Fine Pictures from my Finepix Camera (Fujifilm Finepix A820)

Member Name: Thailui

Product:	Fujifilm Finepix A820
Date:	11/10/09 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small and easy to handle

Disadvantages: No viewfinder

I have owned this camera now for about eighteen months and at last feel that I am able to comment on its use and behaviour!

I decided early last year that the digital camera I had previously owned was a little too "basic" and I started looking around for another that would suit my purposes better. Even so, I really couldn't justify spending a great deal of money, the prices of the ones that I would really have liked being way above my budget. What I did have was an accumulation of Amazon vouchers, so I decided that my first stop would be their camera department. I was pleased to find that they had some very interesting "special offers" - this being one of them.

I had previously had experience of Fuji cameras - although not digital - so had no doubts that it would be a good buy and, after due consideration (though NOT asking the advice of my photographer nephew), I put in my order and sat back to await the arrival of the parcel.

I have to say that I was suitably impressed by the first sight of the camera which is neat and silver coloured. The approximate size being: 10cm wide, 6cm high and with a depth of 3cm. The power is by way of two AA batteries. I don't intend to go into lots of details about technical properties, suffice it to say it is an 8.3 mega pixel camera which is more than suitable for producing photos of a reasonable size and clarity for most people. It also has a 4 x optical zoom and a 3 x digital zoom - a great treat for me! Also capable of taking movies - I've only done this accidentally, so will not comment further on that subject!

Of course it has all the usual features of a "point and shoot" camera - plus a few compared to my previous one, various "modes" being: sport, party, sunset, firework, underwater, etc. I feel that I must also add that I am still discovering some of them - being guilty of not thoroughly reading the owner's manual - yet! However, one of the best features is the play back menu.

The one thing I found difficult to get used to was the fact that it doesn't have a viewfinder and you have to use the monitor to set up photos. I have since become very used to doing this, but sometimes find difficulty in very sunny conditions.

Transferring photos from the camera to the computer are simplicity itself - plug in both ends and its virtually done!

I have been really pleased with this camera especially since having the puppy as I have been able to keep a record of his growth - that is, when I don't miss him as he's gone before I get there. I have also been able to photograph the latest member of our family - my niece's daughter who lives next-door and who will be two next week.

By the way, when I DID show my photographer nephew (he actually TEACHES the subject) he approved (to my relief) as said it was the same as some of the cameras used on his various courses.

Without going into vast lists of technical details I can think of very little more to say except that I am so glad that I bought it and for anyone not looking for one more complicated it would be ideal. Perhaps a little more technical than a first or basic camera as it has so many features but for anyone "moving on" from that type it would be excellent.

I trust that this will be useful to you and I thank you for reading.

Summary: Easy to handle camera not TOO basic

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