The S5000 is an excellent all-rounder with enough basic and advanced functions to please all but the most demanding photographers.The FinePix S5000 Zoom is Fujifilm´s entry model into what seems like a new market segment--that of "SLR-like" digital cameras for the lower-end to mid-level consumers. Other contenders include the Minolta Z1 camera. With an affordable price tag, a serious 10x optical zoom lens and a compact lightweight form factor, the S5000 Zoom touts many features and functions that should interest those looking for a "full-range" camera with some of the advanced frills.
On first impression, the S5000 Zoom is quite the looker--it's sleek, lightweight and has a rubberized grip design that's very comfortable to hold, much like a smaller version of the S602 Zoom. The molded look and coating gives the camera a more rugged, professional "feel" that belies its pricing, although it does lack some manual functions which will bother only advanced users. However, the "SLR-like" appearance and handling should endear itself to many enthusiasts, especially given Fujifilm's usual high standard of image quality.
The camera casing houses a very impressive 10x optical zoom lens that provides an equivalent focal length range of 37-370mm (on a 35mm-equivalent camera). The S5000 Zoom body has a very even balance, with the weight of the camera almost equally split between the lens system and the batteries (four AA-size batteries which are located in the camera's hand grip). A rubber ring around the lens barrel allows for additional stability, especially when using the unit with both hands. Weighing in at about 430g with batteries and xD-Picture Card loaded, the S5000 will fit comfortably into small knapsacks and so on. The camera is supplied with a screw-on lens hood-cum-adapter which looks like it's part of the whole and gives a better overall appearance. The AR-FX5 hood-adapter is also a big plus as previously most digicam owners had to purchase optional adapters in order to fit filters and other accessories.
The 10x optical Fujinon zoom lens is probably what takes the cake. At 37-370mm (35mm equivalent), the S5000 Zoom will probably cover most focal lengths used. If that isn't enough, the TL-FX9 tele- conversion lens can be added for extra zooming power (the combination will result in an effective focal length of 555mm). On the other end of the spectrum, the WL-FX9 is a 0.79x wide-angle conversion lens, giving the S5000 Zoom a 30mm ability. Even more impressive is the maximum aperture that is F2.8 at wide angle and just F3.2 on the telephoto end. The optics is also surprisingly good, with decent image clarity and contrast for such a wide focal length range.
Images are captured on the fourth-generation 3.2-megapixel SuperCCD HR sensor, which can produce images with 6 million pixels (through interpolation). The tonal balance and color of the image files are generally good--with high color saturation levels that are typical of Fujifilm's SuperCCD technology--, but sport a slight tendency to oversharpen at the edges. Long exposure shots also suffer from some softness and noise, which is disappointing for a fourth-generation sensor.
The S5000 uses four AA batteries, the compartment for which is located on the bottom of the camera. This seems to be the popular choice for many mid-level models, with the Minolta Z1 sporting the same battery configuration. However, the S5000 Zoom has a slight edge with its power-saving mode. While there are many schools of thought about the use of AA-size batteries and power life, the general consensus is that AA-size batteries make for easier and convenient traveling, especially in other countries where voltage and power plugs are different and not compatible. Rechargeable NiMH batteries are also highly recommended for long-term cost savings, eco-friendliness and less wastage that comes from unspent batteries.
The S5000 Zoom's powerful pop-up flash is another plus factor. It is located directly above the lens (a logical placement to reduce shadows) with the flash sensor just below it. The working range of the flash is 0.3-6.0m at wide angle, and 0.8-5.5m at telephoto range, which is quite powerful for a built-in flash unit. One major grumble with the S5000 is that it does not support an external flash, which will be a limitation for many. However, to balance that off, Fujifilm includes an AF illuminator (situated to the left of the FinePix logo), a feature that is sorely lacking in the S602 Zoom and other models.
The S5000 Zoom's 1.5-inch LCD display is a joy to use. While it is slightly on the small side, the brightness is something to be admired, especially in low-light conditions where viewing tends to be difficult. Furthermore, LCD brightness can be adjusted in the setup menu for individual preferences. In addition, the S5000 Zoom boasts several creative photo-taking features such as the flexible Program AE mode (using the up/down arrow buttons to cycle through sets of shutter speed/aperture combinations, which let you use a faster shutter speed or a smaller aperture). This makes for a very user-friendly camera even for young children on its basic point-and-shoot settings, yet it contains enough features to make it viable for semi-professionals.
Advanced users will also find the electronic viewfinder (EVF) well-designed, with its deep recessed "cup" (to keep ambient light out) and a diopter correction knob by the side to focus the image on the EVF. The EVF has the same 114k-pixel resolution as the LCD monitor, and has a good refresh rate to allow for viewing in low light (although the image may be somewhat noisy).
All in all, the FinePix S5000 is a compact, lightweight and feature-rich digital camera that most people can use with ease. Armed with a 10x Fujinon optical zoom lens, the S5000 offers a degree of versatility that should satisfy most users, both novice and advanced. It's designed such that it makes for a superb all-rounder, with its AA-size batteries, bright LCD monitor and EVF, and user-friendly photo-taking modes.
Fujifilm FinePix S5000
Company: Fujifilm
Price: ~AU$999
Distributor: Selected resellers
1%
1%
