The FujiFilm FinePix 3800 Zoom (S304 in Europe) is a new
xD compatible camera. Based on the design of the Fujifilm FinePix
2800, the 3800 retains the 6X optical zoom, but adds a pop-up flash, a
3.2 megapixel resolution, and better ergonomics that include a rubberized
grip and a bigger eyecup for the electronic viewfinder.
The
FinePix 3800 is roughly the same size as the FinePix 2800 — both
very compact cameras — but
rounds out the sharper edges, and provides a better grasp of the camera
by the addition of a raised and rubberized thumb rest on the back.
The upper part of the camera supports a 4-position Mode Dial and a Power
Switch that also serves for the selection of the Record and Play modes.
At its centre is the shutter release, a standard 2-stage release with
AF/AE lock at mid-course.
The Mode Dial
provides settings for:
Full
Auto shooting: the camera handles almost everything and provides
a limited access to photographic settings.
Scene
Modes: five Scene programs are provided and selected through the
menu.
Manual:
provides controls for exposure, white balance and a basic Aperture
Priority mode.
Movie:
records movie clips with sound.
The
FinePix 3800 provides 2 ways to see the image about to be captured: first,
an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 110,000 pixels but no diopter correction,
and second, a 1.8 inch LCD screen with 62,000 pixels.
By default, the camera turns on the EVF when the Power Switch is turned
on to the recording position, and the LCD screen, when it is turned to
the playback position. A switch is also provided, to the left of the EVF,
that allows switching back and forth between the two.
An
LED is used below the EVF to indicate power on and camera activity;
the LED glows green when the camera is on, and amber when it is saving
a photo.
The other controls of the FinePix 3800 are on the right side of the
camera's back. First, placed close to the thumb rest, is a four direction
control used to navigate the menus and control the zoom - with the up
and down arrows. The left arrow engages the Macro mode and the right
one, the Flash modes.
The other
buttons are aligned to the immediate right of the LCD screen:
MENU/OK:
calls up the camera menu when pressed once; confirms changes, and clears
the menu off the screen when pressed a second time.
BACK:
is to cancel an accidental selection, or back out of a menu option
without making a change.
DISP:
is used to clear the EVF, or the LCD screen, of the information overlay,
or overlay a bright yellow grid to help in the composition of a shot.
In Playback, it cycles from normal display with overlay, display with
no overlay, display of 9 thumbnails per screen. The button is also
used to select one of the thumbnails for full-screen display.
The
pop-up flash of the FinePix 3800 is manually released, using a small
button on the left side of the camera.
Five flash modes are available:
Auto.
Red-eye
reduction.
Forced
flash.
Slow
synchro.
Red
eye reduction with slow synchro.
Forced off is assumed when
the flash is left closed. A sensor — to the right of the flash
— is used to control its output.
Just
as with the 2-megapixel FinePix 2800, the FinePix 3800 is intended to
be a simple to use, point and shoot camera.
Even when used in
Manual mode, the functions offered to the user are quite basic, and the
camera handles most of the work.
The FinePix 3800 has a good ergonomic design overall, with the possible
exception of the zoom control which necessitates having one's thumb too
close to the viewfinder, and therefore one's eye. An Olympus-style zoom
control placed around the shutter release would have probably been more
practical.
