The FinePix A500 is a powerful little digital camera by Fuji that is great for any sort of travel. This 5-megapixel and 3X optical zoom lens captures great details using its imaging sensor. It's small enough to fit in my jean's pocket, lightweight (6.1 oz), and yet takes remarkably good pictures, which load easily into (PC and Mac) computers, using included software.  The digital information is stored on a 12MB picture card which comes with the camera. You can shoot stills, and even short movie clips (up to 5 minutes; the downside is the camera does not record sound).  Additionally, the camera can be upgraded with larger cards that hold more images.

Best of all, the FinePix A500 camera is easy to use. A very quick learning curve certainly makes for even better pictures. After you get the basics, there are some cool settings to play around, such as red-eye reduction (trust me though, it doesn't help too much with cat's eyes), playback modes including auto playback, multi-frame playback, and trimming, and a setting for photographing indoor sporting events. There is also a 10 second self-timer, enabling you to photograph yourself with your friends.

My only complaint is that the rear screen which displays the image from the viewfinder (enabling you to delete "duds" which is really important) drains the batteries very quickly. Other than that, the cool style, small size, and the various features to experiment with, make this a very good and teen worthy camera. The manufacturer's list price is $129.99.  Happy Snapping!

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