Based on the fact that it has an SLR-like design, and is equipped with a 10.7X
zoom that has a focal length range that starts at an excellent
wide angle equivalent to a 28 mm, and which extends to a big
telephoto equivalent to a 300 mm, the S6000fd would
appear to be a good fit into a group of cameras that are defined
as Bridge cameras. Yet, it lacks one important feature
to be pigeon-holed as a Bridge camera: a true optical stabilization
system.
Instead, the S6000fd is equipped
with a Picture Stabilization mode that operates
like a Scene mode and is accessed as one the Mode Dial positions.
Unlike a number of other long zoom Bridge cameras that offer
optical stabilization either at the sensor, or at the lens'
focal point, the S6000fd's image stabilization operates
by increasing the CCD sensitivity, up to 3200 ISO, so that the
shutter speed can be increased as well, and thereby avoid the
impact of camera shake on the image.
This method, however, introduces
noise, albeit in a controlled manner, and invariably results
in a lower image quality than what can be had with optical/mechanical
stabilization systems.
In view of this, the telephoto of the S6000fd performs
best when used with plenty of ambient light, or when physically
stabilized through the use of a tripod or a monopod, an exercise
that is well-worth the trouble as the image quality of the
S6000fd, especially when used with the CCD-RAW format,
is excellent.
As with other Fujifilm cameras
that use a Super CCD HR, the S6000fd stands out for
the quality of the colours it is able to reproduce. Images
show a great deal of colour nuances, even when the JPEG Fine
image format is used, and exhibit an even greater range when
the RAW format is used.
While JPEG images offer a
limited choice of compression — only the 6-megapixel
image size has two quality levels — the RAW format,
records the unprocessed output of the CCD making it possible
to process it later, using the supplied software, so that
images retain all the detail the lens was able to provide.
And indeed, the lens of the S6000fd is excellent.
Images reveal no major defect at any point in the focal length
range of the zoom. Barrel distortion is minimal at the wide
angle end, becoming only slightly noticeable when the camera
is used with the Super Macro mode.
Pincushion distortion is absent
at the telephoto end, even when there are straight image elements
aligned on the edges of the frame. Similarly, chromatic aberration
is so minor that it is even hard to detect on the edges of
wide angle shots, and only shows up at the telephoto end when
the image is overexposed.
Likewise, images are sharp
at all focal lengths, and only the extreme edges of wide angle
shots reveal a very slightly lower sharpness than can be seen
closer to the middle of the frame.
While the CCD-RAW format of the S6000fd is excellent,
the Fine image quality of the JPEG format also shows some
improvements over other recent cameras from Fujifilm. Set
to the 6-megapixel image size, and to the Fine image quality,
the S6000fd applies an average compression that has
ratios that fall between 5 and 6:1.
This level of compression allows
for images that contain far less compression artefacts, and
which retain a good level of detail, irrespective of the focal
length. Regrettably, the Fine image quality remains, inexplicably,
only available at the highest image quality. All other image
sizes are limited to the Normal level of compression,
a setting that averages ratios in the 12:1 range for larger
size images, and a low of 9:1 for small size (0.3M and 2M).
Although the Super CCD HR used
in the FinePix S6000fd is less sensitive to noise than
other CCDs, it still yields the best image quality at 100
ISO.
Nevertheless, the S6000fd is able to produce photos
captured at 200 and 400 ISO that contain very little noise.
Moreover, at 800 ISO image noise remains manageable, and it
is only at 1600 and 3200 ISO that reducing the image size
when printing becomes necessary to make noise less visible.
Unlike the Auto shooting mode,
which lets the camera increase sensitivity as required, the
P, S, A, or M modes require the user to set the sensitivity
to a specific value. At 100 ISO, the flash of the S6000fd
yields reasonably bright images if the zoom is at the wide
angle end — thereby benefiting from the brightest aperture
— and the subject is not too distant. Increasing the
reach of the flash requires the sensitivity to be set to 200
or 400 ISO, especially if the zoom is used near the telephoto
end. These limitations highlight the absence of a hotshoe
on the S6000fd, which in turn limits its capabilities
with flash photography.
The S6000fd is a camera
that is comfortable in both the point-and-shoot world and
in the world of the more advanced user. For point-and-shooters,
features such as Face Detection, the various scene
modes, and the Auto shooting mode will be appreciated. And
for users that demand more control, the P, S, A, and M modes,
as well as the RAW format and its image quality, should prove
to be very satisfying. Yet, it is also likely that both types
of users will miss a true optical stabilization system to
go along with the long zoom of the S6000fd.
Image Quality
