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  • Testing / Performance

  • Physical Tour

  • Components

  • Design / Layout

  • Modes

  • Control Options

  • Image Parameters

  • Connectivity / Extras

  • Overall Impressions

  • Conclusion

  • Specs / Ratings

  • Photo Gallery

  • Testing / Performance
  • Physical Tour
  • Components
  • Design / Layout
  • Modes
  • Control Options
  • Image Parameters
  • Connectivity / Extras
  • Overall Impressions
  • Conclusion
  • Specs / Ratings
  • Photo Gallery

Testing / Performance

For readers who have difficulty distinguishing between the outer square and the inner rectangle, the chart below shows the FinePix F470’s colors as circles and the ideal colors as squares. The most accurate colors are the ones that only look like circles. The more inaccurate colors have lines between the two shapes showing the degree of error; the longer the line, the more inaccurate the camera’s reproduction of that particular color.

This digital camera performed fairly well, earning an 8.09 overall color score. The chart above shows some discrepancies in the red and blue colors, but most of the colors stand pretty accurate. The F470 had a mean color error of 7.44 and over-saturated by 14.7 percent, which is average for an entry-level compact model. Overall, the Fujifilm F470 departed from its F-series legacy by producing colors a bit more realistic.

**Still Life Scene **

Below is an image of our retro still life scene, recorded with the Fujifilm FinePix F470.

[

Click on the image above to view the full resolution version.](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=F470-StillLife-LG.jpg)

Resolution* (3.08)
*Fujifilm included a 1/2.5-inch Super CCD in the FinePix F470. With 6 effective megapixels, the camera should theoretically be able to produce 8x10-inch enlargements with string detail and reasonable sharpness. With the F470, we snapped several shots of an Industry Standards Organization 12233 chart at various focal lengths and uploaded the files into Imatest Imaging Software, which reads the images and determines how sharp the picture is in units of line widths per picture height (lw/ph). This unit describes how many theoretical alternating black and white lines can fit across a frame both horizontally and vertically without blending into gray.

[

Click on the res chart above to view the full resolution file](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=F470-ResCH-LG.jpg )

The sharpest shot we attained was taken at an aperture of f/4.6 at 14.6mm, set to ISO 64. Imatest Imaging Software concluded that the F470’s sharpest shot resolved 1520 lw/ph horizontally while over-sharpening by 3.81 percent. On the vertical plane, there were 1330 lw/ph and the image was over-sharpened by 3.68 percent.

The Fujifilm FinePix F470 earned a 3.08 overall resolution score, which is a better performance than the F440 but certainly nowhere near what the F10 accomplished. With these kinds of readings on a 6-megapixel count, the Fuji F470 won’t make poster-sized enlargements or handle excessive cropping, but should be able to make 4 x 6 and 5 x 7-inch prints just fine.

Noise – Auto ISO* (4.24)
*Because the Fujifilm FinePix F470’s target audience is point-and-shooters, the automatic ISO setting will probably get a lot of traffic. We tested it in optimal lighting to see how much noise it would produce. The F470 actually did fairly well, producing images with reasonably low noise. The resulting noise slightly surpassed the performance attained with the camera at its manual ISO 100 setting. For this achievement, this FinePix earned a 4.24 score.

Noise - Manual ISO* (4.81)
*While other FinePix models have wide ISO ranges, the F470 is still stuck with a standard 64-400 span. We tested the camera at each of its four manual ISO settings and plotted their noise on the chart below. The horizontal axis shows the ISO ratings and the vertical axis shows the resultant noise.

Like most compact digital cameras, the noise began low at the ISO 64 setting and slowly climbed to a noisier state at the 400 rating. While past Fujifilm digital cameras have performed much better at this setting (and offered higher sensitivities), the F470 still performed respectably when compared to entry-level compact models from other manufacturers.

**Low Light ***(3.5)
*Because not everyone shoots in optimal lighting all the time, we tested the Fujifilm FinePix F470 at four different levels of low light. We tried shooting the tests in the so-called "Manual" mode, but pictures turned out under-exposed because the shutter speed wouldn’t slow down more than a quarter-second. We ended up using the Night scene mode, which used longer shutter speeds and exposed images properly. However, the white balance preset could not be selected in the Night scene mode, so colors suffered a bit.

The first test was done under 60 lux, which is a common lighting situation that photographers will find themselves in at a night club. The second test was done at 30 lux, which is about all the light from a 40-watt bulb. The third test was at 15 lux, which is a soft glow from the night light. The last test was done at 5 lux; this is not a common shooting situation, but its results give us an idea of how the Super CCD and Real Photo Processor perform.

Although the F470 kept its images illuminated when using its Night scene mode, the colors look horrific. All of the colors lean toward an orange hue as the mean color error goes from 18.4 at 60 lux to a whopping 34.4 at the darker 5 lux. The pictures are also incredibly noisy; below is a chart showing exactly how noisy each image is. The horizontal axis shows the exposure time and the vertical axis shows the noise.

At 60 lux, the camera used a 0.2-second shutter speed and over-saturated the image by 41.7 percent while producing noise uncharacteristic of most FinePix models. It only gets worse. The shutter speed slows to a half-second at 30 lux, then to 1 second at 15 lux. Colors remain terribly saturated and the images get steadily noisier. To complete the set, the F470’s 5 lux test used a 2-second exposure and produced a massive amount of noise along with its discoloration due to the 61.7 percent over-saturation.

