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Back to Full Fuji FinePix 2400 Zoom Review
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	*	2.1 megapixel CCD delivering 1600x1200 file sizes
	*	3x optical zoom lens for flexible framing
	*	Good user controls for exposure & white balance
	*	Sleek, compact design for easy "pocketability"

• 2.11 megapixel CCD, delivering up to 1,600 x 1,200-pixel resolution images.
• 1.6-inch, 55,000-pixel LCD monitor.
• 3X, Fujinon 6-18mm lens (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera).
• 2.5X digital telephoto.
• Built-in flash with Auto, Redeye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, and Slow Synchro modes.
• Adjustable white balance setting with Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Daylight Fluorescent, Warm White Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent, and Incandescent settings.
• Exposure Compensation adjustable from -0.9 to +1.5 EV in one-third-step increments.
• 10-second self-timer.
• Continuous shooting at up to 1.5 frames per second.
• Automatically controlled shutter speeds from 1/1,000 to 1/2 second.
• Light sensitivity equivalent to ISO 100.
• Image capture on SmartMedia as Exif Ver. 2.1 JPEG files.
• USB interface and cable for connecting to a Mac or PC.
• Compatible with Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) specifications.

Executive Overview
The new FinePix 2400 Zoom is a nice upgrade to the previously announced 1.3 megapixel FinePix 1400 Zoom. It's an affordable camera that boasts a compact, portable body and all the basic exposure controls, plus a nice array of advanced features. The camera's sleek, lightweight body design makes it very portable, fitting easily into most shirt and coat pockets. A sliding cover plate protects the lens, thus eliminating the hassle of holding onto a lens cap. The camera is powered by the mode dial on the top panel, which offers three options: Off, Playback mode, and Photography (Record) mode. The camera has a very clean look, thanks to a limited number of external controls; and while this puts more camera adjustments back into the LCD Menu system (thus increasing battery usage), it also presents a very simple, easy-to-learn user interface.

The FinePix 2400 provides an eyelevel optical viewfinder and a 1.6-inch color LCD monitor for composing images. The LCD screen provides basic camera information, although not specifics such as aperture or shutter settings. In Auto mode, on-screen icons show shooting mode (Auto or Manual), File Size, Macro mode, the number of shots available, and Flash mode. In Manual mode, Exposure Compensation and White Balance settings are added to the display. Playback mode shows the capture number, date, and time. The on-screen information display appears automatically in both Record and Playback modes, but can be easily eliminated by pressing the Display button a second time.

The 3X, 6-18mm lens (equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera) provides a nice zoom range and automatically controlled aperture settings of f/3.5 or f/8.7. Focus is automatically controlled from 31.5 inches (0.8 meters) to infinity, and a Macro mode, allows you to get as close as 3.9 inches (10 cm). The 2.5X digital telephoto is enabled by zooming past the optical zoom range, but only when the 1,280 x 960- or 640 x 480-pixel resolutions are selected. The FinePix 2400 provides two exposure modes—Auto and Manual—both of which offer somewhat limited options. Auto mode puts the camera in charge of all exposure settings except for Flash mode, File Size, and Quality mode.

Manual mode allows you to adjust the Exposure Compensation from -0.9 to +1.5 EV in one-third-step increments, and the White Balance adjustment lets you choose between Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Daylight Fluorescent, Warm White Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent, or Incandescent settings (in addition to the previously mentioned Auto settings). Flash is controllable in both modes, with settings for Auto, Redeye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, and Slow-Synchro, all of which are accessed by pressing the Flash button on the back panel. It is important to note that the 10-second Self-Timer and Continuous Shooting modes are only available in Auto mode. Continuous Shooting enables you to capture up to nine successive frames as fast as 1.5 frames per second.

Images are stored on a 3.3v SmartMedia card (an 8MB card is supplied with the camera), and can be saved as 1,600 x 1,200-, 1,280 x 960-, or 640 x 480-pixel resolution, with Quality settings of Fine, Normal, and Basic. Four AA alkaline batteries accompany the camera, but you can also use NiMH or NiCd rechargeable batteries and/or purchase the AC adapter accessory (both of which we highly recommend). Despite its reliance on the LCD monitor for menu adjustments, the FinePix 2400 performs quite well in the power consumption category, demonstrating a bit more efficiency than most cameras we've tested. Even so, we strongly suggest purchasing a good battery charger and two sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries. They perform extremely well, and you'll save a lot of money over time.

The FinePix 2400 connects to your PC or Mac via a USB cable and comes with a nice complement of software on a single CD. The Exif Viewer, DP Editor, Exif Launcher, and Adobe ActiveShare (Windows only) programs allow you to view and organize your images, as well as set them up for printing, and make minor corrections. Adobe PhotoDeluxe, also for Windows only, allows you to get creative with your images by adding filters and creating cards and calendars with the supplied templates. The CD also includes a USB Driver and Acrobat Reader.

