Fujifilm FinePix F810

It's amazing to think that just one year ago, we would have been cooing at the thought of a 4-megapixel digital camera. But it's likely that the high-street electronics shops will soon be pushing 6-, 8- and (if you've got serious money to burn) 12-megapixel models.

For the general snapper four megapixels should suffice but, like most technology, the more the better. Fujifilm's FinePix F810 is a 6.3-megapixel model, priced at a very reasonable £310.

It's quite a big camera but for good reason, as the F810 is capable of taking wide-screen photos. This will allow owners of wide-screen TVs to see their shots in full panoramic glory. However, around eight per cent of the photo will be cropped when printed at this size. For regular snaps, use the standard 4:3 mode.

Like all FinePix cameras, the F810 can double its megapixel output with interpolation, increasing the figure from six to 12. This method of stretching images loses quality, and with each interpolated snap weighing 5Mb, the 16Mb memory card will be full after just three shots. A 6-megapixel image can be printed at A4 size without any noticeable quality loss.

With Fujifilm's Super CCD-HD technology built in we were able to take some excellent shots, full of colour, even in low or bright lighting conditions. If you're not fussed with exposure, shutter speed or such settings, the 'auto' mode will allow you to simply point and shoot. However, camera enthusiasts can tinker to their heart's content with the multitude of advanced options.

If you don't like using the screen on the back there's a viewfinder and, because the lens is in the middle of the camera, it helps to control involuntary shaking. It's sturdy and comfortable to hold but because the flash pops up on the top of the camera, it can get in the way.

It offers a 4x optical zoom, macro mode up to 7.5cm and a handy button that allows you to 'lock' onto a moving image to keep it in focus. There's a dock for transferring your images to a PC via USB 2 and it comes with an adapter for viewing snaps on a TV.

The FInePix F810 is an incredibly flexible and affordable camera that will appeal to most types of camera user.

Contact: Fujifilm 020 7586 1477
www.fujifilm.co.uk

Also consider:
Sony DSC-T1 Only 5 megapixels but much smaller and slimmer.