There was a lament about British manufacturing in the 1970s that went something like, "Why buy British when the Japanese make it smaller and cheaper?"
This is definitely true for the Fuji Finepix XP10. It's the size of a mobile phone, yet shoots pictures that can blow-up to cover a wall; has many scene modes, face detection and intelligent flash; can shoot high-definition video; and has editing software in the camera itself. And all for under $400.
What's more, this little pocket rocket can withstand a bit of rough treatment (although Fuji recommends you don't drop it from more than 1.5m and preferably on to a sheet of plywood) and can be submerged to a depth of 3m. So far, so good.
There are, however, one or two gripes.
The functions are not intuitive and take a while to get around. Changing between modes involves several steps and takes too long. Changing ISO and flash modes is not available enough of the time. And the buttons are difficult to press - a bit too small for my hands..
On the plus side, as well as the bells and whistles mentioned above, the rechargeable battery is fully charged in about an hour and the screen is large and clear.
This is a camera that you can keep in your pocket, ready to grab a snap or short video in pretty much all conditions. It's small. It's cheap. Sorry Britain.
Travel gadget: Fuji Finepix XP10
Fuji Finepix XP10. Photo / Richard Robinson
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