*Auto WB in low light (60 lux)

*

*Incandescent WB in low light (60 lux)

***This digital camera definitely isn’t made for shooting in low light. Consumers have to choose between getting a proper exposure using the Night scene mode or getting decent colors with the "Manual" mode. We focused on the lighting in this test, so the colors simply had to suffer. However, photographers who want to snap shots at their friend’s dim cathedral wedding – without disturbing the peace with an awful flash – may want to look into other FinePix models that are designed to handle low light scenes.

Dynamic Range* (6.5)
*Ideally, a photograph should show detail in both the brightest and darkest items in the scene – there ought to be some texture in the snow on a snowman's face, and in the coal that makes its eyes. Practically, though, there are plenty of scenes that have too much difference between lights and darks – too broad a dynamic range – for any camera to faithfully reproduce. There are also many scenes that overwhelm some cameras, but not others.

Our dynamic range test measures the widest range that a camera can record. Though it's not likely users will be able to achieve their cameras' maximum dynamic range in everyday shooting, the test offers a basis for comparing cameras. We photograph a Stouffer target, which is made up of a row of progressively darker rectangles. We shoot the target at a range of exposures at all the cameras' ISO settings, and run each image through the Imatest software dynamic range module. We compare Imatest's results for range at high and low quality. High quality shows no more than 1/10 of a stop of noise, and low quality shows no more than one full stop of noise.

Fujifilm cameras typically perform well on this test. The F470's best score was at ISO 100, not at its lowest ISO rating of 64. At both settings, the F470 compares well with other compacts – some others do a bit better than the F470, but it's among the best. At ISO 400, where many compact cameras' performance truly fades, the F470 also looks good. While the F470 is a distinctively good performer among cameras that have a maximum ISO of 400, it's easy to find cameras that out-perform the F470 at ISO 400. Most cameras that are designed for low light – ones that have settings for ISO 800, 1000 or 1600 – generally do better at 400 than the F470.

*FinePix F470 Dynamic Range - ISO 64

*

FinePix F470 Dynamic Range - ISO 400

**Speed / Timing
*
*Start-to-shot (7.11)
*The F470's start-up routine includes extending its lens and getting its software rolling. It takes a comparatively long 2.75 seconds to finish those chores. Users who hope to catch fleeting moments need to keep the F470 turned on. Otherwise, they'll miss their shots while waiting for the lens to pop out.

*Shot-to-Shot (9.01)
*The Fujifilm FinePix F470 shot 5 frames in 2.5 seconds, for a 2 frames per second burst rate. It took 10 seconds for the camera to record enough of the images to allow another shot. Two frames per second is an unusually slow burst rate, and probably not helpful for sports or action shots.

*Shutter-to-Shot (7.62)
*The F470 typically takes 0.51 seconds to focus and get off a shot after the shutter is pressed. That's a long delay, and we suggest that users press the shutter halfway to get the camera to focus, and then wait for the moment they want the shot before pressing the shutter the rest of the way. That yields a delay of about 0.1 seconds, which is much more manageable when people are moving.

Physical Tour

**

Front*** (7.0)
*The Fujifilm FinePix F470 has a matte silver front with a slight polished silver border which becomes slightly more pronounced along the left edge. The camera tapers from left to right, creating a transition plane that will marginally aid in handling. Vertically positioned on the left side, the slightly raised FinePix logo also helps add a minimal amount of grip.

At the top of the transition zone between the slightly thicker left side and the right two-thirds of the camera is the self-timer’s indicator lamp. The horizontal in-camera flash is to the right, approximately an inch off the center axis of the extending lens barrel.

The charcoal gray Fujifilm logo is positioned in the upper right corner. Beneath it is the extending 3x Fujinon optical zoom lens, with an automatic lens cover that snaps closed efficiently when the camera powers off. A raised polished silver ring, cut at a forty-five degree angle for heightened visual emphasis, surrounds the lens and separates it from the camera body. The in-camera mono microphone for audio recording is located beneath and to the left of this lens, and is visually identifiable due to three small holes cut into the body of the camera.

**

Back*** (7.0)
*A 2.5-inch, 115,000 pixel LCD screen is the predominant feature on the back of the Fujifilm FinePix F470. The Fujifilm logo appears in white along the bottom edge of the screen, and a black frame surrounds the LCD. Since the 470 lacks an electronic or optical viewfinder, the LCD is its only viewing device.

To the right of the LCD, on the remaining third of the camera body, are most of the external controls needed to negotiate menus, manual controls, and other camera settings. Along the top edge is the zoom control, which allows for manipulation of wide-angle and telephoto perspectives. Beneath the zoom toggle is a circular scalloped indentation with its right edge built up and out from the camera body. This ridge, while subtle, did help alleviate some of the handling concerns encountered when shooting with a small, smooth-bodied camera. An indicator light, beneath and to the left of this circle, shows the current camera state.

The Playback button is located under the indicator light and to the left of the FinePix Photo Mode button. Below these two controls is a four-way control which enables menu navigation when either the Main or FinePix Photo Mode menus are open. When menu structures are not open, the four-way control allows immediate access to four camera settings via the cardinal directions. The up arrow increases the brightness of the LCD for low light viewing, the right arrow cycles through flash options, the down arrow doubles as the self-timer button, and the left arrow engages the Macro setting. When viewing images in playback mode, the up arrow also functions as the delete button. The Menu/OK button is located in the center of the four-way control. Near the bottom edge of the camera, beneath and to the left of the four-way control, is the display/back button.

