Physical Tour

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BackThe rear of the camera is the home to most of the buttons and other controls, including the 2-inch display which can pop out and tilt to a 90-degree angle. This has 235k pixels and is impressively clear and bright. From the top right (going clockwise) we have the diopter adjustment dial for the viewfinder (which I, as a spectacles wearer, wholeheartedly endorse), the viewfinder itself, the auto exposure lock button and metering mode dial (with three settings: spot, center weighted and average), the mode dial, the command dial, the viewfinder or LCD selector button, the focus check button (which enlarges the center of the image to check focus), the menu button and 4 directional controls and the display button. There is also the Finepix button, which gives quick access to a number of commonly used settings, such as image size, ISO setting and color mode in a special quick access menu.  **Left Side**On the left of the camera are a number of controls and other features: from the top left clockwise, we have the flash button, the microphone (for recording short narrations to go with images), the info button (which brings up information such as the current shooting mode, exposure mode, etc), the focus mode dial and the macro button. Underneath a rubber port cover are the USB 2.0, AV output and power ports. 

  **Right Side**On the right side, the only major feature is the cover that sits over the dual CompactFlash and xD Picture card slots. These can be used independently, but you can’t write images to both cards at the same time: you have to choose one to write to. However, having both does provide a good degree of flexibility.  **Top On the top of the camera body, we have (from top left, clockwise) the adjustment dial (which is use to change settings like shutter speed and aperture), the mode dial, the flash hot shoe (a standard model: unusual in these days of manufacturer specific hot shoes), the shutter button (with the power, record and playback mode dial on the outside), the flash button, the exposure compensation mode button and the shooting mode button.  Bottom**The only excitement on the bottom of the camera is the cover for the battery compartment, which holds 4AA batteries. These can either be disposable or Ni-MH rechargeables, an arrangement which provides flexibility: you can use either depending on what’s available. 

Components

 **Viewfinder**The viewfinder is an electronic .44-inch model with 235k pixels (the same number as the screen). It is clear and bright and has a diopter adjustment dial, which is very useful for spectacle wearers. There is a slight delay between the real world and the image on the viewfinder, but not enough to be problematic. However, sports shooters might prefer a proper SLR with an optical viewfinder: the delay between the real world and the display might be enough to miss a shot. The on-screen menus can be accessed on either the viewfinder or the LCD screen; you switch between the two using the EVF/LCD button located next to the viewfinder. **LCD Screen**The 2-inch TFT screen is clear and bright and seems to be a big improvement on the screen on the previous model (the S9000) It pops out on two articulated arms, allowing it to angle up to 90 degrees and double as a waist-level display. However, you can’t rotate the screen, so you can’t use it to shoot self-portraits. We were not able to test it in daylight, but similar screens on previous models have not held up well in sunlight. 2 inches is not the largest screen we’ve seen (many cameras are now coming with three inch screens), but it’s adequate for checking images. One nice touch is the focus check button, which enlarges the center of the image so you can make sure the image is in focus this is invaluable for use with the manual focus. **Flash**The flash pops out from above the lens with a suitably dramatic spring-loaded thwacking noise, and seems well placed: the extended arms hold it a couple of inches above the lens, which should help avoid red-eye. Fuji claims a range of between 1 to 18 feet in wide angle mode. We weren’t able to test this, but it did seem to be reasonably powerful in our limited tests. The camera also allows you to control the flash power, pushing it up or down up to 2/3rds of a stop. Fuji also claims that their new intelligent flash technology more accurately balances the flash with ambient light for better exposed pictures. Again, we weren’t able to test this feature, but the claim has historically held true and our tests did seem to have better flash exposure than many we’ve seen.

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 **Zoom Lens**The zoom lens is a sizeable 10.7x Fujinon model, with a 35mm equivalent range of 28 to 300mm. That’s a good range for a camera of this type: many skimp at the lower end of the zoom range, which is generally more useful than the longer end. It’s not as wide as the Sony R1, though, which goes down to 24mm.  We weren’t able to test the image quality of the lens, but it seemed to be relatively free of problems such as barreling and color fringing. But we’ll have to wait until we can get a model for in-depth testing before we can draw too many performance conclusions. Although, the quality of the lens is critical on a fixed lens model like this: if it’s no good, you don’t get the chance to swap it out for a better one. 

