Fuji FINEPIX A303 Digital Camera (Fuji-FPA303)

WHAT'S HOT: At 7 ounces the FinePix A303 is the lightest camera--and one of the smallest models--on the chart, but it's packed with features. It has a 3X optical zoom lens, 3.24-megapixel resolution, a bright LCD screen, and the ability to take short movies (without sound). The image quality is very good, with accurate colors and a good contrast range, though some of the test images looked a little overexposed. The body is well designed, with a cover that protects the lens when the camera is turned off.

WHAT'S NOT: There are no scene modes, and the lack of a full manual mode means that you can't take control of the camera and override the automatic controls, which could be a problem in some unusual lighting situations. The flash isn't particularly powerful; it won't illuminate objects more than a few feet away. The power switch (on the top of the unit) could be accidentally triggered when you put the camera into a pocket or a bag. The sensor also has a fixed ISO rating: You can't adjust it to take better pictures in low light.

WHAT ELSE: The FinePix A303 is one of the first cameras to use the new XD-Picture Card media. Vendors claim that these cards are faster and will support higher capacities than other types of memory card, but the biggest XD-Picture Card available at present is 128MB, and the cards are slightly more expensive than CompactFlash cards of the the same size: A 128MB CompactFlash card costs about $50, while an equal-capacity XD-Picture Card costs $65.

UPSHOT: This camera is a good choice for users who have fairly simple picture-taking needs.