Left Side* (7.0)
*A polished silver front edge wraps around from the front of the camera to complement the matte silver finish. The left side of the Fujifilm FinePix 470 is otherwise devoid of features.

Right Side* (7.0)
*A small port cover opens via a tab on the back edge of the Fujifilm FinePix 470’s right side. This cover is made of a flexible rubber that matches the matte silver finish found on most of the camera body; once opened, it swivels away neatly on one sturdy connector. The ports found under this cover provide connection to both DC IN and A/V out for either PC or television viewing.

Directly under the port cover is an eyelet for the optional wrist strap. This eyelet is set into the camera body, so users won’t need to worry about snagging it on pockets or bags during transport. The downside, however, is the added hassle of attempting to thread the strap through this small and confined space.

Top*(7.0) *

The top of the Fujifilm FinePix 470 has a raised polished silver shutter button on the right side of the camera, surrounded by a matte silver ring with a tab for switching between Auto, Scene, and Movie modes. To the left of the shutter button/mode switch is the power on/off button. Although no other features are located on the top of this point-and-shoot model, there is yet another logo emblazoned across the left side of the top face, identifying the camera once again as the "Digital Camera FinePix F470."

**

Bottom*** (4.0)
*Half of the F470’s bottom is taken up by the battery cover, which is opened by pressing down and pushing outwards with the help of five raised dots located along the edge between the bottom and right edge. Once open, this cover reveals both the compartment for the Lithium Ion battery pack and the xD-memory card slot. To the left of the battery cover is a plastic tripod mount. Plastic mounts run the risk of becoming stripped and functionless through either time or improper usage. Finally, to the left of the tripod mount, the in-camera speaker provides marginal monitoring capabilities when reviewing audio footage in playback mode.

Components

Viewfinder* (0.0)
*The Fujifilm FinePix F470 doesn’t have a viewfinder, which isn’t a huge surprise considering its small size and limited real estate on the camera’s back face. While a viewfinder can be a great tool for conserving battery life, optical viewfinders on point-and-shoot cameras often tend to provide inaccurate frames and are challenging to use due to small size and poor position.

*Shooting info visible on F470 LCD

LCD Screen (7.0)
*

With a screen size of 2.5 inches and just 115,000 pixels of resolution, the F470’s LCD may fall a bit short when attempting to check sharpness or fine details. Major problems also result from the screen’s small size and the lack of places to handle the camera; constant smearing can easily occur, causing increased glare and solarization. The screen has a quick refresh rate, though, and reacted competently when shifted quickly between a variety of light sources and depth planes.

Users can overcome viewing problems, when shooting in minimal lighting, through the use of the low light/up button on the four-way controller. In addition to this quick fix, the F470 includes an LCD brightness option within the set-up menu. This control will display a horizontal scale along the upper edge of the LCD when opened, and will provide users with a live view when making adjustments using the +/-5 brightness scale. While this device will help with viewing, it may be deceiving to user’s using the LCD to gauge exposure. As with all digital cameras, particularly after adjusting LCD brightness levels, the image on the LCD and the final captured image may differ drastically. A higher resolution and a better, less reflective surface would make this LCD a far better viewing device.

**

Flash***(7.0)
*The in-camera horizontal flash is positioned along the top edge of the front face in a location that should prevent users from accidentally covering it when shooting. Unfortunately, it is also off the lens axis and will cast shadows to the left side of the subject.

Pressing the left arrow when outside menu structures accesses the F470’s flash settings. These settings are displayed in the upper right corner of the LCD and include auto, red-eye reduction, forced flash, suppressed flash, slow synchro, and red-eye reduction + slow synchro modes. When shooting in F470’s auto mode, the camera will not display the flash setting, and users will need to remember that it is engaged. Flash modes work in both auto and SP mode options and will work with macro and regular shooting modes. However, using the flash in macro mode is not generally recommended, since it will often blow-out the subject and yield inaccurate colors. Red-eye reduction modes worked successfully.

The in-camera flash is the only accessory lighting option available and has a range of 2.3 feet to 15.1 feet in wide-angle, 2.3 to 8.5 in telephoto and 1.0 to 2.6 feet in macro. As mentioned before, the flash in macro mode was overwhelming and tended to produce unusable images.

Lens* (6.25)
***

**The 3x optical zoom lens attached to the Fujifilm FinePix F470 has a 5.8mm to 17.4mm focal range, equivalent to a 35mm to 105mm zoom in 35mm format. This zoom lens extends out from the camera body when powered on, so users won’t need to worry about covering it when shooting, a concern with smaller cameras that have lenses set into the camera body. Its maximum apertures are f/2.8 at its widest setting and f/4.9 at full telephoto.

