…The rather awesome Fujifilm XF1. I was lucky enough to test drive it recently, and it’s safe to say that I am hooked. And yes, I confess, I’m a sucker for retro styling, but that’s not the only thing this camera’s got going for it…. (FYI new readers, as you’ve probably worked out, this is not a tech blog, so if you want useful information from someone vaguely knowledgeable then I suggest you get on Google pronto). I may not be a camera nerd, but I work with beautiful images every day and what I can tell you is that if you want an idiot-proof camera that takes great photos, has more to offer than your average compact but is less complicated than a DSLR, this is a great option (in my humble opinion). That’s before you even get to the cute vintage features like the manual adjust lens and pop up flash. There’s also a host of cool capabilities – such as instagram type filters – to play around with, and lots of other complicated sounding settings (having a lifelong allergy to instruction manuals I have no idea what to do with these) that will help you personalise your pics. Available in a red, tan or black leather casing, this is a camera that looks the business and puts the fun back into taking photos. RRP £329.99, Fujifilm.eu/uk
I have a weakness for retro-looking cameras myself. It dates back to the late 90s when I had an Agfa Silette LK. I had to manually set the focus based on my distance from my subject and with the shutter speed and F-Stop set on the lens. But that’s half the fun right? The other half is that it feels like a toy and really does make picture making fun.