1 Great camera for the price. Also, "zoom error."
I'm no electronics expert but this is a great camera for the price! It's super easy to use and takes excellent pictures.
I'd highly recommend upgrading your memory card right away (I got a 250MB card). It will add greatly to the usability of your camera because you won't always be running out of pictures.
I did recently experience the dreaded "zoom error" that others have complained about after accidentally dropping the camera on a hardwood floor. After reading some of the advice on CNET.com, I tried a to pull the zoom lens out with my fingers--and it worked! Seems that this error represents the lens getting "out of alignment." I was amazed that after dropping this camera hard on the floor, I was able to get it to work by simply pulling on the lens to pop it back into realignment. There was no permanent damage and the camera works just as well as it did before.
I am very happy with this camera. Thanks, Fuji :)
2 Awful Camera, Awful Support
I've used this camera no more than 3 times and it has always been kept in the box that it came in. The last time I tried to use it, however, I received the infamous "zoom error" and the camera is inoperable. The camera has been kept away from moisture, heat, and pretty much everything else that could harm it; I handled it carefully. I'm very angry with Fujifilm for doing nothing to fix this problem, despite the fact that so many older models had the same, commonplace error. It's going to cost far more than the camera is worth to have it fixed: I honestly think I'll throw it in the trash and buy a different camera (one that IS NOT a Fujifilm). Also, the support staff are incredibly unknowledgable and, ironically, unsupportive.
3 Great For First Time Digital Users!
This was my first digital camera and I still use it. The ease of use and price were a couple of the factors I considered when I purchased this product. It is pretty much point and shoot. It's also lightweight and small enough to carry around if you're more of a vacation photographer.
4 Nice package - poor reliability
I've had two of these cameras, both lost their ability to focus after 11-13 months of use (no drops or any extreme use). They aren't dirty or abused, the simply loose track of where the lens is (the computer moves it in and out to focus) and every (yes every) shot is blurred.
I'd recommend another camera.
5 I wouldn't recommend this camera
I received this camera last year as a 13th birthday present. It worked great for about 4 months. But then I noticed that it was gradually giving me less and less pictures that I was able to take. I recently took a trip to Utah and it only alowed me to take 10 pictures when I should've been able to take 30. Last week it wouldn't let me take any pictures because it said my memory card was full but I didn't have any pictures on it. Yesterday I turned it on to see if by some miracle, it worked but it didn't work and became even worse. Now it won't close and I can't get the LCD screen to work.
I defitently wouldn't recommend this camera for two reasons:
1) The size: I found it very inconvenient.
2) It broke very easily for me and now I can't take any pictures.
6 Great Value And a Solid First or Everyday Digital Camera
I've had this camera over a year and I have about 50 other assorted cameras including a canon SLR (non digital) and and Arca Swiss view camera (ooh la la) and this is pretty much the only camera I have used during the year. OK mostly I do family photography and ebay product shots and not "serious" photography but even so this is telling.
I paid $99 on sale in Dec 2003 and the price has not come down much since. I get mostly excellent pix with this camera although I have yet to figure out how to avoid red eye with it. I need to experiment with sticking a piece of stamp edging over the flash or use an off camera slave or something. I use 4 rechargeable AA cells and this works well. When the 2 batteries in the camera are too low I swap them with the two charging in the charger and this way I am never short of batteries and it's all paid for. I use a 256MB xD card and just leave it in the camera all the time. I think if you are constantly changing cards they or the camera might be less reliable but that's just conjecture. I got the 256MB xD card cheap as I bought a lot of 5 of them on eBay and sold the remaining 4 individually for about what I paid for all 5. A couple of things could be improved. The white balance menu is too small to read the symbols and needs some text. It is slow
to shoot after you press the button - action shots are hard to time right. It could do a better job on flash portraits with red eye - pre flash to get peoples irises to narrow before the picture is taken. I should invent and patent some kind of sliding flash reflector/diffuser that will distribute the flash better.
Camera is a bit bulky for a shirt pocket.
7 I've taken lots of great pictures, easy to use
I bought this camera mainly to take pictures of my kids as they grow up, and to satisfy the clamoring from relatives for pictures of the kids. In both indoor and outdoor lighting, I've taken a whole bunch of great pictures, and I have no particular training or even track record of taking good pictures with previous cameras I owned. The software that comes with the camera is pretty easy to use and install, and I have an aging G3 Mac, so that's not a small accomplishment.
I have found that for indoor shots, there is a delay between when the electronic shutter button is pressed and the image is captured. I attribute this to the camera adjusting to the light. With small children that simply don't sit still, or for other indoor pictures, this can be a bit of an inconvenience. The delay isn't so bad that I usually get the shot I was expecting, and the image quality is good.
Given the low price for this camera, I've found it to be an excellent value.
8 Great Camera
Great digital camera Everything is as advertised. However sometimes it can't fit in your pocket because it's a little chunky.
9 mixed emotions
This camera takes quite nice pictures under the proper environment and settings. If one is outdoors with lots of light or if one uses the flash with the LCD turned off, then the pictures produced usually turn out very well. However, if one is indoors and uses the LCD to compose the shot, then pictures can get blurry. What seems to happen in this case is that once one gets a focus lock on the subject, if the subject moves after the focus lock is registered, the photos end up blurry. To avoid this is to turn off the LCD and rely on the viewfinder. Pictures end up clearer this way, however, that way the way one sees the image appear in the viewfinder isn't a true representation of the image like it would be if composed by the LCD screen.
