I'm not a wonderful photographer, and am often disappointed with the pictures I take, but this camera really helps me out! Lots of features on it, like zoom in/out, different settings for different types of light etc. However, not being a real technie I tend to leave it on the auto setting, and so far have taken shots that are good enough to frame!

Transfer from the camera to the computer is really easily via a USB cable that is supplied with the camera, and it's really quick.

It does come with an instruction booklet that will tell you everything you want to know, but to be honest I just started clicking away and fiddling about with it and found it very easy to use. Recently used it to video the hunt going through a nearby town on Boxing Day and it captured the sound and images very well.

Easily stores for holidays - I put mine in a old leather fabric glassess case.

Watch out for it in Argos, as they have exclusive sales on it!

As for battery life, I only had to change the batteries once when we went on a ten day trip to Italy, and we were using it constantly for photos and videos.