Like its predecessor, we found the FinePix 2400 Zoom, to be well-designed and performance driven. Its sleek, compact package provides a 2.11 megapixel CCD, zoom lens, basic exposure controls, advanced playback features, and very nice image quality, all at a very reasonable price (at introduction, the retail price was under $500). This camera is a perfect match for the consumer who wants to take great pictures without worrying about exposure issues or spending too much money. Given its compact size, we think the FinePix 2400 Zoom will prove an excellent companion for just about any destination.

Design
Nearly identical to the previous FinePix 1400 model (which apparently will remain in the product line), Fujifilm's FinePix 2400 Zoom maintains the same features and design elements that we loved about the 1400 (many of which were created expressly for an American audience). In fact, the only visible differences we could see are a slightly modified sliding lens cover and two of the control buttons are labeled differently. Internally, the FinePix 2400 features a larger, 2.11 megapixel CCD and a Continuous Shooting mode to set it apart from the 1400. The camera fits comfortably in the hand, and its sleek exterior allows it to glide easily into a large purse or coat pocket. The camera's overall dimensions are 4.9 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches (125 x 65 x 39mm), and it weighs only 12.3 ounces (350g) without batteries. Clean lines and smooth contours make it easy to hold onto and pleasant to look at.

The front of the camera features a sliding lens cover that retracts to expose the lens. (No worries about keeping track of a lens cap!) However, unlike some digicams with similar lens cover designs, this camera's lens doesn't telescope into action until the camera is turned on via the Mode dial. Then, it protrudes only about three quarters of an inch from the body. The only other components on the front of the camera are the built-in flash, which is always exposed, the front of the optical viewfinder, a flash control sensor next to the viewfinder, and a red LED lamp next to the lens. This last item lights up when the self-timer is counting down to take a picture and starts blinking when the countdown has reached two seconds.

The right side of the camera (looking at the front) has the USB and DC input jacks. Both are uncovered and easily accessible. On the opposite side of the camera, the SmartMedia card slot is housed beneath a rigid, hinged plastic flap that locks securely into place when shut. It's always a plus when digicam manufacturers make card slots uncomplicated and easy to operate, as well as easily accessible.

The majority of the camera controls are on the back of the camera. They include the Display button, Flash control, Back (Cancel) button, Menu/OK button, Zoom rocker, and two Arrow keys. Also on the back panel are the LCD monitor and the very tiny optical viewfinder. Because most camera settings are controlled by the LCD-based menu system, the back panel isn't overly crowded with buttons and switches. A small, textured thumb grip gives you a secure hold on the back; and it's counterbalanced on the front with a dip in the sliding lens cover that comfortably fits your forefinger.

The remaining camera controls are on the top panel, namely the Mode dial and Shutter button. Both are accessible to the right hand, and it should be feasible for most people to operate the camera one-handed, based on the positioning of the other controls. A nice feature on the Mode dial is the small tab that sticks out to provide a little grip for your finger. The dial clicks firmly into each position, so you don't have to worry about turning it too far and missing the stop.

Finally, the bottom of the camera has a battery compartment and tripod mount. We're glad to report that the battery compartment is very simple to operate, without any complicated locks or tricky doors. You just slide the door outward and flip it open to access the batteries. The battery compartment and tripod mount are too close to each other to allow battery changes while using a tripod, but this is only a minor concern as this camera was definitely meant for more spontaneous applications than studio work.


Viewfinder
The FinePix 2400 Zoom is equipped with an eye-level optical viewfinder that zooms along with the lens (except in digital telephoto, which relies on the LCD monitor). A central autofocus target helps line up shots, while an external LED lights green, orange, or red to indicate camera readiness. LED signals are as follows:

• Steady green light = Camera is ready to shoot.
• Flashing green light = Autofocus or autoexposure are in operation.
• Steady orange light = Image is being recorded to SmartMedia.
• Flashing orange light = Flash is charging.
• Flashing red light = Warning that something on the camera is wrong. Details of the warning are displayed on the LCD monitor when it is switched on.

Fujifilm estimates frame coverage in the viewfinder to be about 80 percent, which agreed fairly well with our tests, in which we found the optical viewfinder's accuracy to be 78%. This is a bit lower than average: Most cameras we test have an optical viewfinder accuracy closer to 85%, and we'd frankly like to see accuracy numbers higher still. (Camera manufacturers generally crop the image somewhat in the viewfinder, to help avoid the common problem of novice shooters chopping off people's heads or feet in their pictures.)