Zoom control while even-keeled, was anything but fast, and this sluggish rate was accompanied by a loud whirring noise. Engaging the auto focus also caused camera noise, though it was slightly softer. The zoom controls located on the back of the camera are functional even for larger hands, and the sloth-like speed should assure users of more than ample time to properly select zoom depth. When rendering adjustments to zoom levels, a horizontal bar appears in the upper left corner of the LCD indicating what portion of the zoom range is in use.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance* (7.0)
*The Fujifilm FinePix F470 offers a stripped down exterior layout that follows the Bauhaus edict of "less is more" quite closely. While the exterior, which blends matte silver with polished highlights, is attractive, its slender rectangular design is nothing new. Components on this camera tend to be a bit loose: an easily unhinged and battery cover and a loose lens barrel that moves when jostled are both detractions Having just handled the Olympus Stylus 720SW, we find that this camera pales considerably in comparison in terms of construction. While the F470 has a clean design, the camera’s sub-par construction and lack of innovation stop this camera from standing out from the competition this year.

Size / Portability* (7.5)
*Weighing 5 ounces, including battery and memory card, this small, slender camera isn’t going to slow users down. A wrist strap eyelet makes it even easier to carry in one hand; when not shooting, users can easily fit the F470 into a back pocket. Since the lens retracts fully into the camera body, there are no features that are going to snag. The camera measures 3.6 inches in length, 2.3 inches in height and is 0.8 inches thick, creating a silhouette only slightly larger that that of a cassette tape case.

Handling Ability* (7.0)
*The slick, smooth surfaces of this point-and-shoot camera aren’t going to win the Fujifilm FinePix F470 any handling awards. The rectangular frame of the F470 only boasts marginal amounts of grip and control features. Its major advantage over cameras like the Sony CyberShot DSC-T9 is an extending zoom barrel that limits the likelihood of fingers obscuring the lens. The F470 also has a slightly thickened right side with a sloping edge, which provides a slight grip for the fingers of the right hand, and a.raised FinePix logo helps add grip to this otherwise sleek surface. A scalloped circle with a raised right edge helps further, providing a grip for the thumb.

The controls on the back and top of the camera are well placed for comfortable access without strain and are few enough to avoid overwhelming the user. When on a flat surface, the camera does have a tendency to tip onto the lens: while not particularly damaging when in the center of a desk, this could lead to potentially disastrous results.

**

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size*** (6.5)
*Controls on this small point-and-shoot are pleasantly well spaced and sized. A stripped down external control layout, as is found of the Fuji F470, generally makes finding and activating appropriate controls a simpler and more intuitive process for beginning users. Essential controls like the zoom buttons are spaced for precise control and shouldn’t impede the functionality of this digital camera. The four-way controller may be a bit small for users with larger fingers, though, and the left arrow’s close proximity to the LCD frame occasionally blocked this reviewer’s thumb.

The controls for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 are well labeled with symbols and intuitive icons. The shutter button is comfortably positioned on the top of the camera, and the mode ring surrounding it can be altered without shifting the right hand. Photographers who are used to this design being used to control zoom levels may be confused, but will become less so with time.

Menu *(****7.5)
***A semi-transparent series of overlays in the middle of the LCD comprise the F470’s menu structure. These overlays provide users with a continual live view for adjusting image parameters. For instance, shifting through the exposure compensation scale will immediately result in a darker or lighter image on screen. With the abundance of live view menu options on the F470, users will ultimately be able to make better and more informed decisions when shooting.  

As users scan menu options, the corresponding highlighted section’s full text title will appear in a horizontal bar at the top of the LCD screen. The information changes with the sub-menu, providing users with information such as the numerical position of the selector within the exposure compensation scale. This should be particularly helpful to beginning users, who may find certain icons to be either misleading or confusing.  Fujifilm has kept these menus short and simple, with an intuitive interface and a coherent format that will allow quick access to manual controls and other options.  

The Fujifilm FinePix F470 has a dual menu structure that can be a bit confusing at first, as users need to remember which menu offers access to which manual controls.  A menu/ok button located in the center of the four-way control allows users to access the larger of the two shooting menus and provides control over modes, exposure, white balance, and burst settings. This menu also offers users access to the camera’s set-up menu structure. 

Pressing the F button, located directly above the four-way control on the back face of the camera, accesses the second shooting menu. This menu is short and possesses the same structure found as the shooting menu, allowing users a live view screen beneath semi-transparent overlays.   

The playback menu also appears as a semi-transparent overlay.  While underdeveloped in terms of digital effects, review options and in-camera editing abilities, the playback mode and menu of the F470 shouldn’t be confusing for beginners.   

The only menu which appears with an opaque screen is the setup menu. Options listed in this menu structure deal more with the camera system and not the imager or photos being captured. While visually different from the other three menu structures, the setup menu continues the same logical list style that expedites navigation and alterations. With consistent and basic menus for shooting, playback, and set-up, the F470 allows easy interactivity regardless of the user’s skill level. 

Ease of Use* (7.25)
*The Fujifilm FinePix F470’s stripped down externals and simple internal menu system makes this a great digital camera in terms of ease of use. While there may be some initial confusion over the two shooting menus, it shouldn’t take long before users are comfortable with the format. By employing a minimal number of external controls, the F470 ensures a simple interface. A mode ring surrounding the shutter allows even novice camera users to switch efficiently into auto mode without needing to enter a menu.

While controls are largely well sized for access, the icon labels for the external interface are a bit too tightly packed, and make this otherwise understated design visually cluttered. The menus, however, are short, list based, and provide both icons and textual descriptions to improve user confidence. By avoiding lengthy and redundant menu systems, the F470 is able to provide immediate access to essential controls. This largely intuitive interface, coupled with mostly automatic functionality, should serve even the most novice camera user.

