Fujifilm Finepix A345 4.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Fuji Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 59
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 On: 2008-06-01
i recieved this camera as a xmas present some years back. it was a bit pricey for the quality @ $250 bucks. and although the pics usually come out pretty nice, the battery issue is infuriating! the camera will turn on for a mili-second and as you press the shutter, it turns off. i have bought all different types of batteries, and none will work with it. it will SOMETIMES take ONE or maybe up to FIVE pictures, before turning itself off. it will also turn off sometimes if you use the zoom. so, basically it actually WORKS about 15% of the time, and ive missed so many pictures over the years!
On: 2008-01-05
I,too, bought this as my first digital. I am happy with the quality of the pics, however, the battery issue just pushed me over the edge. After many, many missed opportunities with our first new granddaughter, my children have bought me a new Canon for Christmas. The fugi was sent back in the hopes that it could be diagnosed. They just indicated "power" was the problem. I bought two new battery chargers and new batteries to no avail. In reading other reviews, I have noticed that the SD cards drains the battery, and perhaps we could use the xDtype H? Not sure...Fugi is willing to supply me w/a reconditioned A500 for $60. Not sure if Ill take it or not.....Just my thoughts...
On: 2008-01-04
I,too, bought this as my first digital. I am happy with the quality of the pics, however, the battery issue just pushed me over the edge. After many, many missed opportunities with our first new granddaughter, my children have bought me a new Canon for Christmas. The fugi was sent back in the hopes that it could be diagnosed. They just indicated "power" was the problem. I bought two new battery chargers and new batteries to no avail. In reading other reviews, I have noticed that the SD cards drains the battery, and perhaps we could use the xDtype H? Not sure...Fugi is willing to supply me w/a reconditioned A500 for $60. Not sure if Ill take it or not.....Just my thoughts...
 On: 2007-12-24
The camera is fine as long as nothing goes wrong. Fuji has the worst customer service I have ever delt with. They pass you from one person to another and do everything they can not to help you. Be prepared to deal with the worst customer service in the business. I really hope this helps you.
On: 2007-12-24
I have had this camera for a year now and am more unimpressed every time I use it. It is hard to take pictures that are not blurred. Even though it is a 4.1 MP camera, most online photo developing websites flag the pictures for low quality, meaning that anything over 4x6s are discouraged. It is an easy camera to use and takes the picture in the viewfinder with a minimum of delay, but it is a low quality and probably blurred image. There are better cameras out there for the price!
On: 2007-12-23
The camera is fine as long as nothing goes wrong. Fuji has the worst customer service I have ever delt with. They pass you from one person to another and do everything they can not to help you. Be prepared to deal with the worst customer service in the business. I really hope this helps you.
On: 2007-10-15
the camera takes good pictures but after the warranty expires, problems with the lens not opening started... at first the remedy was to just turn the camera on/off for a few times. right now its totally dead... it wont open at all (after a year & a half since i bought it)...just a waste of money...very disappointed with FUJI. this is totally a lemon... can we have our money back?
On: 2007-07-31
I got this camera in the summer of 2006. It worked fine until about January 07. I took it out to take a picture and received the "zoom error" message. I took it to my local camera shop along with my warranty and they sent it off to be fixed. I finally received my camera back from the Fuji company 2 months later- the lens appeared to be fixed. However this past weekend while attending a Baltimore Orioles game, I took the camera out to take a picture and once again received the "zoom error" message for no apparent reason. I will not be sending the camera off to be fixed again. I refuse to wait 2 months to get back a camera that is "kind of" fixed. I will never buy a Fujifilm camera again.
On: 2007-07-21
I bought two new Finepix A345 , both of them with the same annoying problem !! : the zoom doesnt come out , just stocked in the middle , without making focus , I never dropped in the floor or something like that . The cost of reparation is more than the camera value , so :
NO MORE FUJIFILM FOR ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 On: 2007-07-08
I got this camera when I was sixteen(three years ago) and I would have continued using it, but I dropped it in the sand and the zoom is now broken. I never had any serious problems with it.