10 A wonderful digital camera and a great gift idea for Xmas!!!
I love, love, love my digital camera! My boyfriend got it for me for Christmas last year and this is my first digital camera. I totally love it! It's SO easy to use and takes amazing pictures that 35mm cameras, or even those one-time use cameras, just can't compare to. Just snap, snap, snap away and you instantly have your pictures. Just download them onto your computer and email them to family & friends or take them to your favorite photo lab and order digital prints. I so can't wait until our amazing wedding and honeymoon in the Caribbean, memories in the making, and I will always have gorgeous looking pictures thanks to this camera!!! This will be great for scrapbooking that I am just getting into too! Fabolous camera, easy to use, all at an amazing vaule. Great gift idea for any digital loving person on your list! I highly recommend this Fugifilm FinePix A205 digital camera! You will love it! :)
11 BEWARE
FUJI FILM HAS EXTEREMLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR CAMERAS ARE ONLY BUILT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY.
I've had 3 Fuji camera now because they keep breaking. The last time my camera broke was a month past the warranty expiration date. Out of frustration, I wrote a letter to Fuji and the store I bought my camera at to complain and I didn't get any response from Fuji... I know they got the letter, because I got a response from the store that I purchased it from and they agreed to pay for the repairs.
And, I'm not the only one, unfortunately you don't hear about this stuff until AFTER it already happened.
12 good camera with manual shutter and a little big
this is a good camera at a real good price (i got it for $79.99 only!). The only real issue is that its VERY big compared to other digital cameras and has a manual shutter which can be a bit annoying !.
Otherwise for $80 you can't ask for more. the picture quality is pretty good and prints from it look great too!. The zoom is nice and the LCD pretty good. Doesn't hog that much battery too!!
regards,
Sumit.
13 Good Camera
I bought this camera about 2 weeks ago. It's a pretty good one. Picture quality for outdoors are excellent, even it only has 2MP. But indoor pictures are not very clear. Anyway, what do you expect for a $100 DC?. I am very satisfied with it.
14 Even I get great pictures
This camera is great for beginners and those of us who have a fear of anything digital. I'm technically impared and thought I'd have trouble with digital cameras. With the A205 I didn't. It is intuitive to operate. The price was right. The controls are easy to find and operate.The picture quality is good enough for my needs (snapshots of family and vacations) and its easy to operate. I can play with cropping, titles and editing. Batteries drain pretty quickly, but from what I've heard this is normal. Would I buy it again? YES.
15 Can't Complain about this little honey
I did all the research, read all the reviews and decided on the FujiFilm FinePix A205, to replace my Kodak digital which was no longer compatible with my new computer. I've had it a couple of weeks now and can't complain. I actually bought it to do minor stuff, but am finding more and more, I want to use it to take my nature photos for print.
The picture quality is not bad at all. I went to a local garden and took a beautiful shot which I've since blown up and framed. It does use batteries fairly quickly, (I needed a new set after about 20 {give or take} photos.) So to invest in rechargeable batteries is probably going to be a good idea.
I haven't used the movie clip option yet, but as far as the pics, I've actually been amazed, that for the price, the pics are clear, crisp and suitable for my amateur photography efforts. The zoom feature is not as good as I would like, but you can compensate for that somewhat, by adjusting your distance from the object you are trying to photograph.
It comes with Roxio Photo Suite, which makes editing photos easy. I like that program too. The pics load easily to the computer for easy viewing, then bring them up with Roxio to edit and print, e-mail or whatever.
I think for the price this a really good value as far as ease of use and performance.
16 not impressed by it, flaky lens cover
Got a brand-new camera from buy.com and used it a only couple of times before it broke down. Basically, it cannot detect that the lens cover is off (displays a message saying that the lens cover is on even after you remove it). I wouldn't buy this camera again!!!!!!!!! (I'm making arrangements to have it returned)
17 great little camera
its a great little camera, specially for the price. i use it as my position in my college student government to keep track of my class's 4 years. it has the basic uses. its not as great as the few hundred dollar digital camera my parents have (which has a million more features) but if u want an easy point and shoot w/ great pictures and easy to use features this is definitely a great camera to get for any age.
18 So simple to use you think you're doing something wrong.
I'm a total newbie to digital photography. I do maintain web pages for my students (college writing) and figured a good "starter" camera would be a good investment. I came across this one through an Amazon deal.
It was priced well within my budget, under $100.00, and was a nice little complete package. (Even with batteries!) Instructions were clear, and it's basically usable right out of the box. It comes with PC software that makes it easy to transfer your pics to your PC. And, a nice surprise, they even included the USB cable!
Well, it's so simple to use you think you're doing something wrong. I've had it for a couple weeks and tried both indoor and outdoor shooting. The zoom is very easy to use, and it's very simple to immediately check out your shots. It's got all the features of a moderately priced, film camera (red eye, auto focus/flash, etc.) Only personal glitch for me...there is a momentary delay between pushing the button and the actual shot, which I learned the hard way by taking shots of my daughter riding her horse. I had a couple of my daughter actually riding OUT of the frame. Still...more my mistake than the cameras. Still, this is easy to adjust to, and other pictures came out fine.
