Click, Flash, Snap! (Fujifilm Finepix A800)

Member Name: scotlandizdabest

Product:	Fujifilm Finepix A800
Date:	16/11/08 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great photos, Ease of Use, Features

Disadvantages: Battery Life!

*What Is It?**
The Fujifilm 'Finepix' A800 is one of the later releases by Fujifilm. It has been out for a while however but can still be purchased. This very smart camera has lots of feature which I will talk about in the review.

**Compatiability?**
The great thing about this camera is that it works with Mac OSX and all windows. I actully haven't downloaded CD software because I have already got a memory card reader. But it has editing software but can't be bothered with it as already have iPhoto which i'm happy with. However I know from previous Fujifilm software that it is very good however.

**Megapixels**
The camera is an impressive 8.3 megapixels, so you can take stunning shots. I know that as technology increases 8.3 sounds more standard every day but it can deliver excellent pictures. If its just special pictures of your family or your holiday snaps, you can take anything and still get professional looking, colorful prints.

**Packaging?*
The camera came in a sealed box with a bold picture of the camera on the front. It was well concealed in packaging and came with lots of leaflets about different photography websites which was a bit annoying as i threw them all away (well recycled them of course!) It also came with two AA batteries, a strap to hold your camera, an A/V cable, a USB cable and a CD-ROM with all the software. Oh and of course the instructions booklet.

**What the Actual Camera Looks Like?**
The camera itself is a 9cm by 3cm frame. Weighing a small 151g it is very portable. It is a stylish silver color and has a very attractive shape. The corners are smoothed off and for comforting hold. It has a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen which fills up most of the back of the camera. It has a lots of smaller buttons beside the screen with different funtions.
It has the turnstile so you can choose which mode you would like on, for ultimate phot taking. And with 8 to choose from, you can find one for your need if it is anti-blur or video. It has little illistrations to show which mode you set it on. The next to buttons down are for looking at your pictures. If you have just taken a picture you can look at it with a click of a button! And at the bottom is a ring of 5 buttons including an 'Ok' button in the centre.
Around the edge you have a 'flower' to for very close up shots. Then a flash button for different modes, then a delete button and a self timer. At the top of the camera there is the important power button. Then the shutter button to take the actual photos surrounded by a zoom switch. At the sides you have the usual USB port, Video Out etc. Then underneath you have the memory card slot and batterie holdertucked away by a battery cover. There thats your tour of this fabulous camera!

**What Features Does It Have?**
Well as i explained has lots of buttons for different modes. They are the most commonly used one for me which was automatic. If you want a shot and no hastle. That is the best one in my opion. Then theres
Baby mode- There is no flash so you only catch the natural light and will not disturbe baby
Picture Stableisation- Excellent for taking pictures of moving objects like sport and it evens works with planes (tried and tested by myself) Or even if you don't have a very steady hand!
Red Eye Reductution- Great for dark places, completely reduces red eye
Digital Zoom- My least favourite but however can be useful. Doesn't deliver the same quality as normal
Portrait- Great for taling pictures of you and your mates! My favourite mode and makes great use of natural light
Scenic Postion- Great for scenic shots
It also has lot of built in automatic modes like 'Real Photo Technolodgy' so you can make impressive, wider shots. Then theres 'intelligent flash' which calculates i you actully need a flash, then how bright it should be, then gives a balanced exposure. Smart ay?

**Long Battery Life?**
Well no. Because of all this tech and a very high resolution pictures it does fairly guzzle batteries. I found it will take about 100 pictures per battery life time, but if you want to get the best shots and spend time taking shots, then you will find the camera doesn't last longer than about 70. A disappointing battery life which can be frustrating.

**The Technical Stuff**
Well it has 3 x optical zoom and 6.3 x Digital zoom. Thats pretty good and it does deliver great results when wanting to zoom in. Also with 320 x 240 pixel 30 frames/sec movies with sound it delivers satisfactory results. Then finally the LCD screen has a fancy 'anti-reflective' coating to prevent the suns glare!

**Memory (internal and memory card)?**
The internal memory is rubbish. Only 10 Mb of internal memory and say each photo is about 1 Mb thats not even 10 photos! So you have to invest in a memory card. I got a 1Gb SD memory card. It is compatible with any xD or SD memory card and the max it goes is 2Gb. So find the memory card that will suite your cause. Please note as well, because each picture is an average of 1 Mb then it will take up alot of memory on your computer, so it may be worth investing in a larger back-up system.

**Price**
I bought mine very recently (about a week ago since review was written) from Curries for £89.97 but had to get memory card as well so that an extra £15.99. Not a bad price for that high a resoution, actully a really good price. For what you get I would just say it was average if you add all the factors together. It can be bought at Currys and Amazon.co.uk.

**Whats Right With It?**
A fantastic range of modes for the best pictures. Incredibly easy to use and didn't ever have to consult instruction booklet. The pictures i have taken are brethtaking, seriously. My mum took one of her sunflower and it was so professional looking and using editing, you can make it incredible. A really good price and a great family camera!

**Whats Wrong With It?**
Theres nothing really wrong with it but it has little annoying things. For example it is annoying when your taking photos and you hear the 'beep beep' low battery noise. Grrrrr. Then you need more batterys etc and the circles continues. Also the internal memory but i'm not that bothered as i now have a memory card.

**Conclusion**
A great family camera for those precious shots (using the baby mode!) and a very simple camera to use. For ametur to the starter proffesional. An amazing camera to make breathtaking shots. Shame about the battery life, but sadly it comes out as just being average. There are now better cameras out there but don't rule it out when buying.

Copyright dooyoo- Scotlandizdabest 2008

Summary: Good camera, but just about average and no more!

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