Fujifilm JV150 Review

The ultra-compact Fujifilm FinePix JV150 is based around a 14.0 effective megapixel,1/2.3-inch CCD image sensor coupled to a Fujinon-branded 3x optical zoom lens. Maximum image resolution is 4,288 x 3,216 pixels in the camera's native 4:3 aspect ratio, and both 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratio modes are also available. The JV150's lens offers actual focal lengths ranging from 6.6 to 19.8mm, equivalent to 37 to 111mm on a 35mm camera - a very tight wide angle to a moderate telephoto. The Fuji JV150 has a two-step aperture, offering either F3.2 or F4.3 at wide angle, and either F5.9 or F8 at telephoto. Minimum focusing distance is ordinarily 2.0 feet, but drops to just 3.9 inches in Macro mode at wide angle, or 2.0 feet at telephoto. There's no true optical viewfinder on this model, with all interaction taking place on a 2.7-inch LCD display with 230,000 dot resolution, and this display provides 96% frame coverage.

The FinePix JV150 offers ISO-equivalent sensitivity ranging from 100 to 1,600 ordinarily, but can raise the maximum to 3,200 equivalent at a reduced resolution of three megapixels or below. Exposures are determined using 256-zone metering, and shooting modes include Auto, Program, and seventeen scene modes that allow a modicum of control over the look of images. The Fuji JV150 doesn't offer any form of optical or mechanical stabilization, opting instead solely for a software-based approach to combatting blur from camera shake. Shutter speeds range from 1/2,000 to eight seconds. Burst shooting is possible at up to 1.2 frames per second, albeit with a burst depth of only three shots.

The JV150's contrast detection autofocusing system offers a single focus point at the center of the frame, but does include tracking capability to follow your subject as it moves around the frame. Seven white balance modes are available, including automatic or six presets; manual white balance is not possible on this camera. The Fuji JV150's built-in seven-mode flash has a range of 2.0 to 11.5 feet at wide angle, or to 6.6 feet at telephoto. When in Macro mode, this can be throttled further to a range of just one to 2.6 feet. A two- or ten-second self timer is available to allow the photographer to get into the photo, or to reduce blur when shooting on a tripod.

As well as JPEG-format still images, the Fuji JV150 can capture Motion JPEG-compressed AVI video with monaural audio. Movie resolutions include high-definition 720p (1,280 x 720 pixels), VGA (640 x 480 pixels)  and QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) with a rate of 30 frames per second. The Fuji FinePix JV150 stores its data on Secure Digital cards, including the newer SDHC types, or in 24MB of built-in memory. Connectivity options include USB 2.0 High Speed data and NTSC / PAL standard definition video output. Power comes from a proprietary NP-45A lithium ion rechargeable battery, rated at a battery life of 180 frames.

The Fuji FinePix JV150 is not currently scheduled to ship in the USA, and pricing information for overseas markets was not available at press time.