Fuji MX-2900 Review

The Fuji MX-2900 is Fuji's answer to the Nikon Coolpix 950 and Olympus C-2000Z. Aimed squarely at photographers looking for a 2+ Megapixel digicam with enough manual features to be flexible and creative. Specifications are impressive, slightly higher resolution than its competitors at 1800 x 1200 (other 2 megapixel digicams are typically 1600 x 1200) which of course gives it the more 35mm like image aspect ratio of 3:2.

If cameras were to win awards for styling then the MX-2900 would definetly win the majority of them, looking like a futuristic cross between an SLR and traditional compact camera with it's lens skewed to the side (don't yah love CCD's..) and it's big bulky grip.

Based on the same basic engine as that found in it's smaller older brother the MX-2700 (and the same CCD) menus and operation would be familiar to existing Fuji owners. One slight oddity with the MX-2900 is the push-pull zoom control (more of this later).

Fuji MX-2700 Review

The FujiFilm MX-2700 is a natural progression from the popular MX-700, the MX-2700 comes in a very similar package and shares similar diminutive proportions, vertical orientation and overal styling. Slight styling changes include a protruding hand grip and minor controls enhancements.

The MX-2700 was one of the first cameras announced with 2 megapixel resolution and was certainly the first 2.3 megapixel camera to hit the shelves. It has a fixed 35mm (35mm equiv.) F3.2 lens which is covered automatically by a sliding shutter when the camera is powered off.

The MX-2700 really is a small camera (for comparisons of size to other digicams see the Body section) slightly taller than a pack of cards and about twice the thickness. It's not *quite* pocketable but does go a long way. It's probably the best looking small digital camera with the distinctive silver aluminium case and good overall design points.

The competition at time of writing this review is (or soon will be) the Nikon Coolpix 700 (2.1 megapixels), Sony DSC-F55 (2.1 megapixels), Toshiba PDR-M4 (2.1 megapixels) and the new Olympus C-21 (2.1 megapixels). Weighing in at around US$600 all of these fixed lens cameras are seen as a good entry point to many people new to digital photography.

Fujifilm FinePix S9000 / S9500 Review

Announced at the end of July 2005, the FinePix S9000 (S9500 in Europe and Asia) is the latest in a long line of Fujifilm 'prosumer' camera designed to bridge the gap between fixed lens compacts and interchangeable lens SLRs, and effectively the replacement for the popular S7000. With each generation that gap has been closed a little bit more, and with the arrival of the S9000 Fujifilm's marketeers have taken the brave step of openly positioning it as a true alternative to a digital SLR... even going as far as to say in many ways it's actually better... And certainly, on paper, they've got a point; it's designed to look and feel like an entry-level SLR, it has a broadly comparable feature set, and it has a big zoom covering a useful 28-300mm focal length range. It's also got an SLR-like sensitivity range (80-1600), fast startup and a screw thread for filters and add-on lenses, hot-shoe and pc-synch flash compatibility, and movie mode and live preview - something many compact users upgrading to an entry-level DLSR sorely miss. Let's find out if the S9000 really is an SLR-slayer, or merely a sheep in wolf's clothing..
Here's a quick run through of the main selling points to get us started:

• New Fujifilm Super CCD sensor with 9.0 million effective pixels
• New 28-300mm (10.7x) Fujinon zoom lens with manual twist-barrel zoom control
• Class-leading sensitivity setting of ISO 1600 for photography in low light conditions
• 1.8” tilting LCD screen for easy high and low angle shooting
• 0.01 second shutter lag and 0.8 second start-up
• Real-time histogram
• Highlight Warning feature for displaying highlight areas in playback
• VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with zoom capability and sound
• Closed unit design to eliminate dust accumulation on the CCD
• Hot shoe and PC sync terminal
• RAW format shooting
• Dual storage options (CompactFlash and xD-Picture Card)

Fujifilm FinePix S7000 Zoom Review

The S7000 Zoom was announced by Fujifilm at the end of July this year and marks the fifth generation of Fujifilm's top-end prosumer digital camera. The camera looks almost identical to the S602 Pro Zoom which was announced in November 2002 (it was a subtle update of the S602 Zoom). The only physical differences between the two is the addition of the new FinePix 'Photo mode' button on the rear of the camera, the removal of the Pro's PC Sync terminal, a gold SuperCCD logo and a change of the silk screen on the side of the lens barrel, the S602 Pro Zoom said '6x Optical Zoom', the S7000 says '19x, 6x Optical, 3.2x Digital' (a slide back to marketing tactics of the late 90's).

Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom Review

The S602 Zoom marks the fourth generation of Fujifilm's prosumer digital camera range. The range started back in May 1999 with the MX-2900Z (2 megapixel, 3x zoom), updated in August 2000 (about six months after the introduction of SuperCCD) with the FinePix 4900Z (2.4 megapixel SuperCCD, 6x zoom) and lastly in March 2001 with the FinePix 6900Z (3.1 megapixel SuperCCD, 6x zoom).

The S602 Zoom was announced on 30th January 2002 just before PMA, although the form factor is similar and the lens appears to be the same there are a lot of overall design changes introduced since the 6900Z.

Fujifilm Finepix S6000fd / S6500fd Review

Originally announced in July, but only just making its way onto the shelves in time for Christmas, the S6000fd is the latest in a long line of keenly-priced big zoom 'bridge cameras' from Fujifilm that can trace its roots back to 2001's FinePix 4900 Zoom. The new model has several key features of interest; top of the list being the 6.3MP, 1/1.7" Super CCD sensor used to wide acclaim in the F30 and F31fd and offering 'full resolution' shooting at up to ISO 3200. The S6000fd (known as the S6500fd in Europe) also has a different lens to its recent predecessors, sporting what appears to be the same 28-300mm equivalent 10.7x zoom as the S9100/9600. It's also the first camera to feature Fuji's hardware face detection - a feature so important that Fuji decided to append 'fd' to the camera's name. Elsewhere there's a comprehensive suite of photographic tools, raw mode, electronic viewfinder, 2.5" screen and VGA movie mode - all in a package that costs less than half what you'd pay for a budget SLR with a similar lens - and weighs less too. But is it any good? Let's find out!

Fujifilm FinePix S5100 / S5500 Review

Announced in July 2004, the Fujifilm FinePix S5500 (sold as the S5100 in some territories) is an update to the S5000 offering the same 10x (37-370mm equiv.) optical zoom, SLR-like styling, comprehensive feature set and aggressive price point. The most significant change is the replacement of the rather controversial 'Super CCD' sensor used in the S5000 with a conventional 4 megapixel CCD offering an extra million effective pixels (the S5000's SCCD sensor used 3.1 million effective pixels to produce 6MP output images). Other welcome improvements include a better movie mode, manual (custom) white balance control and improved viewfinder/LCD screen coverage.

• Fujinon 10x optical zoom (37-370mm equiv.)
• 4.0 million effective pixel CCD
• Aperture priority, shutter priority and manual, plus program modes
• RAW format option
• High quality movie capture (640 x 480) at 30 fps with sound
• Electronic Viewfinder and 115,000 pixel LCD screen
• Powered by 4 x AA batteries
• PictBridge™ compatible for direct printing without a PC

Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Zoom Review

Fujifilm announced the FinePix S5000 Zoom on 29th July 2003. It represents an affordable, compact, lightweight three megapixel (SuperCCD pixels) digital camera with a ten times optical zoom lens and an SLR-like appearance. To my eye it's one of the best looking 'SLR-like' digital cameras of recent times. Including four AA batteries the S5000 weighs just 430 g (15 oz, just under 1 lb) and thanks to its grip design feels very comfortable to use. Although the camera has a certain amount of manual control it doesn't seem to be aimed directly at the serious prosumer, it's lacking some features (such as manual white balance) which those users will only get from a camera like the S602 Zoom. That said this is a camera which could be taken on holiday as a 'full range' camera, used for casual sports events and more.

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Review

The successor to Fuji's FinePix S3 Pro made its first, fleeting appearence at Photokina in September 2006, though it didn't start shipping until the spring of 2007 - keeping in line with Fuji's approx two-year gap between SLR models. The S5 Pro may have the same sensor (well, almost - more about that later) as the S3 Pro, but as a camera it is a quantum leap forward over the models that preceded it, being based on the highly-regarded Nikon D200 (all the previous models were based on consumer level Nikon film cameras).

