Fujifilm's 2004 budget SLR-styled zoom — 4MP CCD, 6x 39-234mm equiv lens, xD storage, AA batteries.
The Fujifilm FinePix S3500 was a budget SLR-styled digital camera announced in August 2004 as the four-megapixel successor to the popular FinePix S3000 Zoom. It sat at the entry point of Fujifilm's S-series bridge range, below the S5500/S5000 models, offering long-zoom looks at a compact-camera price.
It carried a 4-megapixel CCD and a 6x optical zoom lens equivalent to 39-234mm on 35mm, supplemented by 2.5x digital zoom. Framing was via an electronic viewfinder or the 1.5-inch LCD. Movies recorded at 320x240 or 160x120 resolution at 10fps, PictBridge direct printing was supported, storage used xD-Picture Cards, and power came from four AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries.
The S3500 was aimed at first-time digital buyers stepping up from film who wanted zoom reach and an SLR-style grip without complexity. Today it is a low-cost CCD-era curio: image quality is basic, autofocus leisurely, and video minimal, but the handling is comfortable and AA power keeps it usable.
On the used market the main caveat is xD-Picture Card storage — discontinued, low-capacity and pricey second-hand, so a bundled card adds real value. Check the EVF and LCD both display, the zoom motor travels the full range, and the AA battery compartment is free of leak corrosion, a common fault on cheap AA-powered bridges stored with cells inside.