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Fuji FinePix 2400 Zoom A two megapixel CCD, 3x zoom lens and USB make a fine, value-priced digital point & shoot from Fuji Select a topic Reference: Datasheet FinePix 2400 Zoom Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Optics :(Previous) | (Next): Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests>> Page 6:Exposure & Flash Review First Posted: 11/19/2000

Exposure
Exposure is automatically controlled on the FinePix 2400 Zoom, with just a few exposure options available under the Manual setting. When shooting in the Auto mode (chosen through the Record menu), the only exposure controls available are Flash, Macro mode, Self-Timer, and File Size and Quality. Switching to Manual mode puts you in control of all these same functions, as well as White Balance and Exposure Compensation. We did notice, however, that the 10-second Self-Timer is only accessible while in the Auto exposure mode, as the menu setting vanishes when you switch to Manual mode. We felt this was a regrettable limitation, as more advanced photographers are likely to want to use the Self-Timer in conjunction with exposure and white balance adjustments.

The FinePix 2400 Zoom's ISO equivalency (light sensitivity) is 100, acceptable for most daylight shooting conditions but probably not adequate for non-flash photography at night (especially given the camera's lack of slow shutter speeds). The camera's metering system divides the image into 64 zones and averages the light values to determine exposure. Shutter speeds are automatically set from 1/1,000 to 1/2 second. While this is a relatively broad range of shutter speeds, the 1/2 second limit at the slow end restricts non-flash photography to reasonably well-lit scenes.

Exposure Compensation is adjustable only in Manual mode, from -0.9 to +1.5 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments. Likewise, White Balance can only be set in Manual mode, but it accommodates a wide range of lighting conditions: Auto (the camera decides), Daylight, Cloudy, Daylight Fluorescent, Warm White Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent, and Incandescent lighting.

After each exposure, the FinePix 2400 briefly flashes a "quick preview" of the image capture on the LCD while it is being recorded to the SmartMedia card. Some digicams give you the option of turning this feature off, which can be helpful in situations where quick shooting is necessary. However, with the availability of the Continuous Shooting mode (which does not provide a quick preview), and the very short duration (1-2 seconds) that the preview is actually on-screen, this should not cause a problem in most shooting situations. We did notice, however, that Fujifilm eliminated the "image confirmation" function from this model. This we applaud, because it was a bit cumbersome on the 1400 model to have to confirm each image before it could be written to the SmartMedia card.

For a consumer-level camera, we were very pleased with the exposure controls provided by the 2400 Zoom, and the results we obtained.


Flash
The FinePix 2400 Zoom features a built-in flash with five operating modes, controlled by the flash button on the back panel of the camera (marked by a lightning bolt). The Auto setting allows the camera to decide when to fire the flash based on existing light levels (no symbol is shown on the LCD display in Auto Flash mode); Redeye Reduction fires a small pre-flash before the full flash to reduce the occurrence of the Redeye effect (marked by the standard eyeball icon); Forced Flash fires the flash with every exposure (the lightning bolt appears by itself); and Suppressed Flash turns the flash off so it won't fire, regardless of the lighting (a lightning bold with a stop icon around it); and finally, Slow Synchro mode synchronizes the flash with a slow shutter speed for night subjects (lightning bolt with an S beside it). In wide-angle mode, Fujifilm estimates the flash power range to be from 7.9 inches to 9.8 feet (0.2 to 3.0 meters), and in telephoto mode from 2.6 to 9.8 feet (0.8 to 3.0 meters).


Continuous Shooting
A new feature introduced with the FinePix 2400 Zoom is the Continuous Shooting mode, which wasn't offered on the previous 1400 model. Like the Self-Timer, Continuous Shooting is only available when the camera is in Auto exposure mode, as it's activated through the Photography (Record) menu. Once Continuous Shooting is activated, the file size is set to 640 x 480 pixels. You can capture as many as nine consecutive images, as fast as 1.5 frames per second while holding down the shutter button. (Note: You will not see any image on the LCD while the camera is firing off these shots.) Actual cycle times vary with the amount of image information being recorded, and the total number of continuous shots depends on the amount of SmartMedia space available. The LCD monitor must be activated, and both flash and digital telephoto are unavailable.