Modes

Auto Mode* (7.0)
*Moving the mode switch (placed on a ring around the shutter button) to the auto setting enters auto mode, where the camera controls nearly all parameters. Users will still have access to zoom, flash settings, self timer, macro mode, burst mode, setup menu, ISO, image size, and image color. Moving between this mode and the SP modes is a simple procedure, thanks to the easily accessible mode switch; although at first, it was occasionally mistaken for a zoom ring, it didn’t take much time to adjust to.

Custom Image Presets* (7.0)
*The scene modes for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 aren’t the exhaustive lists found with Casio and Olympus point and shoot cameras. Having fewer options isn’t necessarily a bad thing: to be perfectly honest, the prospect of scanning thirty or more preset scene modes with full text and demo images isn’t really thrilling. The options provided with this camera are functional and will cover most general situations.

Once the camera is in SP mode, the user can press the menu/ok button, which opens the on-screen menu. The shooting mode sub-menu allows users to select from the following; portrait, landscape, sport, night, beach & snow, sunset, museum, party, flower close-up, and text modes. Sub-menu options are displayed as semi-transparent overlays in the center of the LCD, and display the setting symbol within the menu structure while simultaneously listing each mode’s title in a horizontal bar at the top of the screen. While this isn’t the full text description found with digital cameras that have more elaborate preset shooting modes, it’s pretty hard to imagine anyone being confused about when the sunset or night mode would be appropriately used, and the user manual does provide extensive explanations.

Settings like museum mode are great for when photographers are looking to quietly capture photos. The text mode also worked quite well, producing usable results even when capturing at an angle. Modes like flower close-up combine the range of a macro mode with a more saturated image that, while not necessarily accurate, will produce a more vivid palette.

With cameras offering 20 or 30 presets, the modes often become redundant and eventually both impede functionality and confuse the user. The Fujifilm FinePix F470 offers a list of options that consistently work and, while not fully manual, allow customization in numerous situations.

Drive / Burst Mode* (6.25) *

The continuous shooting mode is available to users when shooting in both automatic and SP modes that include manual mode. The continuous shooting option is listed within the shooting menu that is opened once the menu/ok button is pressed. We clocked the F470’s burst mode at just about 2 frames per second. The camera captured 5 continuous shots at this pace. This is competitive for the price point and camera styling, but is not fast enough to shot action or sporting events.

Playback Mode* (5.25)
*Pressing the playback button on the back of the camera enters and exits playback mode. The shutter button also exits playback mode, a shortcut which normally saves time.

At times, this was true with the F470, but occasionally the camera seemed to get hung up between modes and actually took longer than it would have if the user had just pressed the playback mode.

When in the playback mode, the initial display is a full screen of the last captured image with an overlay informing users of the image size, ISO setting, exposure compensation level, white balance, and time and date captured. The problem with this is that the information disappears after a couple seconds, and retrieving it involves pressing the disp/back button three times in order to cycle through all possible display options. This is absurd: the information is important and should be accessible without a time limit. Perhaps the lack of a histogram is forgivable on an economic point-and-shoot model, but the disappearing information feature is just pointless and irritating.

The F470 can display images in a number of formats, including single, 9-up, and 12-up. The twelve-up view includes a side bar that allows users to move through photos by day of capture.

This can be a helpful shortcut for people who shoot with the same memory card for a number of days without printing or downloading images to PC.

When viewing individual images, the user can engage the zoom controls for playback digital zoom capabilities. With this feature, it is possible to view high resolution images with up to 4.4x digital zoom and use the four-way control to navigate the viewing frame through image. Users can also trim images during review by selecting the trim feature from the playback menu, then making adjustments with the zoom toggle and frame placement through the four-way control. Once the appropriate frame size and position are in place, the user must press the menu/ok button to save this image to memory. This process saves the new image without overwriting the original: users can choose to discard or save either copy at any time. While cropping and zooming with digital zoom will lead to degraded image quality, this feature will allow for some in-camera image tailoring.

Other in-camera options are: erase, image rotation, print order, protect, playback, voice memo, trimming, copy, and setup menu. The playback menu allows users to view photos in a slideshow format in either normal, fade in, multiple, or clock modes. Clock mode displays the time in the upper right corner and nine squares in the upper left corner which change color and pattern with successive images. While we’re not entirely sure why anyone would want or need to use this feature, it does exist.

Movie Mode* (6.5)
*The movie mode for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is accessed by turning the mode switch ring that surrounds the shutter button to the movie mode position. When in movie mode, the camera can shoot video files in resolutions of either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240. Both resolution settings can be captured at a frame rate of 30 fps. The resulting footage was both smooth and clear, and should be satisfactory for the point-and-shooter looking for basic video functionality.

Audio recorded in movie mode wasn’t anything to write home about. Audio and video are recorded simultaneously when shooting with the Fujifilm FinePix F470, and the monaural microphone located beneath the lens tended to pick up handling noise when shooting. Monitoring audio is possible when viewing footage in playback mode, thanks to the monaural speaker positioned on the bottom of the camera.

