One of the features of my new camera (Nikon Coolpix S9300) is that it has an HDMI port to enable it to be directly connected to a TV to show pictures and to play back videos. This would be a really good idea were it not for the fact that the HDMI port included on the camera is a Mini HDMI port!

I have a number of HDMI cables already, to connect various bits of equipment to the TV but none has a Mini HDMI plug on the end. So, I was left with the option either of buying yet another cable but one with a Mini HDMI plug at one end and a full-size one at the other end or buying an adaptor. The adaptor seemed by far the best idea as then I could carry it around in the camera case whereas a complete cable would take up far too much room. Most people have an HDMI cable these days, to connect set-top boxes or DVD players.

I checked out what was available and it appeared that StarTech is just about the only manufacturer of these adaptors and they sell at around £12, more than the price of many complete HDMI cables. Then I discovered that Tesco appears to sell the StarTech device under its own brand name, at a far more reasonable £4.97. I popped down to my local Tesco and got one.

On examining it I can see no difference and, knowing that Tesco don't normally make their own own-brand products, it would appear that they simply resell the StarTech device at a far more reasonable price.

I connected it to one of my spare HDMI cables and plugged it into the camera. As a test I used the video I shot recently in Turkey, of my wife learning to water-ski. The video played perfectly, sound and vision.

So, if you need a Mini HDMI connector, you could save yourself a bit of money by buying the Tesco branded version of the StarTech adaptor and be no worse off.