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The Fujifilm FinePix S9000
(named FinePix S9500 in Europe) is a large camera
that has a size comparable to digital single lens reflex (SLR)
cameras such as the Canon 350D or the Pentax *ist DS. And,
equipped with a big 10.7X optical zoom, the in-hand feel of
the S9000 is reflex-like as well.
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The large grip is comfortable,
and supports the usual controls, starting with a two-stage
chromed shutter release, which is threaded to take a simple
and inexpensive old-fashion cable release — an unusual
feature. The shutter release is surrounded by the power
switch, which also acts as a mode selector with two positions:
Playback 
and Capture  .
Directly behind are three round buttons, each clearly labelled
with an icon: |
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The first button on the
left serves for Exposure Compensation over a
range of ±2EV in 1/3EV increments when the camera
is set to P, S or A modes.
When the button is pressed a scale 
is displayed either on the monitor or in the viewfinder,
depending on which is active, and the Command dial (see
further) serves to adjust the compensation. When
the S9000 is set to the Manual Mode, the button
serves to adjust the aperture. |
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The second button from the
top serves to select the Flash Modes, and only
functions once the flash has been manually opened: Auto,
Auto with redeye reduction, Forced on, Slow Synchro and
Slow Synchro with redeye reduction. |
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The third button, nearest
the back of the camera, is for Continuous Shooting:
- Top 4-frame continuous shooting: the camera
captures up to 4 frames at 1.5 frames per second.
- Auto bracketing: available when the camera
is set to P, A, S or M
only, this function allows for capturing a group of
three images that include one image with the selected
aperture and shutter speed, one overexposed frame,
and one underexposed frame. A range of ± 1
EV in 1/3 EV increments can be used to bracket
the first exposure.
- Final 4-frames continuous shooting: the camera
captures up to 40 shots at 1.5 frames per second while
the shutter release is held pressed, but only records
the last 4 frames.
- Long-period continuous shooting: allows capturing
up to 40 shots at 1.1 frames per second.
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The dial on the right is the aforementioned Command Dial,
used to modify parameters such as aperture or shutter speed,
or even exposure compensation or flash modes as long as the
corresponding button is held down while the dial is turned.
And with the camera in Playback mode, the button can be used
to move from one image to another. |
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| The other is the Mode Dial,
and it has 11 positions. In use, when the dial is turned a virtual
dial is also displayed on the monitor or in the viewfinder,
turning simultaneously. |
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The modes available with
the dial are separated into two groups by the Auto
and Movie modes:
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With the Auto mode,
the S9000 is completely in charge of the exposure parameters,
leaving the user to simply point the camera, or select
the resolution and image size, use the continuous mode
(but not bracketing), the macro mode or the self-timer. |
Next come the more advanced shooting modes: |
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Program mode leaves
the selection of the aperture and shutter speed up to
the camera, but allows the user to modify all other
parameters (white balance, sensitivity,etc.).
Moreover, once the camera has established the aperture
and shutter speed, if the Command dial is turned, the
camera switches to Program Shift Mode and the
user has the possibility of selecting alternative combinations
of aperture and shutter speeds that would result in
a similar exposure. |
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Shutter Priority
provides control over the shutter speed while the camera
adjusts the aperture. With this mode the S9000 offers
a shutter speed range of 1/4000 second to 4 seconds at
the widest setting of the zoom, and 1/2000 second to 4
seconds at the maximum telephoto. |
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Aperture Priority
provides control over the aperture selection, from f2.8
to f8 at the widest angle and from f4.9 to f8 at the telephoto
end while the camera adjusts the shutter speed. |
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Manual mode provides
full control over both aperture and shutter speed. Moreover,
apertures in the Manual mode extend to f11 while the shutter
speeds extend to a 30 seconds, and the mode even offers
an un-timed Bulb mode, which while it is also limited
to 30 seconds, is flexible and can be used with an inexpensive
cable release. |
The Movie mode is next:
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The S9000 is able to capture
movies with sound at 30 frames per second. Two image
sizes are available: 640×480 pixels or 320×240
pixels. During the recording, the focus, white balance
and exposure are constantly adjusted and the manual
zoom is, of course, useable. Recording lasts as long
as there is space on the memory card. |
Finally, the last group of modes are the Scene modes:
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Night prioritizes a
slow shutter speed — with a maximum of 4 seconds
— and presets sensitivity to 80 ISO, but allows
it to be modified if necessary. If the flash is opened
the only modes available are Slow Synchro or Redeye Reduction. |
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Landscape presets sensitivity
to 80 ISO, and the camera uses the smallest aperture available
to maximize the depth of field. The flash is preset to
Forced off, even if opened, but the mode can be changed
if desired. |
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Portrait softens
skin tones and the contrast. Sensitivity is preset to
80 ISO but can be modified. |
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Natural Light takes
advantage of the Super CCD HR's high sensitivity and makes
it possible to capture an image under low ambient light.