When recording video, the user won’t be able to adjust the focal length of the lens or enter the menu structure. Menus for movie mode are drastically truncated from the options listed during still capture: the menu/ok button will only display a sub-menu for the camera’s overall setup menu, while the F button allows the user to select between two image sizes.

Control Options

**Manual Control Options
**Manual controls for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 are limited, with the user having no access to shutter speed, aperture, metering or manual focus. Partial control over white balance is provided with preset options. While better than just an auto mode, the lack of a full manual is an unfortunate omission for the manual control enthusiast. The camera does have manual control over exposure compensation and ISO settings, although this is hardly going to be sufficient for the budget consumer looking for user control. For low-cost manual controls, consider a camera by a manufacturer like Canon.

**Focus
***Auto Focus (5.5)
*The auto focus system for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is non-negotiable and is anything but satisfactory or successful when challenged. It struggled to accurately lock into focus when shooting in low light. The camera tended to "breathe" in these situations, and eventually would display the AF symbol with a red hand to indicate that the shot would be blurred. When attempting to adjust focus, the F470 was sluggish; users should expect several seconds to elapse before the camera locks in. During this period of time, the camera emits a quiet chirruping noise, which, while not as offensive as the clattering zoom, will be noticeable in subdued situations.

When shooting in normal mode, the auto focus system has a focusing range of 2.3 feet to infinity. The camera has a reported range of 3.9 inches to 2.6 feet in macro mode with a wide-angle setting and 1.3 to 2.6 feet when shooting in full telephoto.

Overall, the F470’s autofocus was a bit disappointing; without reliable autofocus or optical image stabilization, snapshooters may find a lot of blurry images. Since the camera does not offer a manual focusing mode, users of the F470 will have to be aware of the camera’s limitations and shoot accordingly.

*Manual Focus (0.0)
*As mentioned in the auto focus section of this review, the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is devoid of manual focus control, an unfortunate absence considering the camera’s autofocus limitations.

Exposure* (6.5)
*Users can manually adjust exposure compensation when the camera is in manual mode +/-2 EV in 1/3-stop increments. This screen is live view, so users will be able to immediately identify image changes when navigating the scale.

**

Metering*** (5.5)
*Metering on the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is not manually controllable, forcing users to rely solely upon a 256-zone TTL metering system. This system will certainly perform well when not forced to meter complicated or multi-light scenes, but struggles to accurately meter scenes with strong backlighting. Most digital cameras, even lower priced models, are now providing spot, multi, and center-weighted metering systems to accommodate a range of lighting situations. If metering is important and manual control isn’t terrifying, users should look into alternate options like the Canon PowerShot SD450 which is comparably priced online.

**

White Balance*** (6.25)
*SP Manual mode allows the user to access white balance control via the menu/ok button; the setting cannot be activated in movie or auto modes. White balance settings include a full auto mode, outdoors in strong light, shade, "daylight" fluorescent, "warm white" fluorescent, "cool white" fluorescent and incandescent. While the presets and auto mode certainly cover a number of lighting situations, the F470 does not provide its users with a full manual white balance option. While it’s certainly loads of fun figuring out which of the three fluorescent presets best compensates for the sickly green glow in commercial buildings around the world, a manual white balance setting would be able to provide quick and accurate results without the compromise and guesswork found on this digital camera. Digital cameras like the LZ2 by Panasonic provide manual white balance control in this price range.

**

ISO***(6.5)
*The ISO settings for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 are accessible in Auto and SP Modes, through the FinePix Photo Mode menu, which users enter by pressing the F button. Once open, the ISO sub-menu allows the user to set ISO levels to auto, 64, 100, 200, and 400. This menu is semi-transparent and overlays a live-view screen, which is especially helpful for beginning users. ISO range is standard for digital cameras at this price level, although short of what many might expect from Fujifilm – a company that has prided themselves on low light shooting and strong high ISO performance – the range is still common on many entry-level point-and-shoot offerings from competing manufacturers.

Shutter Speed* (0.0)
*The shutter speed range on the Fujifilm FinePix F470 extends from 2 seconds to 1/1500, depending on exposure mode, although it is not manually controllable by the user. The lack of a manual shutter speed control means that users will need to rely heavily on exposure presets like Night Mode and be prepared to deploy the flash often. The available range will be sufficient for brightly lit scenes, however, it is a bit too truncated to handle scenes that are in extremely low light, even when the camera is placed on a tripod.

**Aperture ***(0.0)
*Unsurprisingly, users cannot manually set the aperture on the Fujifilm FinePix F470 The automatically-controlled aperture allows a maximum setting of f/2.8 at full wide angle, while narrowing in telephoto to a maximum setting of f/4.9. In-camera playback mode does not display aperture information.

Image Parameters

Picture Quality / Size Options* (6.0)
*Picture quality and size settings are in the first sub-menu of the F-button menu. The picture size and quality options for the F470 allow users to select from the following; 6M F (fine, 2816 x 2112), 6M N (normal, 2816 x 1880), 3:2 (2816 x 1880), 3M (2048 x 1536), 2M (1600 x 1200), and 03M (640 x 480). When scanning the menu, users will see the shorthand pixel count listed (i.e. 6M) in menu, while the longhand (i.e. 2816 x 2112) is displayed in a horizontal bar at the top of the LCD screen.

