Product Description

The FinePix A340 offers faster operation times and improved power consumption with new, user-friendly menu navigation. The cameras allow first-time digital photographers to capture great pictures easily, while keeping the overall experience simple and fun.The FinePix A340 offers picture-takers 4.0 million effective pixels, combined with a 3x optical zoom, for printed images that look as real as life. This camera offers streamlined menu navigation, a quick playback mode and a slide-powered boot-up in sleek metallic bodies.The camera offers four scene position modes usually found in more advanced Fujifilm cameras, including portrait, night, sports and landscape settings. The macro setting on this camera allows users to capture images of items only 4 inches away from the lens. In addition, AVI movies can be captured at a rate of 10 frames per second.The FinePix A340 offers a 3.3 second start-up time, and an increased efficiency in frame-to-frame shooting. This model also offers improved power consumption, taking an average of 220 images on a new set of AA alkaline batteries, with the flash on half of the time and LCD off.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39975 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Fuji
• Model: A340
• Dimensions: 8.00 pounds
• Display size: 1.5
• Included Software: Yes

Features

• 4-megapixel resolution for photo-quality 11-by-15-inch enlargements
• Fujinon 3x zoom lens
• Sliding lens cover design; movie mode without sound; improved operating speeds; PictBridge compatible
• Stores images on xD memory cards (16MB included); connect to computers via USB 1.1 or 2.0
• Powered by 2 AA-size batteries (alkaline included, rechargeable NiMH recommended)

Amazon.com Product Description
Speed is mostly what sets the A340 apart from previous cameras. Slide the camera cover open and you'll be ready to start taking photos in about three seconds. The camera also has a quick refresh between images--less than a second. Images come out of the A340 quickly, too, since it is compatible with the much-faster transfer speeds of USB 2.0 when uploading to computers that are likewise equipped.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, the A340 can create images up to 2016 x 1512 pixels, which is enough information to create photo-quality prints up to 10 by 13 inches. The camera features a 3x Fujinon zoom lens. Also, the camera has a 1.7x digital zoom feature, but only when shooting in 2MP mode. To get those close-up shots full of detail, the A340's macro mode can focus the camera on subjects just 3.6 inches from the lens.

Movie Mode
Shoot up to one minute of AVI video without sound at resolutions up to 320 x 240 pixels. The movies aren't camcorder quality, but they're fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments. The camera includes cables that allow you to view your movies on NTSC (North American) and PAL (other regions) televisions and, of course, you can upload the files to your computer via the camera's USB interface.

More Features

• Flash mode: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction + Slow Synchro
• 1.5-inch TFT display screen
• TTL center-point fixed autofocus
• Auto, manual, and pre-programmed exposure control
• Fast processing: 3.3-second bootup time (duration between turning the camera on and when it's ready to start taking pictures) and a frame-to-frame time of 0.62 seconds.
• Ten-second self-timer
• Six-language menu interface
• Standard tripod socket
• Sliding lens cover

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on xD memory cards (16MB included). Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. This camera can transfer images at a faster USB 2.0 rate to computers installed with a USB 2.0 card.

Printing
This camera is compatible with the PictBridge direct-printing standard. That means that it can connect and print directly to a number of printers by different manufacturers without additional software or even a computer. Learn more about PictBridge.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by two AA-size batteries (alkaline included, rechargeable NiMH recommended). It measures 4.09 by 2.42 by 1.23 inches and weighs 5.1 ounces without batteries and memory card.

What's in the Box
Camera, 16MB xD-Picture Card, USB / Video out Cable, Wrist Strap, 2 AA Alkaline Batteries, Picture Cradle Adapter (Cradle Sold Separately), CD-ROM with FinePix Viewer ver. 4.2 and ImageMixer VCD 2 for FinePix, User Manual

Customer Reviews

Unusual for Fuji
Until this camera, Fuji was consistently my favorite camera brand within the compact category (I am not a professional photographer, as I imagine you aren't if you're looking at this camera in the first place). But we'll get to all that in a second.

Pros:
-Extraordinary price for a 4 megapixel compact camera with 3x optical zoom.
-Scene modes make it easy for newbies to get the proper settings for optimal pictures without knowing what the heck white balance and shutter speed are.
-Sliding lens cover physically protects your lens against scratches from other objects in your pocket, like keys
-A wide variety of manual options for those who are interested in learning about how to use them.

Cons (and there are many):
-Image quality is SIGNIFICANTLY worse than other Fuji cameras. I was so disappointed when I uploaded those first few shots! Fuji, why did you scrap your good sensor and replace it with this piece of junk?
-Menus are extraordinarly tedious to navigate. Fuji should have mapped more controls to seperate buttons instead of grouping almost all of them together in one big menu.
-Zoom/navigation button is difficult to manipulate, especially with only one hand on the camera.
-Amazon's official review says that speed is a priority with this camera, but the start-up time is almost 3 seconds on average (as compared to the Exilim line's 0.5 to 1.0 second times) and the shutter speed is average (as compared to the Exilim line's .05 second shutter speed).

-The sliding lens cover does not protect against dust at all, and feels very flimsy (made of plastic). Constantly feels like it's going to break off.

Moral of the story: you get what you pay for. Invest in a 3 megapixel camera in the same price range, or bite the bullet and pay more money for a better 4.

Good for what it is.
My husband and I kept debating and debating about whether to purchase a digital camera. We have a 35mm Canon EOS Rebel that takes gorgeous pictures. But, we knew if we got a digital camera, we'd end up using our wonderful camera a lot less. Fortunately, his dad killed our endless debate by purchasing this Fuji for us for Christmas.

I have to say, I like it a lot. There are some things that could be better, but for a 4 MP point-and-shoot, especially at this price, it's great. It's small enough to fit in a coat pocket (definitely not true of our big Canon), and takes very clear pictures. We did upgrade the xD card immediately, for a lot more memory. The flash, as another reviewer mentioned, really works without washing out the scene - as you view the picture before snapping, it looks way too dark, but once it's taken, it is wonderful.

The cons, though, are also there - though I don't know that they are any worse than any other digital camera. The amazon review mentions speed. I find that you do have to wait quite a while between photos if you use the flash - definitely longer than .62 seconds, anyway. This is kind of annoying - we have twin 2 year olds, and they don't stand still very long. And, this thing eats batteries. We don't have rechargeable ones, but will definitely be investing in those soon. In some ways, it's nice that it takes AA's - you can certainly buy them quickly most anywhere, rather than having to go home and charge it up - but you'd better have plenty around.

The 3X zoom just doesn't seem to be enough to me (probably spoiled by our digital camcorder, as well as the Canon), and it is very hard to manipulate quickly. The menus, as others have mentioned, are not terribly intuitive, and they could have added a couple of extra navigation buttons to make it more user-friendly.

However, overall, it's a good little camera. I was set up on the computer with it within a half hour (we don't have the cradle) and the Fuji software is nice, too. I'm sure using it a lot, which is a good sign!

great cam for everyday use
I just need a camera to take pics of my family and this cam fits the bill perfectly. It is very easy to use and prints well. at just 2mp the pictures came out very much like normal photo prints using household HP printer and photo paper. Good for making the occasional prints, no need to run to the photo developing place. Sending the pics via email is also piece of cake using the FinePix viewer software. no need to fiddle through your files to attache the pics.

The downside is that the buttons are not set up like most digital camera so it take awhile to get used to and I wish they supplied a higher mb picture card. the supplied 16 mb only takes 25 odd pics at medium res so I need to purchase a higher mb xD card.

However, if you're just looking for a simple, no frills, family digital camera then I say this camera is just perfect.