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Fujifilm FinePix CP-FXA10 Universal Cradle

Fujifilm FinePix CP-FXA10 Universal Cradle

List Price: $99.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I have some serious qualms
Review: After just purchasing the FujiFilm Finepix A210 camera, I decided that the cradle would be a great complement to it.

I had researched which batteries were the most dexterous for power-intensive digital devices. After some browsing on the web, I decided that the MAHA Powerex 2300 mAH NiMH's were the best choice.

The cradle arrived from Amazon today and I was shocked, after reading the manual - to find that Fuji says that other consumer-brand NiMH batteries either a) will not work with the cradle, or b) are not recommended to be used with the cradle.

There was no in-depth explanation given, other than that the manual recommended only the Fujifilm NH-10 NiMH's be used with the charger and camera. What gives? Is Fujifilm forcing you to buy only their brand of batteries in order to make use of the cradle, when there are other batteries which have proven to have more longevity?

My second problem is with the cradle's design. The camera itself comes packaged with a cheap, and somewhat flimsy plastic adapter/housing for the camera to sit in. Don't be deceived by the picture above - the holder seen on top of the cradle does not come with the cradle. It is only sold with the a210 camera or other appropriate model.

Rather than just make the adapter/holder a part of the cradle, it's a separate accessory - and makes the unit seem chinsy and not "solid". I would rather slide the camera into something that feels like a glove around the camera while it recharges. You are not afforded this with the cradle, because the plastic holder does not fit around the camera with a snug fit. Instead, when I find myself trying to put the camera into the cradle, I have to wiggle it around a bit in order for the bottom of the camera to mate up properly with the male plug which connects from the adapter to the camera body.

Overall, it's just a very poor implementation in concept and design.

Thirdly, the USB cable which comes with the cradle is only about 2 1/2 to 3 feet long!

Remember - the a210 supposedly features a webcam mode. Unless your computer tower is in the direct vicinity of the cradle, you're probably going to have to move your computer in order to get the camera/webcam where you want it to be. a 3-foot usb cord is simply not long enough for most webcam to pc configurations. 6 feet, even 10 feet would be much more ideal.

I had wanted to put the camera/cradle on the other side of my monitor near the light source on my desk. Unfortunately, I can't do that - the usb cable simply can't reach. 6 feet would have been perfect. Alas, I'm out of luck. Now I have to move my tower just to put the camera and cradle where it should've naturally been able to be placed. You might say - "Sure, well just go buy another USB cable."

It's not that easy. The cradle requires a specialized usb cable, because the connector on one end of this cable is a proprietary design, something I've never seen used with other digital devices.

Those are the three biggest problems I've found with this cradle. I really do hope that it is possible to use other NiMH batteries with the cradle, if not - Fujifilm has just forced you to continue buying only their batteries for your Finepix camera, and their offerings are certainly inferior to the MAHA Powerex's in terms of longevity. Many sites around the internet offer comparison graphs revealing which batteries are the best performers, and the Powerex's are #1.

So I have to say, shame on you Fuji, for misleading your customers. Your cradle's charger should be compatible with any brand of rechargeable NiMH batteries which are ideal for use with the Finepix a210 - not only compatible with your brand of rechargeable batteries.

Proprietary usb cable connector on the short included usb cable, proprietary rechargeable batteries - shame, shame.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Response to fellow from Maine
Review: I just bought the A210 and am terribly disappointed in the short term life of the batteries Fuji enclosed in the package. I appreicate your comments on the charger, as I just about ready to order that, thinking it would be best and would avoid the costs of the batteries. I am also finding that my picture frames don't follow suit...they skip backwards 2-4 digits when you take a pic, so you don't have a clue as to where you are. I was a firm believer in Fuji and Fuji films...I am saddened to read y our issues, and a few of my own that I have. The camera overall, seems to take great pics, but what do we do about the short life of batteries, and trying to find a decent charger and power supply cord? I guess we need to go to the Fuji site directly.
Some one in Mass.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works great with my new Fuji camera
Review: I purchased to make taking digital picture simple for my family and it does just that. The batteries that come with the dock last over a couple of hundred shots on our Fuji a210 camera, depending on flash usage. The simple connection to the PC makes it easy for my family to e mail picture to friends or to Ofoto for great processing.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't waste your time on Fuji products
Review: I've ordered not one, not two, but three different cradles from Amazon for my Fuji A210 and I still don't have one that works and includes all the correct parts. The first one didn't work--it charged the batteries for only 15 to 30 minutes which meant that I could only take a few photos before the batteries went dead. I returned it and Amazon sent me a second one but the video cord was missing from the box. Amazon then sent me a third one and it was missing the same cord that was missing from the second box. Since this is the only style cradle I've been able to find that is compatible with this camera, I plan to return the camera, the spare batteries, and the photo card to Amazon for a complete refund and then start all over again with my camera selection. Don't waste your time on Fuji products like I did.


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