Product Description

Fuji Digital Camera S9500 9 Megapixels

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18137 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: FujiFilm
• Model: FinePix S9500
• Released on: 2006-06-06
• Dimensions: 3.66" h x 5.04" w x 5.08" l, 3.11 pounds
• Display size: 1.8

Features

• Fuji Digital Camera S9500 9 Megapixels

Manufacturer's Description
Unlike many digital cameras, you won't want to separate this camera from its lens. Covering the crucial 28-300mm* range, and crafted from the highest standard Fujinon optics, this is a built-in lens that has been engineered to work perfectly with the camera's sensor technology. And the sensor technology is just as advanced a nine million effective pixel Super CCD and Real Photo Processor combination that not only delivers on detail, but also the major image quality milestones: colour, low noise, dynamic range and sensitivity.

Integrated Design;The S9500 Zoom's design allows you to do many things that you can't with a digital SLR. For instance, using the LCD to compose your image, rather than having to lift the camera to cover your eye. Using the zoom to reach virtually any of the major focal lengths, rather than having to change lenses and possibly see harmful dust enter the camera, not to mention missing the shot. Also, the mirror-free design allows you to enjoy the added functionality of a movie mode, which is something that SLRs cannot offer.

Super CCD With Real Photo Technology;This camera is about a lot more than just nine million pixels. Super CCD technology has long been associated with class-leading performance in top-end digital cameras. Unlike generic image sensors, this system is developed and manufactured entirely in-house, and is performance only available from Fujifilm. First-rate colour reproduction, image sharpness, low noise and excellent tonal response. Never mind the pixels. Feel the picture quality.

Fujinon 28mm 300mm Lens (35mm Equivalent);Unlike interchangeable lenses, this one's fixed to the camera for ever. And that is a good thing not only will the interior of the camera be protected from dust and the elements, but you also have an incredible zoom range at your disposal. Fujinon optics have an enviable reputation within the photography industry for their clarity and quality, and the lens on the S9500 Zoom lives up to the name. The 13 elements include one hybrid aspherical element, one glass moulded aspherical element, as well as ED glass. Furthermore, photography enthusiasts will like the manual twist barrel zoom control, as well as the manual focusing ring, both giving pinpoint control.

Tilting LCD Monitor;Your shooting freedom is enhanced by the tilting 1.8" LCD monitor on the back of the camera. No longer will you be required to use guesswork when shooting above your head or from ground level this LCD gives you the live image, so you can compose with ease. Given that you are not required to lift the camera to your eye, candid shots and street photography are also very easy.

Fast Responses;People that use S9500 Zooms will not miss many shots. There is no agonising wait as a motor extends the lens (it is already in position), and the autofocus locks on to subjects with a speed that will make you think twice as to whether this really is not a DSLR. With its use of manual zoom ring, dials and buttons for important functions, the S9500 Zoom is designed for photographers who do not want their camera to get in the way of their photography.

Movie Mode;Anyone who doesn't think that much of movie modes on digital cameras has not tried this one. Not only does it offer the top-level 30 fps VGA benchmark, but you can also use the zoom lens during recording, which is a special enhancement of this feature. With the massive onboard media storage, the S9500 Zoom offers extended movie potential, and is a valuable backup to the camera's still image capability.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Excelent value for money with some nice features.
The S9500 is a good camera all round for the price. Some people seem to have trouble with picture quality so there may be a quality control issue. The pictures are really very good. Images taken at 1600 ISO are quite noisey though, but this shouldn't be such a surprise. Up to about 400ISO there isn't really any significant noise, which is good news. In this respect the camera does better than most others.

Many of features of dSLR camera are to be found on the FinePix. There are no real 'show stopping' problems - but this camera isn't a more expensive dSLR so don't assume that you'll get the very high quality that they produce.

Traditional image stabilasation is missing from this camera, and some people may find this a drawback for telephoto shots. FujiFilm appear to be trying to push high ISO CCD technology to address this, rather than use the more usual Optical - Gyro lens correction technology. - High ISO speeds have the drawback of more image noise, but also have the advantage of being able to take moving objects without bluring -- somthing that traditional lens stabilisation can't help with at all.

All in all a good buy. There is one thing, however, that people might want to check on before buying. There is reportedly a problem with mechanical failure of the 'command dial' after 3 - 4 months of operation. I don't know if this defect has been fixed or not in newer batches.