The 1.6 inch, D-TFT, color LCD monitor is activated by the Display button just above the screen, to the far left side. (The camera must be switched on.) The LCD monitor displays basic camera information, in addition to the image being displayed. You can cancel the setting icons by depressing the Display button a second time, and turn the LCD off by depressing the Display button a third time. As with the optical viewfinder, a central autofocus target accompanies the information display. In Playback mode, the LCD can display up to nine thumbnail images in the index display mode and a zoom feature allows you to scroll around an enlarged view of a captured image for closer review. (You can zoom in on images in Playback mode up to 4X size in 0.2X increments.)

Our tests indicated that the image in the LCD monitor was quite a bit more accurate than the optical viewfinder, showing almost 98 percent of the captured image. This comes quite close to our ideal of 100% accuracy in LCD viewfinders.


Optics
The FinePix 2400 Zoom features a 3X, Fujinon 6-18mm zoom glass lens (equivalent to a 38-114mm zoom on a 35mm camera). The lens is protected by a sliding cover plate that manually retracts to expose the lens (so there's no fiddling with a lens cap). Once the camera is switched to Photography (Record) mode via the Mode dial on top of the camera, the lens extends about three quarters of an inch, projecting a short distance beyond the contours of the camera's front panel. Among the many digicam's we've tested with similar design elements, we've found that providing an On/Off switch as part of the Mode dial is much more user-friendly than having the camera powered on and off entirely by the position of the lens cover.

Focus is automatically controlled by the camera, with a focus range of 31.5 inches (0.8m) to infinity in normal mode, and 3.9 to 31.5 inches (10 to 80cm) in Macro mode (accessible through the Record menu.) Aperture is also selected by the camera to be either f/3.5 or f/8.7. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't report the aperture currently in use. (Consumer digital cameras rarely provide this information, probably to avoid confusing the user.) A 2.5X digital telephoto option increases the camera's zoom capabilities, but results in slightly lesser quality images with higher noise and lower resolution. Note that the digital telephoto is only available in the 1,280 and 640 resolution sizes, with 1.3X enlargement available at the 1,280 size, and 1.3X and 2.5X enlargement available at the 640 resolution size. The optical zoom function does not operate in Macro mode, however the digital zoom does.


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.

Shutter Lag/Cycle Times
When you press the shutter release on a camera, there's usually a delay or "lag time" before the shutter actually fires. This lag time allows the autofocus and autoexposure mechanisms time to do their work, and it can amount to a fairly long delay in some situations. Another important parameter is "cycle" time, a measure of how quickly the camera can shoot a second picture after snapping the first. Since these numbers are almost never reported by the manufacturer, or by other reviewers; and because they can significantly affect the picture taking experience, we now routinely measure shutter lag/cycle times and report our findings to our readers.

• Macro Mode: turns the Macro mode on or off.
• Continuous Shooting: turns the Continuous Shooting mode on or off. (Not available in Manual mode)
• Self-Timer: turns the 10 second Self-Timer on or off
• Mode: sets the exposure mode to the following:
  • Auto: puts the camera in charge of all exposure decisions except Flash, Image Size, and Quality.
  • Manual: the camera controls aperture and shutter speed while you control Flash, Exposure Compensation, White Balance, File Size, and Quality.
  • File Size/Quality: sets the file size to 1,600 x 1,200, 1,280 x 960, or 640 x 480 pixels, with quality choices of Fine (7:1), Normal (14:1), or Basic (28:1) image compression ratios.
  • Setup: calls up the following Setup menu:
    • End: backs out of the Setup menu and returns the camera to shooting mode.
    • Beep: sets the camera beep to High, Low, or Off.
    • Date/Time Set: sets the camera's internal date and time.
    • Frame Number: renews or continues the frame numbering with each new SmartMedia card.
    • Language: sets the camera's menu language to English or French.

Manual Exposure Mode: This mode leaves the camera in control of aperture and shutter speed, while you control the same exposure variables as you do in Auto mode, plus White Balance and Exposure Compensation. Pressing the Menu button calls up the following menu options:

• Macro Mode: turns the macro mode on or off.
• Exposure Compensation: sets the exposure compensation from -0.9 to +1.5 EV, in one-third-step increments.
• White Balance: sets the white balance to Auto (camera decides), Daylight, Cloudy, Daylight Fluorescent, Warm White Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent, or Incandescent to match a variety of light sources.
• Mode: sets the exposure mode to the following:
  • Auto: puts the camera in charge of all exposure decisions except Flash, Image Size, and Quality.
  • Manual: the camera controls aperture and shutter speed while you control Flash, Exposure Compensation, White Balance, File Size, and Quality.
    
    
  • File Size/Quality: sets the file size to 1,600 x 1,200, 1,280 x 960, or 640 x 480 pixels, with quality choices of Fine (7:1), Normal (14:1), or Basic (28:1) image compression ratios.
    
