Nov. 27, 2004–
I just got this camera today, and due to the lack of reviews, was a bit concerned about purchasing it. However my cousin owns the F420 and I noticed the high quality of Fujifilm cameras (co-operated with Olympus in Japan- where Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus all originate). The camera is even smaller than I initially thought looking at pictures online. It literally fits right into the palm of my hand. The hugh LCD is also a great feature. I haven’t used the camera too much yet, but already taking test pictures I have noticed the Fujifilm quality. I have researched greatly into several compact cameras, such as the Sony T1 and the Nikon Coolpixes. Nikon lenses are very good also, but I preferred the compact square size and design of the Fuji, not to mention the larger LCD. As for the T1, my friend owns it, and at first the design of it and the huge LCD greatly impressed me, but the quality was just ughhh >:o( horrible. Besides my old digi cam was a Sony one and let’s just say it’s safe to stick to a FILM company. The picture cradle, the tiny xd picture card, battery, and etc. are wonderful. Everything looks great..!
To sum it all up..
PROS:
*great compact, sleek design!
*large 2″ LCD
*hand strap comes included (just in case [:)
*Fujifilm quality
*Trimming on the camera available. (It’s like cropping/editing on your camera!)
*Pictbridge compatible (for those who love to print pics directly)
*Video recording with audio (The larger your memory card, the longer you can record! With 512 mbs. you can record up to 156.3 minutes!) Plus the audio is actually pretty clear (you can adjust volume in the playback menu).
CONS:
*I wish there was a better optical zoom, although 3.4 is pretty standard.
Finally, for accessories, must haves are a higher xD-Picture Card, higher battery, and an optional PictBridge photo printer.
I bought a 128mb card, but I recommend a 256 or even 512, of course it all depends on how many pictures you feel you are going to take. (You can adjust the mega-pixels, giving you more or less photos).
I hope this review was of some help! On a side note, I love this camera! (:
**EDIT*****Feb. 28, 2005
It has now been about 3 months with this camera and unfortunately the review ^(up) there, may have been partially a “just out-of-the-box” review.
Basically my stand is the same, although I thought I should warn buyers of these types of small cameras…
*IF YOU ARE IMAGINING TAKING PROFESSIONAL PICS with this camera, forget it.
Yes it has a 5.2 MP capability, so it’s good for prints, but MP is not everything.
All these types of small cameras coming out these days (e.g. Sony T1, T11, etc.)have a tendency to produce blurry pictures.
Even though a picture taken on this camera’s 2″ LCD may appear clear/sharp, an upload onto your computer may produce different results.
What I have noticed is that outside, pictures for the most part come out very clear.
The majority of blurry pictures occur inside, when there is not much lighting (obviously).
This camera requires a very steady hand; less so outside, but indoor pictures very much so.
Basically, the camera requires the shutter to be pressed half-way to autofocus, and the remaining half pressed to take the picture.
I’m only a student, so I mostly find content with this camera, because it’s a nice-looking gadget.
No one has failed to express their interest in it or praise it for it’s beautiful design.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend shoppers to consider what they are looking for in a camera as their first priority in their perfect digital camera search.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that it is not only this camera that will be producing such results. I have taken a look at my friend’s Sony T1, but there is no such “perfect” camera…yet.
If you want design, the chances of sacrificing an amount of quality is quite high, and vice versa.
All small cameras will have a higher tendency to blur, because that’s what they are– small.
The larger and heavier the body of the camera, it is better able to steady itself, while smaller and lighter cameras, such as this one, will need the guidance of a steady hand to create similar photos.
I believe this camera has better photo quality than the SONY T1, because it’s lenses actually “zoom” out, while the SONY one, just zooms internally.
Also, my friend’s SONY T1’s prints were uncomparable to the prints from the F450 (considering all the small different factors, e.g. where the prints were printed, etc.).
The SONY’s color outside was so dead compared to the F450’s vivid colors.
As for the big question..
No, I do not regret purchasing this item.
I enjoy the beauty of it, while using it and enjoy showing it off (not to appear condescending in any manner..).
Product Description
The FinePix F450 is a new model in the popular F-series. With five megapixels and once again a smaller metal casing in comparison to the F420, Fujifim displays high-quality digital technology in the smallest possible volume. Even if the new camera is no heavier than a mobile telephone at 150g it still reveals its true size in its features – amongst other things it boasts a generously sized 2 inch LCD monitor, a fast F2.8 lens and enough place with five megapixels for pictures that can be printed up to a size of 2- x 30cm in real photo quality. The new model achieves a sensitivity that finds no equal in this class.The champagne colored FinePix F450 displays its advantage particularly well with ISO 80 in light surroundings and pleases the user with the unusual brightness of its pictures. A newly developed Li-Ion storage battery in combination with technical improvements in the area of energy saving supplies the model with substantially longer operating times. The camera is delivered with a docking station that provides the user with simply download and charging functions. Thanks to Pict Bridge it is even possible to print without using a computer at all.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Fujifilm Finepix F450 5.2MP Digital Camera with 3.4x Optical Zoom
I guarantee you will regret buying this camera if you do so. I have had the camera since it first came out (about a year ago). There are much fewer color options than other cameras produced at the same time and earlier than the F450. In fact, you basically have your choice of color or black & white. Although the pictures look normal once you upload them to your computer, on the LCD display they will look like a reddish haze. That’s if you use the flash. Pictures are impossible to take without flash. They will be unusably blurry. Which means you will end up with red eye even when you’re in a brightly lit place where you wouldn’t normally need to use the flash. Less than a month after I bought it, the camera began “sticking”. I turn it off and the zoom doesn’t retract. So I have to turn it on and off again to be able to safely put it away. 
