Canon EOS700D straddles the line

The Life: Taking the Canon EOS700D out of its box can be a little daunting. This is no compact point and shoot. Instead, this sturdy digital SLR with its detachable lens is aimed at the more serious photographer.

Taking the Canon EOS700D out of its box can be a little daunting. This is no compact point and shoot. Instead, this sturdy digital SLR with its detachable lens is aimed at the more serious photographer.

Not quite a professional camera, this new 18-megapixel model from Canon is aimed at the amateur photographer or consumer who wants a more sophisticated experience.

It is quite heavy, though comfortable to hold (with both hands, you may sprain your wrist trying to take shots one-handed).

It has a standard ISO range of 100 to 12800 which can be expanded to 25600, meaning low light conditions should not pose too big a challenge. A 63-zone metering sensor and video recording at 1080p full high definition round out the core specifications .

Our test model came equipped with Canon's 18-135mm zoom lens that offers a convenient range from wide to telephoto. Quick to focus and take a clear picture, the lens features optical stabilisation to produce sharper images at slower shutter speeds.

The 700D has a built-in pop up flash and a 3-inch LCD touch screen with live view that pops out and rotates to let you experiment with different angles, adjust the frame (or take great selfies).

The screen allows you to track faces, select focus points and change settings.

For most users the intelligent auto mode will be the only one you will need to use. But for the more experimental who want greater control over each picture, the dial mode has 11 other settings as well as a number of creative filters such as toy camera, fish-eye, grainy black and white and miniature effect.

As you begin to gain confidence, you can play around with the exposure and aperture settings and hone your photography skills to take fabulous pictures. The 700D is not for beginners, but it is simple enough to master.