Fujifilm Finepix A205S Zoom

Review Date: May 11th 2004

Ease of Use

The Fujifilm FinePix A205S Zoom is a quite an old-fashioned digital camera in terms of general design and body-shape. Considering the small number of external photographic controls, the camera is surprisingly bulky and you will struggle to fit it in a trouser pocket. As the camera is aimed firmly at beginners, there are only 8 external controls, including the shutter release and power button, and the menu system is very easy to use due to the lack of features. The Fujifilm FinePix A205S Zoom definitely falls in the point and shoot category of digital cameras.

The Fujifilm FinePix A205S Zoom has a sliding lens cover as seen on other digicams like the Olympus µ[mju:] 400 Digital. To turn the camera on you have to open the cover and press the sliding Power button; to turn it off you just have to move the cover towards the closed position, and the lens will automatically retract back into the camera. It's a clever design that helps to protect the lens from damage, although it does slow down the operation of the camera a little.

Apart for it's bulky size, there really isn't too much to dislike about the Fujifilm FinePix A205S Zoom. The zoom rocker switch, which controls both zooming in and out, is stiff and a little unresponsive, whilst the all-plastic construction probably won't withstand too many hard knocks. But then this is a sub-£100 camera. There are no loose buttons and the memory card/battery cover is well-fitted, and even the tripod mount, although plastic, is well-positioned in the middle of the camera's base. Kudos to Fujifilm for not cutting any corners in terms of the Fujifilm FinePix A205S Zoom' construction.