Full Review
NEW TOY, NEW TOY ... I'm so excited ...
I'm about to head out to vacation and my 2 current digital cameras are compacts with limited functionality, though easy to carry around and with 5 megapixels (MPX) they don't offer a lot of options for my more serious needs.
So I've actually tried to get the Nikon 8800, Canon Pro1, Minolta A2/200 ... but there is a strange phenomenon going on here in Singapore. These cameras are starting to disappear from the market. Apparently there is little demand for them so they are being discontinued. BUT I don't know if is just for Singapore or a worldwide phenomenon.
Let me clarify the title a bit - it is not a snide remark on the quality of the camera (something that I cannot as yet decide), but more of the segment that the camera is trying to capture.
We have the ultra compacts (eg. Sony T7), compacts (eg. Olympus mju 800), not so compact (eg. Canon Powershot S2), prosumer (eg. Sony DSC828), entry-level DSLR (eg. Nikon D50), pro-level DSLR (eg. Nikon D2 series).
The Fujifilm FinePix S9500 (or S9000 in the USA) occupies the upper end of mid-range cameras for the following reasons (in my personal opinion):
1. 9 megapixel
- compare to nikon 8800's 8MPX
- compare to canon's Pro1 8MPX
2. 10.7x optical zoom with 2x digital zoom
- compare to nikon 8800's
- compare to canon's Pro1 7x
3. External flash attachment
4. Manual focus mode possible
**ADDED OCT 01, 2005 START**
So why did I get the S9500? - simply because I'm caught up in the following:
1. I want a more multi-faceted camera
a. More zoom
b. More control
c. Better flash control
2. I want the conveniece of easy to get power-source
3. I want a relatively compact camera
a. Weight-wise
b. Size-wise
4. I don't want to think about too much accessories
5. I don't want to spend too much money
6. Easy enough to use that my "non-photo expert" wife can do the PHD routine
Some purist out there would slam me and say - so why not get a dSLR and I can have all things I have mentioned.
Well, that is true - but it was definitely something I thought about. But when we compare the price to quality/functionality ratio (or as one of my "bean counter" friends would say - ROI) there was really difficult to justify the cost currently as I don't use it often enough to warrant the investment.
If you take the current entry level crop of dSLR - let's say the Canon Rebel XT.
Spec'd at 8MPX, with a 18-35mm f3.5-5.6 EF-S Lens is currently (oct 01, 2005) USD899.00 (@ amazon.com).
Let's add a lens to get to 300mm shall we? That would cost us ... about USD650.00 (70-300mm f4-5.6 IS @ amazon.com on oct 01, 2005).
But this would leave out a range of 35-70mm ...
I could go on ... however, I'll just leave you to it.
Of course, there are advantages to the dSLR. Any serious photographer would need RAW photo capabilities. BUT I don't - for the simple reason that I don't have the time nor energy to sit in front of my computer to manipulate my pictures.
The only things that I might manipulate are:
1. Cropping - the reason for me to have a larger MPX spec.
2. Rotating
3. Red-eye
So if I compare - I get more pixels (technically). I don't get functionality I won't need frequently ...
IN SIMPLE TERMS I get value for money!!!
**Added Oct 01, 2005 END**
NOTE: Above section written before vacation
So I am now back from my 2 weeks in Australia and I've given the camera a good workout so here are my findings.
1. Good weight and size
- being on a trip with variable weather (cold down south in Melbourne and warm up in Surfer's Paradise), it was good that the unit was not a clumsy unit. The weight was a welcome change from my *solid* Contax RTS III. Yet the unit is quite well balanced in my hand without ungainly tipping in any one direction.
2. Love the Zoom ++
- yes 10.7x zoom (28mm to 300mm) means I can take a lot of good close up pictures BUT the added bonus of a 2x digital zoom means that I can get even closer. Some might add that digitally zoomed pictures are quite noisy but my test proved that this camera was quite good with it. Caveat: I took them in daylight so the effects would generally be better. I took pictures of the same subject - one at 10.7x optical zoom and another at 10.7x optical PLUS 2x digital zoom.
- I am a macro buff, so I like the Macro functionality and the SuperMacro functionality. I have yet to properly test it but the initial shots were acceptable. It would seem that manually focusing for Macro is better.
