Fujifilm's 30x budget bridge of 2012 — 14MP CCD, 24-720mm equivalent, EVF, four AA batteries
The FinePix S4500 was the 30x flagship of the budget bridge-camera family Fujifilm announced in January 2012, sharing its SLR-styled AA-powered body with the 24x S4200 and 26x S4300. At around 269 dollars at launch it packed the longest zoom of the platform into an entry-level price.
It couples a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a Fujinon 30x zoom covering 24-720mm equivalent (4.3-129mm) at f/3.1-5.9, steadied by CCD-shift image stabilisation. Framing is via an electronic viewfinder or the 3.0-inch 230k-dot LCD, ISO runs 64-6400, shutter speeds span 1/4 to 1/2000 second, storage is SD/SDHC/SDXC and power comes from four AA batteries.
The appeal is reach-per-pound: 24mm wide to 720mm telephoto with nothing to change or carry. It handles like a small SLR but shoots like a compact, so expect leisurely autofocus and soft results at full zoom in dull light; in sunshine it is a capable holiday and garden-wildlife camera.
AA cells and SD cards keep ownership simple. Check for alkaline leakage in the battery bay, run the zoom end to end listening for motor strain, and confirm both EVF and LCD work. CCD hot pixels can appear in long exposures on well-used examples, so review a dark test frame.