Fuji FinePix A202

Buying a digital camera is a daunting experience but Fuji has made things very easy for those looking for a simple point-and-shoot camera.

The FinePix A202 is a chunky compact camera that costs less than £200. It looks nice too, finished in smart silver and chrome. And the best thing about the Fuji is its superb simplicity.

Many cameras make claims about ease of use, but the A202 is so simple to get to grips with that even the most apprehensive digital camera novice need have no fears. We inserted two AA batteries and were taking snaps in no time.

We were a little concerned about there only being two batteries as this looked like a recipe for frequent replacement.

Our fears were unfounded however, as they lasted a few weeks of intermittent use without fading. And having only two cells means the size of the camera is kept sensible.

A variety of folks who picked up the A202 and snapped a couple of shots said it felt comfortable.

The Finepix A202 is a 2megapixel camera, capturing its highest-quality images at a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels. It uses Fuji's new xD memory card to store images and a 16MB one is supplied to get users started.

Images from the A202 were very sharp, although the lack of an optical zoom does reduce flexibility a little. But this camera isn't for folks who want loads of functions; it's for people who want to take pictures with the absolute minimum of hassle.

There are several flash modes, including an effective red-eye removal setting and the ability to capture low-resolution video clips.

There is a simple video editing software package included so users can make the most of their footage, but we think most people will prefer the simple image editor for fine-tuning wonky snapshots.

As we've said, the best feature of the A202 is the ease with which even a total novice can get results. It's a great way to get into digital photography.

DETAILS

Contact: Fuji 020 7465 5776
www.fujifilm.co.uk