Labs

The FinePix F455 is one of the rare cameras available in a colour other than silver. The brushed-black metal finish makes the F455 attractive and it's similar in dimensions to the Canon, only slightly wider.

It has a 2in LCD like the IXUS 50, but boasts a 5.2-megapixel CCD and a 3.4x optical zoom, giving it the edge over most on test. However, paper specifications are one thing; actual image quality is quite another. Overall, the F455 wasn't too inspiring.

Outdoors, we found the F2.8-5.5 Fujinon lens over-exposed images all too easily, and colours were slightly muted. Focus throughout our tests was a tad too soft for our liking, but at least the 5-megapixel resolution meant detail was resolved well. Our park shot showed that the lens didn't become soft at the edges, but, again, colours looked undersaturated. Purple fringing wasn't noticeable, though.

Indoors, the F455's auto white balance worked a treat and produced natural skin

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tones. Noise levels were average and focus was again soft, but this was one of the better performers indoors. The same can't be said for macro ability or video quality. The smallest area we could capture was 79 x 59mm, making it the least capable on test. Barrel distortion was also evident.

When it comes to videos, the F455 has a maximum resolution of 320 x 240 with a 10fps frame rate. This pales against the competition, particularly as clips are limited to 60 seconds and the auto white balance was confused under fluorescent lights. Other marks against the Fujifilm are down to the lack of features. There's no continuous shooting mode, no panorama assist and virtually no manual controls.

In fact, there are very few controls at all. You can't adjust saturation, nor are there shutter- or aperture-priority modes. You won't find manual white-balance control or flash-level adjustment - only exposure compensation and ISO menus.

It does mean the FinePix is very easy to use - it's the definition of a point-and-shoot camera. Its user-friendliness is further enhanced by the bundled docking cradle, which means you can recharge the camera and transfer images to a PC easily. And, unlike the Casio, the USB 2 interface makes transfers quick. You'll need to buy another xD-Picture Card, though, as the supplied 16MB card is only good for six shots at maximum quality.

With the simple menus and intuitive controls, the Fujifilm will appeal to those who require a point-and-shoot model. However, there are better-value alternatives.