The FinePix A340 is purposefully
designed as an entry-level camera, or for users who simply want
to be able to capture fuss-free photos.
Set to its basic Auto mode, the FinePix A340 is as simple to use
as can be. Outdoors or indoors, the camera captures bright, well-exposed
shots that exhibit superb and accurate colours. Moreover, a few basic Scene
modes are available to ensure that the settings of the camera are optimal
for the subject.
The Manual mode however adds two
important capabilities for the user. First the white balance
can be set for the ambient light.
Although the auto white balance
used in the Auto shooting mode is generally good, photos captured
under incandescent light and without using the flash are better
if the Manual mode is used and the white balance is set to incandescent.
Second, the Manual mode adds an exposure compensation option. While in
the vast majority of cases the 64-segment metering pattern yields very
well-exposed shots, even when the subject is backlit, some subjects — snow
scenes for instance — always require some exposure compensation.
Aperture: f3, shutter speed: 1/320 sec.
Aperture: f5.6, shutter speed: 1/210 sec.
One thing missing from the Manual
mode however, is a long shutter mode that would have allowed
night shots. Although the A340 has a Night mode, its 2
second maximum exposure time is too short at 100 ISO — the
base rating of the CCD — to be used on night time scenery,
and is best reserved for night time portraits with the use of
the flash in slow synch mode.
Photos captured with the wide angle end of the zoom show that the lens
has a bit of barrel distortion, but that it is relatively light.
Telephoto shots on the other
hand show no pincushion distortion whatsoever.
Indoor shots though, highlight the lack of an AF assist lamp. Used in a
room with an average level of incandescent lighting, the A340 can have
some problems acquiring focus, and only finding a brighter area at the
same distance to focus on, or increasing the amount of light can help.
Aperture: f5.6, shutter speed: 1/420 sec.
Aperture: f4.8, shutter speed: 1/280 sec.
The FinePix produces excellent
images but the fairly strong compression used at the highest
image quality can sometimes betray it, as it can decrease the
level of detail. Regrettably, Fujifilm has for quite a while
now, elected to severely limit the image resolution and
compression options offered on their cameras. As a result, the Fine image
quality offered on the camera is more in line with the middle JPEG
compression available on many cameras.
While this isn't a serious impediment
when photos are printed, the effects of the compression can occasionally
be seen on a monitor when photos are looked at 100%.
This aside, the A340 offers good value, and its overall image quality,
and in particular its superb colour rendition, should bring complete satisfaction.
Image Quality