Pros:
-Easy to use settings
-Easy to use zoom
-Good picture quality
Cons:
-Lcd would sometimes be delayed
-flash is very bright on auto mode and washes people out
-if you zoom in to far, it looks really grainy
-I had the same problem with the shutter not opening and getting a blury image
On: 2007-05-04
My parents bought this brand for Christmas for both my brothers family and mine. Last summer, we both complained (to each other!) that it used a ton of batteries, but it was more of an inconvenience than anything else. Since November 06, my camera now only takes clear pictures in bright situations, such as outside. Forget taking anything indoors at this point - it is nothing but a complete blur that not even a picture program can fix. I have missed so many pictures because of it! I will never buy a Fuji again.
On: 2007-04-27
This camera is a lemon!!!! The shutter stopped working before the warranty ran out. It belongs to my daughter and she didnt tell us; she just stopped using it. Power on and either you get a noise, or a partly open shutter w/o focus, or if you are lucky once every 10 tries, you might be able to take a picture. Stepdaughter also got the same camera with the same defect; she sent it back after warranty - a $60 dollar repair bill. The camera is currently selling new for $60. Read other reviews w/ the same problem. Manufacturers should not charge such a hefty fee to repair when their merchandise is defective. Will probably just get a new camera and definitely not a Fuji!!!
On: 2007-04-06
I purchased this Fuji a345 in Oct.2005 and the Zoom problem began at last Nov. Right now, it is still working, but the Zoom is fixed at somewhere and can not make auto focus. I use to have one Fuji a330 which purchased in 2004, my brother still use it and it rocks. But this one, is really really bad.
On: 2007-03-26
I bought this camera last June. Zoom error appreared in Feb. I mailed it in for warranty and it came back with scratches on the side and a note saying "not repairable". I was careful with this camera and it was never dropped - I inspected it prior to shipping to make sure I hadnt somehow dented it etc. Now it looks like someone took a tool and jabbed it. It definately wont hold up to normal wear.
On: 2007-03-25
I have noticed several owners of this camera who have wrote reviews complaining about this camera failing to operate after a few weeks. When holding down the shutter to snap a photo, the camera shuts itself off.
I had this same problem with the camera and had it shipped out to FujiFilm, thinking the camera was a a lemon. I received the camera back from Fuji and still had the same problem. Then I was informed to try to use high-drain NiMh batteries. This ended up fixing the problem. The dollar-store batteries I was attempting to use to make the camera serve its purpose provided insufficient energy to snap a photo.
Now, in regards to my thoughts on the camera. It is great for taking still-shots. On the other hand, it is not so great at taking images of moving objects. This is sort of expected, as this camera was released more than two years of my writing of this review and was a low to midrange camera when it was being sold at local stores.
Overall, I would recommend it. My next camera I plan on trying another brand for comparisons sake.
 On: 2007-02-26
I got this camera as a present a year about a year ago. The image quality isnt bad, but its a bit fuzzy at high resolution. I was pretty happy with it until I also got the "zoom error". This happened about 6 months in. I would turn on the camera, and the lens wouldnt come out, or the shutter door wouldnt open, or some other issue with the lens would occur. I was able to get it to work on and off by trying to turn the camera on and off repeatedly, but after a couple months of that, I got tired of messing around. I emailed FUJI tech support for an RMA (they have a 1 year warranty, folks), and with 1 day left on my warranty I mailed the camera to them for repair. Within 7 days they had my camera headed back to me repaired and working great.
Its unfortunate that this line has these zoom errors. If you got a camera and the zoom error was already repaired, then theres nothing to worry about. I just wish that I hadnt needed to send this in for an RMA in the first place.
On: 2007-02-01
I bought the Fuji A345 about one year ago. It took good pictures, especially outdoors. Used it on a river tour in Russia during the summer and was especially pleased with the convienence of being able to slip it in my pocket. (I had an Olympus C3000 camera with me also which took better pictures in poor lighting situations.) After about a year the lens extension started sticking and the focusing was having problems. Also at this time, the battery life, which was marginal to begin with, took a dive. Finally the lens would not extend at all. And all of this just after the warranty ran out. No more Fujis for me. I am replacing it with a Canon.
On: 2007-01-30
For Christmas this past year, I bought one of these cameras for my boyfriend and one for my mother because they were both in desperate need of new cameras. When the cameras did work I thought that the pictures were high quality.. but we only got 2 weeks to enjoy this. My mothers only lasted 2 weeks before a "zoom error" popped up and then the lens would not open. Now (after replacing the battery several times) the camera will not even turn on. My boyfriends is still running but the camera will not let him zoom in (zoom error) and sometimes the camera just shuts off. I price checked several camera repair shops and they said that the cost to fix them costs more than the cameras themselves. Im so disappointed with these cameras that I have crossed Fujifilm off of my list for possible purchases in the future and have talked several acquaintances unto doing the same!
