited to filming short 10-second clips, either. The M603 has the capability to store images and video on either an IBM Microdrive or Fuji's own XD memory cards.

The bundle we looked at came with a 512MB Microdrive that could store about seven minutes of top-quality video, as well as a 16MB XD card for snaps.

Fuji plans to expand the capacity of its XD cards to 8GB, which will mean that M603 users will one day be able to store a couple of hours' worth of video footage.

The camera's only real drawback is that it uses a USB interface to connect to your PC. All that high-quality video footage takes quite a while to transfer and a USB 2 version would be most welcome.

Price: £700
Contact: Fuji 020 7586 1477
www.fujifilm.co.uk

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