I'm no pro with photography, but this is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone wanting to cut their teeth on taking digipics. I still need to find a camera case for it, but that's easy to do. Somehow, I'm sure Amazon will manage to add accessories to my page... :-)
Try it out!
19 What Can I Say... I'm In Love With My Camera!
The Fuji FinPix A205 Digital Camera is an outstanding piece of michenery. My Aunt got an A210 for Christmas, and absoulutly loved it. When I saw it, I knew I had to get one, but I was on a $100 budget. When I saw the A205, I thought it was the same. For 70 bucks less, I got a GREAT deal! If you look, A205 has even better ratings then the A210.
The first day I got it, I went straight to my PC and installed the FinePix Viewer Software. You wouldn't believe how fast it was. I just poped the CD in, and it was off. It's also very easy to transfer pictures from my camera to the computer. Including croping images.
It's very easy yet fun to to use my camera as a web cam. You just hook it up, and you're off.
Did you know you can even hook your FinePix up to the TV? It's just as easy as 1,2,3!
I hope this review was very usefull to you. Thank You.
-Ander
20 great camera for a great price
i just got this camera yesterday and everyone in my home is loving this digital camera. it takes really clear pictures...i was really surprised how easy it was to use this camera and the other features that came with it. picture quality is excellent, indoor pictures are great as well. why buy an expensive camera when this can do everything. it even records upto 30sec. of video. i just love it. if you really want a digital camera but dont want to pay so much then i think you should buy this digital camera, it does everything other digital camera's does.
21 A Steal for point & shoot photographers
We bought one because it was cheap and thought we would save up and buy a better one later. For our useage it is perfect. It takes
great shots with little interaction from the user. The pics are sharp and clear and the color is great. It comes with excellent software as well. We have given up thoughts of buying a different one. You can't go wrong for the buck!
22 Wow!! Nice Little Camera
Let me start by saying that I don't own this camera. My mother just bought it recently and asked me for some help in figuring out the fine details. When I saw the pictures she took, all 4X6s, I was impressed with the quality, which I thought was excellent. Contrary to some other reviews, none of her pictures seems dark or grainy. All were very sharp and clear. Then, I was looking at the settings on the camera and showing her the different functions (she is not very tech savvy at all.) and I realized that she only had the resolution set on 1 megapixel setting! Of course I warned her than if she tried to blow them up much they'd probably be pixelated, but I know 99 percent of her pictures will be 4X6. The menu and features were easy to figure out and the zoom worked well enough. The one thing I didn't like was that you couldn't turn off the digital zoom, which wasn't too big a deal since it is only about 1.5X and didn't seem to affect the quality on her pics much. Very nice for the price and she loves it.
23 great value... probably all you need
I caught this at Amazon during a clearance sale for $84 and am thrilled with the purchase. I'll mostly be using it for closeup for auction site products, and it does an excellent job of showing details at very close range. It pays to read the instruction manual carefully, as there are several options for non-flash low light photography (useful for avoiding glare off shiny objects).
My only complaint is that the user has to be careful about running down the batteries. Once they get below a certain level the camera simply stops working for low-light conditions. This applies equally if you are using cheap replacement types, even fresh out of the package. My advice is that you replace your good batteries for rundown ones (a very simple proceedure) when you are reviewing or uploading shots, then switch back to ensure proper voltage when it comes picture-taking time.
Other than that, absolutely no problems. The fact that it is thick actually enhances its cachŽ: I take photos of other people's products and it looks very professional mounted on a tripod, something that slimline digital camera versions can't claim.
24 Pretty Good!
This is my first camera and I like a lot. It takes pretty good pictures indoor and outdoor. Is very small even is a little heavy. The only thing I don't like is that is a battery eater!!!. You take 20 or 30 pictures and you have to change it.
But I recommend it for first users.
25 A Real Bargain
I've been thinking and thinking and thinking of buying a digital camera for a long time, but kept putting it off. Everytime I saw something that looked promising, it seems there was a purchase killer somewhere-too expensive, no LCD display, too few pixels, whatever-and I kept passing.
Then my sister told me she was getting a grant from her school to take her kids on several field trips and had $100 to spend on disposable film cameras. Then the light bulb came on over my head. Why not get a digital camera, said I? So I rounded up the usual web sites for research, came upon the FujiFilm A205, and was impressed by the specs. Where, oh where, thought I, can I find some reliable real world reviews? Amazon, of course. After reading the reviews I bought the camera and a 64Mb memory card and I'm delighted with the results.
You need not hesitate any longer if you've been considering getting a digital camera. This camera is a real bargain. Picture quality exceeds my expectations, and I've even taken a few experimental pics at night and with a little more refinement of technique, I'll even be getting better night shots.
26 Great Digital Camera!
This digital camera is the best. I bought one and have been totally 100% satisfied. I love it. It is a great camera for anyone, so simple to use. It takes great pictures too. What more could you ask for?
27 BATTERY EATER!!!
Its a decent camera but it EATS batteries... LIKE CRAZY and the buttons go nuts sometimes.
I got this for free with my dell laptop so i cant complain that much
28 Great but cheap camera for great, quick pictures
This is what I got for $85 dollars:
Crisp Pictures(provided there is good lighting, use a good slave flash for indoors please).
