FinePix 3800

The Second Page is Self Timer:

The Third Page is EV (Exposure Value):

The Fourth page is WB (White Balance):

The Fifth page is "Option":

The SET-UP Menu options are:
The First page:

The Second Page:

The typical Playback screen display shows the Playback Mode Icon in the top left while displaying the file and frame number in the top right. The date of capture is across the bottom of the frame.

While viewing the image, pressing the telephoto zoom lever magnifies into the playback up to 12.8x in a 3MP (2048x1536) image. To move about within the image only requires pressing the DISPlay button once and by using the 4 way controls navigation of the zoomed image from corner to corner is possible.

Pressing the DISP button while in Play mode toggles between full screen and index modes. In Index mode you can quickly preview the stored images on the card and display any one in normal full screen mode.

Steve's Conclusion

The FinePix 3800 builds on the success of Fuji's popular FinePix 2800 Zoom. It uses the new xD memory card and offers 3.2-megapixel (2048 x 1536) images. The 3800 boasts the longest zoom in its category - a 6x optical zoom lens (equivalent to a 38-228mm on a 35mm camera.) All this for $449 (in October 2002).

The xD- Picture Card is in response to the needs of consumers using today's high resolution digital still cameras that require greater memory capacity. Initial sizes are from 16 to 128 megabytes at introduction, followed by 256 megabytes by the end of 2002. Though the new card design is about the size of a US postage stamp, larger sizes up to 8 gigabytes are in the future. The 3800 is designed to accept the 16MB to 128MB xD card which will store up to 102- 3MP(2048 x 1536) Fine quality images.

Ergonomically we are quite pleased with the FinePix 3800 Zoom, it feels very solid in the hand thanks to a large and comfortable handgrip. The camera has a certain amount of bulk to it but it's by no means "clumsy". One of the reasons that you'd buy this camera has to be the zoom lens. Anybody that has used a digicam with a long focal length zoom knows that these lenses really add to the overall "fun factor" of using a camera. A seperate lens like the 6x optical zoom (38-228mm 35mm equiv.) would be a very expensive purchase on a 35mm camera, it would also be quite large and heavy. Thanks to the CCD imager instead of a physically larger piece of 35mm film, the 6x lens and camera does not need to be too large or heavy. With the included lens adapter tube, mounting an additional tele converter lens that allows more telephoto or wide angle is simple. The adapter that mounts around the 6x lens also serves as a great barrier from impact when the lens is in it's normally extended position. It appears like a lens shade before the camera is turned on, but when on, the built-in lens extends to the internal threads on the end of the adapter. Another great reason to leave it on all the time is to allow the use of a 55mm UV protection filter which creates a dust and sand free environment for the zooming lens barrel to operate in ensuring the mechanism an even longer life span.

It's definitely not a pocket or purse camera but it can be easily carried all day in your hand or around your neck with it's mere 10oz. weight. It is designed as a "point and shoot" camera and you only need to turn it on and press the shutter button to capture a great picture. The color LCD is impressive and can be used in all but direct sunlight which could have been somewhat remedied by not using a glossy overcoat surface on the LCD. Since the 3800 has an Electronic View Finder (EVF), it is as accurate as the rear LCD in "what you see is what you get" like an SLR camera. When playing images back you can magnify them up to 12.8x on the 1.8- inch screen or EVF so it makes it easy to check for focus, color and composition. The battery life is good particularly because it uses 4-AA type batteries. As with most digicams your battery life is dependant on how often you use the color LCD for review and preview and how many shots are taken with the flash. With the 3800, power consumption could be more an issue as either the EVF or the LCD are drawing power all the time since there is no optical viewfinder. Considering this, we were impressed with the power consumption rate and Fuji lists 320 frames with the LCD on and 350 frames with the EVF (using NiMH batteries and half the frames taken with flash.) You can use alkaline batteries but we prefer to use the more powerful NiMH rechargeable batteries. These will give you more shots, they're reusable and in the long run, they'll save you money.

The camera delivers excellent image quality with well saturated and properly exposed colors. The flash is powerful for normal situations and did not overexpose close-up shots when using the macro mode. The powerful 6x zoom lens greatly adds to the "fun factor" and is a definite reason to consider the 3800. The 2048 x 1536-pixel images will print very good pictures 8x10 even up to 11x14 inch size and when you have quality images that big you can also crop into the scene and make a high quality smaller print. If you're looking for a good digital camera with a strong telephoto and impressive images, the FinePix 3800 is a very good choice. And at $449 for a 3.2 Megapixel imager and 38-228mm (equivalent) lens, its priced right.