Fuji releases the FinePix A850, world yawns

Alright, so you weren't exactly waiting on pins and needles for Fuji to release yet another entry-level FinePix digital camera, but might we interest you in yet another entry-level digital camera with totally average specifications? We thought so. We think you'll find the FinePix A850 offers a uninspiring 8 megapixels of image-stabilized resolution, a delightfully adequate 3x optical zoom, and a solidly-middling ISO 800 maximum sensitivity. But don't get too excited digging change out of the couch just yet -- Fuji's not going to announce pricing on this pinnacle of yesterday's technology until it gets closer to launch in July.

[Thanks, Mark]

[daveosaka @ May 22nd 2008 11:48PM]

If it was such a boring announcement, why bother posting it?

[Waveblade @ May 22nd 2008 11:51PM]

slow day ;)

[ethana2 @ May 23rd 2008 12:25AM]

Haha, exactly.

[Wolfticket @ May 23rd 2008 2:36AM]

Exactly what I wondered.
What's with all the dull entry level camera post?
And what's with repeating how dull and entry level they are every-single-time they are posted?

[anterlude @ May 22nd 2008 11:51PM]

2002 called, they want their high end products back

[Loker @ May 22nd 2008 11:57PM]

I wish Fuji would get back out of the megapixel race on their high end point and shoots....anyone who knows anything about digital cameras knows that cramming more pixels on the same size sensor is almost always bad news...

It is kinda sad that probably the highest quality point and shoot ever made is the F31FD from Fuji and it was made back in 2006 and came in at 6.3MP....it probably beats the snot out of damn near every 12MP point and shoot on the market right now....

[King Mustard @ May 23rd 2008 12:29AM]

I have the F40fd which, I believe, is the F31fd but with 8.3 MP over 6.3 MP. No idea about it's sensor, though.

[Alex @ May 23rd 2008 12:45AM]

unless it costs $50 or less, why bother?

[Darkroom @ May 23rd 2008 1:39AM]

hi i'm engadget:

"ugh, FujiFilm released a substandard digital camera" *YAWN*

---

"OMG OMG OMG OMG Apple released substandard over priced Mac Mini!!!"

[chickenator @ May 23rd 2008 2:53AM]

I was waiting for someone to bring that up...

[Wwhat @ May 23rd 2008 7:34AM]

Hmm, one does wonder why they release that thing though, it must have something new, perhaps a new processor? Or less power use? Or is it just marketing because people want new new new?
It would be news to find that out, especially since more companies are seemingly pointlessly re-releasing stuff and it makes you wonder.

[stromm @ May 23rd 2008 9:20AM]

I still use my Olympus C-2100z. Even though it's only 2mp, the quality of the images are better than any camera under a grand. Megapixels aren't everything. With a 10x optical zoom and OPTICAL IS, I get more mp at a longer distance than 8mp/3x opti-zoom cameras. Not to mention faster shutter times, less grain, no flowering, etc.

So, if this camera is around $150us, doesn't have grain/noise issues, is fast on the shooting and uses SD no XD cards... I just might buy one. Only problem with my 2100 is it's bulky and sometimes I just don't want to deal with a camera bag.

[dan @ May 23rd 2008 10:08AM]

Engadet needs to learn cameras if they're going to keep posting about them. I like engadget because most of the time their articles read like they've been written by a savvy consumer. But the know as much about cameras as everyones great aunt who just found out she can get her photos printed at wamart even though she doesn't own a computer.

Unless you are talking about slr's, high megapixel cameras suck. They've gotten so bad that you get smeared or noisy images at ISO 100. Fuji is doing a good thing by staying out of the megapixel race. Its just a shame they didn't stay at 6mp where their images kicked the pants off every other p&s on the market. But I suppose they had to raise the mp's to try to impress sites like engadget who are supposed to be tech savvy and educate consumers, but instead are as bad as a circuit city salesman.

[madcrow @ May 24th 2008 3:11PM]

Frankly, this strikes me as a perfectly nice little camera... 8 megapixels is on the HIGH end of what you can squeeze onto a thumbnail-sized digital sensor without actualy LOSING quality, while 800 ISO is already WAY to high a setting to actually be useful on any camera of this sort (the noise is just to awful)

[kei @ May 25th 2008 12:31PM]

looks more like a Benq/GE camera than a fuji.....

I thought they are using the new J series to replace the A series....now what's going on?