Fujifilm FinePix S9600

Bridge superzoom from 2007 with manual controls and that classic CCD character - a fun retro-digital shooter rather than a pixel-peeper's camera.

Key specs:

• 9MP CCD sensor
• 10.7x optical zoom (28-300mm equivalent), Fujinon lens
• 2.5-inch tilting LCD + electronic viewfinder
  
• Hot shoe for external flash
• Runs on 4x AA batteries
• CF Card (1GB Included)

The S9600 (sold as the S9100 in some markets) is a proper enthusiast bridge camera with a versatile 28-300mm Fujinon zoom, full manual controls, and even a tilting screen and viewfinder. But let's be honest about the appeal here: you're buying this for that classic CCD look, not for clinical sharpness. These older Fuji CCD sensors have a distinctive colour and rendering - warm, characterful, and unmistakably "2000s digital" - that's exactly what people are chasing now for the retro-digicam aesthetic.

Battery note: We strongly recommend using lithium AA batteries or quality rechargeables with this camera. Digital cameras can drain standard alkaline batteries quickly, and lithium/rechargeable cells provide much better performance and reliability.