Fujifilm's 26x budget bridge of 2012 — 14MP CCD, 24-624mm equivalent, AA power, sits between S4200 and S4500
The FinePix S4300 was one of a family of budget bridge cameras Fujifilm announced in January 2012, slotting in with a 26x zoom between the 24x S4200 and the 30x S4500 on the same SLR-styled, AA-powered platform. It was aimed at value-focused buyers who wanted maximum zoom reach for minimum outlay.
It combined a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a Fujinon 26x zoom running 4.3-111.8mm (24-624mm equivalent) at f/3.1-5.7, with CCD-shift image stabilisation and ISO settings from 64 up to 6400. A 3.0-inch 230k-dot LCD handled review, video recorded at 1280x720 30fps, storage was SD/SDHC/SDXC, and power came from four AA batteries rated around 300 shots.
Like its platform siblings it is a fair-weather generalist: easy handling, useful 24mm wide end and enough telephoto for distant subjects, but a small slow-lensed CCD that struggles in dim light. Its 26x reach distinguishes it from the S4200 and S4500, which are separate models despite near-identical bodies.
Running costs are low thanks to AA cells and standard SD cards. Inspect for alkaline leakage in the battery bay, confirm the long zoom extends smoothly through its whole range, and check the LCD for bruising; CCD sensors of this era can also develop hot pixels visible in low-light frames.