Fujifilm’s FinePix S6500fd digital camera sports one key selling point: industry-first hardware-based face detection technology to enable the camera to recognise faces and optimise settings to get the best photograph in just 0.04 seconds. Along with Fujifilm’s 6-Megapixel Super CCD sensor and Real Photo Technology II, impressive ISO 100 to 3200 sensitivity and Fujinon 10.7x (28 to 300mm equivalent) optical zoom lens, the FinePix S6500fd (Best Current Price: £218/$349) combines the photographic possibilities of a digital SLR with the ease of use of a compact. It’s also very competitively priced.
Fujifilm has designed the FinePix S6500fd (131x128x975mm, 600g) to be a popular camera for hobbyist photographers. Though not as versatile as a digital SLR (the lens is fixed), the FinePix S6500fd is relatively powerful and offers a lot of features experienced photographers can’t live without, making it a good choice for those wanting to move on from their compact digital camera but who don’t want the restrictions or level of manual input that can be required by a D-SLR.
For instance, the FinePix S6500fd features a Fujinon 10.7x optical zoom lens with twist barrel control to give plenty of scope for precision composition. And as it’s a fixed lens, there’s no need to worry about dust collecting on its sensor, another convenience factor versus D-SLRs. There are also manual, shutter- and aperture-priority and program exposure modes, as well as single, continuous and manual focus modes. White balance is also included (Automatic, Fine, Shade, Daylight, Warm White, Cool White, Incandescent light), as are JPEG and RAW file formats are supported. And there’s even support for VGA movie recording with zoom (30fps, with sound).
Besides its price and above-par feature set, the FinePix S6500fd is all about face detection. Photographs of friends and family are among the most popular in day-to-day photography. Yet these are the shots that are hardest to get right because the best photographs are not the posed ones, but those that are unexpected. Previously, face detection concepts have been a slow, software-based process, relegating them to a novelty feature rather than a powerful picture-taking tool. The potential delay in ‘seeing’ a face and optimising settings is not conducive to good people photography. Crucially, Fujifilm has built its face detection technology into the FinePix S6500fd’s processor, enabling it to identify faces and take a photo within 0.04 seconds.
The FinePix S6500fd’s face detection uses an algorithm, which recognises eyes and a mouth to lock on to faces in the frame. Coping with up to ten faces in a frame, it optimises settings such as focus and exposure level before taking the photo. Face detection can identify a face irrespective of its position in the frame or the composition of the shot, and is not confused by spectacles. Furthermore, movement tracking ensures the camera stays locked on the subject until they move out of the frame. Unfortunately, being new technology, it only works well when subjects keep still and look at the camera straight on.
Alongside face detection, the FinePix S6500 features Fujifilm’s Real Photo Processor II technology, allowing versatile ISO 100 to 3200 sensitivity. The high ISO of the FinePix S6500fd means that relatively sharp, focused images can be achieved in low light without the need for a flash, so skin tones look natural and foreground and background exposure remain balanced. Having said that, you will experience high noise levels using the higher ISO settings.
For flash photography, the camera features Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system, which automatically balances flash power output and exposure. This helps to ensure more natural-looking skin tones and clearer background exposure. In addition, ‘Natural Light & Flash’ Dual Shot Mode takes two shots in quick succession, one with flash and one without. These are then displayed side by side for immediate comparison. A ‘High Speed Shooting Mode’ with rapid focus and a shutter lag of just 0.035 seconds further allows action shots.
The 2.5-inch LCD screen and electronic viewfinder give you a choice of how to compose and view images. With no less than special-scene modes, including Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum and Party, the FinePix S6500fd should ensure you will never miss an opportunity for a great photo. Other technical niceties include a shutter speed of 30s to 1/4000s, aperture of F2.8 F11 up to 13 steps in 1/3 EV increments (Manual/Auto selectable), and xD-Picture Card slot (16MB card supplied). Power comes by way of four AA-type alkaline batteries (included) or four AA type Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.
Operating the camera is reasonable, and the button layout is simple and well-spaced with settings such as aperture and shutter settings easily changed using the left and right directional keypad. Things get a little tricky in manual mode. In order to change the aperture, you have to hold down the exposure compensation button near the shutter release and then press the up/down direction keys - all while taking your thumb and index finger away from gripping the camera. The focus mode toggle was also tricky to feel which of the three modes was set, especially when wearing gloves. We also missed dedicated buttons such as ISO and white balance. Finally, there’s no hotshoe, so you can’t attach an external flash to the shooter.
The FinePix S6500fd’s optional Wide Conversion Lens, WL-FXS6, expands the camera’s wide-angle capability. Also available is a premium leather case, World Travel Adaptor for charging abroad, and spare Lithium-ion battery (NP-70). The camera comes with shoulder strap, USB and A/V cables, lens cap and hood and software (FinePix Viewer, ImageMixer VCD2 LE for FinePix and RAW File Converter LE).
The FinePix S6500fd is aimed at people for whom photography is a hobby. If you want better-than-average 6-Megapixel image quality and manual controls but also want the option of point-and-shoot simplicity on demand, then it’s a solid choice. When it comes to image quality, the FinePix S6500fd is accurate with a slight warm cast to favour skin tones. Shots taken at the wide end of the lens also tend to exhibited slight barrel distortion and purple fringing, but that shouldn’t get in the way of everyday shots. Noise began to show from ISO 1600. With reasonably effective face detection, accommodating zoom and high sensitivity, the camera even does a good job of photographing the most important subject of all - people.
[7]
[
Best Digital Camera Pricing UK]
[
Best Digital Camera Pricing US]
