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Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. unveils its latest entry in the sub-$300
category, the MX-1200. Designed for the beginner, this easy-to-use
digicam sports a 1.3 million-pixel CCD, recording detailed images at
1280 x 960 or 640 x 480 pixels. With a comparable 125 ISO
speed, the MX-1200 boasts a 38mm (35mm equivalent) Fujinon lens with 2x
digital zoom and macro capability down to 3.9-inches.
Users can take continuous sequence shots; manually
adjust the flash (normal, red-eye reduction, forced flash, suppressed flash,
and slow sync for night scenes); change the white balance settings to
accommodate the lighting situation; and select the exposure compensation to
control brightness.
The MX-1200 has a number of advantages over prior sub-$300 models, including
a new, more accurate auto white balance and faster circuitry for quicker
booting and less processing time between shots. To frame pictures, the camera
is equipped with both a high-precision 1.6-inch color LCD monitor and an optical
viewfinder.
The MX-1200 is slightly smaller than the Coolpix 800 and considerably
lighter in weight.
It is very slim and stylish. User controls have been kept to a minimum and
as you can see, the only thing on the top is the shutter button.
Unlike the other Fuji digicams I have reviewed, the MX-1200 uses AA batteries as
its power source rather than a rechargable lithium battery. Besides cutting
down the manufacturer's cost it also makes it a little more conventional as
most consumer digicams do use AA batteries.
The battery compartment is easy to open and the old batteries can be removed
and replaced quickly, it is a nice, clean design. Fuji claims that the MX-1200
can take up to 250 shots with the LCD off and 100 shots with it on using a
single set of batteries.
The SmartMedia access is on the side behind a small door. There is no card
eject mechanism though, you simply grab the edge and yank it out. I much prefer
the push in and pop out design used in most other cameras using SmartMedia.
It comes with a 4MB card.
Near the top is a switch to set the MX-1200's lens for distance or
for closeup focusing. The camera does a very good job
of close focusing when in the macro position and I had no problems shooting
things only 4 or so inches from the lens.
The I/O ports are limited to a serial port and a 5v DC power port. There is
no video out so there won't be any fancy screen shots as is the norm for my
camera reviews.
Here's a closeup of the user controls which are the same as those used on most
all of the Fuji cameras. The camera is powered on or off by a sliding switch
near the top. The large dial changes the mode of operation between a simple
one-page setup screen, selftimer, manual record (options to change flash modes,
white balance and AE compensation), automatic record, playback, delete,
protect and connect to PC.
The 4-way switch in record mode lets you activate the 2x digital zoom by using
the up and down arrows. In manual record the options menu is activated by the
right and left arrows. The Menu/EXE button activates the menu and executes
a selection and is also used to tell the camera to store the previewed image
when in manual record mode. The DISP button turns the LCD on and off and
changes the overlayed information during playback.
This is the first digicam that I have seen that comes
packaged in a see-through blisterpack. I guess it lets consumers see what it
looks like without having to be taken out of the box first. Supposedly this
same packaging scheme is responsible for millions of Sony Walkman sales.
Steve's Conclusion
I like the MX-1200 and that comes from someone who has little interest in
purely point-n-shoot type digicams. Basically -- it's small, it's very easy
to use and most importantly, it works very well.
I didn't think we (the digicam industry) would be at the $300 price point for
a megapixel resolution digicam for at least another six months but Fuji has
proven that idea to be wrong. It's here and it's here now, just in time for
the 1999 holiday season.
The MX-1200 can easily be carried in your pocket or purse, ready to take
that "special" picture at a moments notice. It may be inexpensive but it's
a relatively fast camera that only takes about two seconds to save a
large, fine mode image. The color LCD is large enough to let you review
your shots when away from the computer. As with most digicams the LCD is not
very useable outdoors in the bright sunlight.
This is the first Fuji camera I've used that runs on 4 AA-size batteries
and I'm happy to report that the battery life is very good. I still wouldn't
recommend using alkalines unless you're caught in a situation where your
NiMH batteries weren't charged. You can shoot all day on one set of
batteries if you keep your LCD usage down to a minimum. The optical viewfinder
is quite good but does lack a diopter adjustment.
The image quality is very good for a 1280x960 camera and the overall color
balance and saturation is very good to excellent. I saw little to no
highlight blowouts and the color rendition was extremely accurate. The
uncropped images will make dandy prints on today's photo inkjets and the
ones I printed at 4x6" will give any film camera a run for its money.
The lens
is the usual wideangle variety found on most non-zoom cameras and provides
excellent coverage for indoor shots but a little too much for most
outdoor "scenic" type shots. In a pinch you can use the digital zoom but
as with all digital zooms it simply does in-camera what you can do better
later in software.
I think this camera will sell well at $300 (or less) and I see
it showing up under quite a few Christmas trees this year. It will
make a great gift for anyone who feels the need to divorce themselves
from the money mill known as the film and developing industry.
The MX-1200 is more than rugged enough to survive being used by the kids
and it's also stylish enough to give to your wife or girlfriend.
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