Amazing color reproduction.
Ease of use, i.e. light weight, easy connection with USB, good menu.
Great battery life(took more than 350 shots with AA NiMH 2100mAh), I believe one reason is the awesome
xD cards they use. I have no clue why people think its bad cuz' its easily lost, just use the package it came in, or let it stay in the camera. I got 64M for $28 and I can store 101 2M pics.
Pictures with a205 came out more vivid than my Minolta 4MP S414. It has a faster boot, faster focus than S414 and ofcourse a lot lighter. But I did pay 4 times as much for S414 for some extra controls.
So for everyday casual shots a205 wins. thanks amazon, best $85 dollars ever spent.
29 "What a great camera!"
I just purchased this camera from Amazon and you just can't beat this deal. Less than $85 for a 2MP digital camera with a zoom lens!!! Get real! I really like this camera. The pictures I have taken were clear and crisp and these were just indoor pictures. This is a great camera for beginners like myself. You don't have to invest over $100 dollars for a good 2MP camera. The software that came with the camera isn't too bad. Since I am not an expert I think it works just fine with this camera.
I read all the reviews before purchasing this camera and I absolutely agreed with all the positive reviews. You just can't go wrong with this camera and if I were you, I jump on the band wagon now!!! Just remember....this is a lower end digital camera so don't expect bells and whistles, but it sure does a good job. It's the best $85 I have ever invested.
This camera deserves at least 4 stars so that's what I gave it. I am pretty sure there are 5 stars 2MP cameras out there but not for this price!
30 Fuji FinePix A205
This is a great camera !!!!!!!!! This takes great crisp,clear pictures . Some people say it eats batteries but it doesn't .
It is the best digital camera you can have . I also like the zoom feature . All in all this is a great camera .
31 Don't buy this from Ritz.com
This product is great. However, DO NOT attempt to do business with ritz.com at all unless you're willing to go through the hassle of dealing with cheap customer service. They charge your credit card before shipping the product. The USPS tracking number doesn't work and they say it's USPS' fault.
32 An excellent camera
This camera is an awesome purchase for its price.I have taken photos by it in almost all conditions-at night by using a stand and using the ambient light(flash off) and the photos are great;of fast moving vehicles in the daytime and the photos seem as such the vehicles arnt moving at all;photos of views from inside a glass surface and it seems there's no glass at all.It doesnt require as much light as some reviews say.It works well even in dark conditions with its different flash modes and it doesn't drain up the battery much.Its controls are simple too. The camera doesn't switch on until the lens cover is fully opened so no chance of damage to the lens also.Take pics at 2MP and there are no grains even on 8"x10" prints.I would therefore recommend this camera as an excellent piece of work by Fuji.
33 FAct sheet
I bought this camera after reading lots of reviews at bunch of different sites. Camera for me has served well, actually quite well. Here are the facts
Pros : - excellent colors, crisp pictures, even at lowest resolution,
- nice closeup pictures,
- battery life ok (cannot say because donot know how others perform). I use rechargable ones so say per 40 pictures with flash and viewfinder on.
- Easy to use and understand.
- Cannot slip it in pocket, but still small but very handy.
Cons: - You have to get used to using zoom. Not so precise.
- takes pictures a little after you click and flash flashes. So expect subject to move a little or warn them before hand.
Actually nothing is very bad that this camera should not be bought. It is definitely worth considering as an option. Get used to taking pictures under different modes and you can do wonders with this.
34 What's not to like?
I bought this camera for my teenage son, so if he looses it or breaks it I won't have to cash in his college fund. To get a 2 mpx camera with X3 optical zoom that works well for $99.00 is a bargin.
35 GREAT CAMERA!
I got this camera free w/my purchase of my Dell computer...it is AWESOME! I already own a Sony Mavica but this camera (Fuji) takes WONDERFULLY clearer pictures and it's just all around a better camera. It is a nice compact camera. I love shooting the little video clips so I can send them to family/friends online! You can also plug the camera into your tv/vcr and watch a slideshow of your pics/videos! It's a great product! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
36 Great starter's digicam
The Fuji Finepix A205 is a very nice digital camera for those not ready to purchase a more advanced model yet. It's a nice and very affordable way to get started in digital photography. It takes generally pleasant pictures both indoors and out, and it's very easy to use. The build quality is also very good.
If you are looking for a "serious" digital camera, however, go for one with at least 3MP, preferably 4MP. (But 5MP or more might be an overkill.) 2MP resolution gives you decent 4x6" prints, but if you start cropping a little, you'll wish you had more pixels to work with.
37 Nice price, but not-so-nice pictures
I bought this camera because of the price, but when comparing the pictures with my 1.3 MP Sony I relized the Sony took much better pictures (even though the Sony has no zoom and has a lower resolution.)
My first problem with the camera was the aforementioned low light problem. My apartment gets plenty of light, but the picture still came out extremely grainy. Also, due to the positioning of the flash so close to the lens, any dust floating in the air shows up as large white spots on the picture.
The focus also didn't quite seem to focus as well as it should have. I took the camera back after having it for 3 hours.
Just remember: you get what you pay for.
