Review posted 11/2/2012

Quick Take

Pros

JX580 is low-priced Very easy to use with only basic features On-screen explanations of features are nice for beginners Small, thin, lightweight design 16MP of resolution Camera works well for shooting images for use on social networking sites Control buttons are small, but they're well placed and comfortable to use Flash portrait photos are of a decent quality Lens retracts fully inside camera when powered down, and lens glass is protected by an automatic cover

Cons

Battery life is poor Compartment cover for battery and memory card slots is flimsy Camera's focus is soft more often than it should be For a 16MP camera, it's going to be difficult to make large prints because of softness 5x optical zoom lens is below average in today's market Menu structure is confusing and poorly organized No mode dial to make it easier to pick shooting modes Shot to shot delays and shutter lag are slower than most Start-up is slow LCD suffers from significant glare issues USB port has no cover, which could lead to damage No full HD movie mode; no HDMI port When shooting movies with zoom, the camera has a focus lag, leading to blurry portions of the video Very limited manual control options

Bottom Line

Fujifilm's FinePix JX580 camera may look like a tempting option, as it has 16-megapixels of resolution in a camera that costs just a little over $100. However, the JX580 has quite a few significant drawbacks -- even for a camera in its price range -- that are going to leave photographers who own this model frustrated with some of their results. Even if you're just looking for one of the cheapest cameras you can find, it's tough to recommend this model. It will create very nice photos on occasion, but it simply isn't consistent enough, even for a budget camera. Only the most basic beginning photographers will want to consider this camera. Read more in our Full Conclusion.

For those who are on a limited budget, but still crave some higher end 2012 features, FujiFilm has created the FinePix JX580. This ultra-compact digicam boasts a simple, easy to use platform that's very affordable ($120 or less), however it still gives you some appealing specs. These include 16-megapixels of resolution, a 3.0-inch LCD screen, 5x zoom, and a host of fully automatic exposure modes - like SR (Scene Recognition) Auto.

Keeping it affordable does mean you'll lose out on some features, like full HD video. However, you can shoot 720p HD video, and the camera does offer an Easy Web Upload option, allowing you to quickly upload photos to your facebook page, etc. - a computer and the included MyFinePix Studio software is required.