Advantages: Awesomely sharp. Wide Aperture gives great control. Great colour.
Disadvantages: A little fragile. Would prefer with Image Stabiliser.

...This is the professional photographer's portrait zoom lens of choice. The constant F/2.8 aperture across the zoom range provides excellent performance in low-light, and the best control over depth of field in any zoom lens on the market today. Lens performance is exemplary. If you take the time to use the full time manual focus, pictures of exceptional sharpness can be achieved at any aperture. Some users complain of getting "soft" copies of the lens, but always refer to the excellent and free Canon service of calibration (within warranty). My own lens doesn't suffer from this, I have to say, and I do wonder whether some photographers claim that they're not getting a "sharp copy" when they're not taking the time to focus properly. Commonly referred to as "the brick" amongst Canon users, this lens is noted for its heft. It weighs... Read review

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Advantages: Professionally laid out online surveys. Product testing.
Disadvantages: Some awful incentive gifts

...~~ UPDATED FEBRUARY 2006 ~~ I joined up with ZoomPanel through ipoints in December 2003. Quite frankly, I was most unimpressed with them at first. Despite promising the potential to earn rewards and cash through ZoomPoints, the first 10 or 11 surveys they offered me only qualified me for entry into a sweepstake or prize draw. I'm afraid that I very swiftly pull the plug on any survey company only offering entries into prize draws, as in over 2 years of survey work, I have yet to win anything from any survey company prize draw or raffle. I fail to see why I should spend my valuable time completing a survey for which I get little or no reward, when you can bet your bottom dollar the company hosting it is being handsomely rewarded. However, I am most glad that I gave them the benefit of the doubt, as ZoomPanel have proved to be a good... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: 7.5 x Zoom(3 x optical), easy to use, video option
Disadvantages: Kills the battery with digi zoom, weak flash in dark conditions, instruction manual poor

...at the moment" Me - "Not interested" Assistant - "You'll find it comes with a great range of options" Me - "Does it have a zoom?" Assistant - "It comes with a 16MB SmartMedia card" Me - "That's nice. Zoom?" Assistant - "It also comes with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty" Me - "Zoom?" Assistant "And you'll also find...etc etc" Dixons is everything that is wrong with retailing. Of course, being new to the country, I could think of no other place to go. So after having this other camera thrust in my face for the better part of my lunchtime, I was eventually able to look at others. After looking at the cheapest, I worked my way up until I saw one with a zoom. I think the Olympus C-220 Zoom was about the second or third zoom-equipped camera that I saw. The looks of it appealed to me, a bit of style and very much minimalist in terms... Read review

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Advantages: upto 570mm zoom, movie mode, macro, a complete photography solution in one package
Disadvantages: slow to focus and shoot, no manual focus, advertising in software, registration terms and conditions

...Fuji FinePix 2800Zoom This digital camera is another in Fuji`s fine lineage. But I`m confused as to why other manufacturers aren`t offering any competition! No competition? It`s true, there is no competition in the sub-£500 digital camera market for a model with the equivalent of a 570mm zoom. What`s even more amazing is that I managed to pick mine up for just £269 brand spanking new. The full zoom option is only available in VGA resolution mode, the lowest available, and this is perfectly reasonable for website publishing. Even in high-resolution (2 megapixel - the highest) mode, you still have access to the 6x optical zoom, which equates to approximately 228mm. In between you also have access to the 2x digital zoom. At 1 megapixel resolution, when combined with the optical zoom, it can achieve a maximum zoom equivalence... Read review

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Advantages: excellent colours and sharpness
Disadvantages: Really need a fast charger and spare battery

...’ or you can also set the flash on ‘automatic’ and just click away to your hearts content. It has a whole host of settings, some of which include: Macro Continuous Shooting Self-Timer Auto Bracketing Movie Mode. On the ‘Mode’ dial you can choose between: Shutter Priority Auto Aperture Priority Auto Programmed Auto Auto - Manual Scene Positioning Movie Setup. The 4900 Zoom uses Super CCD with 2.4 million pixels which delivers a high resolution file with 4.32 million pixels. With the use of an ‘Adapter Ring’ you can use various lenses and filters. The lens aperture is F/2.8-11 with shutter speeds of 3 sec – 1/2000 sec. It also has two ‘Zoom’ buttons – one on the top and one on the side for convenience. It has a 6 x Optical Zoom and a 3.7 x Digital Zoom There is a video out socket enabling you, very easily... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to use, fantastic picture quality
Disadvantages: Bulky to carry around

...I have had the Olympus C-765 camera for just over a year. I find it very easy to use with a good amount of features. This model has the ultra zoom and also a digital zoom. I travel alot and this camera takes some amazing quality pictures. I find it useful for taking pictures of wildlife, as you can zoom in from quite a distance and get superb quality in the picture. This camera has 10 x zoom and 40 x Seamless zoom. It is a 4 megapixel camera. The whole camera package, which included the camera, camera case, 2 batteries, batery charger, instruction manual, mini tripod coz me £170 but this was 1 year ago so I should think the price may have come down a bit since then. You can view all your pictures on a small screen on the back of the camera which is useful while you are away on holiday as you can scan through your photos... Read review

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Advantages: Small, and makes internet sharing as easy as pie
Disadvantages: A bit expensive, no built-in hub, a bit ugly!

...When I signed up for ADSL, I got a free Speedtouch modem. It worked fine on my main computer - a PC at that time - but networking and sharing the connection was a bit of a hassle. For one thing, the main computer had to act as a 'server' all the time, and remain connected, for the second computer to access the internet. Then our modem gave up the ghost altogether. To be honest, I was slightly relieved. I'd heard a lot about how a router would make internet sharing easier, so I decided to go the extra mile and spend a few more pounds to upgrade. I needed something quick, so I unfortunately had to pay the premium and buy from PC World who charged me £80 for the Zoom X3. I'm sure it's available cheaper online. --> WHAT IS A ROUTER? Routers have been much more common in big business until broadband internet made its way into homes... Read review

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Advantages: Low cost airline with Premium seating available.
Disadvantages: Only fly from a few airports in UK

...********************************** Firstly we were able to choose our seat, you can do this in Economy at a charge of £15 return. The seat pitch was 36ins. instead of 32ins, may be not a lot of difference but it was very roomy, inside passengers can squeeze past, useful if the other person is asleep. The seats were leather and quite comfortable and when tilted back you still had room . Both have a hot meal and a snack served, but Premium also has complimentary alcoholic drinks, and Economy has to pay - £3.00 each drink, plus we were given a bottle of water at the start of the flight. Increased baggage allowance from 20Kg to 30kg, an important factor for us as we were to be away for over 2 weeks and needed evening wear for the cruise. If you are over the allowance there is a charge of £10 per kilo! Zoom carry free of charge baby buggies, wheel chairs etc. Complimentary headsets...