38 Awsome for the price !!!
This camera is easy to use and picture quality is pretty good. Good for starters. I thought the built in flash was not too bad. It worked O.K. for me. Pictures in the daytime come out great. Overtime, eventually I will want something stronger. But for being my first digital camera, it works just fine. I highly recommend this camera for those just starting out.
39 a great buy!!!
This camera was a steal and takes great pics for the money. Now I must say if you're a wanna-be photographer with a trained eye for detail, then by all means go for the high tech camera and by pass this one because you'll probably be disappointed. But for taking every day shots you can't beat it for the buck. I just brought this camera and it's so easy to use and even for a 2mp the picture quality is great, you can even get good quality with it set on the 1mp. This is my second digicam and my first had a little more mp, but this one by far is the better camera. It's not the smallest camera, but it's not the bulkiest either. The material is a little on the cheap side, but it is light weight and only takes two batteries instead of four (rechargeables highly recommended). I love the 3xoptical zoom (which my other camera didn't have) and it's very user friendly. To put it short, I'm not an electronics whiz or a photographer, and you don't have to be either for this camera. It's very easy to use from taking great quality pictures to downloading them to your pc and it won't take months to figure out how to work it. My sister who also just recently purchased a 3mp digicam likes mine alot better and is going to take hers back to get this one. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a great quality camera at a bargain. And don't buy into that 'you get what you pay for rule', because you don't always have to pay outrageous prices for something to be good. This camera is proof of it!!!
40 A good camera for the price
My mom has a Sony Mavica CD something or other. It takes 5 mp quality pictures and writes them on a little CD. It is a very nice camer but cost around $600. The FujiFilm A205 is an excellent camera for beginners or people who do not want to spend alot of money on a camer. The xD expansion cards for the system are inexpensive now, I just purchased a 64 mb (101 pictures) for $38 dollars at Wal-Mart. The camera does go through alot of batteries, I utilized the batteries that came with they camera 1 day after purchasing it. Spend $20 and get two rechargable (Ni-Mh) and a charger and they will last alot longer than normal Alkaline batteries. The camera does have movie mode, which is of poor quality but who buys a digital camera to make movies? It also doubles as a web-cam and you can caputure video utilizing your PC. The video functionality of this camera is poor, even through the web-cam function, unless there is alot of light. If you are buying this digital CAMERA to shoot videos then you are in the wrong category. Even though it is only 2 mp quality, the pictures are excelent in quality. I have not had any problems with dark rooms or at concerts. The flash effectivly reached around 15 feet for me. The camera comes with an adapter for the dock connector, the adapter is the little plastic piece, DON'T THROW IT OUT. Since it is FujiFilm's lower end model, there won't be alot of accesories for it. You can get the dock connector and a case for it along with extra memory. Those are all the excesories anyone really neads unless you want to take widescreen pictures, but then you would not even look at buying this camera. If you want a really high quality camera then look at spending at least $300. If you want a good quality camera at a really affordable price then get this one. My mom has an older Sony Mavica CD model and this camera takes the same quality pictures, when printed (or even on the computer monitor) pictures of the same object could not be distinguished into which camera took the picture. The FujiFilm A205 is a small, light weight camera. It is pretty thick but for the price that is the only sacrifice anyone will have to make. Is you want to spend around $100 then this camera will give you more band for your buck. I hope this review helped you.
41 Great camera, and a great value
I bought this camera based solely on the Fuji name, since I have had good experiences with them in the past. This camera was extremely easy to set up, and since it was my first digital camera, it was really important for me to not have to read a big thick manual just to take a picture. For the price I paid, I think I got way more than I could have, had I bought a similar camera by a different company. The pictures are crisp, clear, and contrary to what another reviewer mentioned, I have had no problems with the flash. Since I am a beginner, I was quite suprised at how good the pictures came out! My alkaline batteries started to die within the first day, but I think that was because I had the camera on pretty much all day, since I was taking pictures os everything. I purchased some rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, and so far, my battery light hasn't come on, and I've had them in for 5 days. Anyways, if you're not looking for a top-of-the-line 5 MP camera, and just want a camera that takes really good pictures for not very much money, I would definitely go for this camera.
42 You can't beat this camera.
I recently purchased the Finepix A205, and I am very happy with it's performance so far.
I was surprised when I took a close up shot of my cat and I could see the grains of sand on his fur in perfect clarity. I wasn't expecting that from a 2mp camera.
The design is a little puzzling, the height and width are fine, but the thickness is the same as the height. It's too thick, but that is a small price to pay for such a great camera.
The only other thing I do not like, and it seems to be true on all the Finepix cameras, is that, while it does record movies, it doesn't have any sound. Kind of a downside, but, I can deal with it, I wan't to take pictures, not movies. I'll buy a video camera for that.
I love using the little XD cards, I think they are great. The transfer very fast.
This camera IS NOT a battery hog, from what I have experienced. I am STILL using the 2 AA alkalines that came with the camera, and I have taken AT LEAST 200 shots, if not more, with the LCD on and the flash on. Only now am I getting the battery low light. I think that is pretty decent considering some digital cameras I have owned die on regular alkalines after 10 shots or less. I can't imagine how long the batteries will last with a couple of 2100mah NiMH's. It's also a plus that it only takes 2, rather than 4.
