Fujifilm FinePix A920

Auto Mode (7.0)
The Auto mode is the only red-colored icon on the mode dial, so it is easy to find and access quickly. When the menu button is pushed in Auto mode, only ISO, image quality, and Setup menu options appear. Interestingly, the ISO can only access an unchangeable Auto setting, making its placement in the menu unnecessary. The options on the multi-selector can still be used. The A920’s Auto mode is very easy to use.

Movie Mode (4.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix A920 has a 320 x 240-pixel Movie mode. Many digital cameras have twice the resolution. A camera for this price isn’t going to double as a camcorder, but there are budget cameras with better Movie modes.

Videos are recorded at 30 frames per second (fps), so moving subjects look smooth. The optical zoom cannot be changed while recording movies, but the digital zoom functions. Unfortunately, it only enlarges the existing pixels and makes the resolution look much worse. Mono audio is recorded simultaneously in Movie mode, and is surprisingly decent. It’s not crystal clear, but sounds better than most sub-$200 cameras.

We tested the camera’s Motion JPEG files and found several problems. There is lots of moiré, the metering is finicky, and bright portions of the frame bleed to other portions of the frame. There are more details in the Testing/Performance section, but the Fuji A920’s videos are not stellar in any way.

The A920’s Movie mode is the same as its predecessor’s. It is similar to Sony’s S700, which also shoots 320 x 240 pixels at 30 fps. Not all budget cameras have low-resolution Movie modes, though. The Canon A630 and Fuji Z10fd both shoot standard 640 x 480-pixel videos at 30 fps. The $149 Panasonic LZ6 has standard 640 x 480 and widescreen 848 x 480-pixel videos with audio – and throws in image stabilization. Clearly, there are better options on the market.

Drive / Burst Mode (0.0)
The FinePix A920 does not have a Continuous Shooting mode, so users will likely have only one chance to capture a split-second basketball dunk. When the camera’s batteries are fresh, the camera can snap a picture about every four seconds. This is archaic in an age when most digital cameras can snap two frames per second.

The A920 does have a self-timer, which can be set to delay for either two or 10 seconds by pushing the bottom of the multi-selector. The camera sends out an orange beam from the lower right corner of the front to indicate when the picture will be taken.

Overall, the Playback mode is very basic. The 2.7-inch display screen doesn’t have fabulous resolution or viewing angles, so gathering friends around for a slide show won’t be as enjoyable as on more expensive digital cameras.

Custom Image Presets (7.25)
The Fujifilm FinePix A920 comes with a decent set of Scene modes considering its price range. There are a few Scene modes located directly on the mode dial, with the rest tucked into a menu under the "SP" position. Portrait, Digital Zoom, Red-Eye Reduction, Picture Stabilization, and Baby modes are directly on the dial. Some of these seem more like features rather than full modes.

Digital Zoom mode should never be used because it degrades image quality. It uses 3x digital zoom and fixes optical zoom at its most telephoto focal length. Pictures look fuzzy and edges like jagged stairs. The Red-Eye Reduction mode simply activates the red-eye reduction preflash, but the flash isn’t guaranteed to fire at all times. It takes the flash a full 15 seconds to reboot between pictures, so any shots in between will be flash-less.

The Picture Stabilization mode shouldn’t be confused with optical image stabilization. It isn’t nearly as effective and brings in more noise than it should. This preset mode simply increases the ISO sensitivity up to 800 and speeds up the shutter to freeze action.

The following exposure modes are located in the SP menu: Manual, Landscape, Sport, Night, Natural Light, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Sunset, Underwater, Flower, Party, Museum, and Text. This is a healthy set of Scene modes, but an odd place to cram the Manual mode. Granted, it isn’t really Manual – it doesn’t allow users to manually adjust shutter speed or aperture. It does, however, offer the most manual controls. Most digital cameras give this exposure mode its own spot on the dial, but the A920 opts to hide it among the Scene modes.