Fujifilm FinePix 2300 > Reviews (3)

I think the first thing to decide before you buy a digital camera is this: Am I going to want high quality prints of my photos?

Now this might seem like a silly question but apparently 80% of digital photographs never ever get printed. I have to say most of mine haven't. Most end up on web pages, emailed to friends, or just stored on our computers and viewed that way. This is important when buying a digital camera because this camera is only really any good for small prints, if you want big prints then look elsewhere...

Still with me? Good because all in all this is a pretty decent camera and I've taken plenty of great photos with it.

Using the camera is easy. There is a dial which selects one of the cameras three modes, taking, viewing and set up. The set up section uses the LCD screen to let you set the date and time, and the picture quality settings and a couple of other minor things too.

I really like the way the camera operates it's been cleverly put together and works just how you would want it to. Maybe not how you would expect it to though. Turn the camera, turn the dial to take mode and you stare at the blank LCD. It;s not until you press the display button that the LCD lights up. This confuses people who have borrowed my camera but it saves on battery life as the screen uses the most power, so it forces you to turn it on when you want it.

The camera has a 2.5 digital zoom, but to honest this isn't worth bothering about and it only works when the camera is on lower quality image settings.

There is a built in flash which has a variety of modes such at anti-red eye, fill in and auto. Again it works well. Armed with a mini-tripod and the flash turned off I've taken some great pictures at night, but the LCD screen is totally useless in the dark leaving you to use the view-finder.

There is a macro mode on the camera too which enables to take close up images. Maybe of flowers, or insects or small things you want to sell on ebay ! This too works well but again a minitripod helps to keep things steady and in focus.

Transfering pictures is a breeze with Windows XP, just plug in the usb lead and windows installs the camera and with a few clicks the files are copying over.

In general operation the camera is a touch slow. You maybe have to wait 5 or 6 seconds from pressing the next button to seeing your images when in view mode, which is a little frustrating.

I do love this camera though, and with patience it's a great tool. I nearly always carry it with me so snap those unexpected scenes. The battery life in the camera is good. I have two sets of rechargeables that I take with me and have never had both sets run out on me.

Things the camera doesn't come with are a carry case, and a mains adaptor. So you end up using your bateries to download your photos.

I bought a 64mb Smart Media card and this will hold about 80 photos on the highest quality setting. The higest quality is 1600 x 1200 resolution and that's probably bigger than your current monitor resolution so pictures are perfect for on screen viewing.

If you're after a great little camera to take on holiday and to weddings and parties then you'll be fine with this one. As long as you're happy with 5" by 7" prints if you do want to print.