S5100 Zoom

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S5100 Zoom

Fujifilm S5100 Zoom Review

By Movable Type Admin


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Review posted 09/27/04

Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the FinePix S5100
Click on the FinePix S5100 to take a QuickTime VR tour


The FinePix S5100 is styled after and handles like a SLR camera and offers mid-level digital photographer 4.0 million pixels combined with both point-and-shoot simplicity as well as a more advanced manual feature set including continuous shooting, continuous auto-focus, shutter priority and aperture priority modes. This model offers a 10x optical (37-370mm) zoom capability, the longest in Fujifilm's consumer category.

The FinePix S5100 offers 4 million effective pixels, which can produce images of 2,272 x 1,704 recorded pixels for high-quality prints up to 11 x 17 inches in size. Recorded images can be saved in standard JPEG format or for the ultimate in picture quality use the CCD-RAW mode. The camera also offers an amazing 10x optical and 2.2x digital zoom and optional wide and telephoto lens adapters.

The FinePix S5100's traditional body and large lens provide a familiar feel to photo enthusiasts. The FinePix S5100 measures 4.4 (W) x 3.2 (H) x 3.1 (D) inches, and weighs 11.9 ounces without batteries and media.

Maximum image control is realized with the FinePix S5100's advanced features such as a range of focus systems including TTL contrast multi-zone auto, center point auto, focus lock, continuous auto focus (C-AF), manual focus, and AF-assist illuminator. In addition, shutter speed, aperture, white balance, sharpness and color can be manipulated.

The camera can also capture VGA digital video at 30 frames per second, with sound, to create movies that can be replayed for friends and family at later dates. Movies can be burned onto CD-ROMs using the ImageMixer VCD for FinePix software included with the camera. The FinePix S5100 can record 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixel movies up to the limit of your available memory.


FinePix S5100 Zoom Features:

  • 4-Megapixel CCD for up to 2272x1704 pixel images
  • 10x optical super-zoom (37-370mm equiv)
  • Single or Continuous AF and Manual focus
  • Focus assist illuminator for low-light
  • Electronic color viewfinder w/115K pixels
  • Standard JPEG format or CCD-RAW
  • Movie Mode; 30fps @ 640x480/320x240 with audio
  • 40-frame burst at 1M continuous
  • Voice memos can be attached to still images
  • Top-3 or Final-3 frames @ 3fps at 4M resolution
  • Auto, Program AE, Shutter speed or Aperture priority and Manual
  • Scene Programs: Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Night
  • ISO speeds: Auto (64-320), 64, 100, 200, 400
  • Metering: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
  • Builtin popup multi-mode flash
  • 15 - 1/2000 sec Shutter Speeds
  • 1.5" LCD Color Monitor
  • Uses removable xD-Picture cards (16MB included)
  • Compact (4.4 x 3.2 x 3.1 inch) and stylish body
  • Lightweight at just 11.9 oz. (excluding batteries)
  • Powered by four AA type batteries
  • USB plug-n-play connectivity


The FinePix S5100 will ship in October 2004 and sell for approximately $499.99. It comes with a lens adapter ring, a 16MB xD-Picture Card, FinePix Viewer, ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix, four AA alkaline batteries, USB cable, A/V cable, and a shoulder strap.





Physical Views



Fujifilm FinePix S5100

Fujifilm FinePix S5100

Fujifilm FinePix S5100

Fujifilm FinePix S5100

Fujifilm FinePix S5100

Fujifilm FinePix S5100





Fujifilm FinePix S5100

The Fujifilm FinePix S5100 and a standard CD for size comparison.





Fujifilm FinePix S5100

The 10X zoom Kodak DX7590 and the FinePix S5100.