On: 2006-12-23
I brought the Fuji A345 in October or November of 2005. Im not a big picture taker, so I figured this camera was a good price for its value.
I wasnt too thrilled with the quality of the pictures, but I summed it up to "you get what you pay for".
Well, the camera died on me less than a year later. At first I assumed it was a battery issue since the battery life is very short. After going through packs and packs of batteries the first few months I had it, I started using Energizer Titanium batteries and that was the cure all to the constant purchase of new batteries.
Anywho, I brought new batteries for the camera and it would not turn on.
When I pressed the power button the green light came on for a split second and made a short beeping sound. The shutter also would not open.
I figured it wasnt worth paying for repairs b/c it would probably cost as much as I paid for it, to ship it to the Fuji Service Center and pay for repairs.
This was definitely a waste of money.
I will not purchase a Fuji brand again.
On: 2006-12-07
I need a camera that has excellent macro functions. So Im going to get another brand. But Ive enjoyed this camera. Its easy to use. It doesnt take much space. And it is very easy to upload the photos and work with the camera.
If you want a very good camera at a reasonable price, this is a good one. Good for print or the Web.
 On: 2006-11-29
This is a GREAT camera!! When I decided to buy a new camera, I knew that it could not be over $150.00 so when I saw this one, plus all the good reviews I just had to get it. The price is AMAZING!! You will not find a better camera for this price!! I have developed TONS of pictures and so far, I have not gotten one that I am not happy with.. They are very clear.. I would reccomend this camera to anyone who is looking for an affordable yet worthwhile camera.. So, all in all, you MUST buy this camera!
On: 2006-11-12
Im surprised to see so many positive reviews for this camera. I had their older version and absolutely loved it. When that one died I decided to go with the same company despite some warnings from a friend who had bought this version. I just figured he had gotten a lemon. I guess not. This camera rarely works. Currently the lens wont even open... it just makes a weird sound and wont do anything. It has never worked properly for me. Half the time the shutter wont open. Often the camera refuses to do anything rather than just *look* at the pictures... it wont let me take any. More often than not the camera wont be recognized by any computers (I work in a computer lab and try it on several different ones) even though Ive bought replacement connector cords. The pictures are usually blurry and I have to take them several times even though I steady the camera on tables, etc. Dont even think about taking photos inside with this camera. Everything is dark. What you see in the screen (as well as the peep-hole thing that I always use) is not what you will see in the pictures. You have to think about whether to zoom in more or less in order to get what shot you want. The picture quality is alright if its just for home use, but, especially when compared to the previous version, is horrific for any sort of specialization. I tried to take some pictures of jewelry I had made but not only could I not get a shot that was not blurry or dark but the colors were all off. Ive found that every single photo I want to keep from this camera I have to take into Photoshop to fix the brightness and the colors. I have to take a lot of photographs of various materials, so you can imagine how annoying that is to have to take each and every one into another program to fix. The salesman who sold this to me was trying to press another camera. At the time I thought he was just trying to sell me a more expensive camera, but now I wish I would have taken his advice. Whats the use of having a camera if most the time you cant use it and when you actually can it gives you a terrible product? My friend has all the same problems and were both incredibly unhappy with this camera. They had me as a lifelong Fujifilm camera buyer before but no longer. Ill never buy one again. I hate this camera. Today I had to take three pictures but it wont open. Its a terrible product and I wouldnt suggest it to anybody.
On: 2006-08-07
This was my first digital camera and I must say, it takes great pictures, considering the cost and the quality. After having it for a year and having some great mileage on it (well over 6000 pictures taken) it still works great, however the videos skip and cut out a lot. I would recommend this camera to someone who is just starting out with photography or someone who is looking to save money on a great camera.
On: 2006-07-27
bought the camera for my mother. small, reliable, takes great pictures, and has video with mic that records until memory is full. GREAT CAMERA
On: 2006-07-22
I bought this item for my 6 years old daughter.
she got lots of birthday presents over than 20 but, she only plays this camera.
She also just learn to transfer data from the camera to the pc. I think it makes her more familiar with computer.
Now I am really satisfied that I choose this.
