Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Review
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Review
Date: Oct 17, 2003 |
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Image Quality
The
Fujifilm FinePix S5000 is a digital camera
targeted to beginner to serious amateur photographers
and its image quality is comparable to other 3
megapixels resolution digital cameras. Though
the FinePix can output a 6M file, I find it is
noisier than a 3M output. I have included examples
of both and you can make up your own mind on this.
Since most of you are interested in the FinePix
S5000 because of the long zoom, I have taken a
number of the picture samples at that focal length.
Of course, I have also included pictures at other
focal lengths and in different lighting situations.
The long zoom opens up picture possibilities once
reserved only to those who could afford expensive
long zoom lenses for the professional SLR or dSLR
category.
For this review, I used the following settings
as my preferred settings:
-
Shooting Mode: Programmed Auto (though I started
out with Auto)
-
Metering Mode: Spot (though I started out with
Multi-Pattern)
- ISO:
200
- Image
Size: 2048x1536 (3M)
- Image
Quality: Can't be set (the S5000 firmware unfortunately
compresses the output)
- White
Balance: Auto
All the pictures on this and the other pages (including
the navigation pictures at the top of each page)
have been taken by the Fujifilm FinePix S5000
for this review. The pictures on this page provide
a good sample of what the FinePix S5000 is capable
of and I have provided the 800x600 version. Remember
that this version is of slightly lesser quality
than the original 2048x1536 version. Please open
and download only once to your hard drive -- and
save me some precious bandwidth. Thanks!
| Clicking
on a picture will display the 800x600 image
in a separate window. Leave that separate
window up for all the other images will also
display in that same separate window. |
 Wide-angle.
The Mississauga
City Hall (Civic Center) on a cloudy and very
windy day. Here is the 6mm coverage (35mm equivalent
= 39mm). [Note: Even though I shoot at the widest
angle, the FinePix Viewer records 6mm instead of
5.7mm.] I took a previous shot using Multi-Pattern
metering and the foreground came out very dark.
I decide to switch to Spot metering since most shots
would be at telephoto range, and this comes out
all right, though still a little darker than I like.
I also decide to switch from Auto to Programmed
Auto and make full use of the Program Shift feature
by "dialing in" a small aperture to maximize
depth of field. Focal Length 6mm, Programmed Auto,
Spot, shutter speed 1/450 sec., aperture F8.0 and
ISO 200. [File size: 848 KB]
 10x
maximum zoom. And here is the clock tower zoomed
in at the Finepix S5000's maximum focal length of
57mm (35mm equivalent = 370mm). That reach is pretty
impressive! It is also a very windy day and I am
barely able to hold my position. The combination
of a good grip and a fast shutter speed means that
I am able to hand hold this picture without suffering
from any camera shake. Focal length 57mm, Programmed
Auto, Spot, shutter speed 1/640 sec., aperture F8.0,
ISO 200. [File size: 860 KB]
 On
my way home from the office. The traffic on Hwy
401 is at a stand still converting the highway into
a temporary parking lot. I spy a plane taking off
from the Lester Pearson International Airport beside
the highway. Zoomed to the max, I point the FinePix
S5000 through the windshield (sorry, a bit dirty)
of my car and snap this picture of a JetsGo airplane
taking off. Again handheld, with the car motor purring
in idle. Focal length 57mm, Auto, Multi-Pattern,
shutter speed 1/400 sec., aperture F5.6, ISO 160.
[File size: 871 KB]
 Keeping
a safe distance and zooming in allows me to capture
this shot without disturbing the duck's peaceful
repose. This shutter speed of 1/150 sec. is about
the lowest I can get an unblurred shot at maximum
focal length. At slower shutter speed, I need a
tripod or similar physical way to stabilize the
shot. Focal length 57mm, Programmed Auto, Spot,
shutter speed 1/150 sec, aperture F3.2 and ISO 200.
