Hey! You should know that this product has been discontinued. Here are our current recommended cameras in the Point and Shoot Digital Cameras category.
Fuji FinePix A900
Editor's Review
For a newer, low-cost alternative look at the Fuji FinePix A170. This is what we wrote about the A900 when it was on the market:
The Fuji FinePix A900 is like the girl next door dressed up as a beauty queen. It packs a bevy of eye-catching features that look great in ads: a solid 4x optical zoom, a selectable image stabilization mode and a big 2.5" LCD. However, the A900 isn't the class-leading heavyweight it might sound like. An in-depth look at its specs uncovers several budget-conscious design choices the manufacturer has made. The CCD and lens are definitely top quality, but the paltry ISO range, low resolution LCD screen and tiny amount of internal memory will be a concern for serious users. Fuji's well-advertised image stabilization is software-based, as it auto-adjusts settings like ISO and shutter speed to side-step blurred shots. This method of stabilization often results in unwanted image noise, something that the optical or CCD-shift stabilization systems included in other models avoids. With those warnings out of the way, it's safe to say that this is a very good and very inexpensive entry-level camera. As stated above, it's packed with a fine sensor/lens combo, and it also can boast a fine graphical user interface. The budget-conscious shopper, who it's clearly aimed at, should take note of the fact that the only thing differentiating it from the cheaper A820 is its 9 megapixel sensor (compared to the A820's 8.3 megapixels).
Specifications
- 9 megapixels
- 4x optical zoom / 7.6x digital zoom
- Auto focus
- Auto and manual exposure
- JPEG file format
- ISO 100-800
- AVI (motion JPEG) movie mode w/sound
- AA batteries
- 2.5 inch LCD
- SD/MMC, xD Picture Card storage (10MB internal)
- IrSimple wireless capable
- Part Number: A900
- UPC: 074101404302
- Release Date: Feb 22, 2007
Shop for A900 Accessories
Fuji FinePix A900 Comments & Questions (write your own!)
thank you. finepix a 900
Another tip is to go to Fuji's website and look for firmware updates. Download and install them.
You can only change the A900's white balance and exposure compensation settings in Manual mode, which is mysteriously hidden among Landscape, Night, and Sports modes under scene presets.
Be warned.
This would be a versatile camera that meets your specifications. If you want to stay with Sony, I would recommend the W55 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). It is a bit more limited when compared to the Olympus 760 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). If I had to choose between the two, I would pick the Olympus 760 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). Good luck and happy shooting.
Andrew
I am a big fan of the Canon ELPH line. I have had one for 6 years now, and it still works great. You could try the Canon SD1000 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). Its compact size is fantastic to keep in a pocket or purse, and the 7.1 MP resolution will make it great for producing photos at 8x10 or larger (when set at the finest resolution). Good luck and happy shooting.
Andrew
Andrew
Bernadette
While the Fuji A900 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) might sound impressive at first with its 9MP resolution, I don't like the image shift software or the low ISO setting options. I prefer to set things more manually. That being said, the new Olympus FE280, looks to have a lot of nice features. If its price fits into your budget, it might be the way to go. My favorite of the group is still the Canon SD1000 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). Good luck and happy shooting.
Andrew
First, I have to ask if you have the Sony Cybershot W55 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ); it has a 7.2 megapixel resolution. Is this the camera you have?
One of the reasons the camera shutter speed is slower is due the the auto focus. If you have the focal length you want, hold the button halfway down, and that should lock it, so when you push the whole way the camera will react faster.
As for the blurry shots, I'm guessing that you are in lower light situations when this happens. The camera will automatically adjust the shutter opening in those situations to allow more light in. To avoid this more, I would set your camera at ISO 1000 to allow more light in. You might see some graininess in the photos, but you will avoid the blurs.
If you would like to get a new camera all-together, I would recommend the Canon SD870 IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ). It is one of the highest rated compact cameras on the site, has a larger ISO setting range, image stabilization (which will futher help to avoid blurry shots in low light settings), and you white balance can be manually adjusted to further "tweak" the camera to work better in low light situations. I hope this helps.
Andrew
You might need to play with the settings to get your current camera, as well as any future camera, to work better in low light settings. That is where the image stabilization, setting a higher ISO number, and switching to a shutter priority mode. This camera does not have a shutter priority, but it does have a nightshot mode, which will essentially speed up your shutter speed, which you want to avoid the blurry shots. I hope this helps.
Andrew
could you please suggest me an ultracompact pocket camera that i use mostly in indoors as i have a small kid.i am really confused between canon sd 870 is and canon 1000.i read in the reviews that canon 1000 is not good for lowlights and to take pics of kids as it comes blurrry but i like its size and 870 is bit big than sa 1000.i torn between two which to choose.this chirstmas i need to buy for everyday use as i need to click my baby photos to cherish them for long time.thanku andrew in advance i know u will suggest me good one.
