A sub-£200 digital camera with this specification would have been unthinkable a year ago. Prices continue to fall and the FinePix A204 Zoom from Fujifilm has an impressive feature list. It starts with a 2-megapixel CCD array, so the camera can capture high-resolution images at up to 1,600 by 1,200 pixels, and adds to this a 3x optical zoom. Zoom lenses are normally only found in digital cameras costing well over the £200 mark.
Fujifilm has adopted a technique used by Olympus to protect the lens with a sliding cover but, unlike its rival, the sliding mechanism isn't linked to its power switch. This means you can leave the lens exposed with the power off or leave it covered with the power on, neither combination being particularly helpful.
Its other controls are more sensibly grouped into bars of three on the back panel, or around the shutter release on its top. Also on the back panel is a 38mm LCD monitor, a quality device unlike the cheaper LCDs found on many entry-level cameras. There's an optical viewfinder, too, so you don't have to rely on the LCD to compose your pictures. The menu system is clear and easy to navigate and most of the everyday exposure and timing decisions are made for you automatically. The camera has a built-in flash too.
Fujifilm has long been a fervent supporter of the SmartMedia memory card format, but with this model has moved to its own, new xD-Picture card. The card is about the same size as a Multimedia or Secure Digital card and seems to have few advantages over these more widely used storage media. While the 16MB capacity is generous for a camera in this price range, it's a shame yet another format has to be added to the list.
The camera can capture video at up to 10 frames per second in QVGA format, at a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. On the card supplied with the camera, though, you can only fit 20 seconds of video. Fujifilm's supplies its own FinePix Viewer for uploading images to a PC or Macintosh and the software is reasonably accomplished at performing simple manipulations of your pictures.
Images are finely detailed, even when blown up for large prints, and the colour balance is good for a camera in this price bracket. Pictures taken in bright light, though, can suffer from over-vividness in their hues.
The FinePix A204 Zoom is supplied with twin AA alkaline batteries, but you can use rechargeable NiMH cells, too. A carrying strap is included, but there's no case as standard with the camera.