The camera increases sensitivity up to 1600 ISO if necessary,
and Forces off the flash, even if it is opened. |
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Anti-blur gives priority
to the shutter speed so as to freeze movement. The mode
sets the sensitivity to Auto ISO, and increases sensitivity
as necessary. If the flash is opened, it can only be used
with Redeye Reduction mode, Forced On, or Auto mode. |
A few other controls are clustered on the left side of the
camera near the lens barrel, and the most dominant is the
Focus Mode Selector which has three positions and has
a centre button: |
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Continuous AF: lets
the auto focus work continuously, so that it adjusts as
the subject moves. |
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Single AF: makes the
auto focus focus and lock when the shutter release is
pressed halfway. |
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Manual Focus: allows
focusing the camera using the focus ring, the ring around
the lens barrel that is the closest to the body. In addition,
to help in focusing, the S9000 is equipped with a button
on the back of the camera that allows the centre portion
of the frame to be magnified when the focus ring is turned.
(See further.) |
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One-touch AF: makes
it possible to autofocus instantly when the camera is
set to Manual focus. |
The button above the Focus Mode Selector controls the information
superimposed on the image: |
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In all capture modes
the button displays a real-time histogram on the lower
left side of the screen, showing the distribution of
brightness throughout the image.
In addition, a second press of the button when the
camera is set to P, A, S or M
modes adds a column above the histogram that indicates
current settings for saturation, contrast, white balance,
sharpness, and flash exposure compensation. |
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When the camera is set
to the Playback mode, the button displays the
image as a thumbnail at the top right of the monitor,
with the shooting parameters on the right side of the
screen, and a histogram of the image below the thumbnail.
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The button below the Focus Mode Selector controls the Macro
mode:
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The Macro mode allows
the camera to focus on a subject that is 10 cm (3.9
inches) from the front of the lens at the wide angle
end, and 90 cm (3 feet) at the maximum telephoto setting.
Pressing the button a second time when the zoom is set
to the wide angle engages the Super Macro mode
which lets the camera focus on a subject positioned
from 1cm to 1m (0.4 inch to 3.3 ft) from the front element
of the lens. |
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The S9000 is equipped with
a 0.44 inch (1.1 cm) electronic viewfinder (EVF) composed
of 235,000 pixels, and its refresh rate can be set to either
30 or 60 frames per second in the Setup menu (see
the Interface and Software section of the review for
more information on the Setup menu). Of these two options
the second consumes more power but has the advantage of displaying
movement much better than at 30 frames per second. To the
left of the viewfinder's exit pupil a small dial allows adjusting
the diopter correction of the finder.
Another control is positioned on the right side of the viewfinder: |
The next two buttons are grouped
together and stacked one above the other:
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The Monitor Selector
acts as a toggle switch between the EVF and the monitor. |
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As mentioned earlier, the
Focus Check button serves to magnify the centre
portion of the image while the image is being manually
focused. |
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The monitor measures 1.8 inch diagonally and is composed
of 118,000 pixels. Just like the viewfinder, it shows 100%
coverage of the image captured
The last external controls on the S9000 are grouped on the
right side of the monitor: |
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In the capture modes
the Photo Mode button serves to call up a menu
from which the image size and quality, sensitivity (ISO)
and the Colour mode can be selected. (For more information
see the Characteristics section of the review.)
In playback the button serves to assign DPOF
tags to images that will be printed and how many prints
will be made of each. The FinePix S9000 is PictBridge
compatible, and can be connected directly to a similarly
compatible printer via USB to make prints.
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Controls the type of information
that is superimposed on the monitor:
In the capture mode the default setting presents
basic camera settings on the periphery of the frame,
as well as the selected AF point, the aperture and shutter
speed once the shutter release has been pressed halfway.
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- Pressing the button once adds a composition grid
to the monitor.
- Pressing the button a second time clears the screen
of all information with the exception of the AF point
and the shutter speed and aperture once the shutter
release is half-pressed.
- Pressing the button a third time presents the image
being framed on the right of the monitor, while thumbnails
of the last three captured images are shown on the
left.
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Set to the Playback
mode, by default the camera presents the last captured
image with, superimposed on it, its file name at the
top, and the data and time at which it was captured
on the lower part of the screen. |
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- Pressing the DISP button once removes all
overlaid on the image.
- Pressing the button twice presents the nearest 8
image plus the current one as thumbnails, the current
image being magnified slightly.
- Last, pressing the button a third time displays
12 thumbnails of the images on the card organized
by date, with the capture dates appearing in a column
on the left of the screen.
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When a menu is on the monitor
or the EVF the DISP/BACK button can also be used to
back out of an option without making any changes.
The last external control of the S9000 is 4-direction
control which serves to navigate the menus and review images
in Playback.
At its centre is the MENU/OK button which displays
the menu that corresponds to the camera's current mode —
capture or playback — and the Mode dial position.
In addition, the top arrow, also labelled T and the
down arrow, W, serve to control the 2X digital zoom. |
| Moreover, the S9000 is equipped
with a hotshoe that can be activated in the menu available
when the camera is set to P, A, S or
M  modes.
A wide variety of external flash units can be used manually,
and the synchronization speed can be as high as 1/1000 second.
Additional flexibility is provided by having a synchronizing
terminal on the camera located on the lower left side of the
lens.
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The Fujifilm FinePix S9000
is one of these cameras that have been referred to as bridge
cameras, filling the gap between full-fledged digital
SLR and compact cameras. It has one of the best ergonomic
designs available currently as its large size allows the external
controls to be comfortably spaced. Moreover, the zoom ring
is very fluid and makes zooming very smooth, and the combination
of a high resolution electronic viewfinder and a hinged monitor
imparts the camera with a great deal of flexibility when framing
shots.
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Introduction