Design / Layout

 **Model Design/Appearance**Although the case of the S9100 is matte black plastic, it feels pretty robust and should stand up to use, with no obvious gaps where dust and liquid could get in. My only major concern is with the LCD screen: the connection between this and the case feels like it might not stand up to rough treatment, such as shoving the camera into a case with the screen still in the extended position. But it fits flush with the case when it is properly installed, so it should be OK if you make sure it is put back before you put it away. **Size / Portability**The 27 oz. S9100 is at the higher end of the scale in terms of both weight and bulk: at 5 by 3.7 by 5.1 inches, it’s not something you are going to put into a pocket. But that’s not really the point of the camera. It’s designed for a more sophisticated audience than the point-and-shoot crowd, and these sophisticated users don’t mind extra bulk if it gets them extra features and ease of use.   **Handling Ability**The other upside of the large size of the case is the wide grip on the left side (looking from the front) that fits comfortably into the hand and provides for a firm grip. It isn’t likely to slip from your hands when shooting. However, you really need both hands to use the other controls (such as the adjustment dial on the top right of the back of the camera), as it can have a tendency to slip from the hand when you loosen your grip to use the controls. Using the other hand on the lens stabilizes it well, though. **Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size**Most of the commonly used controls (such as the exposure lock, mode dial and the adjustment dial are easily reached with the thumb of the right hand (although you need to use the left to brace the camera) and can be used when the eye is to the viewfinder. You can also change the metering mode without taking your eye of the subject, but some controls (such as the AF mode) are located on the left side of the camera, which is significantly more awkward to access. However, these aren’t the controls that you would generally need to change while shooting, so it’s not a major problem. The zoom is controlled by the zoom ring on the lens, so you’ll need two hands to zoom in and out. **Menus**The S9100’s menus are clear and straightforward, requiring only a single press of the menu button to access and the directional buttons to navigate.   **Ease of Use**The S9100 is a relatively simple camera to use, with most features where you expect them to be. The number of buttons (11 on the back alone) may be intimidating to some users, but this makes the controls available when you need them, not buried in an on-screen menu somewhere. 

Modes

 **Auto Mode**Unsurprisingly, the full auto mode does what you’d expect: fully automate the photo taking process and blocking out many of the on-screen menu options (such as white balance, ISO sensitivity, etc). It also pops up the flash when the camera decides it needs it without warning. **Custom Image Presets**Five scene modes are available: picture stabilization (which prioritizes for shutter speed to reduce camera shake), Natural light (which disables the flash and increases the ISO sensitivity), Portrait (which enables red-eye reduction on the flash when in use), landscape and night. The latter allows for shutter speeds of up to 4 seconds. **Movie Mode**Movies can be captured at 30 frames per second at a resolution of 640 by 480 or 320 by 240 pixels. Mono sound from the microphone on the left side of the case is also captured, but there is no microphone on the front of the camera. This is really only suitable for recording a narration to the movie: not the sound of the subjects themselves. **Drive / Burst Mode**The shooting mode button on the top of the camera allows you to set the continuous shooting mode to Top 4 Frame (which records the first 4 frames it takes), auto bracketing (which captures three images with different exposure settings), Final 4 Frame (which keeps only the final 4 frames captured) and long-period continuous shooting, which allows you to take up to 40 shots at a maximum speed of 1.1 frames per second. The other modes have a maximum frame rate of 1.5 frames per second. **Playback Mode**The playback mode provides all of the functions you would expect to see, from 9-image index views to the ability to sort images by date and sequentially. You can zoom in up to 5.5x on recorded images: enough to see fine detail and check focus. 

Control Options

 **Manual Control Option**A full manual mode is provided from the M position of the mode dial, which allows for full control over shutter speed and aperture. In this mode, all of the other features (such as ISO setting, white balance, etc) are also fully under the users control. Remember to use this power for good, not evil. This full manual mode is a bit of a pain to use. Because there is only one control dial (the command dial), you have to set the shutter speed, then hold down the exposure compensation button to set the aperture. This is more cumbersome than it should be on a camera tailored to enthusiasts. The on-screen display provides some level of feedback on the correct exposure, but real photographers will ignore this; they know better than some poxy computer. **Focus**Manual focus is possible, but far from ideal: the focus ring is very light to the touch, and it’s very easy to go too far and miss the focus point. The focus check button is a big plus for this: it enlarges the center of the image in the viewfinder or display, helping you make sure that you have focused properly. **Exposure**The aperture priority, shutter priority and program modes work pretty much as advertised, with a good level of control. Exposure compensation is also available in 1/3 stop steps. **Metering**Three metering modes are available, which use 256 metering spots on the image sensor to measure the lighting. The camera has three modes: a multi mode (where the camera analyzes all of the meter spots and picks the appropriate settings), a spot mode (which uses just the center of the image) and an average mode (which takes an average of the entire field of view). We weren’t able to fully test these features, but they seemed to pick appropriate settings in our limited tests. **ISO**A wide ISO range from 80 to 1600 is available, with 4 settings in between. We were not able to test the images for noise at the Photokina show – that will have to wait until we have this camcorder on our test bench. **White Balance**White balance can be set to fully automatic, or one of 6 presets (fine, shade, florescent lights 1 & 2, and incandescent light). There are also two custom spots that can be set using a white card. You can’t, however, enter a specific color temperature directly. **Shutter Speed**The shutter speed range is from 4 seconds to 1/4000 of a second. A bulb mode (which keeps the shutter open for as long as the shutter button is pressed) is also available, but noise would no doubt quickly become an issue for this.  **Aperture**The aperture range is from f2.8 to f11 in 13 steps of 1/3 step each. That’s a reasonable range, but a smaller aperture would have been nice for those situations where you have plenty of light and need more depth of field, although with sensors of this size, it's not much of an option.  

