The eight-megapixel SX100 IS, with its 10x optical zoom, is a new class of camera for Canon. It contains a monster of a lens but is easier to use and more affordable than the typical long zoom model.

Cameras with this sort of lens length - equivalent to 36-360mm in 35mm terms - are susceptible to the effects of hand wobble when shooting at maximum zoom, so Canon has included image stabilisation to cut down on blurred shots, and the good news is that it works.

If you do want to hedge your bets by also using the flash, the fact that it’s of a pop-up version helps prevent red-eye, since the bulb is further from the lens.

Canon has also considered the ergonomics of the camera: there’s enough of it to get a good grip, and although the construction of the SX100 IS is mainly in plastic it feels reassuringly solid. The only signs of corner-cutting are the two non-rechargeable AA batteries that power the device and lasted us less than 100 shots - very disappointing.

With large and responsive buttons, the SX100 IS gets up and running in a couple of seconds, and though there’s no hotshoe for an additional flash or an optical viewfinder, Canon has provided a clear and fairly large 2.5in screen.

Settings are chosen using a four-way controller at the rear of the camera that can’t quite decide whether it’s a touch pad or a scroll wheel. As it’s easy for the thumb to slip between options, this makes for fiddly operation until you get used to its quirks.

Third grumble: there’s no doubting the larger zoom range is really handy for candid snaps and close-ups, but the fact that it’s unusable in video mode feels like a missed opportunity given the large audience of doting parents.

Still, images are what count, and the results from the SX100 IS were impressively sharp and colourful without looking unnatural. Low-light shots showed some noise, though results were better than from competing cameras even at the maximum setting of ISO1600. Overall this is a reliable budget option for those who want a large zoom but not the distracting range of manual controls that often come with that.

Vista compatible: Yes