On: 2006-07-20
This camera was all that I had hoped for. It takes great pictures and the instructions were clear and concise.
On: 2006-07-18
Best buy for the money. You cannot get performance like this for the amount you pay for. All other cameras cost more for the same or with less feature & quality.
On: 2006-07-05
I am quite content with the overall quality of this camera. Picture quality and general features of the piece are excellent. As with all fuji cameras (this is my 3rd upgrade)the included software is easy to use. My only complaint is that the shutter is a bit slow sometimes making it difficult to catch my toddler who is always on the move.
Overall, I am quite happy!!
On: 2006-07-03
This camera cost me 87.00 after a twenty dollar discount coupon I had earned from buying soap! This camera works fine for general picture taking, and accepts a 1GB XD flash card. I have had no problems using this, or figuring out the menu system. The video is grainy and jerky, but thats not what I bought it for. The pictures have come out crystal clear and generally excellent.
On: 2006-06-28
my mom has a similar camera, but a rather large one, and i wanted a smaller one.
but one that took good pictures and could be customize.
i like this one a lot cause its a cheap camera but its very good.
it can be fool-prood , just press a button and take a picture, or it can be manual for those interested in amateur photography,like myself. it has several flash modes, and a lot of customizable options like shutter speed and others. it also records video and audio in a simple format, very shareable. its small and light, very comfortable to carry around. fits on the palm of a hand.
the zoom is very useful and even in the lowest quality it takes decent pictures
On: 2006-06-26
I have purchased this camera for myself and 2 of my friends, and we just love it. It is simple to use, easy to carry in your handbag and takes great pictures. The color comes out very true and I have taken some great action shots. Also, I have been able to enlarge them up to 8 x 10 with good, clear photos. The manual is clear and concise and very helpful. A GREAT camera for everyday, casual use. The only thing is that it does go through batteries, so I always carry an extra pair with me. This is a terrific camera for the price!
On: 2006-06-21
I bought this camera about a month ago and have been very happy. This camera takes great pictures indoors or out. Battery life with rechargables is good (about 200 pictures). I submitted a picture I took of a daisy using macro mode, the detail is great! The menus are easy to navigate and if you use Win XP you dont have to install any software. I bought a 1 GB xD memory card for 50 dollars and it holds about 500 pictures.
On: 2006-05-31
I bought this camera to replace my broken A330. I loved the A-330, and wrongfully assumed that the 345 would be at least as good as its predessor. I was wrong! Half of my pictures are blurred, the colors are not true, the battery indicator is a joke, macro is useless, and it is slow. I wish I could still find the outdated 330. I am now searching for a new camera after only 2 months using the 345.
On: 2006-05-24
Very easy to use, great for action shots, stills, nature scenes, and up close is wonderful, software is easy to install and user friendly. I just LOVE this camera. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an easy to use yet affordable camera that takes nice clear photos.
On: 2006-05-15
My husband and I bought this camera for my mother-in-law for Christmas. It worked great when we first used it in December. The camera has not been used much since. We are due to have a baby in the next couple weeks and thought it would be nice to have a few pictures for the album so we got the camera out. This is when our problem began. It is only 5 months later and we changed the batteries in the camera. Now when we go to take a picture, anytime you want to zoom in or even snap the picture, then lens closes and the camera turns itself off.
When you are on a budget, a camera like this seems expensive so you would think that the quality of the product would be reliable. However, I feel that you would be better off buying a more expensive camera with a better name knowing you will be satisfied long term.
On: 2006-04-23
My original Fuji camera opened and then couldnt close. I should have returned it to Amazon.com but instead I called Fuji; they sent me a "updated version": the Fuji Finepix A345.
I need this camera for taking ebay pictures, all I get are blurry fotos. Of course it could be operators error. Have put the camera on the table to have it steady, pictures still came out blurred. Wished I hadnlost my old simple Polaroid digital camera!
On: 2006-04-05
I bought this camera because my last couple were FujiFilms, and they were good cameras. This one is not.
First, the atrocious indoor pictures: I happen to consider the flash my natural enemy, and this has never been a problem with my previous FujiFilms, but it is with this camera. Eventhough I have it set to no flash, every once in a while itll reset itself to autoflash, and I dont discover that until Ive lit up a whole no-flash-photography venue.