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Features & Controls






FinePix S5100 Zoom Specifications

Number of Effective Pixels 4.0 million pixels
CCD Sensor 1/2.7" Conventional CCD System (Number of Total Pixels: 4.23 million pixels) RGB Filters
Number of Recorded Pixels 2,272 x 1,704 pixels (3.87 Million)
1,600 x 1,200
1,280 x 960
640 x 480 pixels
File formats Still image: CCD-RAW, JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2), Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG)
*Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible
Storage media xD-Picture Card (16MB to 512MB)
Recording capacity with one 16MB xD-Picture Card (included) Still images Movie
4MP(F)  4MP(N)  
2MP  1MP  0.3MP		 640x480 320x240
8        16    
25    33    122		 Approx. 13 Sec.
Approx. 26 Sec.
Lens focal Length Equivalent to 37-370mm on a 35mm camera
Optical zoom 10x
Digital zoom 3.6x (at 640 x 480 pixel mode), 1.8x (at 1280x960 pixels), 1.4x (at 1600x1200 pixels)
Focus Auto focus /AF area focus/AF center focus/ Manual focus
Focus Range Normal: 3.0ft to infinity (W), 6.6ft to infinity (T), Macro: 0.3-6.6ft (W), 3.0-6.6ft (T)
Aperture F 2.8-F8 (W), F3.1-F9 (T) (10 steps in 1/3 EV increments)
Viewfinder 0.33-inch 115,000 pixels electronic viewfinder (approx. 100% coverage)
Exposure control Programmed AE, aperture priority AE, shutter priority AE, manual
Exposure compensation -2 EV to +2 EV (13 Steps in 1/3 EV increments at P/S/AM)
Color modes Standard, Chrome, Black & White
Sensitivity Auto (equivalent to 64-320 depending on conditions)/64/100/200/400
P/S/A/M (equivalent to ISO 64/100/200/400)
Shutter speed Auto/SP: ¼ sec. to 1/2000 sec.
SP (night scene mode only): 3 sec. - 1/1000 sec.
Manual: 15 sec. - 1/2000 sec.
White balance Automatic, Manual (Custom, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light, custom)
Flash Auto flash
Effective range: 1.0ft - 14.8ft (W)/2.0ft. - 13.1ft (T)
Flash mode: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction + Slow Synchro
LCD monitor 1.5-inch 115,000 pixels low-temperature polysilicon TFT (Approx. 100% coverage)
Digital Interface USB interface, power-input socket
Power source 4 AA alkaline batteries included
4 NiMH rechargeable batteries (sold separately)
AC power adapter AC-5VH/AC-5VHS (sold separately)
Dimensions 4.4(W) x 3.2(H) x 3.1(D) inch
Weight 11.9 oz. (excluding batteries and media)
Shooting modes Normal: auto, scene position (portrait, landscape, sports, night scene), P/S/A/M
Continuous: top 3 (3 frames/sec., up to 3 frames), final 3 (3 frames/sec., up to 3 frames), long-period (max. 1.6 frames/sec., up to 40 frames)
Movie recording 640 x 480 pixels/320 x 240 pixels(Up to media capacity, direct recording to the media).
30 fps, AVI (Motion JPEG) with sound
Video out NTSC and PAL switchable
Playback Single frame (with 14x playback zoom), 9 multi-frame, exposure information with histogram, navigation screen on playback zoom
Others Low-light viewfinder function, scene modes, continuous auto-focusing, auto bracketing, photo mode control - ISO/resolution/color, continuous top 3 and final 3 frame 4MP shooting (3 frames/second), 40 frame continuous shooting (1.6 frames/second), self-timer: approximately 2/10 sec., world time, 7 language menu interface, tripod socket, lens cap, adapter ring, PictBridge compatible
Optional accessories xD-Picture card (16MB-512MB)
PCMCIA PC Card Adapter DPC-AD
Compact Flash™ Card Adapter DPC-CF
Image memory card reader DPC-R1
AC power adapter AC-5VH/AC-5VHS
Battery charger with battery BK-NH/BK-NH2
Wide-angle conversion lens WL-FX9/F9B
Telephoto conversion lens TL-FX9/FX9B
Soft case SC-FX S5
Travel kit (A3): large case, AA NiMH travel charger with auto adapter

(Specifications as provided by the manufacturer)






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