BIOS: Technology Means Business

Digital SLRs are steadily dropping in price, which has increasingly made them an option for non-professional photographers. However, this affordability does not necessarily mean they are the best choice of camera, especially if the photographer is used to the flexibility and convenience that compact digital cameras can offer. The FinePix S9600 (128x93x129mm, 645g) fills the gap between two worlds by combining the usability of a compact with performance that can almost challenge an entry-level digital SLR.

The FinePix S9600 (Best Current Price: £228 ex. VAT) replaces the excellent FinePix S9500, taking over as the new flagship model in Fujifilm’s range of prosumer digital cameras. In other words, the camera extends the features of a typical point and shooter (shutter, aperture, exposure, and custom white balance settings are all here) but without being a fully-fledged D-SLR (the FinePix S9600’s lens is fixed). The new model doesn’t offer much more than its predecessor, but it sports carefully considered modifications to improve image quality as well as making it easier to use and better performing in low light. In particular the FinePix S9600 has increased image sharpness, more generous LCD monitor, faster autofocus in low light and improvements to the camera’s flash capability.

An incredibly versatile camera designed for serious hobbyist and enthusiast photographers, the 9-Megapixel (up to 3488x2616 pixels) FinePix S9600 features Fujifilm’s impressive Super CCD HR sensor and Real Photo Processor, delivering IS0 1600 performance and enabling the capture of relatively crisp and clear images even in low light conditions. The camera’s amazingly versatile 10.7x (28- to 300mm 35mm equivalent) zoom lens incorporates aspherical elements, helping to ensure that the path of light is as precise as possible, which in turn helps minimise distortion and aberrations. The lens is easily controlled via a manual zoom ring to give pinpoint accuracy when composing images, and its fixed housing ensures that you do not have to contend with specks of dust or dirt collecting on the sensor.

Image quality in the FinePix S9600 has genuinely been enhanced through improvements to the camera’s processing algorithms. Composition of photographs is also made easier with a larger 2-inch tilting LCD monitor (the FinePix S9500 has a 1.8-inch monitor), providing even clearer shooting at awkward high or low angles. A higher resolution of 230,000 pixels gives greater screen clarity, too. Although the LCD screen doesn’t rotate, the fact that it isn’t fixed means that it is possible to view images at awkward angles, such as close to the ground or above the head. Unlike digital SLRs, the LCD can also be used to compose images. Those who like to get the most from a camera will also appreciate the 30fps (640x480 pixels) movie mode with manual zoom capability, allowing you to capture reasonable-quality images with sound - a function that cannot be integrated into traditional D-SLRs due to the physical design of the cameras.

Fujifilm continually strives to achieve better performance in low light. In these conditions, the FinePix S9600 has an autofocus response time that is up to 40% quicker than its predecessor. In addition to the camera’s 0.01 second shutter-lag and 0.8 second start-up time, this means that images can be composed and captured in a snap - unless you use the RAW mode, which can take an agonising 8 seconds to process. In another advance on its predecessor, the FinePix S9600 features Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system. Although Fujifilm’s claims are a little hopeful, the flash does capture images in low light better than most cameras.

Other technical niceties include a real-time histogram to assist exposure settings before shooting, Highlight Warning feature for displaying highlight areas in playback, and Picture Stabilization which bumps up the sensitivity level and shutter speed in order to reduce blur due to camera shake and subject movement. There’s also a Super Macro for shooting from 1cm, and Hotshoe terminal for connecting a compatible flash unit. Both xD-Picture Card and Compact Flash/Microdrive are supported, as is PictBridge for direct printing without a computer. Power is provided by four AA batteries.

The majority of critical controls are accessible via buttons rather than having to delve through menus, and are also well placed so it doesn’t take long to remember where they are without having to take your eye from the viewfinder. The fact that you can turn on auto-bracketing or continuous shooting quickly and easily is a great advantage. The manual zoom, which is much more controllable than a button zoom, is also quieter and doesn’t consume battery power. The manual focus facility gives more control and used in conjunction with the on-touch AF is very fast.

Enthusiast photographers will appreciate the Hyper Utility Software HS-V2 version 3 that is bundled as standard for the first time with the FinePix S9600. This software gives full functionality in RAW file conversion, enabling you to explore the control and flexibility enjoyed when working with a ‘lossless’ file format (JPEGs also supported). The FinePix S9600’s optional Wide Conversion Lens (WL-FXS6) further expands the camera’s wide-angle capability, and you can even splash out on a matching premium leather case. The camera comes with a shoulder strap, USB and A/V cables, lens cap and hood, USB driver, FinePix Viewer ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix and RAW File Converter LE utilities.

Fujifilm’s Finepix S9600 is an excellent choice for the hobbist photographer looking to familiarise themselves with advanced features before investing in a D-SLR and lenses. The camera is well build and robust, and its 2-inch LCD monitor is useful for shooting at various difficult positions. However, it would have been nicer if the LCD was slightly bigger. Image quality throughout the lens’ range is the camera’s chief strength, however. Colour accuracy is impressive and images were sharp throughout our testing. The use of AA batteries and CompactFlash cards also helps to reduce the overall investment in the camera, should you decide to ‘upgrade’. The Finepix S9600 comes highly recommended. [8.5]

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