Image Parameters

 **Picture Quality/Size Options**The native resolution of the 1/1.6 inch Super CCD HR sensor is 3488 by 2616 pixels, with only a single level for image quality. Although there are no options for different levels of JPEG compression, you can record raw images. You cannot, however, record both RAW and JPEG images at the same time. **Picture Effects Mode**Fuji don’t offer any special effects modes (which is good, as they generally suck) beyond the Finepix chrome and black and white modes. The chrome mode boosts the color saturation, while the black and white mode (surprise, surprise) discards the color information to create a black and white image. 

Connectivity / Extras

 **Connectivity***Software*Fuji includes their Finepix Viewer and Hyper Utility HS-V2 version 3 RAW file converter software with the S9100, which provides basic image cataloging and editing features. This can crop, rotate and otherwise manipulate images, while the RAW file converter can process raw images in a number of ways for maximum image quality: a feature that an increasing number of photographers are using to get the most out of their cameras. These software packages are adequate, but they aren’t going to replace a decent image editing program like Photoshop. *Jacks, ports, plugs*You connect the S9100 to a PC or Mac via the USB 2.0 port, while the A/V port allows you to view your images and listen to the sound captured on the microphone on a TV. This only provides a composite video output, so don’t expect high def quality. *Direct Print Options*Full support is offered for DPOF print ordering, so you can select image to print in the camera, them pop out the card, put it into a printer and get your prints. PictBridge support is also included, so you can connect to a PictBridge printer and print without a PC. *Battery*4 AA batteries of both the disposable and rechargeable varieties can be used, which is flexible: you can use rechargeables when you can, but use a set of disposables if they run out on the road. Fuji didn’t supply any figures for battery life, but the previous model (the S9000) only got about 140 shots from a set of 4 batteries. *Memory*Slots for both CompactFlash and XD Picture cards are included, but these can’t be used at the same time: you have to choose which one to save images to in the setup section of the on-screen menu. Images can’t be copied between the two, which is also a pity. The S9100 supports CompactFlash cards with capacities up to 4GB and xd-Picture Cards of up to 2GB. **Other Features***Picture Stabilization* - The S9100 includes a picture stabilization mode, but this is purely electronic: there is no moving element in the lens or supporting the sensor. We weren’t able to test the effectiveness of this feature. 

Overall Impressions

 

ValueNo pricing information has been released by Fujifilm yet, so we can’t comment on value. Previous models have retailed for around $700, though and we wouldn’t expect the S9100 to be radically different to that. If it is available at this price, it's a lot to pay for a fixed lens camera of questionable build quality; however, those drawn to the fixed lens, high sensitivity design should see it as a reasonable value. 

 **Comparisons***Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1* – The R1 has a similar design to the S9100, similar resolution (at 10.3 megapixels) and a similar set of features. However, the R1 has a wider lens (at 24mm) which makes it better for taking group shots. But there’s no movie mode on the R1, and the price is slightly higher: if the S9100 comes in at $700, that’s nearly $200 less than the R1.* * **Who it’s For***Point-and-Shooters-* Although it can be used as a point-and-shoot camera, that’s not who it is designed for: many nervous users would be put off by the number of buttons and dials on the camera. *Budget Consumers – It’s on the high side for the cost-conscious consumer, although you do get a lot for your money. **Gadget Freaks –*The production of bells and whistles, plus the tilting LCD screen will attract photographers who swoon over shiny new toys.* **Manual Control Freaks –* The S9100 offers plenty of options for manual control freaks, and most aren’t too difficult to get to. However, the single dial does make setting  both shutter and aperture a bit awkward: if you’re shooting manual mode a lot, look for another model with two control dials.* **Pros/ Serious Hobbyists – It won’t replace a dedicated SLR, but the S9100 might make a good pick as a second or backup camera for a pro. *

Conclusion

   **Conclusion** The S9100 is a nice camera; it has pretty much everything that most photographers will need, with a good selection of features that are easy to control. It can shoot decent images and reasonable movies and isn’t overly heavy or bulky.  It would also be preferable if the screen was more flexible. The ability to flip out is semi-useful, but it would be even better if it could rotate so you could use from other angles, like most camcorder screens. The Fujifilm FinePix S9100 has most of the features that enthusiast photographers will need, but not all. Like all ultra-zoom models, the fixed lens will either be seen as a major limitation or the reason to purchase the camera.  We weren’t able to test the performance, but you are stuck with it. With a proper SLR (which is only slightly more expensive), you can swap the lens out if it isn’t any good, but you won't get the expansive focal range or image quality for the same price. If users want a 10x or 12x equivalent focal range with strong optics, expect to pay about twice the cost of the S9100 for the body and glass. The 9100 also offers a movie mode for those hybrid shooters - a feature that is still unavailable on DSLRs.