Fuji FinePixF710 Zoom review

Fuji's new F710 is an updated version of its F700 model.

The most conspicuous change to the original design is that the LCD preview screen at the back is now a widescreen display. By flicking a switch, you can take photos and record video either in the standard 4:3 or a wide 16:9 proportions. This is fun, but not entirely useful: wide photos simply discard the top and bottom of the image - something you can do with any camera and image editing software. The feature is more useful in video mode though, as it's not so easy to do the same for video files on your PC. The built-in flash now pops up when required, rather than being mounted directly in the camera body, although this makes little difference.

Other improvements are more straightforwardly beneficial: a 4x rather than 3x optical zoom lets you get closer to your subject, a thumbwheel on the back of the camera makes changing settings a little quicker, and the camera can now double as a Webcam while attached to a PC - the docking station has been redesigned to accommodate this feature.

However, for us the biggest breakthrough is USB 2 Hi-Speed compatibility. The F700 takes 3 minutes to transfer 128MB of photos; with the F710 the same job takes just over 30 seconds.

The level of control is remarkable for a compact camera, with manual exposure, automatic bracketing, a variety of 'burst mode' options, continuous auto-focus and much more besides. The design is stylish, compact and ergonomically satisfying, with plenty of physical controls to take advantage of the camera's flexibility.

Best of all, picture quality is as good as before, which means it's simply stunning. Purists may dislike the flattering richness of colours - this isn't a camera for capturing the grim reality of the British climate -but if you want gorgeous photos, this camera is for you. Video capture is just as impressive, with a crisp 640x480 resolution and exposure that continues to adjust throughout capture, although the zoom becomes fixed while recording video.

Fuji has made a fantastic camera even better. There's nothing else below £300 that tops it, but we'd prefer to stick with the F700, which is available for just £205 including VAT.