**


Picture Effects Mode*** (6.5)
*Pictures effects options for the FinePix F470 are rather limited compared to the plethora of Photoshop-esque effects available with cameras by competing manufacturers. The only picture effects options are listed within the F-menu under the FinePix Color sub-menu. These settings allow shooting in standard, chrome, and black & white. While a discernable difference exists between standard and black & white picture effects modes, the chrome feature failed to impress.

Connectivity / Extras

**Connectivity
***Software (7.0)
*The Fujifilm F470 ships with FinePix Viewer version 5.1f software. The software loaded in around seven minutes; while this seemed a bit long for a rudimentary program which is truly just a filing system for still images. Connecting the camera directly to computer and circumventing the software let us copy and paste images to the desktop in under half a minute.

Once we’d loaded the pictures, we could view images in a number of formats and sizes. Multiple filing formats and organizational systems are probably the strongest component of this program, since the actual editing features included are fairly basic. With the packaged software, users can fix red-eye, rotate images, adjust saturation, hue, brightness, contrast, sepia, black & white, sharpen and soften images, as well as adding text. The effects worked with varied success and had a tendency to skip nuanced alterations in favor of drastic change.

For users who don’t want a full suite of editing options, but need a software application to organize and file images, the F470’s FinePix Viewer software will certainly suffice.

*Jacks, Ports, Plugs (4.5) *

Ports appear on both the right and bottom sides of the F470. The right side has a port near the top of the camera body. Its port cover is well-designed, made of flexible but resilient rubber, and swivels competently on a hinge located in its lower back corner, allowing it to be neatly moved and provide easy access to port terminals. A tab on the cover’s back edge opens it, revealing an AV out port as well as a DC IN port for optional powering.

*Direct Print Options (6.5) *

While not as simple as a Kodak EasyShare printing system, the software found with the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is capable of direct printing via PictBridge printers and shouldn’t overwhelm beginning users. The camera can either connect to PictBridge compliant printers via a USB cable and the xD picture card can also be inserted into an xD slot. The user must enter the playback mode once the camera is connected, then select images to be printed by using the left and right arrows while viewing photos in full frame. Once an image is chosen, pressing the up and down arrows selects the number of photos. This camera is able to print up to ninety-nine copies of the same image. Pressing the menu/ok button will then display

the "Print OK" screen, and pressing it again will start printing. The camera can also be connected to a PC or a television by using the included RCA or USB.

*Battery (5.25)
*A Lithium Ion rechargeable battery fits into the bottom of the F470 and powers this camera. The battery reportedly gets 170 shots per charge. The battery is recharged with the included wall powered battery charger, and must be removed from the camera.

Memory (4.75)
*
**

*Memory for the Fujifilm FinePix F470 allows users to either record to 16 MB of internal memory or **use an optional xD memory card, inserted via a port on the bottom of the camera body. An xD memory card is highly recommended, since the 16 MB of internal memory is going to be only able to handle eight 6 MP images. While this internal memory is great for a couple of snapshots, it’s not really feasible for a day of shooting.

Other Features* (6.0)

Voice Memo -* The voice memo feature is an interesting extra for this otherwise stripped-down digital camera. Listed in the playback menu, this option lets users select images and attach audio WAV files that can be up to 30 seconds in length.

*Trimming - *The trimming feature on the F470 allows users to crop and save their images in-camera. Users can approve or negate their selection, then save the trimmed image in addition to the original.

*Calendar in Playback Mode - *The calendar display in playback mode lets users efficiently move between images that were captured over an extended period of time. When the user reviews photos in a twelve image format, a sidebar appears on the left side of the LCD which displays the dates when images were captured. This is especially handy when shooting with larger memory cards.

Overall Impressions

**Comparisons **
*[

Canon PowerShot A540 -](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/specs/Canon/PowerShot%20A540.htm)* While not sporting the F470’s slim profile, the Canon PowerShot A540 has a 6 MP sensor and a number of benefits that outdo the entry-level features found on the F470. The A540 has a larger 4x zoom range, manual control over shutter speed and aperture, custom white balance, more expansive ISO range, and a larger maximum aperture of f/2.6. However, the A540’s LCD is composed of less resolution and the camera’s wealth of preset shooting modes may be a few too many for users who are easily overwhelmed. The A540’s My Colors features, however, will certainly set this camera apart for any user really looking to adjust image parameters and add digital effects in-camera. The A540 is set to retail at around $279 and is certainly intended for a more advanced point-and-shoot market.

[*

Olympus Stylus 600 -*](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/specs/Olympus/Stylus%20600.htm)The Olympus Stylus 600 is another 6 MP point-and-shoot that sports an uncluttered exterior for ease of use and simplicity. However, the Stylus 600 has a weatherproof design and is much more solidly constructed. Like the F470, it has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 115,000 pixels, no viewfinder, the capacity to use xD memory cards, 3x optical zoom lens, and a +/- 2 exposure compensation scale. The shutter speed range on the Stylus 600 is slightly larger, with a slow shutter speed of four seconds possible in night mode. While not as well equipped in terms of manual options as the Canon A540, the Stylus 600 does have a number of settings that improve upon those found with the F470: two focusing modes, two metering modes, a larger ISO range (with diminished resolution), and an absurdly large number of preset shooting modes. The f/3.1 maximum aperture is not quite as fast as the F470’s f/2.8 lens, though, and this model comes with less internal memory, only providing its users with 7.9 MB. Currently, the Stylus 600 can be found online for approximately a hundred dollars less than the F470.

