<p>Pocket ultra-zoom cameras make great travel companions, so we're happy to see GPS and Wi-Fi built into the Canon SX280 HS. GPS means you can see exactly where you were when you took a photo, and Wi-Fi lets you upload to a smartphone and onwards to social media from virtually anywhere in the world.</p><p>The Wi-Fi implementation could be better. It's purely for transferring photos and videos, with no remote control facilities. Initial configuration with our Nexus 4 smartphone was a pain, with the phone generating a new Wi-Fi password for us to type in after each failed attempt to get them to communicate. We got there eventually through grim perseverance. It worked first time with an iPad, though, and browsing and transferring photos and videos was straightforward in both the Android and iOS app. Wireless transfers to a PC were easy, with direct access to the card contents from My Computer. If Wi-Fi and GPS don't hold much appeal, go for the SX270 HS instead, which costs around 202 including VAT.</p><p>The two cameras are otherwise identical, with 20x zooms, 12-megapixel sensors, full manual exposure control and 1080p video recording at up to 60fps. Battery life isn't so impressive, though, rated at 210 shots expect fewer when GPS and Wi-Fi are enabled. Additional batteries cost 23 from Amazon.</p><p>The metal construction feels reassuringly solid, and the ridge on the front provides some purchase for one-handed operation. Canon hasn't changed its menu system for years, and with good reason. Pressing the Func Set button reveals the most commonly used settings as a strip of icons on the left side of the screen, while others are available in the main menu. There's a mode dial and rear wheel for quick access to exposure controls. The amount of control is unusually high, with features such as manual focus and flash exposure compensation. The lack of a movable autofocus point is frustrating, though. There's a choice of automatic, centre or tracking, but being able to place the autofocus point to one side would have made it easier to compose shots more artistically.</p><p><a href="http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/digital-cameras/1302472/canon-powershot-sx280-hs">Keep reading...</a></p>