Being essentially a D200 with a Super CCD sensor and Fuji processor means the S5 Pro enjoys all the benefits of Nikon's superb 'semi pro' body; weather-sealed body with a magnesium alloy chassis, latest generation focus, flash and metering systems, better shutter, better viewfinder and expansive lens compatibility. It is also the first Fuji SLR to be a truly 'integrated' digital camera; previous models were based on film cameras (supplied by Nikon) which forced Fuji to use a clunky 'camera of two halves' design, complicating control (and in the early models meaning the 'digital' and 'camera' parts had separate batteries). Finally there are some changes under the hood, including a tweaked sensor, new processor and a host of minor (and a few major) feature upgrades.

The S3 Pro - despite a hefty price tag - carved out a niche for itself amongst wedding and portrait photographers willing to sacrifice speed and durability in order to take advantage of the extra dynamic range offered by the SR sensor. On paper the S5 Pro (which has a smaller $400 price premium over the Nikon D200) seems to address most of the issues we - and many potential purchasers - had with the S3 Pro, so let's find out if it delivers...

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Review

The S3 Pro was first announced on 5th February 2004, in the run up to the PMA show in Las Vegas. At that time the announcement was strictly the 'development of' type with very brief specifications and an expected completion date of 'second half of 2004'. Eight month later we've got our hands on a pre-production camera which is fully operational (although not final firmware). The camera looks and feels a 'level above' the S2 Pro, the new camera has a more rounded appearance with chunkier hand grips and more use of rubber around the hand grip and on the rear. In addition the S3 Pro now has a vertical had grip and shutter release button for easy portrait shooting.

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro Review

The Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro was announced on January 30th 2002, almost three weeks before Nikon announced the D100 and Canon announced the EOS-D60. The S2 Pro replaces Fujifilm's first price breaking digital SLR the S1 Pro. Just like the S1 Pro the S2 Pro uses an almost-APS-size SuperCCD sensor, however this time the effective pixel count has increased from 3.4 million to 6.2 million. Also vastly improved is the choice of Nikon body on which the camera is based. The S1 Pro was based on the N60 (F60) and came in for some criticism for its features, finish and durability. The S2 Pro is based on Nikon's much improved N80 (F80) body which affords it a much more professional looking and robust body but also adds much need support for AF-S and VR lenses.

After processing the S2 Pro outputs a huge 12 megapixel image. If this is too large (and a 4.5 MB per JPEG it may well be) you can select a 6 megapixel output size. Because of the Honeycomb like layout of the SuperCCD this 6 megapixel image is created by first processing the 6 megapixel input pixels to a 12 megapixel image and then downsampling this image to 6 megapixels.

Other new features are summarized below, I've highlighted some of the more important points in bold type.

FujiFilm FinePix S1 Pro Review

Back on January 31st FujiFilm announced the S1 Pro, people ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the specifications, 6.13 megapixels, accepts Nikon F-mount lenses, ISO from 320 to 1600 support for CF Type II and SmartMedia with an estimated street price of just US$3,500.

A lot of time has passed since then, in that time we've learned that the CCD in the S1 Pro is in fact 3.4 megapixels (3.07 million effective) but because it's of the SuperCCD layout it produces a 6.13 megapixel output image (in the same way FujiFilm's 4700Z produces a 4.3 megapixel image from a 2.4 megapixel sensor). Also that the S1 Pro is based on Nikon's F60 (known as the N60 in the US) with about another inch added to the base to contain the batteries for the "digital portion" of the camera and (we assume) digital processing electronics. It's also become apparent that lens compatibility could be an issue, because the camera is based on the F60 it doesn't support certain lenses (full list of supported lenses is available further into this review).

Putting that behind us nobody can ignore the price, for a Digital SLR with this much resolution just can't be ignored...

Fujifilm FinePix F810 Review

The FinePix F810 Zoom was announced worldwide at the end of July 2004, though it was only made available to customers in North America very recently. The F810 is essentially the same camera as the F700/710 with a different sensor. Whereas the F700/710 cameras used the new Super CCD SR technology found in the upcoming FinePix S3 PRO DSLR, the F810's sensor is the fourth generation of the now well-established Super CCD technology, offering 12.3MP output from 6.3 million effective pixels. Like the F700/710 the new camera offers a 4x optical zoom (32.5-130mm equiv.), widescreen (16:9) LCD and shooting mode, fast operation and a fairly comprehensive array of manual controls in a compact, traditionally-styled all-metal body. Interestingly the lens, sensor, processing and user interface are identical in every way to a less expensive, non-widescreen, plastic-bodied camera, the FinePix E550, which we will be adding to this review shortly. So what does your five hundred dollars get you?

