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A plump and user-friendly
little compact, the recently released 5-megapixel FinePix
A350 is one of 2 very similar cameras from Fujifilm. Intended
as budget-conscious, entry-level cameras, the A350 and its
twin, the 4-megapixel A345, are both equipped with a 3X optical
zoom.
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Only the top right side of the camera supports controls:
the 2-stage shutter release — auto exposure lock (AE-L)
and auto focus lock (AF-L) when held at mid-course —
at the far right, and the power switch, recessed to prevent
accidentally turning on the camera, to its left.
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An elongated
control composed of three sections is positioned directly
below the shutter release, on the top right side of the A350's
back. The centre section of the control can be pushed up or
down and serves to control the optical zoom. In addition the
control provides for up and down navigation in the camera
menus, while the buttons on either side of it, marked with
arrows, provide for right/left navigation. Each of these two
buttons also has an extra function when the camera is set
to a capture mode:
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Starts the Movie mode,
which allows recording video 
clips with mono sound at either of 2 frame sizes, both
of which are captured at 15 frames per second:
- 320 x 240 pixels
- 160 x 120 pixels
The optical zoom is locked at the first frame, the
focus is set to cover from 60cm (2 ft) to infinity,
and the recording can last as long as there is space
on the memory card. The monitor is automatically turned
on. |
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Still image capture mode,
which is the access to the shooting modes of the A350,
which are selected in the camera menu (see the Characteristics
section of the review for an overview of the modes available
on the A350). |
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Two more buttons are stacked
on the right side of the 1.7 inch, 115,000 pixel
monitor that provides a 90% frame coverage:
- MENU/OK: Displays the menu, and confirms a selection
made there.
- DISP/BACK: Selects the display mode. In the capture
mode the button cycles from the default display that superimposes
some information (image size and quality, remaining frames,
AF brackets, and date) to a display with a composition grid,
then to a display with only the AF brackets superimposed,
and finally turns off the monitor.
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In the Playback mode, the button performs a similar function,
starting with the basic display that superimposes the image
number and shooting date and time for approximately 2 seconds,
to a display free of any superimposed information, to an
index display with 9 thumbnails per screen.
The FinePix A350 has no pretensions, and is squarely aimed
at first-time purchasers looking for a simple-use digital
camera. Its controls are kept to the bare minimum and learning
to operate the camera only takes a couple of minutes. |
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Introduction
