If you like the look of the sleek ultra-thin digital cameras, but the models--which can be somewhat expensive--don't fit within your budget, Fujifilm may have an answer for you. The FinePix A345 (sometimes also called the A340) offers all of the basic features a beginning photographer would need (although none that are going to "wow" you), for a sub-$200 price.

The FinePix A345's best attribute is its easy-to-use interface. Shooting great photos is extremely easy with the FinePix A345, thanks to the well-designed controls. Its menus are easy to use as well.

With 4.1 megapixels of resolution, the FinePix A345 has enough resolution to meet the printing needs of most beginning photographers. The camera's 3X optical zoom lens produces good results, although there can be a little distortion in the images at the maximum zoom. Most images, especially outdoors, are sharp and have vibrant colors. When shooting in low-light conditions, though, the camera has some trouble focusing properly. It also doesn't have a powerful flash, so some low-light indoor photos won't produce results as good as you might like.

The FinePix A345's response times are very good for a budget-priced camera. You can shoot your first image 2-3 seconds after pressing the power button, which is an outstanding result for a sub-$200 camera. Shutter lag is less than one second and many times isn't noticeable (unless using the flash). The FinePix A345's shot-to-shot delay is a bit of a disappointment at 3-4 seconds when using the flash, however.

Not surprisingly, the FinePix A345 is a point-and-shoot model with very few manual-control features that might not appeal to intermediate photographers. You can control the exposure and the white balance a little bit, but that's about all.

The FinePix A345's 1.7-inch LCD is smaller than we'd like to see and isn't very sharp or bright (it's almost impossible to see the display in bright, outdoor lighting), but that's not a surprise for a low-priced camera. Manufacturers of budget cameras typically skimp on the LCD to save money on the overall price. Fortunately, the optical viewfinder does an adequate job of framing your photos.

Finally, the FinePix A345's body has that popular ultra-thin look. It measures only 1.2 inches thick. It's an overall good package for a beginning digital photographer at a great price.


Pros: Low price, thin camera body, good response times
Cons: LCD screen is below average, no continuous-shot mode, low-light photos sometimes are below average quality

Warranty
1 year