Fuji FinePix F610

As is the case with most areas of modern technology, advances in digital camera quality are measured in numbers - in this case the number of pixels that make up each image. Until recently, Fuji has claimed that it's not how many megapixels you've got but what you do with them that counts.

Diverging from its own songsheet, however, the company has now released a consumer camera with a whopping six-megapixel resolution. Combined with Fuji's own Super CCD technology, you get what Fuji claims are photos made up of more than 12 million pixels. In practice, this translates to fantastically detailed photographs that will withstand being enlarged well beyond the standard print size. Colours are slightly less vivid than those achieved by other similar cameras, but it could be argued that the F610's colour reproduction is simply more realistic.

While it isn't exactly small, the F610 certainly isn't huge or heavy and is designed in an upright shape. In practical terms, this allows for the presence of two screens on the camera's rear - one colour screen to line up your shots and view them back, along with a smaller backlit screen for configuring the camera's various settings. It's a good system that leaves the main screen uncluttered so that you can concentrate on composing your shot. Also worth noting is the camera's high-quality video capture and 3x optical zoom lens.

There are a few niggles, though. The buttons are slightly awkward to use - they're small and arranged vertically down the of the camera's rear. And, despite the large file sizes generated by its high resolution, the F610 is only supplied with a 16Mb xD memory card, which will fill up fast if you're snapping at the highest setting. The camera can also only transfer data to a PC via USB, rather than the faster USB 2. Nevertheless, the F610 is keenly priced for a camera of its calibre and there's no arguing with its performance.

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

See also:

Fujifilm Finepix F420 Zoom

Point and click with a Super CCD.  02 Jul 2004

Kodak EasyShare LS743

This camera from Kodak is small in size but not in number of features.  09 Jun 2004

Canon Digital Ixus 500

A small, robust entry to the Ixus range.  04 Jun 2004

Fujifilm Finepix S7000 Zoom

Well designed and featuring a Super CCD.  21 May 2004

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1

This digital camera is compact in size but big on features.  29 Mar 2004

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