Fuji FinePix S9000By: Dave EtchellsFuji's latest bridge camera offers a larger, 9.0-megapixel SuperCCD HR imager with a high resolution electronic optical viewfinder. <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 12/14/2005 |
Video Out
The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 comes with an A/V (audio and video) cable that allows you to connect the camera to a television set for reviewing images and movies. Since the viewfinder signal in record mode is also routed to the video jack, you can also use a video monitor as an expanded viewfinder for composing shots. A setup menu option offers NTSC and PAL video timing settings.
Power
The
S9000 uses four AA-type batteries for power, and comes with a set of single-use
alkaline batteries. As you'd expect, the increased power capacity provided
by high-capacity NiMH AA cells brings some clear benefits in terms of extended
operating times. As always, I strongly recommend buying a few sets of high-capacity
NiMH AA cells and a good charger, and always keeping a freshly charged set
on hand as spares. You can read my battery test results here,
or see this
article for a review of my favorite charger.
An AC adapter is available as a separate accessory,
handy when downloading images or reviewing captured files, essential /
mandatory if you plan to
use the S9000 for extended studio shooting sessions. An Auto Power Off function
shuts off the camera automatically after either two or five minutes of
inactivity
(adjusted
through
the Setup menu), but can be disabled if you want to keep the camera ready
all the time, at the obvious cost of shorter battery life. The table below
details power consumption in various operating modes. (Note that the numbers
in this table are based on the use of NiMH AA cells with 1600 mAh capacity,
to maintain compatibility with earlier reviews. Actual run times will depend
on the capacity of the batteries you use. Modern NiMH cells have true capacities
of 2000 mAh or more, so you could see battery life 25% or more higher than
shown here.)
|
|
(@5.0 volts on the external power terminal) |
(four 1600 mA cells) |
| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
|
|
| Capture Mode, no LCD |
|
|
| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
|
|
| Half-pressed w/o LCD |
|
|
| Memory Write (transient) |
|
|
| Flash Recharge (transient) |
|
|
| Image Playback |
|
|
The Fuji S9000 offers good run time, particularly if you use the latest high-capacity NiMH cells to power it. (Worst-case run time with true 2000 mAh cells would be a bit over 3.7 hours, very good indeed.) I still recommend purchasing a second set of rechargeable batteries, and always keeping one set topped-off via a trickle charger, to avoid the Murphy's Law problem of batteries failing exactly when you most need them. As noted above, see my battery shootout article, for the latest test results of various NiMH cells under actual load conditions.
Included Software
Packaged with the S9000 is a software CD containing Fuji's "Software for FinePix 5.1a," compatible with Windows 98 / 2000 / Me / XP and Macintosh OS 8.6 to OS X. In addition to USB drivers, the software package includes FinePix Viewer for organizing files, and ImageMixer for creating CD albums, there's also a RAW file converter.
In the Box
Included in the box are the following items:
- Fujifilm FinePix S9000 digital camera.
- Neck strap.
- Lens cap with strap and holder.
- Lens hood.
- A/V cable.
- USB cable.
- Four AA-type alkaline batteries.
- 16MB xD-Picture Card.
- Software CD.
- Instruction manuals and registration information.
Recommended Accessories
- Camera case
- NiMH batteries and charger
- AC adapter
- BIG Compact Flash memory card (512MB to 1GB or larger recommended)
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