Second: battery life. I think all in all the battery will last maybe two hours without the screen on, but it starts complaining about it like 10 minutes after you put in new batteries, no joke. Itll shut itself down occasionally claiming it doesnt have enough battery life to operate. I forget about it, and a couple hours later turn it on, and itll operate for another hour. If its battery was so low it had to shut down right then, why am I able to have it on for another hour? Just for reference, I had to change the battery in my last camera (a FinePix 2650) once every couple months. I change the battery at least once a week.
Its power use is really the worst part of it. As alluded above, it plays silly games about the status of its battery. Sometimes it wont turn on (presumably because the battery is "dead"), only to turn on and work flawlessly a few hours later. I never know when its going to work. It is completely unrealiable.
Dont even get me started on the delay between pressing the button and the actual taking of the picture. Its only a second or so, but life moves pretty fast, and that second is important.
When I get the money, Im replacing this camera with its predicessor (the aforementioned FinePix 2650). I would not recommend this camera to anyone.
On: 2006-04-02
this is an absolutely wonderful little camera! it takes professional quality shots and its the perfect size to take anywhere. takes lovely macro shots and if you cant afford a digital slr this camera will do the trick. the only problem i have with it is that the shutter speed cant be adjusted manually so sometimes action shots have already passed by before the picture is even taken. other than that though i have no complaints and would strongly recommend this camera to anyone. i have already taken over 6000 pics with mine, and after being dropped a few times and once in snow it still works perfectly. its an excellent camera for the cost, and i never go anywhere without it!
On: 2006-03-27
I bought this camera to take with me to Europe because I was studying abroad. The day after I bought the camera I was trying it out and it "froze" after the flash went off. No picture came up on the screen and the camera wouldnt turn off or anything. So, I had to take the batteries out and put them back in before it would turn off. Well, I was leaving for Europe a week later so I didnt have time to deal with sending it off. So, I took it with me. I continued to have problems with it. The "freezing" continued to happen, but I also started experiencing another issue. Sometimes when I turned the camera on the lense would not come all the way out, like it was stuck. And when you look through the view finder the picture is completely blurred. So you would have to turn the camera on and off hoping that that would fix the problem. Well, my camera survived 9 countries and took great pictures. I was never caught without being able to take a picture, it may have just taken longer than I would have liked. Once I was home I plugged up my camera to my computer and the dreaded words "communication error" popped up on the screen of the camera and a message popped up on my computer screen telling me there was something wrong with whatever I had just plugged in. That was the last straw. I mailed off the camera yesterday (at my own expense) and I am waiting to see what Fuji is going to do. I am very disappointed with the camera and will not purchase another Fuji.
On: 2006-03-25
I really liked this camera for the first 6 months I had it. Its small, easy to use, and takes good quality photos. The indoor photos were vastly better than with the blinding flash of my old Olympus digital. I can see why its getting 5 stars from so many people.
But after 6 months, the trouble began. The lens didnt pop out consistently when the camera turned on, and I had to keep turning it off and on until it popped out, which it did about 25% of the time. In addition, the viewfinder looked blurry, like the lens was out of focus. Not happy-making, but oh well, I thought, at least its under warranty. I mailed it in to Fuji (at my own cost, which I thought was a little shabby), and got it back after three or four weeks. Nothing had changed! It had EXACTLY the same problems as it did when I sent it in. As far as I can tell, all they did was polish the exterior and pop it back in the box. So I have sent it back to Fuji and am awaiting the results. (Not that they apologized when I called to report the problem, either.)
Im not buying another Fuji very soon after this. Beware not only the possibility of experiencing the same technical problems I did, but also the incompetence of the Fuji service dept.!
UPDATE: After receiving it back STILL not fixed, I called and complained, wrote them a nasty note, mailed it back, and finally received a brand new replacement from them. Ive had no problems with this one yet and its been about four months. Fingers crossed!
On: 2006-03-19
I absolutely adore this camera. My friend has the A350, and I was always hogging it, so I decided to get my own, but for a better price. This camera takes excellent pictures, and is definitely worth the $129.99 I paid for it at Best Buy, if not more.
I would totally recommend this to someone interested in purchasing a new camera. Its easy to learn how to use, and anyone could use it. I am totally in love with this camera, and if I had the chance to buy another camera instead of this one, I definitely would not. Its the best thing you could ever buy for yourself photo-wise.
