FinePix 4900 Zoom

Click to take a QTVR tour of the FinePix 4900 Zoom

The FinePix 4900 Zoom is an ultra-compact and lightweight digital camera that features a 1/1.7- inch Fujifilm SuperCCD with 2.4 million pixels in an interwoven pattern. Still image sizes are 2400x1800, 1600x1200, 1280x960 and 640x480 pixels and are saved in Exif v2.1 TIFF-RGB or JPEG format. Up to 160 seconds of 320x240 Motion JPEG movies (without sound) can be recorded at 10fps and saved as standard AVI files. Image data is stored on 3.3v SmartMedia flash cards.

Don't let the small size fool you, the FinePix 4900 Zoom sports a fast F2.8 Super EBC Fujinon 6x optical zoom lens that is equivalent to a 35-210mm lens on a 35mm camera.

With similar physical designs, size and weight, the FinePix 4900 Zoom is "out gunned" by the Olympus C-2100 UltraZoom with its 10x stabilized lens. These two cameras share many similarities such as big zooms, electronic viewfinders, popup flashes and the use of SmartMedia cards. The FinePix 4900 Zoom does have the additional feature of a manual focusing ring.

Exposure control includes 64-zone TTL metering system with Averaging, Center-Weighted or Spot options, Program AE (Auto, Scene Position, Program, Aperture-priority (F2.8-F11 in 13 steps) or Shutter-priority (3 sec [at ISO 125 or 200] to 1/1000 sec). White balancing is automatic with 7 presets or can be manually set at the push of a button. ISO sensitivity equivalent is ISO 125, 200, 400 or 800.

For through the lens (TTL) preview and framing the FinePix 4900 Zoom uses a 0.55-inch electronic color viewFinder with 110,000 pixels of resolution. Or push the EVF/LCD button and use the low-temp polysilicon 2-inch TFT color LCD with 130,000 pixels instead. All camera and exposure information on the LCD can be displayed on the electronic viewfinder with far less power consumption.

Image playback is available in fullscreen and fullscreen with zoom plus an index and fast forward mode, see page 4 for all the playback options.

On the top is the combination Mode and Command Dial, the flash, self-timer, continuous and macro mode buttons, the shutter release and the combo Record/Playback and power switch. Of special interest is the flash hot shoe to accomodate a more powerful flash unit.

The bottom is flat with a slightly off-center tripod mount and the battery access door.

Here's the left and right side views, more on these controls on the next page.

The 6x Super EBC Fujinon 7.8-46.8mm zoom lens is the equivalent to a 35-210mm lens on a 35mm camera and has a fast F2.8-F3.1 maximum aperture variable to F11 in 13 steps. Additional 3.7x Digital Zoom when in VGA mode (22.5X Total). There's an optional Lens Mounting Ring for use with 55mm Filters or the Fuji 0.79x wide angle lens.

The autofocus range is 50cm to infinity in wideangle and 90cm to infinity in telephoto. Macro mode set the zoom to an equivalent of 35-80mm with a range of 10-80cm. Manual or Auto Focus is selected by the switch on the left side of the camera, the power zoom control is also located there. Manual focusing is accomplished by turning the knurled ring around the lens, this is a "fly by wire" focus control, it is not mechanical.

When focusing manually you can press the Focus Check button to enlarge the center portion of the screen to aid in critical focusing. You also get a focus indication next to the "MF" icon in the form of a arrow pointing right or left to tell you which way to turn the focus ring. When proper focus is reached a circle icon appears. The focus ring offers very fine focusing increments, to go from close to far distance requires several full turns of the ring.

On the left side of the lens is where you'll find the zoom control, which can also be operated by the 4-way jog switch on the back too. The Auto/Manual focus switch, the "+/-" exposure compensation and one-push white balance buttons.

The INFO button toggles the display of additional information on the EVF and color LCD. In record mode it shows you the current settings for flash compensation, white balance, metering mode, ISO, AE bracketing and sharpness. In playback mode it shows image size/quality, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and flash on/off at image capture.