Full Review

I bought this on behalf of a friend. Before passing it to him, I took it for a couple of days' 'test drive'. Specifically, I wanted to see how it performed compared to my Finepix F31fd. It cost less than half what I paid for the F31 and yet it has 8 megapixels! Too good to be true?

Frankly, I must admit the image quality is superb, which is unfortunate because I already spent quite a sum on my own F31. At ISO 100 the camera captures excellent detail. If you leave the ISO on Auto it usually tops out at ISO 400, which is good enough for 5 x 7"s I feel. The camera's maximum is ISO 800, which is a bit ugly (though usable) - but so is the F31's. My view is that the A800's high-ISO performance is equal to the F31's, and that's saying a lot. This is unsurpassed among compact digicams. Of course, don't expect either camera to equal a digital SLR - but you can't slip a DSLR into your pocket!

The downside to Fuji's high-ISOs is the noise reduction which affects image quality even at ISO 100. If you are a pixel-peeper like I am and want to capture maximum detail, stick to this lowest setting as far as possible. At ISO 200 and up, detail is increasingly lost to an appearance of fuzzy edges and smearing of textures. Still, I must say I would NOT hesitate to go up to ISO 400, when a higher shutter speed is needed.

The main drawback to me is the lousy QVGA (320x240px) video (in)capability. This is really below expectation for cameras today. We're getting hi-res monitors and HDTV sets, but Fuji takes a step BACKwards here. What gives?!

Camera performance-wise, this camera is not for those with a need for speed. The A800 takes its time to start up, zoom, and focus. Shutter lag isn't bad though. When reviewing photos, zooming in to check details is frustratingly s-l-o-w.

Last, the little details: the camera takes SD cards, which I feel is great compared to Fuji's traditional xD choice. I find my Fuji xD s-l-o-w as well. It also takes AA rechargeable batts, which is good because you can easily buy your own, but it may not give as many shots per charge as a dedicated lithium.