Fujifilm's top budget compact of 2007 — 8.3MP 1/1.6in Super CCD HR, 3x zoom, dual xD/SD slots, AA power.
The FinePix A800 topped Fujifilm's budget A-series when it went on sale in early 2007, launched alongside the FinePix A610. Unusually for an entry-level compact, it borrowed the company's enthusiast-grade imaging pipeline, combining a Super CCD HR sensor with the Real Photo Processor normally found further up the range.
It is built around an 8.3-megapixel 1/1.6-inch Super CCD HR sensor delivering images up to 3296x2472 pixels, with selectable sensitivity to ISO 800. The lens is a Fujinon 3x optical zoom backed by 6.9x digital zoom, framed on a 2.5-inch LCD. Storage is notably flexible for the class, with dual slots accepting both xD-Picture Cards and SD cards, and power comes from AA batteries.
The comparatively large sensor for a budget compact gives the A800 better highlight and shadow behaviour than most cheap cameras of its day, and it draws interest from CCD-compact enthusiasts for its colour rendering. Handling is basic and automated, so it suits casual shooters and digicam collectors rather than anyone wanting manual exposure control.
The dual card slot is a real advantage second-hand: plain SD cards remain cheap and available, so an absent xD card is no obstacle. AA power avoids proprietary battery worries, but check the contacts for alkaline leakage, confirm the zoom and flash work, and inspect the 2.5-inch screen for scratches, as these cameras were often carried caseless.