I don't even use the software that came with this camera. For all you XP users, this camera is great for you. All I have to do is plug it into the USB cord, or the cradle, and up pops the "What do you want windows to do" box with several different actions, I chose "Copy pictures to a folder on my computer" and I can transfer the pictures to my computer, and then delete them off my memory card. That's so much easier than going through a bunch of photo editing programs.
I also don't seem to be having any trouble with the flash in low light, I just went outside in the dark and took pictures, and took pictures of things in a dark room, and they look as if they were taken in the light. The flash seems fine to me.
This is a great camera!
43 A quality digital camera for a great price
I wanted an inexpensive and fairly small 2-megapixel digital camera for vacations and outdoor use, and at less than $100, this camera is beyond what I was hoping for. This is my third digital camera, and it's by far the easiest one to use, plus the image quality is excellent. Excellent, of course, is a relative term in the field of digital cameras... like many low-end cameras, it shoots at the equivalent of 100-speed film, which makes for grainy images if you are not shooting outdoors or with a good amount of light, but the flash does a great job and it's really not hard to get good quality images. If you want to take fine art photos, you need a much more expensive camera anyway. A big plus for this one is the 3x optical zoom. Most low end digital cameras only offer digital zoom, but don't let them fool you-- digital zoom is exactly the same thing as cropping your pictures and does not actually make them better. Also, many low-end cameras have a fixed focus, which will make all of your photos come out looking rather flat. The Fuji 205, while it has no maunal f-stop (aperture control) or focus, self adjusts these things to take nice pictures with the subject in focus and the background slightly out of focus. Full manual control is nice for some things, but for point and shoot, you can't beat the simplicity of this camera. Plus, I don't have to worry too much about taking it along when I go somewhere I wouldn't want my $450 camera to go, like the beach or on a boat.
As far as battery life, please do yourself a favor if you are buying ANY digital camera and get NiMH rechargable batteries. Alkaline batteries are simply wasted in a digital camera... they are not strong enough and you are throwing your money away if you try to use them. Get a quick charger and 2 sets of batteries, and you'll be happy and save money.
Pros: a quality camera that takes good pictures at a great price.
Cons: needs lots of light, no manual controls
44 Excellent first digital camera
We had two digital cameras in our household: an Olympus Camedia D40Z and a Pentax Optio S4. We bought the FujiFilm FinePix A205 a little over a week ago. My son and I spent two days looking online for a digital camera in the $100 price range. (This camera was purchased for him from his savings). Many of the cameras that we found in this price range were very limited. The A205 was a stand out from the rest. It even has a few features that our more expensive two-year-old Olympus doesn't have. My son was able to figure out how to use it quickly. The picture quality and battery life have been very good. (Although as other reviewers have said here and elsewhere, buy rechargeable batteries and a charger). Really an excellent first digital camera.
45 hubba, hubba!
Love the camera! My second digital camera. Bought a low-priced unit 2 years ago primarily to learn what I would desire in an upgrade.
1. The first camera took excellent pictures, even to an 8x10 blowup, but it was damnably frustrating because it very quickly defaulted from settings. I knew then that any camera I would purchase should hold settings until deliberately reset!
2. This camera has (2) frustrations! First, ALL cameras ought to have (2) two carrying strap eyelets!!! Wrist strap doesn't cut it!! I thing most of us desire a neck strap attached to two eyelets so the camera can be carried conveniently upon the chest in a "ready-to-grasp" position. Second frustration! Phooey on the "stylists" who pretend to be designers! The lens cover ought to have a decent projection ("tab", if you will) on the end farthest from lens. To slide open the lens cover requires push or pull with fingernail on end nearest lens. As cover slides open one's finger is dangerously close to lens!! It certainly would be nice to have the people "designing/styling" equipment to use it before hardening design for production!!
46 my 1st digital camera
We've been using this camera for over a month and love it. It's our first one, so we were a bit leary, but we've had no problems with the camera (aside from going through batteries quickly) and the software it comes with is fabulous and very easy to use! My adivise is to buy the power adapter right off the bat...you'll spend the same money in batteries very quickly. We print our photos on glossy photo paper on our all-in-one HP color printer and even with only 2 mega pixels they still come out looking like a true photograph (coming from an avid SLR photographer).
47 Great Value
I'm giving this 5 stars largely because of its value for money. For $115, you get a 2MP with a 3X optical zoom... and it takes pretty good shots. Don't expect an SLR shot from a 2MP $115 camera.... but this camera can hold its own against $300 ones. If you are on a budget or you need a spare point and shoot, get this one. Resolution is pretty ok... 36mm equivalent for wide is good... the tele, pretty ok. Since its a 2MP, a 32 or 64 MB card can hold a lot of pictures already. You can't get a $500 performance here... if you like that, get a $500 camera... I can't believe how inexpensive this camera is!
48 great little camera
We bought this for our daughter, as she will be traveling to some exciting places, and she just loves it! The ease of use and of downloading make this a very easy to use camera and the size is handy to carry around. She has been the offical picture person in her dorm and has fun putting these pictures within minutes online. Maybe we should consider one for ourselves!
