Fujifilm
expands on its interesting exercise in styling and design, begun two years
ago with the MX-700, with the FinePix 6800 Zoom. Clad in a magnesium
alloy shell which gives it solidity and a light weight, the new FinePix
6800 uses a second generation SuperCCD sensor with octagonal pixels capturing
a 3.3 megapixel image which can be interpolated to 6 million.
In design and handling the FinePix 6800 remains relatively similar to
its predecessors, and in particular the FinePix
4700. Indeed, with this new model Fujifilm seems to have taken the
time to refine the concept further, all the while using it to introduce
the newest version of their Super CCD.
The
first thing one notices when picking up the FinePix 6800 is the inscription
on the sliding lens cover: "Design by F.A. Porsche.
The
only control located on top of the FinePix 6800 is a 2-stage shutter release.
To its left, the cover of the centre-mounted pop-up flash is activated
by a small button directly behind it on the back of the camera.
The new design integrates the Mode Dial in an extension piece of
the shutter release, adding to the "engineered" look of the
camera by a giving it a wide crosshatched surface that improves its handling
considerably.
The
upper part of the FinePix's front provides a microphone, a flash sensor
and a small LED that glows red when the camera is charging. The viewfinder,
which has a has a circle to show autofocus area and parallax markings,
is fitted into the upper corner.
At
first the back of the FinePix 6800 appears a bit overwhelming, featuring
no less than 11 different buttons and controls if the Mode dial is included.
Yet the layout is quite intuitive, and for the most part, the location
and functions of the commands are practical.
The camera is turned on by a button at the centre of a small lever that
determines the Recording or Playback function, while a round LCD screen
surrounded by four arrows serves as the primary display of modes and settings.
The MENU/OK button is, of course, to call up the camera's menu
on the 2" LCD screen and to confirm a choice made there. The BACK
button serves to cancel the last action, or back out of a menu. The DISP
button allows turning on and off the LCD screen, or clearing it of its
informative overlay if desired.
The status
display of the FinePix 6800 carries on the idea first used on the FinePix
4700, distinguishing recording and playback by a colour change in the
status screen, reddish for recording and green for Playback; and second
by using the screen to label the the functions of the nearby arrows.
The centre portion of the status screen is also put to use, first greeting
the user on power-up, and following this by a graphical representation
of the battery's charge. In use, it also indicates the mode (Auto, Manual,
Continuous), along with the remaining number of frames that can be captured.
Yet, moving the zoom control altogether, and placing it so it can be
used with the index finger instead of the thumb, might have been a better
solution. As it is, holding the camera securely while using the
zoom still requires both hands.