3. Battery and Battery Life
- one of the major factors that swayed me to this camera was the battery. It uses 4xAA batteries. On my 2 weeks I used 4xPanasonic Digital Alkaline batteries (includes the turning on for testing and focusing &etc), 8xEnergizer Ultra Alkaline batteries, and 4xEnergizer Digital Alkaline batteries (specifically for digital gear - which are currently still in the camera and not depleted). I took about 500 pictures (about 13 rolls of 36). Battery life is, of course, dependent on your usage, affected by some of the following:
-- Manual or Autofocus (Single) or Autofocus (Continual) focusing setting
-- Flash photography
-- Do you keep the camera on all time?
-- Do you use the Viewfinder or the backpanel LCD?
- I don't use the camera to directly transfer to my laptop/external hard drive. I use a 6-in-1 reader so I might have saved some power that way.
4. Functionality
- I've been using SLR cameras for a while and after a while most of them have the same functionality just where the buttons and knobs are. The same goes for digital cameras - from the point&shoot to the new dSLRs. However, there are some icons that are more identifiable than others. Further, the menus on the LCD also take some getting use to. There are different buttons to do different things. There is alot you can do with the camera, BUT YOU MUST READ THE MANUAL TO BE PROFICIENT
5. Resolution
- The Camera boasts 9 Mega-Pixels in 3 modes. 9F, 9N & 3:2.
-- 9F = 3488x2616 which takes up to 4.5MB per picture
-- 9N = 3488x2616 which takes up to 2.5MB per picture
-- 3:2 = 3696x2464 which takes up to 2.5MB per picture but it is in the traditional size format so that you don't lose details when you print them.
-Movie Mode is excellent wherein you can still zoom while you are shooting movie. Though it is not high definition like a digital video camera, but personally i don't need it. The movie mode is limited only by your CF or XD space.
6. Speed
- Focusing
-- Autofocus is quite quick, but sometimes it could be faster. The AF-C (continuous) and AF-S (single) work well, but one needs time to practice, as with all cameras. This means that you take time to analyze how you will be taking photos and practice.
- Continuous Frames
-- I didn't find out how to properly use this function until it was too late. I was at Sea World Gold Coast and wanted to take the dolphins in action, but I was only able to capture single shots. Sometimes the shots will be too early or late - wherein the dolphins weren't out of the water yet or already plunged back, so all I got was a splash. It takes up to 4 continuous frames at up to 1 frame per second. For many sports enthusiasts, this may not be enough, so do consider your needs.
-Shutter speed: a quick mention that fastest shutter speed is @ 1/4000
7. Manual Adjustments
- OK - so I said this was a camera for the serious enthusiasts. Which means that you should be allowed to play with the settings. The usual - Aperture & Shutter Priority - are there. You can set the ISO, white balance, &etc. There are lots of opportunity to play around, and yet you can let the camera take over. It has a cool function that allows you to balance the brightness of a picture between a brighter foreground and a darker background. I have yet to need to use it but it will definitely be a plus in poor lighting conditions.
There is lots to like about the camera ... not much time for me to write more - though I will add continually to this review.
**Added Oct 01, 2005 start**
LCD Screen - Most people now know that digital camera's have a LCD viewer. There are different types:
1. Fixed
2. Flexible
3. Rotational
The S9500 is Flexible to a degree. Let me elaborate further.
Fixed LCDs are usually found on compacts - like the excellent Sony T range of cameras. They are also found on dSLRs like the Canon Rebel XT. Note that dSLRs are SLRs so a photographer needs to use the tiny prism viewfinders to take focus & take pictures. The LCDs are only there for you to view the pix once you have saved them to your memory card.
Flexible LCDs have slight movement capability - this is what the S9500 has. It allows movement through 2 joints. This means you can tilt it so that the LCD faces 45 degree downwards (extending the first joint) and 45 degree upwards (by extending both the first and second joints). There are no left right directions.
Rotational LCDs allow rotation up and down (without limit to the angle) and left and right. Nikon uses this configuration. The biggest plus for this would be that you can actually rotate the LCD to face inwards, so that you can keep the screen away from potential scratches. You also get to use the camera in any awkward position you can think of & still be able to see the possible image to capture.
**Added Oct 01, 2005 end**
Conclusion
If you are a serious amatuer with a limited budget but need a good range of focal lengths, this is a good camera for your consideration. It doesn't have the prestige of a Leica, nor the technological prowess of a Nikon nor a Canon, but Fuji has been in the photo business a long time and they have their long time supporters.
Thank you for reading and let me know if you have any questions!
Pictures - examples:
http://homepage.mac.com/anwarasw/PhotoAlbum3.html
updated on:
Sep 30, 2005 2130hrs (GMT +6)
Oct 01, 2005 2345hrs (GMT +6)
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