Digital cameras are dropping in price all the time. This latest FinePix A204 Zoom from Fujifilm costs roughly half what an equivalent camera would have set you back a year ago. The chunky A204 has a two Megapixel CCD array for good resolution and a 16 MB memory card to hold the pictures.

This is an xD-Picture Card, a new format from Fujifilm which is about the size of a Multimedia card and set to replace the SmartMedia format Fujifilm has mainly used until now.

Controls on the camera are arranged in three groups. On top are a sliding power switch and a shutter release, with a rotary switch arranged around the shutter button to select record, playback or video modes. At top-right on the back panel is a row of three buttons used for selecting menu options and for zooming in and out. Just to the right of the good-quality, colour LCD display you'll find the final three buttons, labelled Display, OK and Back. The menu system is easy to navigate and well differentiated with bright colours.

The FinePix A204 Zoom has a sliding cover which protects its lens, but oddly this isn't linked to the power switch. This means you can have the camera on with the cover still over the lens and the camera off with the lens uncovered--neither combination is good. Images from the A204 Zoom are finely detailed and well balanced, with natural colours, though a bit over-vivid in bright light.

You transfer your pictures through the supplied USB cable, using Fujifilm's own software, supplied for both PC and Mac. It includes transfer, viewing and photo manipulation applications. Both the software and the camera itself are good value and easy to use. --Simon Williams

Manufacturer's Description
The FinePix A204 Zoom is an ideal combination of 2.0-megapixel performance, 3X optical zoom and long battery life. The 3X optical zoom lens makes this camera well placed to take photos across a wide range of situations at the press of a button. The movie mode enables QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) video clips of up to 20 seconds to be recorded, whilst the camera can also be used as a webcam. It's the ideal solution for anyone requiring a well-specified compact cam at an economic price.This camera has been specifically developed to be low on power consumption meaning that the 2 x AA alkaline batteries supplied with the camera deliver an impressive 250 shots under normal conditions. Despite being capable of delivering great shots across a wide range of conditions, the FinePix A204 Zoom is simple to use thanks to its programmed auto exposure mode and flexible flash modes. The color graphical user interface makes using the controls easier than ever. Designed to be compact and pocketable, the FinePix A204 Zoom features a rugged yet stylish metallic finish with a sliding lens cover.

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