Fujifilm S1600 Review

The Fujifilm FinePix S1600 is based around a 12.2 effective megapixel,1/2.3-inch CCD image sensor coupled to a Fujinon-branded 15x optical zoom lens. Maximum image resolution is 4,000 x 3,000 pixels in the camera's native 4:3 aspect ratio, and both 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratio modes are also available. The S1600's lens offers actual focal lengths ranging from 5.0 to 75.0mm, equivalent to 28 to 420mm on a 35mm camera - a useful wide angle to a powerful telephoto. The Fuji S1600 has a two-step aperture, offering either F3.1 or F6.4 at wide angle, and either F5.6 or F11 (with an ND filter) at telephoto. Minimum focusing distance is ordinarily 1.3 feet at wide angle or 8.2 feet at telephoto, but drops to 0.2 feet in Macro mode at wide angle, or 5.9 feet at telephoto. A separate Super Macro mode fixes the lens at an unspecified focal length, but allows macro focusing as close as 0.1 feet. There's no true optical viewfinder on this model, but as you' expect on a long-zoom digicam like this, there's a 0.2-inch, 200,000 dot LCD electronic viewfinder with 99% coverage which takes its place. There's also a 3.0-inch LCD display with 230,000 dot resolution, and this display provides 97% frame coverage.

The FinePix S1600 offers ISO-equivalent sensitivity ranging from 64 to 1,600 ordinarily, but can raise the maximum to 6,400 equivalent at a reduced resolution of three megapixels or below. Exposures are determined using 256-zone metering, and shooting modes include Auto, Program, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority, Manual, and a generous sixteen scene modes that allow a modicum of control over the look of images. Importantly given the reach of its lens, the Fuji S1600 includes true mechanical (CCD shift-type) image stabilization to combat blur from camera shake. Shutter speeds range from 1/2,000 to eight seconds. Burst shooting is possible at full resolution with a rate of up to 1.3 frames per second, albeit with a burst depth of only three shots.

The S1600's contrast detection autofocusing system offers a choice of single-point, multi-point or area focus focusing, and includes an AF assist illuminator Eight white balance modes are available, including automatic, six presets, and manual. The Fuji S1600's built-in seven-mode flash has a range of 1.3 to 26.2 feet at wide angle, or 8.2 to 14.4 feet at telephoto, which can be reduced to a range of one to 9.8 feet in macro mode at wide angle, or to 5.9 feet at telephoto. 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 S1600 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 S1600 stores its data on Secure Digital cards, including the newer SDHC types, or in 23MB of built-in memory. Connectivity options include USB 2.0 High Speed data and NTSC / PAL standard definition video output. Power comes from four AA batteries, with alkaline disposables included in the product bundle. Battery life is rated at 300 frames using the included alkaline batteries, or 500 frames when using NiMH rechargeable batteries.

The Fuji FinePix S1600 is not currently scheduled to ship in the USA, and pricing information for overseas markets was not available at press time.