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Fuji FinePix S9000 By: Dave Etchells Fuji's latest bridge camera offers a larger, 9.0-megapixel SuperCCD HR imager with a high resolution electronic optical viewfinder. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet S9000 Sample Images S9000 Imatest Results --------------------------------- 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 <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 12/14/2005

Optics

The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 is equipped with a high quality, Fujinon 10.7x zoom lens, with a 35mm equivalent range of 28-300mm. (A useful wide angle to a strong telephoto.) Aperture ranges from f/2.8 (f/4.9 with the lens at its telephoto position) to f/8--except for the manual mode where apertures to f/11 are possible--and is manually and automatically adjustable. Focus ranges from 1.6 feet (50 centimeters) to infinity in normal AF mode, and from 3.9 inches to 9.8 feet (10 centimeters to 3 meters) in Macro mode. A "Super Macro" mode focuses from 0.4 inches to 3.3 feet (1 centimeter to 1 meter), although at such close distances it can be difficult to avoid casting a shadow on your subject. In Super Macro mode, the S9000 captures an area of only 1.48 x 1.11 inches (38 x 28 millimeters). Both macro modes are accessed via the Macro button on the left side of the camera.

The Fuji S9000's autofocus system operates in either Single or Continuous modes, set by turning the Focus switch on the side of the camera. Single AF mode adjusts the focus only when the Shutter button is halfway pressed. Alternatively, Continuous AF mode continuously adjusts focus, without the Shutter button being pressed. This is useful for moving subjects, and reduces the shutter lag slightly so you can grab faster shots. The S9000's Record menu offers an AF mode setting, which controls the AF area. Options are Area, Center, and Multi. In Area mode, you can change the autofocus area simply by holding down the One Touch AF button (in the center of the focus switch on the side of the camera) and using the arrow keys to move the focus target on the LCD screen. The Multi setting puts the camera back in charge of the AF area, selecting the area corresponding to the closest portion of the subject. Center mode simply focuses from the center of the screen. A High-speed shooting mode reduces focusing lag by about 30% at the expense of increased power consumption, and with a limited focal range of 2 meters (wide) / 4 meters (tele) to infinity.

The camera's manual focus options lets you adjust focus using an electronic "fly by wire" system by turning the ribbed focus ring surrounding the lens barrel, close to the camera body / rear of the lens. A pair of arrows appear on the LCD display, indicating the direction of adjustment needed, with a solid circle surrounding them indicating sharp focus by turning yellow. Though the camera doesn't feature a distance readout for the manual focus, you can use the Focus Check button to enlarge the center of the frame 2x and determine when focus is sharp. A nice touch on Fuji S9000 is that you can use the camera's AF system to set an approximate focus even when you're focusing manually, simply by pressing the One Touch AF button in the center of the manual/auto focus selector switch. This lets you get a quick approximation of your final focus, then make fine adjustments manually.

With no need to telescope into place when the camera is turned on, the Fujifilm S9000 starts up reasonable quickly, with the time from startup to the first picture captured being 0.9 seconds, thanks in part to its not having to telescope its lens out from a stowed position. A removable plastic lens cap protects the lens surface when not in use, and comes with a small strap to attach it to the camera body and prevent it from being lost. Fuji also provides a lens cap holder, which attaches to the neck strap. A zoom ring near the front of the camera's lens adjusts the optical zoom mechanically, which provides a much greater feeling of control than the electronic zoom controls on many cameras. (Mechanically linked zoom mechanisms can usually be adjusted more precisely, and the zoom can be quickly flicked from one end of its range to the other, or gradually tweaked to perfection). A fixed 2x digital zoom increases the S9000's capabilities up to 21.4x, and is accessed by pressing the up arrow button on the four-way arrow pad (the down arrow button cancelling the digital zoom). As with any "digital zoom" function, remember that image quality suffers from the enlargement, with sharpness decreasing in direct proportion to the degree of digital zoom - although the S9000's digital zoom actually performs comparatively well, with low noise and only moderate blurring. The S9000's lens barrel has a set of 58mm filter threads, though Fujifilm doesn't seem to offer any compatible add-on lenses or filters for the camera.

Optical distortion on the Fuji S9000 is average at the wide-angle end, where I measured approximately 0.8 percent barrel distortion with the lens set to its widest-angle setting. The telephoto end was a much better than average though, where I measured just 0.1 percent pincushion distortion. Chromatic aberration is a little high, showing approximately seven or eight pixels of coloration on either side of the target lines. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.)