If you like the Canon cameras and are looking for something that will perform a little better in low light with children, I would recommend something with manual exposure settings and image stabilization. The two cameras you mentioned don't have the manual settings, but the Canon SD 850 IS ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) does. This camera has the ability to change the exposure settings manually to adjust better to low light situations. It is a bit bigger but that is to make room for the optical viewfinder which is nice on sunny days when you can't see the LCD screen as well. I hope this helps; good luck and happy shooting.
Andrew
I love my Cannon SD850. It is a great camera for the price! It is small enough to fit in my purse so it goes almost everywhere with me. It does not have a great deal of shutter lag which I appreciate since I have quick moving children! I find that my only problem with slow shutter comes when I am shooting indoors with a flash and my battery is on it's last leg. Otherwise it is very quick to shoot. I have also figured out that the continuous shutter works best in well-lit outdoor situations where the flash is not required.
It also includes a viewfinder which I find is a must-have feature.
I have gotten some incredible shots with this camera in the last few months thanks to the tips and techniques I have gotten from the wonderful people on this board!
HTH!
Amy S.
A900: 1/1.6" CCD; A920: 1/1.6" CCD SAME
A900: ISO800; A920: ISO800 SAME
A900: 39mm-156mm; A920: 39mm-156mm SAME
A900: 10cm macro; A920: 10cm macro SAME
A900: 1/1200 max shutter; A920: 1/1200 max shutter SAME
A900: 3.9-9m flash; A920: 3.9-9m flash SAME
A900: 320x240@30fps; A920: 320x240@30fps SAME
A900: 2.5" 115,000 pixel LCD; A920: 2.7" 115,000 pixel LCD A920
A900: 7.2oz; A920: 7.3oz A900
A900: 3.9"x2.4"x1.3"; A920: 3.9"x2.4"x1.3" SAME
The A920 has face detection, wi-fi transfer, and an anti-glare coating on the LCD, the A900 doesn't. The price difference is about $40. The weight difference comes from the larger LCD on the A920.
My opinion is that you want the money you spend to be where it counts and that's on the picture itself. And Fuji seems to have done that by focusing on the chip and the lens.
As for another option in the same class, I'd point you to the Canon Powershot A570IS. ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita... ) It has alot of the same features but comes with optical image stabilization and face detection autofocus, and the improved DIGIC III processor. Granted, it has only 7.1mp compared to the Fuji's 9.0mp, but the reality is that for snapshots, you really won't see a difference until you reach enlargements above 8x10 and only then, it's marginal.
Could anyone recommend an alternative model with similar specs?
I've considered the Canon PS A550 but that has NO image stabilization at all and a standard CCD chip.
My barebones requirements are: MUST use AA batteries! NO proprietary battery packs for me. Should have minimum of 4x OPTICAL zoom, Digital zoom thereafter would be nice, but not a requirement. Must allow video recordings and based on today's price points there's little reason to settle for anything less than 6MP imho but seeing as how anything over 2MP is technically overkill for 99.9% of the photo taking population the MP isn't a major factor to me.
Decent built in flash and low level lighting performance.
Thanks,
Rev
Image stabiliztion when done right would be a camera like the canon a570 IS. It uses a spectrometer and "physically moves the lens element" not digitally.
ALso why no lithium ion when the sd 800 is is rated at 270 shots per charge.
must have blown something up in side and I only read the manual 1 Year after blowning it up. The Lens pops out for half a second but it never properly comes on for taking pictures or reviewing pictures.
I think there should have been a big lable on it saying only use Normal AA batteries with this product
Fuji FinePix A900 Reviews
Fuji FinePix A900 Reviews by Digital Camera-HQ Users
- 5.0 out of 5
For the price and quality.. this is an excellent choice. It has pretty colors.......compared with my Panasonic DMC FX30 this Fuji has delightfull reds... and everything is fine except the size of the cam..
- 4.0 out of 5
Unassuming camera - but with very low noise, very good metering and autofocus, and excellent image processing.
But the most amazing feature of this camera is the amazing dynamic range - Fuji's SuperCCD sure pays off here.
I bought this because I wanted an affordable, unassuming pocketable camera - one that I can take whenever I don't carry my dSLR kit. Turns out that, for 75% of all my shots, the A900 is as good as my dSLR setup, which is the size of a backpack.
Limitations: what you'd expect of a digicompact. Depth of focus, even at fully open, is the size of a small country. Doesn't help with portraits, but comes in handy with macro shots. Limited zoom capacity, but the lens performs more than adequately over the entire zoom range. No manual settings. No RAW mode.
But the dynamic range is stunning. What a great little camera for the money.
- 5.0 out of 5
I've had this camera for a month now and it has been an excellent point and shoot camera. It takes decent pictures in all modes and settings except for the video which was slightly distorted, but excellent sound. The menus and buttons are not to complicated to use plus it will tell you what to do on some of the functions.
I believe this camera to be will worth the price of $173.00 that I paid for it!