My only tip: buy good batteries. This one goes through them quickly, though having AA batteries rather than the traditional kind that you have to charge makes this camera a snap, and you dont have to wait hours and hours just to take a few pictures.
Well done, Fujifilm. 5 Stars. If this camera were a guy, Id marry him.
On: 2006-03-17
I bought this camera just before a ski trip to Telluride, CO. I was pleasantly surprised by the picture quality. This is an easy camera to learn to use and an easy camera to use. It takes two AA batteries that are used at a fairly quick rate. I think this quite normal for digital cameras. I always carry extra batteries. For the price this is a nice camera. I have no regrets.
On: 2006-03-14
Perfect! Thats the one word I have to sum up this product. The Fujifilm Finepix A345 4.1MP Digital Camera is just what I was looking for. Im going to New York City, London, and Paris this year and I was looking for the perfect camera to capture these soon to be rememorable trips and I have no doubt that I have choosen the right one! This is my third digital camera and my best. The features are fun and great as well as the small details like being able to actually turn off that annoying "beep". I am no camera expert but I know what I like and I like this camera. The photos come out really clear and the size of the camera is great also (Not to big, not to small, just right). For those looking to purchase a digital camera within this price range and with these types of features I have no worries in saying "Go out right now and buy this camera!" Enjoy!
On: 2006-02-19
I have owned about 5 differnt brands and pixel digital cameras over the years, and I have found that not only is this camera very simple and comfortable to use, it takes exceptional quality for a 4.1 MP camera. Again with what the other customer reviews say, I dont agree with them, as you really have to understand what the settings and flash settings are all about. These are the most important overall in any digital camera, yes some produce more or less then what you can do with it but overall this camera is true with its flash recommendations and you really do need to learn this. I love this little camera, it fits any where nicely and I would pick it again. Very awesome camera!!!
On: 2006-02-09
I was very excited to get this camera. It was easy to use, small, light weight, took great pics. Made the mistake & took it to the beach. Thats when it stopped working. I sent it to be fixed ($65 later). Anyway, got it back & took it to the beach again. Needless to say, it stopped working again. All my friends have Cannon cameras & dont have any problems when they go to the beach with their cameras. So now Im going to buy a Cannon camera. Fujifilm, disappointing........very disappointing.
On: 2006-01-19
Ive owned probably 15 digital cameras over the past several years, this is my sixth fuji finepix. My other digital camera (that I currently own) is a DSLR and I am a photographer by trade so Im quite possibly a little spoiled by the BETTER cameras that Ive owned.
With that said, I wanted a cheap (around $100) camera that I could stick in my purse and take everywhere, a camera that even (GASP!) my husband was allowed to touch. This camera fit the price guidelines so I bought it.
First of all, its small. VERY small. It is perfect for that in the purse/glovebox camera. It takes AA batteries which can be found at any backwoods bait store if needed.
For indoor shots, it lacks. Yes, it can take a picture that is in focus (sometimes) but its often over or under exposed. The macro mode is worthless because you have to be around four feet away from an object before the camera will focus on the subject. For me, this is really a non-issue because when Im at home, indoors, Ill use my GOOD camera.
For outdoor shots, this camera shines. Crisp, sharp pictures with little effort. The processor in this camera produces rich, vibrant colors. This is especially noticeable in the bright blue skies.
In conclusion, if you are looking for a cheap, SMALL digital camera to take along on vacation - this fits the bill perfectly. If you are counting on this camera to preserve your precious memories of your family, taken mostly indoors, Id look elsewhere.
On: 2006-01-19
The camera I received did not work so I had to return it. I was very disappointed with the defective product
On: 2006-01-16
The camera does everything described in literature. Easy to use right out of the box. Software is easy to load on puter. Photos are good but definitely snap shots, not gallery quality. Camera operating procedures are easy. Instructions are clear.
On: 2006-01-15
I just couldnt get this thing to take a photo that wasnt blurry. I read the other reviews and tried that stuff, but man, this thing was sooo much harder to use than my trusty old Canon PowerShot A200 that there was just no point. I returned it (even enduring Best Buys draconian 15% restocking fee, wont be shopping there again), and will be upgrading to another Canon, instead.
On: 2006-01-14
I just couldnt get this thing to take a photo that wasnt blurry. I read the other reviews and tried that stuff, but man, this thing was sooo much harder to use than my trusty old Canon PowerShot A200 that there was just no point. I returned it (even enduring Best Buys draconian 15% restocking fee, wont be shopping there again), and will be upgrading to another Canon, instead.