Don't spend more on a DSLR . .
.. unless you are a pro (wildlife) photographer. But even then the lack of mirror noise might be a bonus? This camera is simply brilliant. I have no idea where the comments about low quality pictures come from - I can only think the other users must have set 1600 ISO and underexposed one or two stops; that does lead to a lot of noise. Or they used alkaline batteries (always a no no). Or perhaps the xD cards were faulty? And remember a 9m pixel photograph is only 1.8x the size of a 3m pixel one.
The first thing I did was to take more than 40 test shots of the same scene using a tripod and cable release, at 50mm 135 equivalent and 200mm 135 equivalent. ISO ratings were 80 to 3200 (1600 -1EV) and capture was RAW, 9F and 9N jpeg. Prints were done with Qimage professional on Epson paper with a Canon printer. Colours, exposure and levels of detail are all very good or excellent. Colour accuracy has in particular always been a Fuji strong point, and this camera is no exception. There is a little noise at 1600 ISO, and quite a lot pushed to 3200, but I would expect that. Given that most images will be captured at 80 to 400 ISO this is not going to be an issue. The zoom range is staggering, both in terms of quantity (28mm to 600mm using 2x digital zoom) and quality. And a minimum macro of just 1cm. I would only use RAW sparingly due to the after shot processing fag, using 9F jpeg for everyday pictures. The range and quality of this camera, including full manual control, make this a truly staggering value for money package, as well as the most capable non DSLR I have used, by a country mile.
Minuses seem petty in terms of the VFM of this camera as a stand alone. The supplied xD card is for demo purposes only - you need a 512 or 1 meg card. Use the supplied batteries in your torch, you need 2000 plus Nimhs. The supplied RAW software is rubbish, download s7raw (if you use Photoshop there may be file format issues) which is freeware and will edit and convert fuji RAF files.

If you don't try this camera you may regret it.

Update - now had this brilliant camera for 3 months. There is virtually no shutter lag. The high res video option makes it a realistic emergency video camera (although only with mono sound). You get video that bears up well after conversion to DVD - my TV is 107cm. As with other reviewers I am still learning all of the ropes, but remain utterly impressed. I have got 2x1gb cards in - an xD and compact flash. I find myself using mostly the 400 ASA setting on either A,S or P and get clear images virtually free of noise. The flash is a marvel - absolutely no red eye even without the red-eye reduction setting (which is therefore completely pointless). The normal light setting in lieu of flash also works very well under artificial light.
Negative points when compared to a DSLR:
1.the limit F stop range - I would prefer if it was greater than f2.8 to f8, but this is of little practical impact for an amateur like myself not necessarily seeking huge depth of field.
2.the speed of writing to the cards when using continuous shooting. I rarely take more than 4 continuous shots at a time, so again this is not a serious drawback for me.

I still carry my (also very good)little A500 everywhere I can't lug the S9500; I agree with other reviewers that the S9500 is not a pocket camera by any stretch of the imagination.

My S9500 Review...
I purchased my S9500 after weighing up all the other options out there (well, most of them). I wanted an SLR-like camera with first and foremost a good/great zoom range. Second to that I wanted manual control over shutter speed, aperture etc whilst still being able to stick it into Auto mode when I was feeling lazy, and lastly I was on a fairly tight budget (around the £300 area) so I couldn't exactly spend out on a £800 Canon! The S9500 fitted my needs perfectly on paper and offered all of the above and more - like the tilting LCD screen - fantastic!, movie recording - very nice and a manual zoom lens - nice touch, AND not forgetting the 9MP sensor - impressive!
After recieving the S9500 and switching it on I was confident I'd made a good choice. It was nice and solid, very well made and easy to use - I was delighted with my choice, especially when I went straight out into the garden and tried out the super-zoom lens - it was superb.
I started taking picture after picture, trying out the zoom range, testing the super-macro mode, adjusting the LCD tilt-screen and I was genuinely delighted with the camera - the pictures looked great (on the LCD screen).
Although after the initial excitement had worn off things started to go slightly downhill... I noticed that the camera had occasional difficulty focusing when it was at full zoom, not too bad outside but quite poor indoors and as the afternoon light started to fade focusing indoors at full zoom became very poor (slow and non-existent at times) - the pictures were blurred and colours were flat.
So I went back outside to make the most of the early evening with my S9500 and took some shots of various things in my garden. Focusing became okay again outside but that was made secondary to the fact that after uploading the pictures onto my computer I quickly noticed that the shots taken in fairly low light (and I'm talking FAIRLY low - like a slightly overcast morning) were terribly noisy. They looked bitty, messy and as if they'd been taken with an £80 compact camera. Even after putting it in Manual mode and adjusting the ISO and shutter speed etc pictures were still appearing noisy, flat and quite poor overall.
For me this was a terrible shame as I really wanted to love the camera, but the more pictures I took and the more I viewed them on the PC the more I became extremely disappointed with the overall picture quality - unless the picture was taken outside in the afternoon sunshine it was poorly focused, very flat, very noisy and lacking any sharp detail.
Maybe I expected too much for the price and maybe I'm being over critical, but for me if a camera can only take decent pictures outside in glorious sunshine then it lacks the versatility and performance I require to take my camera anywhere (morning, noon and night) and achieve great photos.
This is only my opinion but it is an honest review. If you're just looking for a super-zoom camera that takes decent pictures then go for this, but if you're a keen photographer looking to move up to SLR and SLR-like cameras then I would guess that the S9500 will disappoint you when you see the results. I would save your money and buy a Nikon D50 or a Canon 350D - only slightly more expensive but they are true SLR cameras that will give you much better results. Okay, you have the issue of less of a zoom range, no LCD screen to frame your shots with and possible dust issues - but if you're looking for great photos then that's the way to go in my opinion.
Conclusion: The S9500 gives with one hand and takes away with the other. The 10x optical zoom, 9MP sensor, tilting LCD screen and movie mode are all made rather useless when you realise that none of those features actually give you sharp, vibrant, detailed pictures morning, noon and night all year round.
I have since returned my S9500 and am saving a few more pennies for something else more satisfying. Thanks for reading!