[File size: 831 KB]
 A
long telephoto means that you can get in close without
physically having to do so. Here, ducks are floating
lazily around in a pond and everytime I approach,
they swim away. I zoom in to the 10x optical max,
and use a fast shutter speed to negate any camera
shake to allow me to capture this charming picture
of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. The texture on Mr. Mallard's
feathers is captured exquisitely. Should have used
a smaller aperture (perhaps F8.0) for greater depth
of field and ensure both ducks are in focus.
Focal length 57mm, Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter
speed 1/210 sec, aperture F3.2 and ISO 200. [File
size: 853 KB]
 I'm
not too sure but this is probably a blue heron.
For this picture, I have to patiently wait for the
bird to turn its head otherwise I keep getting a
picture of its backside. Finally it briefly turns
its head sideways and I quickly snap a shot. Though
this is still a bit far, a cropped portion of the
original version looks very nice. Focal length 57mm,
Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter speed 1/220 sec,
aperture F8.0 and ISO 200. [File size: 821 KB]
 With
ISO 200, indoor shots are possible without flash.
This indoor shot at the Woodbine Centre is hand
held but I use a lamp post to brace myself against,
allowing the use of an extremely slow shutter speed.
The train and passengers can be seen as a blur in
motion. I use an exposure compensation of +1.0EV
to counteract the bright light streaming from the
skylight, ensuring my subjects are not under exposed.
Focal length 6mm, Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter
speed 1/4.5 sec, aperture F7.0, +1.0EV and ISO 200.
[File size: 847 KB]
 Engine
No. 9 waits for its young passengers to board. I've
always liked Fujifilm's very nice vivid colours.
Again this indoor shot would require the use of
flash at ISO 50 or 100, but the FinePix S5000's
ISO 200 gives a perfectly exposed indoor shot without
the use of flash. This is a 3M output and noise
is also barely noticeable. Pretty impressive. Focal
length 6mm, Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter speed
1/14 sec, aperture F2.8 and ISO 200. [File size:
836 KB]
 A
closet full of masks. This picture reminds me of
the masks we all tend to wear to hide our true selves.
Lighting is fluorescent and the FinePix S5000's
Auto White Balance does a pretty good job here.
It's easy and smooth to zoom to the right composition:
precise with many intermediate steps, allowing easy
composition without having to toggle back and forth
between wide-angle and tele to obtain the desired
framing. Focal length 15mm, Programmed Auto, Spot,
shutter speed 1/70 sec, aperture F3.2 and ISO 200.
[File size: 815 KB]
 Outdoors,
this picture of Bisons sculptures demonstrates the
resolving power of the Fujinon lens on the FinePix
S5000. The sculpture markings and the metal rivets
are clearly visible and we can even see a bit through
the tinted windows of the building in the background.
Focal length 12mm, Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter
speed 1/80 sec., aperture F8.0, ISO 200. [File size:
804 KB]
 I'm
not sure what this sculpture at the Mississauga
Civic Centre represents, but it looks like a flame
to me. Spot metering allows me to meter precisely
on the "flame." It's quite windy, with
leaves blowing around. A yellowish-orange crumbled
piece of paper is also blown into the frame, adding
a touch of colour in an otherwise grey-black composition.
Focal length 25mm, Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter
speed 1/480 sec., aperture F3.2, ISO 200. [File
size: 840 KB]
 A
bench in an alcove painted red with a square window
above it. This interesting geometric composition
is "hidden" and I miss it the first time
I visit the Mississauga Civic Centre. Someone once
said something to the effect that if we ensure there's
something red in our pictures, we'll do OK. He might
have been unto something. I like how the green contrasts
with the red, the natural with the man-made, and
how the back of the bench fans out. Focal length
8mm, Programmed Auto, Spot, shutter speed 1/60 sec.,
aperture F7.0 and ISO 200. [File size: 850 KB]
 One
last picture from the Mississauga Civic Centre.
