MX-2700 User Review

The new FujiFilm MX-2700 (on the right) is the smallest 2.3-megapixel digital camera that we have tested so far.   Pictured here next to the MX-700, its 1.5 megapixel sibling that started the "mini-megapixel" revolution for FujiFilm. The MX-2700 is housed in the same highly durable and cool looking aluminum body too.

Hey, I said it was small!  Here it is in the pocket of my t-shirt ready to be used in a split second. It could be just as easily carried in a handbag or your pants pocket.

The 2-inch color LCD takes up about half of the real estate on the back of the case. It shows ~99% of the captured image unlike the optical viewfinder which shows only 85%. Sadly there is no diopter control for the optical viewfinder, this is something they need to add. The LCD screen is covered by an easy to clean, clear plastic shield. Good thing because left-eyed users will leave plenty of nose prints on it.

The main user controls are simple and fairly intuitive. Spin the big dial to pick the operating mode and then use the inner, 4-way rocker switch to move through the menus and pick the desired option. The [MENU/EXE] button will initiate the menu system and also executes the current menu choice. The [CANCEL/BACK] button is used to bail out of the menu without selecting an option.

Next to the data LCD is the Flash Mode button shown with the common lightning bolt icon, the options are: Automatic, Red-eye, Flash always On or Off. The user has more control over the flash but must be in Manual Record to access the variable flash output power and the slow-synchro settings.

Above the big LCD you have the [SHIFT] button that lets you adjust the Quality or Filesize in Record mode. In Playback mode the Shift button lets you adjust the brightness of the LCD or Pan around the image being displayed.

The [DISP]lay button controls the color LCD. It can turn it On or Off and is also used to determine how much info is displayed on the screen during recording and playback.

This is a diagram of what can be displayed on the small data (info) LCD on the back.

The MX-2700 sports a fixed focal length 7.6mm lens that equates to a medium wideangle 35mm lens on a 35mm camera. It should be noted that this lens exhibits very little edge (barrel) distortion, something that is common with other digicam's wideangle lenses.

The lens in normal mode autofocuses from 19.7 inches to infinity. For closeup shots switch to macro mode for coverage from 3.5 to 19.7 inches. Click here for sample macro pictures.

The lens cap is built in and automatically opens and closes when the camera is turned on or off.

Here's the bottom of the MX-2700 which sports a very rugged metal tripod socket and the lithium battery access door.

The MX-2700 is like all of Fuji's megapixel cameras and ships with both a dedicated NP-80 lithium rechargeable battery pack and the combination AC adapter & battery charger. This is a class act and it saves you from having to spend additional money for rechargeable or (gasp) alkaline one-use batteries.

The I/O ports are standard. The RS-232 serial port cable plugs in the top (sorry, no USB yet), the MX-2700 comes with cables for both the PC and Macintosh computers. NTSC video output is in the center and allows your pictures to be played back on a TV set or recorded on a VCR. On the bottom is the 5VDC input jack for the AC adapter/battery charger.

The SmartMedia memory card is easy to remove. You press it inwards and it then pops out about a third of the way. Some cameras that use SmartMedia do not have enough finger grip area to easily extract the card but this is not the case with the MX-2700.