• Newly-developed 1/1.7- inch Super CCD HR sensor with 6.3 million effective pixels (delivering 12.3 million recorded pixels)
• Wide angle 4x optical zoom lens (32.5mm - 130mm equiv.)
• High resolution 2.1-inch widescreen LCD
• Full range of exposure controls (P/S/A/M)
• Wide range of ISO settings (80/100/200/400/800)
• VGA movie recording at 30 fps with sound
• AF Illuminator
• USB 2.0 connectivity
• RAW file format
• Fast start-up and operation
• Includes PictureCradle for battery charging and image transfer
• PictBridge™ compatibility for direct printing without a PC

Fujifilm FinePix F700 Review

Back in January 2003 Fujifilm announced a new type of image sensor called SuperCCD SR, this new sensor was set to revolutionize digital cameras by extending their dynamic range so that highlights would be maintained and bringing photo reproduction even closer to film. This new sensor achieves extending dynamic range by having to photodiodes at each photosite location, one large photodiode which captures the majority of the dynamic range (much like a normal digital camera photodiode), a second much smaller photodiode which is less sensitive and captures mostly highlight detail. The information from the two photodiodes is combined to deliver extended dynamic range.

The FinePix F700 was announced just before PMA 2003 in February approximately a month after the announcement of the sensor, this new camera is the first to feature the SuperCCD SR sensor. After this announcement things got complicated, the F700 was delayed not once but twice, first in April for 'Summer' and then at the end of June for 'October'. I'm glad to report that we now have a full production FinePix F700 and can therefore bring you this review.

Fujifilm FinePix F601 Zoom Review

The F601 Zoom joins its bigger brother the S602 Zoom as the latest in a line of SuperCCD digital cameras. Last year we saw the 6800Z introduced as the stylish replacement to 4700Z. This year the design is a little more rounded and certain controls have matured and shifted. The F601Z (just like the S602) uses the latest generation Super CCD III sensor, like all SuperCCD digital cameras the F601Z captures a 'honeycomb pattern' image (in this case 3.1 megapixels) and processes it up in size to produce a larger final image (in this case 6 megapixels).

Fujifilm Finepix F31fd Review

In the fast-moving, 'bigger better faster' world of the digital compact the Fujifilm FinePix F30 will be one of the rare few that are remembered after they have gone (the nearest this throwaway business gets to a 'classic'). The reason this unassuming, blocky little camera stands out from the scores of other cameras launched last year - and why it has a mantelpiece covered in industry awards - is simple; image quality, or more specifically, high ISO performance. The F30's low light capabilities come from a combination of clever technology (Super CCD and Real Photo Processor) and a 'swimming against the tide' attitude to specification, which means a bigger sensor with fewer pixels. The F30 also, against all the odds, actually sold pretty well, going against the conventional wisdom that consumers buy on pixel counts alone. Although it has its share of faults the F30 became the benchmark by which all compact cameras in the 6-8 megapixel sector were judged. The excellent battery life and high speed performance certainly helped too.

Now we have the F30's replacement, the F31fd - an upgrade so minor that we would not normally even bother to review it (the only spec changes are a Face Detection function and infra-red communication). But such is the continuing level of interest in the F30 that it would be remiss not to update the review for the new model, and that is what we have done - the majority of this review is taken word-for-word from the F30 review, but the image samples are all new, and all the tests have been re-done.

In 2007 the market has, inevitably, moved on again, with 8,10 and even 12 megapixels common in even fairly inexpensive compacts, so the F31fd will have an even tougher job competing for attention, and we were interested to see how it stacks up against the latest generation of high resolution compacts; all boasting 'high ISO' capabilities - on paper at least. We were also interested to see if the internal changes (the sensor is the same but the F31fd has a new version of the Real Photo Processor) had upset the fine balance of hardware and processing that made the F30 what it was. We'll start, as ever, with the headline specification:

• Face Detection Technology built-in to the camera’s processor
• Real Photo Processor II and new Super CCD HR VI
• ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution
• 6.3 million pixels
• 3.0x optical zoom
• Long-life battery (up to 580 shots)
• IR Communication (IR simple™)
• VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
• PictBridge™ compatible for direct printing without a PC
• Quick response times (0.01 second shutter lag

Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review

The F10 was one of those rare cameras that set new standards; in this case for high sensitivity performance in a small sensor compact, thanks to its unique Super CCD sensor and processor. Nearly 18 months after its launch the F10 (and the slightly updated F11) still sets the standard, despite the majority of Fuji's big name competitors finally waking up to the fact that people actually use pocket cameras in low light as much as - if not more than - at any other time. The F10's replacement, the F30, ups the ante even further, offering an unprecedented ISO 3200 at full resolution, and answers some (though not all as we'll find later) of the concerns about the original model. Let's find out if the F30 is a worthy successor to the F10, and if Fuji can still claim to be the king of low light photography. We'll start as usual with the headline features;

• Real Photo Processor and new Super CCD HR VI
• ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution
• 6.3 million pixels
• 3.0x optical zoom
• Long-life battery (up to 580 shots)
• VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
• Quick response times
• Aperture & Shutter priority plus 15 new scene modes

Fujifilm FinePix F10 Review

In February 2005 Fujifilm announced the 6.3 megapixel FinePix F10, a camera with several unique claims to fame. For one thing it is the first of a new generation of Fuji cameras built around a new Super CCD HR sensor that doesn't use any interpolation to produce its 6 million output pixels (previous generations have produced images with double the amount of effective pixels on the sensor). Then there's the ISO 80-1600 sensitivity range, which comes thanks to a newly-developed 'Real Photo Processor' - as does the class-leading 500 shot-per-charge battery life and very fast operation (with a claimed 0.01 second shutter lag). Other features of note include a 2.5-inch screen, 3x optical zoom and VGA, 30 fps movie mode, but this is essentially a 'point-and-shoot' camera with little in the way of real manual control.

• Newly-developed 1/1.7-inch Super CCD HR sensor with 6.3 million effective pixels
• 3x optical zoom lens (36mm - 108mm equiv.)
• 2.5-inch LCD
• Wide range of ISO settings (80/100/200/400/800/1600)
• VGA movie recording at 30 fps with sound
• Fast start-up and operation

Fujifilm FinePix E550 Zoom Review

The FinePix E550 Zoom was announced at the end of July 2004. The E550 is essentially the same camera as the FinePix F810 (see note below) in a less expensive plastic body, and without the widescreen LCD or 16:9 shooting mode, AA batteries instead of a Li-Ion pack and USB 1.1 rather than 2.0. The E550's sensor is the fourth generation of the now well-established Super CCD technology, offering 12.3MP output from 6.3 million effective pixels. Like the F810 the new camera offers a 4x optical zoom (32.5-130mm equiv.), fast operation and a fairly comprehensive array of manual controls in a compact, traditionally-styled body.

• Newly-developed 1/1.7- inch Super CCD HR sensor with 6.3 million effective pixels (delivering 12.3 million recorded pixels)
• Wide angle 4x optical zoom lens (32.5mm - 130mm equiv.)
• High resolution 2.0-inch LCD
• Full range of exposure controls (P/S/A/M)
• Wide range of ISO settings (80/100/200/400/800)
• VGA movie recording at 30 fps with sound
• RAW file format
• Fast start-up and operation

Fujifilm FinePix 6900Z Review

Fujifilm announced the FinePix 6900Z at CeBIT back in March this year. It utilizes the same 3.3 megapixel SuperCCD sensor we saw in the FinePix 6800Z (which we reviewed in April). Because of the honeycomb layout of Fujifilm's SuperCCD the camera outputs a 6 megapixel image, although you can also choose from 3.1 and 1.2 megapixel sizes.

Body design, layout and controls are based on the 4900Z, it has the same 6x optical zoom lens (35 - 210 mm equiv.) but now sports a 'cool' black body. Here is a list of the changes to the 6900Z since last years 4900Z:

• 3.3 megapixel SuperCCD (produces 6 megapixel image)
• Black body
• Re-engineered focus ring (different ridge layout)
• AF button which can be used in manual focus mode
• New on-screen indicator for SmartMedia activity
• Revamped menu system
• B&W mode
• ISO 100, 200, 400 instead of 125, 200, 400, 800
• Two manual white balance presets (instead of one)