FinePix 4700 Zoom

Click to take a 360-degree QTVR tour of the Fuji 4700 The FinePix 4700 Zoom is Fuji's latest compact model in their "700 series" (MX-700, MX-2700 and MX-1700 ZOOM) of digital cameras. These cameras are pocket size and housed in highly durable yet lightweight magnesium alloy bodies. The size, design and ease of use make them popular with a wide variety of consumers from housewives to extreme sports fanatics. When powered down, the zoom lens retracts into the camera and a metal lens cap automatically closes to protect it (see the last picture on this page.) The 4700 Zoom has four programmed exposure modes: Auto, Portrait, Scenic, Night Scene plus a manual mode. Still image capture modes include three JPEG image sizes (2400 x 1800, 1280 x 960 and 640 x 480) and three levels of compression quality. High speed Continuous mode allows you to shoot three pictures at 0.2 sec intervals. There's also an AVI Movie mode that captures up to 90 seconds at 10fps with sound. A high speed USB port for rapid image download to PC or Mac computers. Exposure metering is user settable for multi, center or spot. Auto Bracketing captures 3 consecutive pictures, varying the exposure in 1/3, 2/3 or 1.0 EV values between frames. Jump to the FinePix 4700 specifications The FinePix 4700 Zoom is the first camera to use Fuji's new SuperCCD. It wasn't even on the market before it started a firestorm of controversy. The SuperCCD's resolution is 2.4 million pixels but it is interpolated to create the 2400 x 1800 pixel finished image. This "4.3 megapixel" figure was what the marketing folks highlighted in the original press material. The pre-production cameras even had "4.3M" screened above the SuperCCD logo. As you can see, this label has been removed from the final production cameras and the 4.3 megapixel number is no longer used as the main selling point of the camera. Fuji has wisely decided to sell the FinePix 4700 on the merits of its image quality rather than the size of the image.  A big "Two Thumbs Up" to Fuji for doing the right thing and putting the consumer's satisfaction ahead of the marketing hype. The rear of this diminutive camera is half LCD displays and half user controls. The large 2-inch color LCD has an adjustable backlight and is easy to see in most environments short of direct sunlight. The monochrome data LCD is illuminated whenever a button is pushed and its color changes depending on the operational mode (see below). The 4700 has a nice, rubberized, grippy surface on the right side which makes the camera easy to "one-hand." No matter what I did with my left hand, my thumb ended up on the LCD screen. Not to worry, it's easy to wipe clean. Here's the top of the camera shown with the popup flash unit closed. Nothing here but the Mode Dial and the Shutter Release. The bottom of the case is perfectly flat, it mounts well on a tripod with its metal socket.   Note a lack of any kind of locking mechanism on the battery door but we did not experience any accidental openings. The FinePix 4700 has a fast (f/2.8) 3X Super EBC Fujinon aspherical zoom lens with a focal length equivalent to a 36-108mm zoom on a 35mm camera and macro coverage down to about 8 inches. The Mode Dial on the top lets you change quickly between the Record Modes (auto, portrait, scenic, night scene, manual, continuous and movie) or enter the Setup menu.   That's the shutter release button in the center. The majority of the controls are located on the back above the color LCD. It's absolutely amazing how many functions and features you have access to with this minimal number of buttons. This is due mostly to the four "soft" buttons around the circular LCD. Note the sliding lever for rapid changing between Record and Playback modes. The Shift button gives you access to secondary options displayed on both the upper and lower LCDs. The 4700's unique data LCD on the back turns red during Record mode operations and green during Playback. It even greets you with the message "Hello" when you turn it on and "Bye" when you turn it off. This monochrome display in conjunction with the four buttons around it allow you to change many of the camera options without using the power-hungry color LCD.   The functions (and icons) of these "soft" buttons change depending on the current camera mode. Access to the SmartMedia memory card slot is via a door on the side. The tiny cards are easily removed by means of a "push in and pop out" type of ejector mechanism. The FinePix 4700 accomodates any capacity 3.3v SmartMedia card and comes with an 16MB card. The button pops up the built in flash The speaker is for audio playback The I/O ports: On the top is the hi-speed USB port. No serial port (trend of the future?) Next is the combination Video Out and Audio Out port for playback on a TV set. On the bottom is the 3VDC input jack for the AC power supply or an external battery pack. The FinePix 4700 is powered by just two AA size batteries. Fuji includes two sets (four) of high-capacity 1600mAh NiMH batteries and a rapid charger. If you use the color LCD often it will be advantageous to have both sets of charged batteries on hand. If you use it sparingly (hardly at all), you can get several hours of use from one set of batteries. Fuji FinePix 4700, Olympus C-3030 Zoom and Toshiba PDR-M70.

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Camera	FinePix 4700 Zoom
List Price	$799
Sensor Resolution (Pixels)	1/1.7 inch, SuperCCD, 2.4 million pixels
Image Dimensions	2400x1800, 1280x960, 640x480
Compression Levels	Fine, Normal, Basic
Sensitivity - ISO equivalent	ISO 200, 400, 800
Lens Type	Super EBC Fujinon glass aspherical
Lens - Focal Length (35mm equivalents)	36-108mm
Lens - Aperture Range	f/2.8-f/4.5, f/7-f/10.8 (wide-tele)
Filter Threads	none
Shutter Speed Range	1/4 - 1/2,000 up to 3 sec in Night Mode (ISO 200 only)
Exposure	TTL, Automatic (64-segment)
Exposure Compensation	+/-1.5 EV, 0.3EV steps
Self-Timer	10 seconds
Focus	Autofocus
Focus Range	31.5 in (0.8m) to infinity
Macro Range	7.9 - 31.5 inches (20 - 80 cm)
Storage	SmartMedia 3.3v, 16MB Standard
Image Capacity	9-248 (16 Meg card)
File Format(s)	JPEG
Image Capture Cycle Time, secs (High/Low Res)	1.5-2.5 seconds
Image Download Time ("HQ" image mode)	USB: 563 Kbytes/second (!)
Flash Range	7.9 in - 13.1/9.8 ft (20 cm - 4.0/3.0 m) (wide/tele)
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction, "slow synchro" flash
Viewfinder	Optical and color LCD
LCD Screen	2.0", color TFT, low-temp polysilicon, active-matrix with 130,000 pixels
Video Out	NTSC (PAL in Europe)
Special Features	Auto Bracketing of 3 pictures (1/3, 2/3 or 1.0 EV), "slide show" playback with transitions, up to 15x playback magnification, in-camera resizing, Movie Mode records 10fps with audio, up to 80 seconds on 16MB card.
Power	Two (2) AA cells, included high-capacity 1600mAH NiMH cells and rapid charger
Usable Battery Types	NiMH or high-capacity NiCd rechargeables.
Size	3.1 x 3.8 x 1.3 inches (79 x 97.5 x 33.4 mm)
Weight	9.0 ounces (255g)
Software	Adobe PhotoDeluxe 3.0/2.0 (Windows/Mac), USB drivers, Exif Viewer
Optional Accessories	Floppy-disk adapter, 8, 16, 32, 64MB SmartMedia cards

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