Ready? Say Fuji! (Fujifilm APS Nexia Q1)

Member Name: missbrowneyedgirl

Product:	Fujifilm APS Nexia Q1
Date:	18/02/04 (502 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Cheerful, Good functions for less experince photographers

Disadvantages: Neck strap, Unreliable counter

I'll let you into a little secret, I'm not very nice to cameras. However, in return they are not very nice to me and my photographs don't come out very well. Mrblueeyedboyfriend thinks it is a waste to have a good camera until you have learnt about good composition and such, hence I don't have a good camera. Well. Not good in the expensive flashy sense of the word...

I have a Fujifilm Nexia Q1 APS auto-focus camera, and what's more I'm quite partial to it! Father Christmas bought me the Q1 for Christmas 2002 after my last camera died a sorry death in Ibiza. I had seen a silver one in Debenhams which looks quite flash but wasn't what what I wanted. You see, I'm a little careless with cameras and one that looks like it might be worth stealing wouldn't stay in my possession for very long. Luckily Father Christmas spotted a suitably cheap and tacky metallic pink one in Boots!

There are two further features that make this camera ideal for me: Firstly it's APS. APS film comes in little cartridges of 25 or 40 exposures, which you just drop into the slot on the base of the camera. That's it! No messing around winding film on and no worrying about exposing the film (APS cartridges can be removed half way through without damaging the film).

This camera allows you to use 2 APS photo sizes:
C - Classic which takes a normal 6"x4" photo
H - Horizontal which takes more of a panoramic wider shot
I find this to be one of the major disadvantages of this type of film as you can't have enlarged prints when you first have your film developed. Also, you have to pay attention as the C/H switch often gets changed in your bag. If like me, you're not in the habit of checking everything, it often means your nice close up of your friend ends up being a panorama of where they are stood!

The second feature important to me is the auto-focus. You simply point and click the button on the
top to take the photograph, no messing! I can hear photographers all over Dooyoo up in arms about that, and I realise the auto-focus can often be a bad thing. I've come across it a couple of times when trying to take an extreme close-up of things, where the auto-focus fails me and aims itself at the wall behind etc. However, in the year I have had this camera it's been quite a rare occurrence and auto-focus is generally good for a beginner.

The camera itself is very compact, and nicely shaped to sit in your hand. Indeed it's barely bigger than my palm and it's smooth contoured design makes it a pleasure to use. Be careful though as it's quite easy to get your finger in front of the lens if you use two hands. The casing is also quite hardy as mine is barely scratched after a year of being thrown around in the bottom of my bag!

This little beauty also has a built-in electronic flash which automatically flashes if needed. The latest models also include a red-eye reducer which sets of a couple of smaller flashes prior to the one where the photograph is taken. Again, this probably isn't an advantage to an experienced photographer but it's great for me. The camera also has a motorised film advance (and roll rewind) which means I don't have to wind the film on myself!

On the back there is a small LCD display which counts up the number of photographs you have taken. I am always confused as to whether that';s the remaining number of pictures or the number you have taken. That also wasn't helped as the counter itself has reset, for no apparent reason, on three or four occasions since I have owned it.

Another bad point about the camera is the grey neck strap. It's quite thick and not removable (unless you were to cut it close to the camera but I think that would look messy). I have been known to wear mine, but only on occasions where (a) it matched my outfit or (b) I was too drunk to look after
the camera so a kind friend hung it around my neck!

The battery is also worth a mention. Mine ran out on the 5th January this year (just over a year's use) which I think is great going! The camera takes one CR2 which is a lithium battery. At around £6.99 they are a bit more expensive but they last well.

And finally the picture quality, and to be honest the pictures are OK. Probably good if I'm being generous but certainly not great. Having said that they aren't bad either. Realistically they are a little more what you would expect from the bottom end of the camera market.

Overall it's a great little camera for taking holiday snaps and those sorts of pictures. Don't expect miracles from it, not even if you are David Bailey, and you'll get along just fine. At only £39.99 including a Fuji APS film and a CR2 battery, you certainly get more than your money's worth!

* The camera now comes in blue, orange or silver.

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