  • Setup: calls up the following Setup menu:
    • End: backs out of the Setup menu and returns the camera to shooting mode.
    • Beep: sets the camera beep to High, Low, or Off.
    • Date/Time Set: sets the camera's internal date and time.
    • Frame Number: renews or continues the frame numbering with each new SmartMedia card.
    • Language: sets the camera's menu language to English or French.

Playback Mode: Accessed by turning the mode dial to the green playback symbol. This mode allows you to review captured images, delete or protect them, or set them up for printing. Pressing the Menu button in this mode activates the Playback menu with the following options:

• Erase: deletes a single frame or all images, also has an option to format the SmartMedia card.
• Protect: protects individual or all images from accidental erasure, also has an option for unprotecting all.
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format): sets up images for printing with the following options:
  • Reset All: cancels print setup for all images.
  • Set All: sets all images to be printed.
  • Frame Set/Reset: sets up printing for an individual frame, or turns off the printing mark for that frame.
  • Date Off: turns off the date and time stamp so that it does not print with the image.
    

Image Storage and Interface
The FinePix 2400 Zoom uses small, removable SmartMedia cards for image storage and comes packaged with an 8MB card. Additional cards are available in capacities of up to 64MB, and we strongly recommend purchasing one or two higher capacity cards, as the 8MB card holds only 10 images at the camera's highest resolution/quality setting.

The SmartMedia card itself can be write-protected by placing a small sticker in a designated spot on the card. This prevents anyone from writing to or deleting images from the card. Because each sticker must be clean to be effective, write protection stickers can only be used once.

Individual images can be protected from accidental erasure through the Playback menu. This does not protect images from being deleted if you format the card, however. The FinePix 2400 Zoom is set up to comply with the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) printing standards, and images can be set up for printing to DPOF printing devices through the Playback menu.

Using the File Size/Quality menu in the Record menu, you can choose between 1,600 x 1,200-, 1,280 x 960-, and 640 x 480-pixel image sizes. Image quality choices include Fine, Normal, and Basic compression levels. All files are saved as Exif Ver. 2.1 JPEGs (Exif is a JPEG format designed for use with digicams).

Following are the approximate number of images and their compression ratios for an 8MB SmartMedia card:

Video Out
The FinePix 2400 Zoom does not have video-out capability.


Power
The FinePix 2400 is powered by four AA alkaline, NiMH, or NiCd batteries. An AC adapter is available as a separate accessory, and we recommend buying one to use during mundane, power-hungry tasks like downloading or reviewing images. We strongly recommend new camera buyers also purchase two sets of NiMH rechargeable batteries and a good charger: You'll save literally hundreds of dollars in the long run, simply by not having to buy dozens of alkaline cells! We also recommend keeping your spare set of batteries fully charged, so you are never left without a set of batteries.

The FinePix 2400 Zoom does a pretty good job with power consumption (a fair bit better than average). Surprisingly, the LCD display doesn't account for nearly as much power drain as we're accustomed to seeing. (Conversely, the capture-mode power consumption with the LCD turned off isn't as low as we'd have expected.) Overall, the F2400 should easily run two hours or more on a fully charged set of high-capacity NiMH batteries.

Here's what we found in our power consumption measurements:

Included Software
Packaged with the FinePix 2400 Zoom is a software CD loaded with a USB driver, Exif Viewer, DP Editor, and Adobe ActiveShare and PhotoDeluxe image editing software. It also includes a couple of other drivers and launchers necessary for Windows. A USB cable comes with the camera for quick connection to a PC or Mac. All software is compatible with Windows 98 and Macintosh OS 8.5.1 to 9.0 platforms, except for Adobe PhotoDeluxe and ActiveShare, which are for Windows only. The Exif Viewer software enables you list the images on the camera or computer, print indexes of images, as well as view and print individual images. The DP Editor package works with the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) setup to print images on DPOF compliant printers. Adobe ActiveShare software sets up images for Web sharing, and Adobe PhotoDeluxe allows you to get creative with your images through a variety of filters and image manipulation tools. You can also correct minor problems and work with templates to create greeting cards, calendars, brochures, and many others.


Test Results
Coming soon!


Conclusion
The FinePix 2400 Zoom appears to be the perfect option for consumers who don't want to spend a lot of money, or a lot of time with camera setup, but who still want to take great pictures. The 2.1 megapixel CCD and Continuous Shooting mode are great additions to the elegant body style we fell in love with on the FinePix 1400 Zoom. For a very affordable price (less than $500 at introduction in late 2000) you get a true 3X optical zoom lens, detailed control over white balance and exposure compensation, three JPEG compression levels, playback zoom, and above all, very nice image quality. It's a smart little camera, perfectly suited for common shooting situations.

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