The FinePix S5100 captures images
using a 1/2.7 inch standard CCD with 4.23 million pixels of
which 4 million are effective, yielding a maximum image size
of 2272 x 1704 pixels.
With the FinePix S5100 set to P, S, A, M or
any of the Scene modes, CCD sensitivity can be set to 64, 100, 200
and 400 ISO. And, when the camera is used with the Auto shooting mode,
the sensitivity settings can not only be selected but can also be set to Auto
ISO allowing the camera to adjust it as required from 64 to 320 ISO
as required.
As did the S5000, the S5100
is equipped with a Fujinon 10X zoom with a focal range of 5.7
to 57 mm, equivalent to
a 37 to 370 mm. Apertures start at f2.8 and extend to
f8 in 10 steps when the lens is at the wide angle end, and
cover from f3.2 to f9 at the telephoto end.
Fujifilm includes an adapter ring (AR-FX5A) with the FinePix S5100. The
adapter can be screwed onto the threaded front of the lens barrel and serves
to mount either the wide angle converter (WL-FX9) which offers a field
of view comparable to a 29 mm lens or a telephoto converter (TL-FX9) which
increases the maximum focal length of the S5100 to 555 mm.
The shutter speed range available
to the S5100 varies with the shooting mode. Set to Auto, Program, Sport, Portrait or Landscape the
S5100 has a shutter speed range of 1/2000 second to 1/4 second;
set to Night Scene or Shutter Priority the
range is from 1/1000 second to 3 seconds; set to Aperture
Priority the range is from 1/1000 second to 1/4 second;
while set to Manual the range covers from 1/2000 to 15
seconds.
Photos are captured at any one of four image sizes, but only the largest
image size offers the possibility of selecting the image quality, all
the others being limited to a single compression:
4M: Provides a 2272 x 1704 pixel image
size which can be saved at any one of three image quality
levels:
CCD RAW: selected in the Setup menu (see
the Interface and Software section of the
review for an overview of the options contained in
this menu), this format records the raw output
of the CCD. The RAW image file can then be converted
using the software included with the camera once
it has been transferred to a computer. Regrettably,
unlike most other RAW image formats, the RAW images
cannot be edited with the supplied software, and
can only be converted to TIFF "as is".
4M F: is the highest JPEG image quality, applying
a compression ratio in the range of 6:1.
4M N: is a more compressed image quality,
averaging a compression ratio of around 12:1.
2M: has an image size of 1600 x 1200 pixels,
and uses a compression in the range of 9:1.
1M: has an image size of 1280 x 960 pixels
and applies a compression of around 7:1.
0.3M is the smallest image size, 640 x 480 pixels,
and also uses a compression in the 7:1 range.
The S5100 is also equipped with a digital zoom that only
functions when the image size is set to 2M or less. The digital
zoom works by cropping the central part of the full 4-megapixel
frame, and then interpolating it to the selected image size:
Image Size
Digital Zoom Factor
Apparent 35mm Equivalent
2M
1.4 X
525 mm
1M
1.8X
659 mm
0.3M
3.6 X
1314 mm
Selecting the image size and quality is done in the Photo Mode menu,
called up by pressing the button,
and which also offers additional settings in all shooting modes except Auto:
Quality: selects the image size and quality as
described above.
ISO: Auto (ranges from 64 to 320 ISO and in Auto
shooting mode only), 64, 100, 200 or 400 ISO.
FinePix Colour offers 3 options:
B&W: records images in black and white.
Chrome: accentuates the colour saturation.
Standard: the default colour saturation setting.
With the camera in Playback mode,
the button
displays the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) options which
serve to select which photos will be printed, how many prints
will be made of each, and whether or not the date will be imprinted
on the image. The S5100 is compatible with Exif Print and
with PictBridge, making it possible, once the USB connection
of the camera is configured in the Setup menu, to connect the
camera directly to a PictBridge compatible printer, by-passing
the need for a computer to print photos.
If the camera is set to Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority or
Manual, a number of additional options are found in the S5100's main menu,
displayed by pressing the MENU/OK button at the centre of the 4-direction
control:
Self-timer provides a choice for a shutter release
delay of 2 or 10 seconds, and is effective for one shot at
a time.
Multi allows the camera to automatically select
the focus point from a wide are in the centre of the
frame.
Area allows the user to select a specific
focus point from anywhere in the frame.
Centre focuses only on the subject at the
centre of the frame.
Photometry serves to select the metering pattern: Multi,
which uses 64 segments to evaluate the exposure, Centre-Weighted,
or Spot.
SET/Option:
EVF/LCD: to adjust either the brightness
of the EVF or LCD — depending on which is active — over
10 steps.
Set-Up: to access the Setup menu (see
the Interface and Software section of the
review).
Bracketing: to set the auto bracketing increment
at 1 EV, 2/3 EV, or 1/3 EV.
Sharpness selects the sharpness of the image:
Hard, Soft, or Normal.
Flash: serves to increase or decrease the brightness
of the flash, offering a compensation range of ± 2/3
EV in 1/3 EV increments (5 steps).
Set to either the Auto mode or any of the Scene modes,
the menu's options are limited to the Self-timer, the access
to the Setup menu, and the EVF/LCD brightness control. When
set to the Movie mode, the menu only offers access to
the EVF/LCD brightness adjustment and the access to the Setup
menu.
The Playback mode menu is similar in appearance:
Erase: is to delete one or all images, or back
out of this option.
Protect: serves to protect or un protect one frame
at a time, or protect or un protect all frames.
Automatic Playback: starts a slide show of the
images on the card, or automatic playback of videos. The
on-screen time of the images can be selected (long or short)
as can a transition effect between each.
Voice Memo: allows attaching a 30 second voice
annotation to an already captured image.
Trimming: makes it possible to capture a portion
of an image and save it as a new image (limited to 2M,
1M and 0.3M sizes).
SET/Option offers 3 options:
Volume: to adjust the volume of the sound
playback for movies and voice annotations.
EVF/LCD: to adjust the brightness of the
display — whichever is in use — over
10 steps.
SetUp: to access the Setup menu.
The FinePix S5100 is compatible
with xD memory cards, and a 16MB card is supplied with
the camera as it is sold in North America. The card is inserted
into a slot on the left side of the camera, which is protected
by a solid door. The xD card is ejected by pressing on its
edge.
With such a small capacity memory card the
number of photos that can be captured is limited. Therefore
the chart below also shows the number of photos that can be
stored with a 256MB card:
Image Size
and Quality
16 MB
256 MB
4MRAW (2272
x 1704)
1
30
4M F
(2272 x 1704)
8
134
4M N
(2272 x 1704)
16
266
2M N
(1600 x 1200)
25
409
1M N
(1280 x 960)
33
550
0,3M N
(640 x 480)
122
1997
At the top is the USB port,
which is compatible with USB 2.0 but with a transfer speed
comparable to USB 1.1. Directly below is the DC-in jack, intended
for use with either of the optional AC adapters (AC-5VH or
AC-5VHS).
Last, the yellow jack is the A/V (Audio/Video) out which is to connect
the S5100 to a television. The video out signal can be configured to either
NTSC or PAL, as decided by one of the options of the Setup menu.
The FinePix S5100 is powered by 4 AA-size batteries which
are housed in the grip. In North America the camera is supplied
with 4 alkaline batteries, but the camera is also compatible
with Ni-MH rechargeable batteries which provide it with a
greater autonomy.
Compare Prices for Fuji FinePix S5100Zoom Digital Camera Battery (B-162)
Characteristics
button,
and which also offers additional settings in all shooting modes except Auto:
