What is it?
A compact digital camera.
How will it change my life?
The festive season will soon be upon us, when camera phones will be ubiquitous guests at every office party, Christmas lunch and yuletide gathering, capturing memories for posterity.
I've lost count of the number of blurry mobile phone snaps I've had to coo over in which a friend or relative purports to be showing me their offspring's starring role in the school nativity play, but all that is visible is an indistinguishable form which, if I squint, could at best pass for Edvard Munch's The Scream.
Despite the advancements in mobile phone cameras in recent years, for special occasions you need more oomph at your fingertips.
The latest offering in the COOLPIX series from Nikon promises everything you could need in a compact digital camera.
Good points: Taking good pictures is both an art form and a science; you need a good eye as well as detailed knowledge of lighting and atmospheric conditions.
Thankfully, Nikon has removed most of the guesswork, allowing the user to concentrate on finding a subject.
The COOLPIX S9700 employs a plethora of features and settings which work away in the background, sampling light sources, focusing and adjusting exposures.
Most people know that megapixels translate to detail in images.
The S9700 provides 16 megapixels which is more than enough for standard picture sizes.
But its true power is unleashed when the focus turns to distant objects, thanks to the 30x optical zoom and lens shift vibration reduction technology.
It's like having a telescope and tripod in your hand.
Bad points: I'm not sure what to make of the pop-out flash module.
Best for: Those who enjoy taking pictures without the compulsion for professional perfection. The S9700 is ideal for the point and snap photographer.
Avoid if: Your interest in photography starts and ends with your Instagram feed.
Score: 9/10. A camera with a celestial zoom but a terrestrial price tag. It comes in black, red and white.
Nikon COOLPIX S9700, £249.99 (nikon.co.uk)
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