Review 1 of 8
Price Paid:
$139.00
from Ebay Summary:
This was not my first digital camera by any means. I've had 3 cameras, each 1 megapixel greater than the last. My current favorite is the 3 megapixel, Fuji S602 - a very high quality prosumer camera. I do consider myself a decent photographer; I am not new to this area.
So, when I was looking for a new camera, I was not about to replace my S602. Instead, I was looking for a fun, practical camera that I could put in my pocket and take on the go. Still, I always kept quality in mind. One of the keys of fun is to maintain sanity.
My criteria:
- As high a resolution as possible (at least 2mp).
- At least a 3x zoom.
- As small as possible.
- As inexpensive as possible.
My first choice for these requirements was the Minolta X20. Ebay has many of these beauties for $129 or less. My choice was actually made up, but I decided to browse Ebay one last time before I made my purchase.
In the Ebay search field, I put "Less than 150," then I began looking through each megapixel range. This is when I ran across the Fuji 4800. As soon as I saw it in the 4mp range, I smiled. I understood that the camera used interpolation to make its 4mp images; I have dealt with the same feature in my S602. Still, unlike some, I consider the camera's SuperCCD to get superior resolution when at the larger image size.
I was thrilled to see I had a real alternative to the X20. I began to research on many websites and learned: it's small, has about 100-150 more lines of resolution than the X20 (the Minolta also happens to be soft), and that the color reproduction is amazing.
So, I gave into the temptation and purchased the used camera, and I really couldn't be more happy with the decision.
The Fuji 4800 is a very well built camera. Even as a used camera, it has no signs of wear. Of course, the case is metallic, also increasing its durability. The design by Porsche is also impressive. I really cannot find any fault with the structural integrity of this device.
While the camera is small (small enough for me), I'm sure there are many people that will not find this camera in there pant pockets. If you are a woman... or a guy... who wears tight pants, I wouldn't suggest this to you - as long as you are looking for a pocketable camera.
The timing of this camera is very nice. It starts and focuses quickly. There aren't many shots that'll be missed by this camera. That is, unless it is inside a dimly lit area - like many houses. The camera is not equipped with an assist light, so, like many cameras, it fails to focus. I have only experienced this when trying macro shots - where even less light than normal is allowed in the shot.
The image quality is just as my research proves. It makes some great 4x6 and 5x7; I would even like to try some 8x10s, but I have not done so. Color is vibrant and accurate. The images are sharp. Macro shots come out well - the flash throttles down nicely. Check out the sample images for yourself (mine especially :).
If you are into simple, Point and Shot photography, this will be a great camera for you. The camera's auto system is usually very good. When it comes to manual modes, the 4800 lacks a few important ones. For such a low priced camera (now anyway), I guess I can forgive the lack of shutter or aperture priority settings. Other than those two, this camera does provide a good bit of flexibility. You can chose the ISO, flash intensity, EV, metering, white balance setting, sharpness, and timer. Also, to make up for the lack of assist light, the Fuji has manual focus!
My last concern for the camera was battery life. I would have to say that the batteries are used up fairly quick. As a solution to this, I decided to get another batter online. If you search for Fuji 4800 battery, you can find replacements as low as $3.99 plus shipping. So, my battery worries were easily solved. With two batteries on hand (they are small), I have no problem. Strengths:
- Image Quality: Sharp, Vivid, Accurate, Detailed
- Awesome Build Quality: Durable, Small, Fast, Great LCD Screen
- 3x Optical Zoom
- Decent amount of manual options
- Definitely Fun Weaknesses:
- No Assist Light
- No Shutter, Aperture Setting
- proprietary Battery - but very cheap! Similar Products Used:
HP PhotoSmart 210, Olympus C-211, Fuji S602
| 
Link to this page
5 of 5
4 of 5
