Used to think Fuji Finepix A204 was a good camera...it's been redundant for about 4 years now

The Fuji FinePix A204 is an easy to use camera with easy to use menu system via the built-in screen. Screen can be switched off to save battery power, the user switching to the optical viewfinder.

When not using the camera to take photos, a screen can be slid across to protect the lens and the robust nature fo the camera means it can take some reasonable knocks.

The response time of the camera when you take a photo is very fast compared to other similar cameras by other makers.

The image quality depends on the megapixel setting chosen (0.3, 1.3, 2.0, 2.0 fine), however, the high quality of the images in 2.0 fine mode can come out looking extremely professional.

2 Megapixels (fine) is okay for your amateur photographer (and actually took pictures comparable to a mate's 4 megapixel camera) and will produce a top notch looking A4 (even A3) print with a good printer. However, if you're looking to do poster size prints of greater than A3, look elsewhere.

If you're wanting more than a point and click camera, look instead at the Fujifilm Finepix S3000 (6x optical) or S5000 (10x optical - or come October 2004, S5500 - I now own an S5000 camera too), which are the cheapest cameras on the market offering SLR style functionality and the option for extra lenses. The Finepix A204 (and it's sucessor, the S205) is at the end of the day compact cameras and you are restricted to the 3x optical and 2.5 digital zoom offered by the camera.

Movie mode (without sound) is restricted to 320x200 AVI video clips of 20 seconds (longer on the A205 I believe).

A further surprising plus point was it's ability to take a usable photo in low light conditions - flash and nighttime settings allowed a reasonable image to be taken.

Battery life isn't brilliant but definitely not a major problem. However, rechargable batteries as with any digital camera are strongly recommended, as is when possible using the optical viewfinder and switching off the LCD screen. By doing this, I managed to extend battery life from several hours to 2 to 3 days.

I'll continue to keep and use the A204 as a compact, go anywhere camera. Put it this way, my other camera (A Fuji S5000) is not a camera I can tuck out of sight of pickpockets in a big city.

This 2.0 mega pixel camera from Fuji is another plus for buying this brand. for many years I have used Fuji Digital cameras and this Fuji Finepix A204 keeps me smiling.

The zoom lets it down a little but thats the focusing system is slow. but apart from that the camera is great. The 16mb xD card is tight fuji could have given it a 32mb xD card.

I got mine on 17/01/04 for only £99.99 from littlewoods index store in Barnsley South Yorkshire. as fuji has the New 205s which is a facelift model plus they claim the batterys last for and extra 50 shots 300 instead of the 204's 250. but for a ton its a bargain.....

Had problem when a freak wave engulfed my Fuji Finepix A204 digital camera and it started to fail. Sent it back to Fuji who rightly said it had water damage and refused even to attempt to repair it.Claim on insurance progressing - hopefully! Cleaned the camera of powdery stuff on the printed circuit board and camera now comes on but does not hold power.I'm sure Fuji could have repaired it in no time at all.Will keep it as spares for the replacement!

I have had this Fuji Finepix A204 Digital Camera since December 2002. I am pleased to say that i have had no trouble what so ever with the camera, and it produces some excellent pictures. The only drawbak with the camera is that the 2.0mp reselution is too low for large prints, but this is to be expected from a camera in this price range. I found the fuji customer services excelent, and i have since purchased one of their 6.0mp models. Overall, i thought that the finepix A204 is a good quality camera for the price.

I was really happy with this until after a short time it starting producing out of focus shots. Problem was that Fuji are simply refusing to repair it under guarantee, they've just washed their hands of it. They say it has suffered impact damage, but have offered no evidence for this. It seems to be just a convenient opt out for them, and I'm now having to fathom out how I can challenge them, since I can state absolutely that it hasn't had any impact - it's hardly even been used.