Back in the old days (we're probably talking about mid 1960's to the early 1980's), if you wanted a small 35mm camera that was as fully featured & gave as good a quality results as one of the larger SLR jobbies, your only real serious choice was the Rollei 35 range (look it up on Google if you've never heard of them). These days, you have a much greater choice thanks to the invention of the digital camera..... and this Fuji A345 is no exception.
Like the old Rollei, it's small & compact and loaded with similar features...... but it also has a few new tricks up it's sleeves.
Just like the Rollei, you can zoom in & out on stuff...... but unlike the Rollei and more like a traditional SLR camera thanks to the bright LCD screen on the back you can see exactly what the lens see's (although it can be a bit awkward in bright sunlight)...... and just like all good Digital camera's with an LCD screen on the back you can see your results within seconds, instead of waiting days, weeks or months to have the damn film developped. It's also equipped with a regular viewfinder, for those situations where using the screen isn't an option (such as if the sun's so bright you can't see the damn thing).
Another advantage this Fuji has over the old Rollei jobbie is that it has a built-in flash... whereas the Rollei just had a place to attach a flash (Which wasn't really recommended unless you were using a Tripod).
Unlike the Rollei, however..... you can also use this little digital camera as a Digital Camcorder.. WITH SOUND. See the little black spots in the picture of the Camera in the top right corner, next to the viewfinder? That's the microphone. The black slashes on the side of the camera near it is the speaker for when your playing the clips back on the camera.
In some other digital camera's I've had my hands on, I've noticed the mini-USB connector you plug into the camera appears to have been designed as though you can only use the Camera company's own brand cable. With this Fuji, I've found the connector is also compatible with the
USB cable for my Nokia N-Gagemobile phone / Handheldgames console + also matches the USB cable for the SONY PSP (I don't have a PSP yet.... just that a magazine I bought had a USB cable for one as a free gift on the front cover).
Anyway, I bought one of these for myself in the middle of March 2006, having read the reviews at "Steve's Digicams ", "Amazon.co.uk" + probably the ones here as well.... I bought it on my overdraft as a birthday present myself..... and one arrived on 21st March (the day after my birthday) from Amazon.co.uk It cost about £91 (they were cheaper in Boots, but Amazon's less hassle).
On opening the box, along with all the neccessary cables & the install disk was a pair of bog-standard ENERGIZER AA batteries...... you may want to note these only seem good for filling the 16MB XD memory card supplied about 1.5times before they don't have enough grunt left in them to power-up the camera (though they're still good for using in a torch)..
I bought some "PHILIPS LONGLIFE" AA Batteries from local discount store chain BOYES to replace them, but they turned out to be even bloody worse....... I stuck 2 in the camera (that's all it needs, 2x AA batteries) before setting off out, intending to snap a few final pics of a local business that was closing down on my way into town. I even turned the camera on to make sure they were working before I set off, and it worked fine then. By the time I got there (about 20mins walk), the camera would turn on, then turn it's self off again before I could take a picture with it. By the time I got as far as Whitby's Pannett Park (about 45mins walk from my house), the sodding thing wouldn't even turn on.. and I was thinking "sh*t, don't say I've got to send the f***ing thing back already!?". While in town, on a hunch I purchased some "VARTA HIGH ENERGY" AA batteries from Woolworths.... which cost £1.98 for a pack of 8 batteries. Not only are they cheaper than DURACELL / ENERGISER batteries....... they also last a hell of alot longer in my camera.... enough to fill the 128MB memory card I've since purchased at least 1 - 1.5times. Didn't need to buy another pack until about the beginning of June. (Better still - try a battery charger + some high capacity rechargable batteries of at least 2100 - 2400+ mAh)
I also mentioned the camera is supplied with a 16MB XD Memory card..... when I opened the box, I was looking all through the box trying to find it, and just when I thought I'd have to send the camera back..... found it hiding in the pack containing the instruction manuals & warranty papers.
I strongly recommend upgrading to at least a 128MB XD Memory card, since the 16MB card can only hold: 7 images @ 4MP Fine mode 15 images @ 4MP Normal mode 18 images @ 3:2 (4MP) mode 25 images @ 2MP mode 33 images @ 1MP mode 122 images @ 0.3MP mode
In comparison, there's currently 5 images (taken at Max. quality) on the 128MB card in there at the moment, and there is still room for: 60 images @ 4MP Fine mode 120 images @ 4MP Normal Mode 136 images @ 4MP 3:2mode 191 images @ 2MP mode 256images @ 1MP mode 931 images @ 0.3MP mode Which you've gotta admit is a hell of a lot more than you'd get on any roll of film. A 128MB XD card will cost around £19.99 from BOOTS.... except when I took the dummy pack to the counter (along with my BOOTS ADVANTAGE card), they couldn't find any XD cards..... so instead I went to PICTURESK on Flowergate, Whitby..... who did have the cards in-stock..... and for a cheaper price (£18). Which just goes to show it can pay to shop around + just because a shop is bigger, it doesn't necessarily mean they're cheaper.
