Fujifilm's entry-level A-series compact — 10.2MP CCD, 3x 32-96mm zoom, AA power and SD cards
The FinePix A160 was an entry-level model in Fujifilm's long-running A series of budget digital compacts, sharing its user manual and basic design with the FinePix A170, A180, A220 and A230 generation from the late 2000s. It was aimed at first-time digital camera buyers who wanted a simple, inexpensive point-and-shoot.
It used a 10.2-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD behind a Fujinon 3x zoom covering 32-96mm equivalent (5.7-17.1mm, f/2.9-5.2), with a 2.7-inch 230k-dot LCD and no viewfinder. Scene Recognition Auto, face detection and 256-zone metering handled exposure, with shutter speeds of 8s to 1/1400s and ISO 100-1600. It recorded JPEGs and VGA motion-JPEG video to SD/SDHC cards and ran on two AA batteries.
Its appeal was simplicity: switch on, let SR Auto pick a scene mode and press the shutter. Stabilisation is electronic only, so indoor results depend on the flash, and the 1fps burst rate rules out action photography, but in daylight it delivers the punchy CCD colour this generation is known for.
As an AA-powered, SD-card compact the A160 avoids the charger and memory-card headaches of older digicams; alkaline or NiMH cells drop straight in. Check that the lens extends and retracts smoothly, that the flash fires, and that the screen is free of pressure marks or bleed.