The bench from the previous picture can be glimpsed
on the right with the greenery on the left. Because
I use Spot metering (which is centered at the far
end of the rafters), the FinePix S5000 brings out
some of the details in the rafters. I angle the
camera slightly upward and that explains why the
columns tilt a bit. Focal length 8mm, Programmed
Auto, Spot, shutter speed 1/15 sec, aperture F7.0
and ISO 200. [File size: 833 KB]
 Here
is our deep-shadows-and-bright-sun photo at James
Garden. Since I want to ensure the bridge is properly
exposed, I use Spot metering here. Does not seem
to make a difference whether spot or multi-pattern
metering is used (see next photo sample): the result
is blown highlights and dark shadows. The rest of
the picture is, however, nicely exposed, which is
really what matters here. Focal length 6mm, Programmed
Auto, Spot, shutter speed 1/90 sec, aperture F5.0
and ISO 200. [File size: 847 KB]
 A
peaceful walk along the path at Edwards Garden.
This is not a particularly great shot but the strolling
visitors add to the sense of quiet and relaxation.
On the other side of the garden, though, it is just
teeming with people taking advantage of the Canadian
Thanksgiving holiday and the nice weather. Focal
length 6mm, Programmed Auto, Multi-Pattern, shutter
speed 1/100 sec, aperture F2.8 and ISO 200. [File
size: 832 KB]
 Fir
needles against a background of Burning Bush. Macro
at wide-angle is at 3.5 in. but for this close-up
shot, I zoom in instead to compress the distance
and get a blurred background. Since I cannot properly
focus on the fir needles in the center of the frame
(the autofocus keep focusing past the fir needles
onto the red leaves instead), I select Area Focus
and move the AF frame to the left so that it covers
only the fir needles. Focal length 19mm, Programmed
Auto, Spot, shutter speed 1/60 sec, aperture F8.0
and ISO 200. [File size: 809 KB]
For
our panorama shot at Edwards Garden, I take note
of the exposure setting, switch to Manual mode
and enter the shutter speed and aperture manually.
Then I take 6 portrait shots hand held. To stitch
the shots together, I use ArcSoft Panorama Maker,
my favorite panorama software so far. Picture
#5 and #6 do not quite match (difficult to match
leaves) so I manually specify 3 points in both
pictures that should match, in this case, concentrating
on getting the path continued smoothly. Taking
panorama shots with people in it is always a bit
tricky. In this shot, look carefully and you'll
find that the couple in the middle of the picture
appear twice! Focal length 6mm, Manual, Multi-Pattern,
shutter speed 1/100 sec., aperture F4 and ISO
200.
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A
Personal Word
As
with every new digital camera, it takes me some
time to get to know the FinePix S5000. One thing
I find at first (that you probably will also)
is that when using the LCD, the image reviewed
on it tends to look better (sharper, brighter)
even if it is really just a bit out of focus or
slightly under-exposed. (If it is way out of focus
or way under-exposed, you'll notice it for sure.)
At first, I get many blurred hand held shots at
long zoom. But once I learn to hold the S5000
properly, understand how its 2-stage shutter release
(and slight shutter lag) works, I'm home free.
As the sample images attest, the FinePix S5000
produces quality 3MP pictures in Programmed Auto
mode. Probably due to the high ISO of 200, they
are a bit noisier than I'd like (though the noise
is barely visible or quite acceptable at 3M output).
Even though Aperture-Priority and Shutter-Priority
is available, I find that the Program Shift function
serves as well in Programmed Auto mode, allowing
me to influence the shutter speed or aperture.
I would recommend that you experiment a bit with
the three different metering modes and see which
one you like best: I have personally settled on
Spot metering.
The
more I use the Fujifilm FinePix S5000, the more
I like it. Fujifilm has done a tremendous job
with the FinePix S5000. If you are an aspiring
photographer and it's a long zoom that you want,
be sure to try out the FinePix S5000.
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