Fujifilm FinePix S9000

tweener camera that offers features from point and shoot and DSLR digicams

The S9000 features through the lens, 256 zone light metering, an ISO equivalent sensitivity range of ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600. White balance settings include auto, fine, shade, fluorescent light (daylight, warm white, cool light), incandescent light, and custom light, calibrated with ambient or flash lighting. Flash modes include auto, red eye reduction, forced flash, suppressed flash, slow sync, and red eye reduction + slow synchro. The effective range is rated at 1ft to 18.4 ft in wide angle mode, and 2ft to 9ft telephoto mode. Also featured on the S9000 is a hot shoe and syncronizing terminal for external flash capabilities.

The FinePix S9000 has both an LCD and an optical electronic viewfinder. The LCD can be pulled out and viewed from two other angles by pulling the LCD frame up or out. This is ideal in situations when your subject is in a high or low location. You can still proficiently frame the shot. Both act virtually identical in nature but when using the optical viewfinder, less battery life is consumed.

non zoom image. Click for larger view

Zoomed image. Click for larger view

You can switch between the two via the EVF/LCD button on the back of the camera. As such, both offer several viewing windows; a plain view for framing just the image, which includes information such as the size of the image, the setting, and the focusing arrow; a second view, called the post shot assist window, which enables you to keep thumbnail images of the last three images taken; and best framing, which consists of vertical and horizontal lines to form nine frames of the image. You can then position the shot accordingly. You can also view the images in the EVF/LCD as a single image as well as in multiple frame playback mode, which shows nine images at a time, of which you can select to view an image with the menu scroll wheel.

The photography mode selector features familiar settings you see on an SLR. It includes Auto, Programmed auto, Shutter priority, Aperture priority auto, Manual, movie mode, anti-blur, natural light, portrait, landscape, and night.
Navigating the menu is fairly straightforward. Access to many of the most often used settings found on DSLRs are incorporated into the various buttons on the camera body. These include the photometry selector dial, EVF/LCD button, focus check button, indicator lamp, photo mode (for changing resolutions), disp/back button, menu/ok button, diopter adjustment dial, and AE lock button.

The FinePix S9000 ships with Fujifilm Software for FinePix CX version 5.1 for Windows and macintosh. It includes the FinePix Viewer version 5.1 for Windows (3.3 for Macintosh), USB driver, RAW File Converter LE v. 1.1, and ImageMixer VCD2 LE. The software is available in English, French, Dutch, and Spanish, as well as Chinese and Japanese.

The S9000 uses 4 AA batteries as its main source of power. This means that you don't have to worry about running out of power because AA batteries are available virtually anywhere. You can choose from lithium ion, nickel metal hydride, or even alkaline, because for the most part you will have ready access to batteries where you are shooting. With digital SLRs, you are at the mercy of the rechargeable battery pack. Another interesting feature is the S9000s use of "digital film." It can accept both xd-Picture Card as well as Compact Flash-based memory/Microdrives.

First impressions
After using the camera for a week, I have yet to find anything that I don't like with the unit. The lens motor did seem a bit loud, but this is probably due to the fact that this unit is a review unit that has been around the block a few times. The S9000 has the right heft and size (5x3.7x5.1, around 32 oz with batteries) to it that you won't introduce too much shake into your shots unless you are working closer to the 300mm focal length, in which case you'd use a tripod anyway.

Flip up LCD

Some of the more notable features that I liked include the capability to frame shots either with the LCD or the electronic viewfinder, as well as the manual mode. I also like the adjustable LCD display that enables you to position the camera at high or low angles and still get a decent shot off. Who would stand to benefit with the S9000? Those who wish to have a very competent SLR-style digital camera but don't want or have a need for interchangeable lenses would be the ideal user of the S9000. In addition, those who want to have video capture capabilities but don't want to lug around a video camera and digital still camera would also enjoy this camera. The 28-300mm lens is very capable for 95 percent of the shooting that consumers would do with the S9000, anything longer than 300mm and you are talking thousands of dollars just for a bigger lens. You will though need to use a tripod at the longer focal length because the S9000 lacks any type of optical image stabilization. Expect the price of this camera, which is $699 list, to drop considerably as its successor comes to market. Recommended if you can find it for drastically cheaper than the $699 list price. For more information, visit www.fujifim.com.