Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

Jun 10, 2005 - By David Vine
The Fujifilm FinePix A350 jumps into a saturated market as a camera aimed at the automatically oriented crowd. The camera takes a minimalist approach with few buttons and few options, creating a primarily automatic interface for the beginner or strictly point-and-shoot users. However, it is still a step up from last year's model, the Fujifilm FinePix A340. Fujifilm pumped a lot of money into their marketing research and found that consumers shunned the moving parts on some of the Fujifilm models for their fragility. In response, the company took out the sliding lens cover of the A340 and replaced it with a built-in snapping lens cover on the A350. Fujifilm also threw in a larger 1.7-inch LCD screen and slightly improved video capabilities - and while these aren't enormous milestones, they are certainly improvements from the earlier A340. The Fujifilm FinePix A350 also boasts 5.2 effective megapixels on its 1/2.5-inch CCD; this is a nice upgrade from the A340's 4 megapixels and 1/2.7-inch CCD. The A350's features are rounded out with a 3x optical zoom lens and affordable $299 retail price tag.
Advertisement

Connectivity
Software (6.0)
The Fujifilm A350 comes with FinePix Viewer software version 4.3a, which can be used with both Windows and Macintosh platforms. The program is easy to use and contains an intuitive interface. There are three viewing browsers: thumbnail, preview, and detail. The thumbnail browser lets users view multiple pictures at once, although they are quite small. The preview browser shows the thumbnails at the bottom and a highlighted larger picture on top. The detail view vertically aligns the pictures into a chart, with recording information in the horizontal fields. This version of the FinePix Viewer is similar to that of the Fujifilm F10's, except it does not have a function that chronologically organizes the user's photographs. It does have all the basics though: rotating, clip/insert text, image quality adjustments, red-eye correction, resizing, and changing file formats. Get used to the clipping (cropping) function because the A350's framing options are inadequate and will force users to use it a lot. There is no color balance option on this program; a Hue adjustment changes colors slightly, but does not allow users to change the individual red, green, and blue tracks. The following image adjustments can be made: brightness, saturation, hue, and contrast. The FinePix Viewer is comparable to other software programs available for compact digital cameras - nothing special about it, but it will suffice.



Jacks, Ports, Plugs (6.0)
The FinePix A350 comes with standard A/V out, USB mini, and DC input sockets. However, the socket for the AC power adapter, AC-3VX, is sold separately. Those lovely little sockets are also open for the whole world to see, tamper, and mess with. So be warned: any little crumb or glob of bubble gum could end up blocking the ports.

Direct Print Options (6.5)
The A350 is PictBridge compatible. Pictures can be selected for printing within the playback menu.

Battery (5.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix A350 accepts two AA alkaline or NiMH batteries in its bottom compartment. According to Fujifilm, the alkaline batteries will last approximately 100 shots, while the NiMH batteries should go to about 290 shots. However, read the fine print on the FinePix A350 manual (we know you are religious readers of manuals) and you will notice the conditions for optimal battery results: pictures should be taken at an air temperature of 73 degrees, along with a number of other suggestions. Sorry, no candids in Death Valley if you want to make the most of your AAs. In the setup menu, power save mode can be adjusted between two or five minutes to save battery power (this function cannot be turned off). 


 

Memory (4.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix A350 records JPEG and Motion JPEG images to xD-Picture Cards up to 512MB. The card loads into the bottom of the camera next to the batteries. The camera comes packaged with a 16MB card, which is only enough storage for 6 pictures recorded at the camera's highest resolution. This will certainly not be enough, especially if users also plan on taking movie clips. I would include the cost of an extra xD-Picture Card in the total purchasing cost of this camera.

Other Features (2.0)
Self-Timer - The self-timer can be selected to take a picture either 2 or 10 seconds after the shutter release button is pressed.

Box Contents - Besides the A350 digital camera, the box includes a 16MB xD-Picture Card, 2 x AA alkaline batteries, a hand strap, USB cable, A/V cable, user manual, and CD-ROM software for FinePix Viewer.

Image Parameters Page 9 of 12 Overall Impressions
Fujifilm FinePix A350 Digital Camera Review Navigation

Advertisement