On: 2005-12-29
Before I begain, let me first say that my commets are backed by 7 years of professional photography. So I hope that I know what Im talking about.
I bought this camera at best buy during chrismas season of 2005. Before buying it, I compared it to an olympus 900 and a Sony S60. In the end, I went for this one (obviously). After fumbling with it for 2 days, I have to say- Its pretty good.
After further research, I am still semi happy about my choice- the olympus downright sucks (according to cnet) and the Sony...well, lets just say it is more complicated than I expected it would be.
One thing that I do wish this camera had was the ability to capture movies at "TV MODE", which is at 600 by 500 or something pixels, and to do it at 30 frames per second. This camera could do it at a max of 300 something by 200 (see the specs at the top). Really, the movies do look good but if you view them fullscreen on a PC they look bloated and choppy. The Sony can capture better at the same price.
But a digital camera is supposed to take pictures, right?
This is where the camera excells in. I dont know howthe other reviewers could say that the image quality is bad, but all I can say is that from where I live here in Washington, the pictures come out nice and beautiful.
How does it look from your state?
Generally, this is a good camera for the average casual person. Im planning to get a better one for my family (likely something from Sony) this spring though. But what can I say? This one do offer satisfactery shots in a small package.
Be warned however, this is not the most durable camera on the market. Its left side sports 3 uncovered and open areas: USB, Video out and Power ports which are totally out in the open. So dont accendentally spill water on that side. Proberly not good when taking pictures in the rain either.
And do get recharable batteries. My first set lasted me 20 shots, although it says that the camera can do around 100 on one set.
256 mb memory card is also recommended. Everyone says that theyre cheap. I dont know how $30 sounds cheap. But youll need them.
Thats it! Overall, great camera.
P.s.
I love the seemingly huge 1.7 inch LCD.
On: 2005-12-22
I bought this camera a little over a month ago. Before i bought it I did TONS of research to make sure i got the best camera for my money. I narrowed it down to this one, an Olympus camera and a Cannon one (<--tad more expensive) I ended up choosin this one. So far i have LOVED the little thing. *It fits great in my purse and i can take it anywhere with me.* If you are looking for a good camera for generic pictures then this is the camera for you. Latley Ive been gettin more into photography and even tho this little camera isnt the best for taking complicated shots it really isnt bad. The zoom is great for the price, EASY to use, GREAT photo quality. If I had to make the choice again Id definantly choose this one. Suggestions: Get rechargable batteries this camera DOES eat batteries, Its best not to drop it and such this camera scratches EASILY. Other than that Im LovIn It and Im sure you will too
On: 2005-12-18
The performance of the camera for daytime outdoor pictures is very good, but I returned it...
The reasons:
The flash is pretty weak and the lack of an assisting beam lamp leads to out-of-focus pictures when indoors. Do yourself a favor, spend some extra money and buy something like Canon Powershot A520. I am happy I did.
On: 2005-11-29
I bought this camera back in July and I love it. some people complain about clarity and i get great shots. You truly have to know how to set any camera to get the picture you want. you cant take a picture in the dark with no flash right? so in other ward you need to change settings to get clear pictures. thats with any camera. about the battery life. i was using regular batteries at first that lasted oh about a week. then I found some digital camera kind for $10 at target and havent had to change the battery since then. i even got concerned thinking maybe i changed the battery and forgot, but no sill have the whole pack left and its been 3 months and i use my camera almost ever weekend. This camera really is great for taking pictures on your every day journey through life.
On: 2005-11-18
The Fuji Finepix A345 is a great deal. I recently purchased this camera after my last digital camera broke. I did a bit of research online and was really attracted to this camera. It sounded compact and very easy to use, yet produced high quality photos. And thats exactly what it is - super easy, super small and super quality. The features are easy to use, my favorite being the 3X zoom. Plus, it is super easy to plug into the USB port and download the photos onto the computer. Another fun thing is that you can plug the camera into the television set and watch a slide show of your photos. I think the Finepix A345 is a great camera. Its perfect for the average picture taker (family events, parties, etc.).
