Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom Review

The FinePix S602 Zoom features a bright, large-diameter, precision, 6X Super EBC Fujinon aspherical zoom lens (f/2.8 - f/11) with a focal length equivalent to 35-210mm on a 35mm camera.

The S602 Zoom features a passive AF sensor (see window above the lens) to quickly range the subject and then a TTL contrast-detect system critically focuses off of the CCD. Fuji claims the S602's focus speed is half that of the 6900 Zoom.

The working range of the auto focus is 1.6 ft - Infinity (Normal Wide) and 3.0 ft - Infinity (Normal Tele). Like the FinePix 6900 Zoom it has a Macro range of 0.3 ft - 2.6 ft. But it also has a Super Macro range of 0.4 - 7.9 inches. The lens may be manually focused by using the ring at the end of the lens barrel, this is an electronic focusing ring, it is not mechanical. The One-Touch AF button can be used in conjunction with manual focusing.

The optional AR-FX9 lens adapter allows the use of 55mm filters or add-on lenses. Fuji has two auxiliary lenses available: the WL-FX9 is a x0.79 adapter that makes the lens equivalent to 28mm at wide angle. The TL-FX9 is a x1.5 adapter that extends the telephoto range out to 315mm.

On the side of the lens is the Macro/Super Macro control button. The SHIFT button is used in conjunction with other buttons to quickly change settings without accessing the full menu. The INFO button is used in record to quickly display the current exposure comp., white balance, metering, ISO and sharpening settings. In playback it toggles the extended information and histogram. The AF/MF switch toggles auto or manual focus modes, the button in the center is the One-Touch AF, it can be used in manual focus mode to quickly get the focus "close" to where you want it.

The eyelevel viewfinder is a tiny, high resolution (180,000 pixel) 0.44-inch color LCD. It is noticeably more colorful and detailed than the FinePix 6900 Zoom's EVF display. It gives you true TTL (through the lens) viewing with exposure info and camera data overlayed on top of the live view.

You can use either the EVF or color LCD by pressing the EVF/LCD button to toggle between the screens. Playback review and menus can be accessed by either display. The EVF shows approx. 92% of the captured image and has a dioptric adjustment (something that was missing on the 6900Z). The LCD offers a 100% view during playback for true WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) image review.

Controls on the back: The zoom lens is controlled by the "W" and "T" buttons which also control the magnified image function in playback mode. The AE-L button is used to lock the exposure so you can recompose the shot if desired. The EVF/LCD button toggles the display (see above). The DISP button controls the amount of information overlayed on the displays and in playback it calls up the image review modes. The Focus Check button to the right magnifies the center portion of the screen during manual or auto focusing. The BACK button cancels menu operations. The MENU/OK button calls up the menus and accepts selections. The 4-way jog switch lets you navigate menus, select images and operate the image magnify function during playback.

Controls on the top: The shutter release also has the Power / Record / Playback switch mounted around it. The buttons for flash mode, exposure compensation and drive mode, work with on-screen icons that you choose the desired option by rotating the Command Dial.

Drive modes: Off=Single, Top 5-frame continuous (shoot up to 5 frames at up to 5fps), Auto Bracketing, Final 5-frame continuous (shoot up to 25 frames but only the last 5 frames are stored), Long-period continuous shooting (1280x960-pixel mode in AUTO only, up to 40 frames).

Flash modes: Auto (only available in AUTO mode), Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On, Off, Slow Sync and Slow Sync + Red-Eye Reduction

The Mode Dial has positions for Movie Record, SP (Scene Position - Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Scene or B&W), AUTO (point-n-shoot), Program AE (with Program Shift - rotate command wheel to select other combinations of shutter speed and aperture), Shutter speed priority, Aperture priority, full Manual and the SETup menu.

Next to the Mode Dial is the Command Wheel, it is actuated by your thumb and is used in Program Shift, Shutter priority, Aperture priority and Manual to change the settings. It's also used in conjunction with other functions too.

The built in flash must be manually "popped up" by pressing the release button when required. The working range is 1 ft - 17.7 ft in wide angle and from 3 ft - 16.4 ft in the Telephoto position. This is an intelligent flash with modes for Auto (only available in the AUTO mode), Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On, Off, Slow Sync and Slow Sync + Red-Eye Reduction.

On top of the EVF is a standard flash hot shoe that accepts most automatic flash units. The camera must be set to "external flash" when the hot shoe is used. The external flash must be the automatic type where you can dial in the ISO speed and aperture setting. The S602 Zoom also has a user-settable external flash white balance feature.

A built-in speaker for audio playback and camera sounds.

The I/O ports are tucked away behind a door on the left side and include a USB 1.1 port for image downloading, the Audio/Video Out port is for connecting to a television (video signal is NTSC or PAL depending on the region in which the camera is sold).

Below is a 5V DC INput jack for the optional AC power supply or an external battery pack.

The SmartMedia and CompactFlash Type II card slots are accessed by a opening a door on the backside of the handgrip. Fujifilm supplies a 16MB SM card, any size up to 128MB can be used. The ideal CF2 storage device is the IBM 1GB Microdrive.

Fuji recommends the 1GB Microdrive for its transfer throughput to enable the camera to capture full motion video at 30fps. With a 1GB Microdrive you can capture 15 minutes of VGA (640x480) size motion video with audio. The newer solid state CF cards with a 16x or faster speed rating also work well.

The S602 Zoom is powered by four standard AA type batteries. It's nice to see Fuji moving away from proprietary lithium battery packs. We recommend the use of high-capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries. In a pinch you can use "off the shelf" alkalines but don't expect them to get very far.