What is it?

A compact point-and-shoot camera with all the latest capturing technologies.

It's that time of year again when we pack our bags and jet away to interesting destinations (or enjoy a staycation exploring the best that Scotland has to offer).

The ritual of packing and then you reach for the camera, only to remember that you vowed to replace it when you came back from the last holiday.

Nikon's latest camera in the Coolpix series is the A1000 which combines ease of use and a multitude of features.

Good Points?

Its rugged metal plate casing gives a more robust and solid feel than previous models. You won't need to worry so much about damage when just throwing the gadget in a beach bag.

With 16 megapixels, a large electronic viewfinder and a smooth x35 optical zoom you can find even the smallest objects in the distance and capture them perfectly. Switching to 4K movie view adds another dimension to otherwise boring museum stills.

The three-inch tilting touchscreen is very user-friendly and aids with many functions such as selfies and automation of certain images that require specific effects in low light.

Bad points?

The unit lacks any significant stabilisation for a camera in this price bracket and some tasks were met with an annoying lag meaning images were lost before they were even taken.

Best for ...

Those who already own an older, cheaper Nikon Coolpix model and looking to upgrade.

Avoid if ...

You'd rather spend your hard-earned cash on a camera with less superfluous features at a fraction of the cost.

Score: 7/10.

Nikon Coolpix A1000, £409 (nikon.com)