On: 2005-11-06
This was my second digital camera, and I am not too happy with the camera. My previous one was a Nikon coolpix, and I was able to take better pictures than this one. I bougth this camera thinking that a Fuji camera would be a good buy, and I could use it anywhere in the world. You will always find someone selling Fuji films, and therefor my logic went that he/she maybe able to help me if I ran into a problem.
The good thing about the camera is its size. I can slip it into a tiny purse and carry it with me. Other than that, the quality of the pictures are not all that great, and neither is it easy to navigate the menu. Many times I find that the pictures are not clear, and I have had others use the camera, and they too got the same results. I also find it a bit cumbersome to get the camera ready for a shot, you have to slide and let it click twice before the lens opens. Also, sometimes when you do not slide the lens cap properly, you end up draining your battery. I am not fond of the button or lever, or whatever you want to call it, to zoom in and out.
Shop around, and see if you can get another camera. You cannot compare your experience with a disposable camera, and then say that this is a good camera. They are 2 different products, and the outcomes will be different.
On: 2005-09-19
This camera is not too bad. Actually its pretty good, i guess. its my first digital. Its fairly user friendly. I do have one MAJOR complaint, though. It EATS UP your batteries. Maybe its b/c Im learning the camera and therefore, using it a lot. If you are on vacation, you might go thru a pack of batteries per day. Im seriously considering sending it back because of that reason. Also I was disappointed that there was no panoramic feature. But thats my fault for not checking. A case would have been nice, too. Other than that, I guess its okay. Im still not positive that i would recommend it to my cousin who wants one. I would say that this is a decent digital camera-not great, but not awful.
On: 2005-09-16
I thought that buying a fuji camera would give great quality pictures. The pictures are just okay. They seem to be dark and not as clear as I would like them to be. I found myself being very disappointed with the camera.
On: 2005-09-02
This is a great little camera - easy point & shoot..the software is very user friendly and makes downloading pics/video a snap. If you have never had a digital camera it is a good place to start. My only suggestion is to get a larger memory card it only comes with a 16mb.
On: 2005-07-23
This was my first digital camera. My daughter has a Kodak Easy Share camera and I had played around with it some, but I wanted an easy camera of my own. After doing some research and comparing I decided to go with the Finepix A345.
This camera has a lot of features, yet it was easy to learn how to use it. I had to get used to mastering the Auto Focus feature. Some of my shots came out blurry if the camera couldnt auto focus. If you are too close to your subject or not holding the camera still it will flash an AF! warning which means it cant auto focus. Most of my prints have come out great, very clear and with great coloring.
I have taken this camera to a concert and was very pleased with the Optical Zoom feature. I got closer shots that I could have gotten with my film camera. I used the Action mode and got some pretty good shots considering how far back our seats were. Ive also taken this camera to an aquarium while on vacation and was very pleased at how my prints turned out.
I also like the size of this camera. Its small without being too small. I like the large LCD screen as well. The price was also right. The Amazon price was about $20 cheaper than Target or Best Buy. I also bought a 128 MB XD card. The 16 MB card thats included only holds about 20 pictures.
My only complaint about this camera is that I couldnt get the software to load correctly on my home computer. I have Windows XP and from what Ive read from other Fuji camera reviews, sometimes the software cant be loaded without calling technical support. I just havent took the time to do that yet so I go through "My Computer" to up load the pictures. That works perfectly so I may not even fool with the software.
I gave this camera 4 stars because I am basically pleased with this camera. However, this is my first digital camera so I dont have anything to compare it to. But for a beginner camera I think its great.
On: 2005-07-19
I also have a Fuji S5000 which is great, but this camera did not live up to the quality and ease of picture taking as I had expected. It is hard to see the LCD (very dim) and many of the pictures turn out blurry. You have to be very careful when holding the unit. The price and size was right, but I guess you get what you pay for.
On: 2005-07-13
+ve
small size
sharp picture quality
longer bettry life
-ve
i didnt like the color quality of the captures
night pictures are blur if you choose night mode if not comes very dark
my friend has fuji s3100 and i think is a better choice over this camera
:(
On: 2005-04-07
This is my first digital camera experience and with nothing to compare my praise with, I give it...praise. For $199, this camera performs and then some. I love the fact that it has a large LCD screen and that its nice and bright. The pictures look nice and clear and thats all that matters. I still havent mastered the different settings and whyfore and wherefore but all in all I am pleased with this camera. The sound on the movies is lacking but again $199 later and I am not complaining.
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