Fuji FinePix 1400z Digital Camera [1.2MP 3xOptical]

I was afraid to purchase a digital camera when the urge took me. I wanted to buy something that was good but kind on my wallet.

The first thing I will say about this camera is that if you have any operating system other than windows 98 or 2000 (Camera will not work with 95) to download the latest USB bus drivers for you camera. When I first got mine, the installation process seemed very quick and simple. When it came to transfering photos to my computer it was as if I hit a brick wall. It just would not work. But don't be put off, it is a minor obstacle for such a good camera.

I tested this camera in a pitch black room and the photo that appeared was almost as if the lights where on!

The same can not be said for the LCD didplay which needs a lot of light to see anything through it. When in indoor light or it is dark outside - use the viewfinder.

The menu interface is simple enough when you get used to it.

I found the zoom to be sufficient.

I also recommend the fuji soft case as it will protect the lcd display on the camera when you carry it around.

All in all you can't get a better digital camera for [the price]...

If you want a digital camera but have a limited budget, get it....get it now!

Thats not to say that this camera is not capable of excelent results. Certainly comparable with your average 35mm compact when set to the highest quality, most people will find the medium setting sufficient for holiday snaps, with the supplied card holding over 40 pics. High quality is less well catered for, holding only six at best. But if you're shooting in a semi-studio environment, USB download direct from the camera makes it easy to save pictures to your hard disc so that you can empty the card and continue.

The LCD display is prone to scratching if unprotected in transit and has poor visibility in low light conditions, but it should only be used as veiwfinder and not as an indication of the final image. In playback mode, a truer representation is seen and the interface and index is straightfoward after a little exploration into the manual.

Battery life is not great but Ni-Mh batteries and charger can be bought for about £11, a fully charged set will last a couple of days with the LCD on constantly and recharge in about 5 hours.

Any zoom capabilty is a rarity at this price and the digital zoom really helps with those hard to reach subjects, image quality is lost but no more than when trying to enlarge a small portion of a neg.

Overall, if you're prepared to accept that all digital cameras at this price have limitations, (this camera usually retails for £240 and is amongst the best at that price) you can't buy a more complete solution for the amature snapper.

Without the hassle of developing, and being able to see your results instantly on the LCD, you'll probably be inspired to take more shots and experiment with exposure, lighting and framing which can only result in improvment and better pictures over time.

1. Suitable for Beginners? Yes.
2. Image quality? Excellent.
3. Ease of use? Very easy.
4. Battery life? Short on Alkaline, good with rechargeable Ni-Mh batteries.
5. Connections? USB cable to your PC, takes only few seconds to transfer 10 high resolution images.
6. Memory? 4MB SmartMedia, advisable to purchase additional 32MB SmartMedia.
7. Softwares? Viewer and Adobe Photo Editor. Works well with Windows XP.
8. Other features? 5 flash modes, macro photography, manual mode & more!
9. User Manual? Well organised contents plus some tips and tricks on photography.
10. Price? A good deal, especially from this website!