Bridge cameras are the Rolling Stones of the photography world - sturdy warhorses that defy the whims of fashion and just keep going on and on.

'Bridge' simply means that they bridge the divide between a digital compact camera and a more sophisticated SLR device with its choice of myriad lenses. In other words, they are a compromise for people who want the power and speed of SLRs, without the faff and extra expense of interchangeable lenses.

Bridge cameras have always sold themselves on their integrated power zoom lenses, and the Fujfilm S9600 is no exception. It sports a whopping 10x optical zoom lens (28-300mm equivalent) which works as well for wide angle work as it does for telephoto. While this means the camera is as big and heavy as a typical consumer SLR, it also means you don't have to lug extra lenses around.

Furthermore, the S9600 is significantly cheaper than an entry level SLR with a couple of kit lenses - you can bag it for under £300, which is extremely good value.

So for most readers, the big buying decision will be made before you even consider the S9600. It'll boil down to whether you want a proper SLR or all-in-one bridge camera. If you do decide to go for a bridge, the S9600 is one of the best examples on the market. We're talking a high resolution, nine megapixel sensor that will be more than enough unless you want to print photos at billboard size, along with that powerful and flexible 10x zoom lens.

The ISO (light sensitivity) can also be boosted right up to 1600 without miring the images in noise. As with Fujifilm's cheaper compacts, this is a great camera for circumstances where you can't (or don't want to) use flash.

Owners of the older S9500 will be hard pressed to spot the changes to the new model, as it's housed in the same bullet-proof black chassis that will cause casual observers to mistake it for an SLR. Despite its bulk, the S9600 feels great in the hand, and as mentioned, you're making a significant weight saving by not having to carry around extra lenses.