Nikon Coolpix S9900

The Coolpix S9900 is a pocket compact released in 2015. It weighs 289g and measures 112 x 66 x 40mm, so it carries easily in a jacket pocket or a small bag. A fixed lens and the small 1/2.3-inch sensor keep the body this slim.

It suits travel and everyday photography more than specialist work. The flip-out screen helps with group shots and awkward angles, while Wi-Fi provides a wireless connection and GPS tags your files with location data when you are away from home.

You compose entirely on the rear screen, since there is no viewfinder. The battery is rated for 300 shots per charge, so carry a spare or the charger for longer days out.

Stills come from a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor in the small 1/2.3-inch format. That resolution handles prints and web sharing comfortably, while the compact sensor keeps the body slim. Sensitivity settings run from ISO 100 up to ISO 6400.

The lens is fixed, so there are no lens decisions to make and no extra glass to carry. Sixteen autofocus points are on board, and shutter speeds reach 1/4000s.

Continuous shooting reaches 7 frames per second. That figure is a top speed rather than a promise of sustained capture, so treat it as the camera's stated maximum for a sequence of frames.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps handheld shots in fading light. It does nothing for subject movement, so a moving subject still needs a faster shutter speed. Framing happens on the screen, as there is no viewfinder.

Video recording tops out at Full HD resolution, and the camera can shoot at frame rates up to 60fps. Full HD is sufficient for online clips and home movies, and the higher frame rate keeps motion smoother when the subject is moving quickly.

A built-in timelapse mode condenses slow events, such as a sunset or clouds crossing a landscape, into short clips without any extra accessories.

Clips record as MPEG-4 or MOV files, and the camera offers both formats.

The flip-out screen helps when you are filming yourself, letting you check the framing from in front of the camera. Stabilisation keeps handheld footage steadier during walking shots, though it reduces camera shake rather than subject movement.

The 3-inch TFT LCD carries 921,000 dots, and it is where you check focus and composition before you shoot. It flips out from the body, which helps at waist level, overhead, or when framing yourself. Touch control lets you adjust settings directly, while live view shows the scene as you shoot.

Wi-Fi provides a wireless connection for the camera. GPS runs alongside it, tagging files with location data that can help you remember where each shot was taken. Bluetooth is not built in.

A built-in flash adds light in dim rooms. External flash is not supported, and the body has no weather sealing, so keep it sheltered in rain or dust.

Photos save to a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card. The slot takes the full SD family, though the single slot rules out an in-camera backup copy on important shoots.

The EN-EL19 battery is rated for 300 shots per charge. The rated figure does not guarantee real-world endurance, which varies with how much you use the screen and wireless features, so plan a top-up or carry a spare for longer days out.

USB charging lets you refill the battery through a USB cable. That gives you a straightforward way to top up between shoots, provided you have a suitable USB source nearby.