49 Fantastic Camera!!
It's simple to operate, takes fantastic pictures, and is extremely portable. I have a fancier Fuji digital that's also wonderful, but I wind up using this one more than the other simply because it's so easy to use. I carried it in my fanny pack all over Disney World for four days and it was so wonderful to be able to whip it out and get quick pictures whenever necessary. It's on and focused within seconds. Never a missed shot. I can't recommend it highly enough.
50 Fujifilm FinePix A205 point and shoot Digital Camera
This is the easiest point and shoot digital camera to operate that I have ever owned. It is all automatic and it is so simple to operate, my wife can operate it. This is our second digital camera, Our first camera was not all automatic and it was frustrating to set up. The Fujifilm FinePix A205 takes great pictures that are sharp and clear, even up to and including 8" x 10" enlargements. This is a great camera for those who like taking everyday pictures.
51 Just excellent
This Digital Camera is just excellent. I bought this camera a few weeks ago and then started reading all reviews about it and scared myself thinking that the camera would not work in dark rooms (as I read in a few posts). When I got the camera, the first thing I tried was taking pictures in dark rooms, and the quality of picture is excellent, the picture is very bright and you can identify clearly what's on the picture; even in it's lower resolution.
I rate this digital camera A+, 5 stars or anything else that would mean excellent...
52 Great quality camera for entry level users
This is a great camera for entry level people that have just chosen to use digital cameras. I bought this at Target at the right time and also got a gift card. The camera looks pretty neat but kinda cheap. It is very light and not that thick. The LCD is very good. Able to zoom in and span easily.
Ease of Use
This is probably the most easiest and simplest cameras on the market. There are probably about 7 buttons on the whole thing. The menu is very user compatible and the software is ok.
Picture Quality
The pictures come out very good especially for a 2mp camera. The 8x10 pics come out good.I have not yet printed a 4x6 picture but my guess is that it will come out very good. Also, make you sure you have a very good printer to really enjoy your pictures. I have a inkjet printer that prints very well but does not compare to photo printers. I am planning on buying a photo printer in a couple of weeks
Video
Video isnt that good. Of course video from a digital camera will never replace a digital camcorder. It records video without sound at 10 frames per second. That is like a almost semi-strobe quality. Video is only good if taken with alot of light. And i mean alot. One good thing is that you can hook it up to your computer and use it like a webcam. But like any webcam, you need alot of light.And you also need a MIC to talk on your PC.
Features
It comes with a very sufficient amount of features. A tv-out line out to hook upto your tv. But that is only good with a small tv. I have a big projection tv so it was little pixalated, but that doesnt affect the print. The software isnt bad. Lots of features to customize your pics anyway you want. It also comes with a new 16mb xd-card. This increases your battery life and is also faster. This camera eats up batteries but lasts longer than other digital cameras. They also give you all the wires and supplies to use right out of the box.
Cons
Dont get confused with what it says on the box. It says it comes with a dock adapter. That is just a plastic placement to attach to an optional dock. I wish the flash was a little better for wide angle shots. It would also been good if there were different photo-shot modes (ie.. nightshot, snow&sand, spotlight etc) But some of that you can do with the included software.
So in other words, this is a fantastic camera. It is fun to use everyday and also show off. I am planning on using it as my main camera for a while. Then i am considering a very high mega-pixeled camera for very large prints. Also a 35mm SLR Nikon that i have had my eyes on for a while. I love using old fashioned cameras.
53 solid, not spectacular
It was my first digital camera purchase and I'm generally pleased. I enjoy travelling to different countries, so many pictures are taken outdoors. For outdoor photos, this is a great investment. I usually set the camera at 1.0 mega pixels to take more pictures, and the quality is unbelievable. People who have seen the pictures cannot believe they were taken at 1.0 mps. In addition, it is extremely easy to use. Even if you have never used a digital camera, you will have no problem taking pictures (and erasing subpar pictures from memory).
Downside. Well, if you enjoy indoor photography, make sure the subject is close to you, or make sure the room is very well lit. I have had several pictures I have had to edit with the software (which, luckily, is easy to do) just to be able to see what the picture was. Like many digital cameras, it eats batteries like cheeseburgers. Finally, while lightweight, it is somewhat (and unnecessarily, in my opinion) bulky. Also, it is a new model, but the price has been slashed considerably ...this could be a sign of trouble, but it could also just mean its a bargain.
I'd recommend the camera for people new to digital cameras, and for anyone who wants to take pictures without a lot of hassle.
54 great great camera
one of the greatest dig cameras i ever had. The picture quality is better than ever. If you are thinking about a camera get this one. I take a lot of pictures of everything and this camera is great. The 2.0 pixels has nothin to do with the picture quality, it is the camera and the pictures are fantastic
55 Takes excellent pictures, but....
Since I'm on a college budget, I needed to get an inexpensive camera so I could take pictures during the Thanksgiving Break. My requirments were at least 2 megapixals and decent image quality. I read a number of digial camera reviews and decided to pick up the Fuji Finepix A205. My first thoughts of the camera was the bulk; it's quite thick but it is light weight. Not something you would want to stick in your pants or shirt pocket though. The buttons on the camera do feel cheap, but it was only $150 so what?
Other than those small gripes, the camera takes excellent pictures but only in well lit environments. Outdoor pictures are really nice. Indoor shots can end up grainy if there isn't alot of light and I mean A LOT OF LIGHT. The flash is only effective in close range (at least 5ft to 6ft) Anything beyond that, make sure the environment is well lit or your subject is close.
