Fujifilm's 2009 budget A-series compact — 10MP CCD, 3x 32-96mm equiv zoom, AA power, SD/SDHC.
The Fujifilm FinePix A170 was a budget A-series compact launched in July 2009, sitting near the bottom of the FinePix range alongside the closely related A180. The A series was Fujifilm's long-running line of simple AA-powered snapshot cameras, and the A170 was among its final generations before the AX series took over.
It pairs a 10-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD (maximum 3664x2748 images) with a 3x optical zoom equivalent to 32-96mm at f/3.1-5.6 — slightly wider at the short end than most rivals. The 2.7-inch, 230k-dot LCD is the only framing aid, sensitivity runs ISO 100-1600, and there are 16 scene modes with automatic scene recognition. Images save to SD/SDHC cards or 10MB of internal memory, and power comes from two AA batteries.
The A170 suits buyers who want the cheapest possible route into CCD-era digicam images with no battery-charger anxiety: AAs are available anywhere. Handling is basic but the 32mm-equivalent wide end is genuinely useful indoors. There are no manual controls, and low-light performance is limited despite the ISO 1600 ceiling.
Used prices are among the lowest of any digital camera, so condition matters more than price. Check the AA compartment for alkaline leakage corrosion, confirm the zoom extends without grinding, look for LCD damage, and test an SD card write. Do not confuse it with the A180, a sibling model with different specifications, or seller listings that merge the two.