The menu + controls on the camera are fairly idiot proof..... and there aren't any silly little dials on it that can be accidently pulled off (e.g. by catching it on something in your pocket).... or get snagged up on a loose loop of thread in your pockets, for instance)....
Pictures of Fujifilm FinePix A345
Picture of St. Mary's church nr Whitby Abbey, taken with the Fuji A345
so should be durable. The built-in Date / Time feature can be adjustable for world-time zones, etc.... though you may want to check it regulary as my camera seems to gain time (I've just had to put it right 'cos it was running 5 minutes fast).It has 2 built-in timers..... a 2second one, and a slightly longer (10-12seconds?) one. These are activated by selecting the self-timer from the on-screen menu, then hitting the Shutter release button to activate the countdown. The longer one I suppose is for including yourself in photographs... particularly group photographs, while the 2-second one I've found comes in handy when zoomed in on stuff, and you need to hold the camera steady with both hands (and not briefly move the camera out of alignment pressing the shutter to take the picture manually).
It also has a "continuous shooting" mode.... which allows you to fire off 3 shots in a row...... this I've found comes in handy for photographing moving steam locomotives, particularly when including something like a bridge or a level crossing in the shot and trying to get the train at exactly the right moment (e.g. 25% across, 50% across, etc). To use it, select "Menu" > "Cont." > "On" Then hold down the shut release button to fire off the shots when you're ready.
Manual shooting works fine too..... in other reviews I think I've seen people bitching about how half pressing the shutter only locks on the auto-focus, then having to press harder to take the actual picture, being a particular pain in the butt when trying to do wildlife shots. I've found it to be not much of a problem if you just learn to use the camera properly and press the button down harder.
Like all the best digital cameras, it is equipped with an OPTICAL zoom (3x) + also has DIGITAL ZOOM (3.6x) to give it some extra grunt...... giving it 10.8x Zoom total (according to the blurb on the box it came in)..... and because this little camera is equipped with a screen, you can zoom in & out on things without cocking it up like you can with a 35mm compact zoom camera that only has a viewfinder.
It also has a "Macro" function... which for the benefit of those of you who's knowledge of photography is limited, is for the purpose of taken detailed shots of small items (e.g. Model Trains, ornaments, decorations on a cake, etc)..... particularly useful for taking shots of anything you're planning to try flog off on Ebay.
The camera is pretty compact...... I can stick it in my trouser pockets, and almost forget it's there. In fact as a test to answer a question over @ YAHOO ANSWERS, I stuck the camera in the pockets of my REEBOK tracksuit bottoms. Then found room in the same pocket for my Nintendo DS, a Nokia N-Gage cellphone, my old TRIUM Mars Cellphone, a pen + 2 Watches. A good comparison I've just tested - it looks like it'd fit inside a 250g Tub of Flora Margarine, with a little bit of room to spare (just held the camera up against the tub in the fridge to get a rough idea).
Like the controls I mentioned earlier, the menu's on the screen a pretty easy to figure out without using the instruction book: Review mode menu option include: - ERASE: All Frames / Frame / Back (exits menu) - DPOF: RESET ALL / WITHOUT DATE / WITH DATE - PROTECT: RESET ALL / SET ALL / FRAME - Playback: (various options for onscreen slideshows) - Trimming: Set (image editing from the camera) - SET/OPTION: Set-up / LCD (Brightness) / Volume (for video playback).
In Video mode: - QUALITY: 320 (320x240mode) / 160 (160x120 mode) - SET / OPTION: SET-UP / LCD (adjust brightness)
In Still photo mode: - QUALITY: (for options, see those listed when I mentioned the memory cards). - Self-timer: 2seconds / 10 seconds / OFF - SHOOTING MODE: Night / Sport / Landscape / Portrait / Auto / Manual - CONT.: On / Off (continuous shooting mode) - SET / OPTION: (Same as for when in VIDEO mode).
Image quality appears damn good, no matter which resolution you use (though I guess it also depends on light conditions). In everything down to 1MP mode, it allows you to zoom in & out + scroll around on images in playback mode....... but that you can't in 0.3 megapixel mode (having taken a few pictures recently, and finding I'd accidently had the camera in 0.3MP mode).
If posting pictures online, which you've taken in "4MP Finemode" (The only one I really bother using), all the really need is chopping down to 373(w) X 280(h) to make them load faster (smaller file size) + give them a quick swipe with the SHARPEN filter in any good image editing software (I use "PICTURE PUBLISHER 10: Digital Camera Edition" which came free with my webhosting package from 1&1 Internet Ltd, reviewed elsewhere). The finished results will speak for themselves once I've finally submitted this review + uploaded some of my best pics taken on the camera to prove it.
Overall the camera is a damn good value camera for Digital Camera rookies
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Very useful stuff - especially for me, as I am planning on replacing my trusty Kodak Easyshare CX4230 - it's been great, but is somewhat dated now. Thanks for the clear info.
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Advantages: Easy to use, clear picture quality, movies with sound, adjustable volume Disadvantages: Does not come with a case, and only gives you a small memory card
gem412 02.01.2006 ·
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Review of Fujifilm FinePix A345
Jul 15th, 2006
very helpful by (100%):