Macro mode just takes a press of the button and it works really well. There is also a movie mode, but forget about using it unless the room is very very very very well lit.
Comparing indoor shots taken with the A205 and a 3MP Sony digital camera, the A205 images were less grainy than the Sony's, but the Sony's pictures were brighter because of the better flash.
In conclusion, the Fuji Finepix A205 takes very excellent pictures outdoors and indoors in bright light or when the subject is close to the camera with the flash. I could only give it 3 stars for the poor flash performance.
56 A Great Deal
I was not looking for a confusing camera just something simple to use that can take great pictures. This is that camera. Minutes after getting it I had already taken numerous pictures of my daughter that I already treasure. I don't know what the more expensive models offer but I can't imagine the picture quality being any better. This is great for everyday use. Very easy to use.
57 site information confusing
the information in the site in paragraph PRODUCT DESCRIPTION says that the camera is comaptible with "CP-FXA10 Picture Cradle" and then further says that there is a "picture cradle adapter" included in the package, but the pakage has a plastic holder type thing and there is no adapter included in the normal package, so be careful while u order and do not expect an adapter with your order, as i have not got the same.
58 dim pictures and...
the pics from this camera are good only in really bright light ....but if the picture is taken in a room (of course with the flash) the picture is quite dim (a compormise for its low cost).
camera is small but thick, so u can't carry it very easily ...never in a pocket.
the pixels (of the pictures taken from this camera) can be easily seen with the highest picture quality even at 100% magnification.. a big compromise for low cost.so it is advisable to go for another $15 investment for a 3 MP camera ..
also the accessories listed for this product are costly and are very limited. so u need to make at least $40 extra purchase to fulfil you requirements.
overall if do not care for the picture quality or have the accessories, u can go for this camera.
59 fine performance at a fair price
This camera has worked well for me both indoors and out. It is easy to use and the user interface is staightforward and simple to navigate. It has more than enough flash/focus options for most users. I never enlarge photos so 2 MP is more than enough. Anything more is expensive overkill. It is not the most compact camera, but this is a compromise that I accept given its relatively low price.
60 Great little pocket camera with zoom
I wanted an inexpensive camera with optical zoom for my wife. This camera is very simple and when used with the optional docking cradle makes learning to use digital cameras very easy. Of course the pictures at 8x10 are not as high as quality as with my Sony 717, but I could get 6 of these cameras for what I paid for my 5 mega pixel Sony. I took me 6 months to fully learn how to use my Sony. My familily is taking great pictures with this Fuji in one weekend...! I highly recommend.
61 Not the best of Fujifilm!
I bought this camera recently because I was pleased with the pictures of an older version of this camera. I was looking for something lighter in weight, that would take less batteries, take great pictures and fit in my bag. Well, this camera is lighter in weight, uses less batteries, and is smaller is size. However, I just returned this camera to Amazon because it is so cheap! The picture quality (which was the most important aspect to me) was horrible! They were dark with a blue tint not matter how much I adjusted the wb or other features. There were a few outdoor picture I took that turned out well but other than that the overall quality of the pictures were unsatisfactory. Also, the camera casing itself is plastic and seems like it would break very easily. The camera is smaller but thicker. It does take only two batteries but in the month that I had it used up 8 batteries! I would not recommend this camera to anyone.
62 Died within a day!
Got this from Amazon but it died within a day of shooting. The lens got stuck and won't go back in. It won't focus either although electronics part seemed working fine. Tried 3 sets of fully charged batteries and mutiple on/off cycles. Fuji tech support were of no further help.
The build quality is very poor indeed. Basically you get what you pay for. I am glad it stopped working now, much better than if had happened middle of a vacation.
Thanks to Amazon the return is easy and goodbye Fuji!
63 Its gettin worse each time!
Fuji 2600 sold very good in 2001 because it was cheap & solid camera (with below average build quality). They removed some features and downgraded its screen & lens speed to make 2650 in 2002 even cheaper. Come 2003 they have added video-out and futher downgraded it, made it uglier and zero innovation.
Basically its gotten thicker (well above 2 inches), even worse lens, poor night capability, grainy LCD, cheapo plastic body, expensive xD cards and average build quality. The picture quality in daylight is very good though. Battery life and user interface are also good.
Meanwhile cameras from Canon, Sony, Nikon and other companies have improved a lot, added many features and have gotten cheaper. Right now Canon A60/A70 is much better option.
Ofcourse first time users (who never had a digital camera before) will give it 5 stars and will be very happy.
64 Love this little camera!
This is a great camera. I did hours and hours of research before deciding on this one. I'm glad I did my homework because this takes the greatest pictures even on the middle setting. When I received it, I was a little dissapointed with the size because I was expecting a bigger camera but my dissapointment was gone quickly when I saw how incredible the pictures were. I actually like the size now, because my husband can easily keep it in his pocket. Battery consumption has been great. I've heard alot about digital cameras eating up batteries. I haven't had that problem with this camera but i'm still planning on buying the optional cradle to charge it through the computer or a/c adapter. The owner's manual is a bit daunting and there are a lot of buttons and settings but once I read the manual, it was quite easy to use. I hope this has been helpful for you if you're looking for a digital camera. Buy it. It's great!