[*

Fujifilm FinePix F10 -*](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-F10-Digital-Camera-Review-.htm)Users willing to spend a bit more money might consider investing in the FinePix F10. While it shares a number of traits with the F470, including its maximum resolution and frame rate for video clips, xD-Picture memory cards, and voice memo, the F10 gives its users an ISO range of up to 3200, larger focal length lens, a 6.3 MP CCD, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. The F10 is also a far stronger performer, producing much sharper, cleaner images with almost no shutter lag. The F10 is one of the best point-and-shoot cameras we have ever tested in terms of image quality and will also offer a substantial upgrade in battery life over the F470. However, with a slightly larger body, the F10 weighs about 33 grams more than the its slimmer counterpart.

[*

Fujifilm FinePix F650 -*](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/specs/Fuji/FinePix%20F650.htm)The Fujifilm FinePix F650 and the F470 have 1/2.5-inch imagers and an identical ISO range. Both also record footage to xD Picture cards. They also feature monaural audio recording for video and voice memo, a maximum video frame rate of 30 fps, and a maximum video resolution of 640 x 480 However, the F650’s LCD measures 3.0-images and has 230,000 pixels, enabling users to easily display their photos to those around them. The F650’s much longer 36 – 180mm variable focal length lens will also offer more telephoto capability. Interested users should be able to find the larger F650 online for around $350.

Nikon Coolpix L2 - With a similar 6MP sensor and 3x optical zoom lens at just $219 online, the Nikon Coolpix L2 provides similar imaging capabilities at a more affordable price point. The L2 also contains 15 scene modes, and 32 MB of internal memory, along with its in-camera red-eye fix technology and a voice recording feature. The L2 also shoots 640 x 480 resolution video at a maximum frame rate of 30 fps. The camera has a 2.0-inch LCD, with just 86,000 pixels. The L2 has a number of auto focus modes, including a face priority and center focus focal system. Shutter speed ranges from 4 seconds for lower light situations, which outdoes the 2 second speed of the F740. Like the F740, this Nikon point-and-shoot employs an overall (or matrix) metering system and a +/-2 EV scale in addition to white balance presets which lack a full manual mode. The maximum aperture is a disappointing f/3.2, though, and users may find that the L2 a bit limiting in low light.

Value*(5.75)
*Priced at around $279 both online and off, the 6MP Fujifilm FinePix has a straightforward layout, logical and minimal external controls, a movie mode with 640 x 480 resolution and 30 fps, a simple auto mode, and a handful of helpful presets that aren’t going to confuse or overwhelm users. While this camera is perhaps a strong candidate for the beginning user, the more advanced photographer is going to find the excessively noisy zoom mechanics, poor autofocus, seemingly poor construction, and lack of manual controls hard to overlook. For a similar price, more advanced consumers can find a number of alternate, if slightly less portable, models that provide more control and increased performance with a higher build quality.

**Who It’s For **
*Point-and-Shooters - *This camera is primarily intended for point-and-shooters. The camera offers a simple external interface, dedicated switch for moving between shooting and movie modes, and provides a logical, intuitive menu structure that makes the F470 very easy to use.

*Budget Consumers - *The Fujifilm FinePix F470 is priced to retail at around $279. While certainly low in price, this camera has a lot of competition at that price point. Considering the manual control options on some Canon models and optical image stabilization on all of Panasonic’s entry-level offerings, the F470 has some stiff competition.

Gadget Freaks - With an understated design that emphasizes clarity and basic control, the Fujifilm FinePix F470 stays away from the latest and trendiest features. Instead, this camera offers a traditional layout and feature set, while marginally improving movie options and internal memory. With little innovation, the F470 isn’t going to turn the head of any gadget freak.

Manual Control Freaks - With virtually no manual controls, the Fujifilm FinePix F470 is not fit for any photographer looking to manipulate the shot.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists - Without control over aperture and shutter speed, along with its lack of a custom white balance setting and excessive shutter lag, there is no reason for the pro or serious hobbyist to consider the F470.

Conclusion

**Conclusion
**Representing the more affordable portion of Fujifilm’s F-series, the roughly $279 FinePix F470 provides a 1/2.5-inch, 6 megapixel CCD and 3x optical zoom lens, along with a basic feature to point-and-shooters at an affordable price. The primarily automatic camera has an intuitive design and simple menu structures to accommodate beginner users. In testing, the F470 displayed reasonable, though not stellar, image quality, but was slow to operate and poorly constructed.

The F470 also lacks any distinguishing features or technology. By contrast, Canon’s entry-level offerings provide full manual control, while Panasonic’s all have optical image stabilization, and Nikon’s have face priority and auto red-eye fix. Even other Fujifilm models are way beyond the FinePix F470, offering higher quality LCD screens, faster shooting speeds, and more expansive ISO settings. Unfortunately, other than the F470’s substandard construction, there is little to the camera that is really noteworthy. If consumers can find the F470 at a much lower price point than its similarly spec’d competition, its shortcomings may be worth overlooking; however, if features and performance are more essential, consumers should take a second look at the competition before purchasing.

Specs / Ratings

**Specs Table
**{{manufacturer_specs_table}}{{raw_scores_table}}

Meet the tester

James Murray

James Murray

Editor

James Murray is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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