Fujifilm's budget AA-powered compact — 14MP 1/2.3in CCD, 5x 28-140mm zoom, 3in LCD, 720p video, SD storage.
The FinePix AX280 was an entry-level compact in Fujifilm's AA-powered AX line of the early 2010s, one of several closely related AX-series models the company spread across different retail channels. It offered a longer zoom and higher pixel count than the earlier AX200-generation cameras while keeping the series' budget positioning.
It pairs a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a Fujinon 5x zoom equivalent to 28-140mm, using a two-step aperture of f/3.6 or f/8 at wide angle and f/5.9 or f/13 (via ND filter) at telephoto. Sensitivity spans ISO 100-1600, extendable to 3200 at reduced resolution, with shutter speeds from 8s to 1/1400s. A 3.0-inch 230k-dot LCD replaces any optical finder, video is 720p motion JPEG with mono sound, storage is SD/SDHC plus 24MB internal, and power is two AA batteries.
The AX280 is a straightforward daylight snapshot camera: fully automatic, light, and cheap to keep running on AA cells. The two-step aperture and modest processing limit creative control and low-light ability, but the wide 28mm-equivalent lens end is handy for travel and group shots.
On the used market these sell for very little, so prioritise condition: alkaline leakage in the AA compartment is the most common fault, followed by scratched rear screens. Confirm the zoom extends without grinding, that images are free of CCD column defects, and that a standard SD or SDHC card is recognised. Battery-life is mediocre on alkalines - NiMH rechargeables roughly double the rated frames.