Steves Digicams - Fujifilm FinePix A303

Review posted 10/09/02

Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Fujifilm FinePix A303

Click to take a QTVR tour of the A303

The FinePix A303 is Fuji's new sleek and stylish, 3-megapixel, entry-level digital camera for 2002. It's one of the slimmest and lightest digital cameras in this category and designed specifically for the first-time digital photographer. The A303's multi-megapixel resolution is capable of generating sharp, richly colored photos and prints up to 11 x 14 inches. It's equipped with an all-glass 3x optical zoom lens and can capture still images and full motion video (without sound) at 10 frames per second in 320 x 240 resolution up to 60 seconds in length.

The FinePix A303 has been designed to consume very low amounts of power and as such it only requires a pair of AA type batteries. Fuji claims about 200 shots with two alkaline cells (flash 50%, LCD off.) It uses the new xD-Picture Card for removable storage. These xD-Picture Cards are designed with fast read/write capabilities for smooth digital camera operations. A 16 or 32MB card can record data at 1.3MB/second. A 64MB card or higher can record data at 3MB/second and both offer a read speed of 5MB/second. The cards are designed to minimize power consumption to lengthen battery life.

It's small and uses very little power but it offers ultra-fast processing speed, the fastest in its class. The A303 has a macro focus mode that lets you capture close-ups from 0.3 to 2.6 feet. And it has a sharp and colorful 1.5-inch color LCD for preview, review or menu operations. It can also function as a PC web cam with the supplied FinePix Viewer software and also comes with ImageMixer VCD for FinePix, DP Editor and Apple QuickTime 5.0.

The Fujifilm FinePix A303 is available now with a MSRP of $349.99 (10/2002).

FinePix A303 Features

3.24 Megapixel CCD for images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels.

3x (38-114mm equivalent) F2.8 optical zoom lens

Seamless 3.2x digital zoom in 640x480 mode

1.5-inch TFT color LCD, approx. 60,000 pixels

Program AE, Manual mode offers exposure compensation

Shooting modes: Still, Movie, Macro

Motion video w/out audio up to 60 secs @ 320x240

White balance selectable in Manual mode

Shutter speeds: Automatic 1/2 seconds to 1/2000 second

64-zone TTL Metering

ISO sensitivity 100 equivalent

Built in flash with Auto, Red-eye reduction, Forced on, forced off and slow-synchro

9-frame and 13x zoom playback function with scrolling

xD Picture Card storage, 16MB supplied

USB connectivity

Small (4.3 x 2.8 x 1.5 in.) and lightweight (8.8 oz)

Physical Views

The compact FinePix A303 and a standard CD for size comparison.

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Features & Controls

FinePix A303 Specifications

Number of Effective Pixels	3.24 million pixels CCD
CCD Sensor	1/2.7-inch CCD (Number of Total Pixels: 3.34 million pixels)
Number of Recorded Pixels	2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 pixels
File Formats	Still image: JPEG* (Exif Ver. 2.2) Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG) *Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible
Storage Media	xD-Picture Card 16 - 128MB (3.3V)
Recording capacity	with one 16 MB xD-Picture Card (included): Still Images (2048 x 1536 pixels - 3.1 million): Fine: 12, Normal: 26 Movie recording (10 frames/sec w/o sound, AVI format): 320x240:~94 sec's total, 60 sec's per movie 160x120:~5 min's total, 240 sec's per movie
Optical Zoom	Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens
Zoom Lens Focal Length	5.7mm - 17.1mm (Equivalent to 38-114mm on a 35mm camera)
Digital Zoom	3.2x in 640x480 mode
Focus	Auto Focus
Focus Distance	Normal: 2 ft - Infinity., Macro: .3 - 2.6 ft
Aperture	Wide: F/2.8-4.8, Tele: F/7.0-11.6
Viewfinder	Real-Image Optical Viewfinder Frame coverage: 80%
Exposure Control	64 Zone TTL Metering, Program AE
Exposure Modes	Auto (Exposure Comp. available in Manual Mode)
Shooting Modes	Still, movie, macro
Movie Recording	320x240 (QVGA): Approx. 60 sec. (no sound), 10 Frame/sec.
Sensitivity	ISO 100 equivalent
Shutter Speed	1/2 sec to 1/2000
White Balance	Auto, 6 positions selectable in Manual Mode
Flash Modes	Auto, Red-eye reduction, forced flash, suppressed flash; slow sync
Flash Output	Auto flash using flash control sensor: Telephoto: 2.0ft - 9.8ft. Wide angle - 1.0ft - 11.5 ft
Playback Digital Zoom	13x playback magnification (in a 3MP- 2048x1536 image)
Self Timer	10 sec.
LCD Monitor	1.5-inch, TFT (60,000 pixels)
I/O Terminal	USB 1.1 (PC Card Adapter and USB Card Reader are optional)
Power source	2 AA Alkaline batteries (included), Ni-MH batteries (optional), AC-3V AC power adapter (optional)
Battery Life (1/2 exposures w/ flash)	Alkaline batteries: LCD on: ~150, LCD off:~200 NiMH 1700mAh batt's: LCD on: ~200, LCD off: ~300
Dimensions	3.8(W)x2.5(H)x1.4(D) inch
Weight	5.1 oz. (without batteries)
Accessories Included	16 MB xD-Picture Card 2 AA-size Alkaline Batteries Hand Strap CD-ROM: USB driver FinePixViewer DP Editor Apple QuickTime™5.0 ImageMixer VCD for FinePix

NOTE: These Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer.

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FinePix A303 Features

Physical Views

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FinePix A303 Specifications

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