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The Fujifilm FinePix S9500 (also known as the Fujifilm Finepix S9000 in Northern America) is a 9 megapixel digital camera with a 10.7x Optical Zoom lens.
It also features an external flash hot shoe, 1.8 inch LCD, PC sync connector, dual memory card slot (Compact Flash/Microdrive and xD Card) as well as electronic viewfinder.
Cameras.co.uk reviews the Fuji Finepix S9500 and writes - 'The Fuji Finepix S9500 is an advanced digital camera. It has many features that you would expect to find on a Digital SLR camera. With nine megapixels and a 10.7x optical zoom lens the Finepix S9500 is a very powerful digital camera.... The Fuji Finepix S9500 is a fully featured digital camera. In terms of both looks and features it resembles an SLR camera. There is a lot to like about this camera and it sits in its own niche in the market. It is aimed at advanced photographers rather than someone looking for a simple point and shoot camera.'
Get the Latest Price on the Fujifilm Finepix S9500 (also known as the S9000)
DSLR approach, with a flexible attitude
Fujifilm‚s new bridge camera marries high end image quality with a lens so good, you‚ll be glad it‚s not removable
Fujifilm today announces the launch of the FinePix S9500, a new model that marks the point where compact digital cameras and digital SLRs meet. Aimed at amateur and enthusiast photographers, the FinePix S9500 features resolution good enough to challenge entry-level digital SLRs. It combines this with a range of features that enable a level of photographic flexibility more often associated with compact digital cameras.
The FinePix S9500 features Fujifilm's brand new 5th generation Super CCD sensor, and offers an image size of nine megapixels. Recognising that image quality is determined by more than just pixel count, the inclusion of Fujifilm's Real Photo Technology gives the FinePix S9500 a true advantage. It has a class-leading sensitivity range of ISO 80 - ISO 1600, which reduces the need for reliance on image stabilisation. The ISO range means that sharp, focused images can be achieved in all light conditions ˆ from bright sunny days to night time shots ˆ without the use of a flash. Fast shutter speeds not only lessen the effect of blurring from camera shake, but subject movement, too.
The camera incorporates a 28-300mm (equivalent on a 35mm camera) Fujinon zoom lens with twist-barrel zoom control. This is a zoom range that encompasses all the major focal lengths, and the manual zoom control enables the photographer to make precision adjustments. Furthermore, because the lens and body on the FinePix S9500 are built as a closed unit, it eliminates the possibility of dust on the lens and CCD ˆ a serious problem when removing lenses on a digital SLR.
A new tilting LCD screen on the camera means that it is possible to view images at awkward angles, such as close to the ground or above the head. Unlike digital SLRs, the LCD can also be used to compose images, which means even more convenience for the photographer.
In addition, the camera features a 30-frames-per-second movie mode with manual zoom capability, giving high quality moving images with sound ˆ a function that cannot be integrated into traditional digital SLRs due to the physical design of the cameras.
With a 0.8 second start-up time, and just 0.01 second shutter lag, the FinePix S9500 will give users a near-instant response so that spontaneous shots and unexpected action need never be missed. The camera also incorporates RAW mode, for uncompressed and unprocessed image quality. A hotshoe attachment and PC sync terminal for external flash make it a camera that's as happy in the studio as it is out and about.
FujiFilm FinePix S9500 features at a glance:
• New Fujifilm Super CCD sensor with 9.0 million effective pixels
• New 28-300mm (10.7x) Fujinon zoom lens with manual twist-barrel zoom control
• Class-leading sensitivity setting of ISO 1600 for photography in low light conditions
• Low sensitivity of ISO 80 for ultra-high quality photography
• 1.8‰ tilting LCD screen for easy high and low angle shooting
• Ultra-fast response times (0.01 second shutter lag and 0.8 second start-up)
• Real-time histogram to assist exposure settings before shooting
• Highlight Warning feature for displaying highlight areas in playback
• VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with zoom capability and sound
• Closed unit design to eliminate dust accumulation on the CCD
• Hotshoe and PC sync terminal
• RAW format shooting for uncompressed and unprocessed images
• xD-Picture Card˙ providing large storage capacity, lower power consumption and fast write speeds (16MB to 1GB capacities currently available)
Digital Camera Info reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 Digital Camera (also called the S9500) and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix has rich colors and does well in low light, so it certainly produces nice looking photographs. Getting those gorgeous photos could be an issue though, as this camera is anything but easy to use. A few read-throughs of the user manual and several shooting sessions are required to learn the non-intuitive nuances of the S9000. Another major obstacle for this model is its dependence on four AA batteries to power it. Users could go through forty bucks of batteries just trying to learn how to change the aperture. For a retail price of $699, there are certainly easier models to use that take great pictures. And there is always the option to upgrade. Consumers can now purchase DSLRs online for around $700.'
DC Resource reviews the Fuji FinePix S9000 and writes - 'Overall, I do recommend the FinePix S9000 as a capable ultra zoom digital camera. It's not a substitute for a digital SLR, as those take better pictures and are more responsive. It is an interesting alternative to things like the Canon PowerShot S2, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30, and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1, though it's missing the very useful image stabilizer that all three of those offer. While the S9000 can stabilize things by boosting the ISO sensitivity, this limits your output options to smaller prints in many situations. Since all four of these cameras are good performers, I'd recommend trying them in person to see which one you like using -- since that's what ultimately matters.'
DP Review has reviewed the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 Zoom and gives it a 'recommended' rating. they write - 'with the possible exception of the Panasonic FZ30 - it's fair to say the S9000 is the about as close any manufacturer has ever come to producing a fixed-lens camera that offers real SLR-like handling and operation. It certainly looks like a DSLR, and at lower ISO settings it produces results you have to look at very closely before you can see they're not from one. On the other hand it is in many ways frustratingly far from offering a true alternative to an SLR; high ISO performance is good for a small-sensor camera, but simply doesn't compare to even the cheapest entry-level SLR. Raw performance is painfully slow, and the lack of any tools to actually process the resultant files means the S9000 doesn't offer a true 'out of the box' raw solution. There are also a couple of interface and control issues that make the experience of using it far from fluid.'
Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Fujifilm Finepix S9500 and writes - 'With the S9500 Fujifilm has produced what is unquestionably the best fixed-lens camera currently available. Its SLR-like handling and performance make it a real pleasure to use, while its amazing picture quality and fantastic versatility are matched only by its price. A total bargain at �400, I predict that this camera will be selling by the truckload this Christmas, so get your order in early.'
Photoxels reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 should be at the top of your list if you are considering a prosumer level digital camera. It is absolutely no nonsense and meets all the requirements an advanced photographer would demand from such a camera. No other long zoom prosumer digital camera currently matches its low noise capability up to ISO 400.'
Steves Digicams reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 and writes - 'The S9000 is a very capable prosumer digicam. With its 9-megapixel imager, 28-300mm mechanically controlled zoom lens, extensive exposure and in-camera processing controls, automatic and advanced shooting modes, there's little that you can't do with this camera. And if you're looking for a digicam that can also capture high quality video, you'll love the S9000's VGA resolution 30fps movies -- they're gorgeous. With an MSRP of $699 and a street price of under $600, the S9000 is also a terrific value.'
Megapixel reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 and writes - 'The first thing one notices about the S9000 is that it has an excellent ergonomic design. Its shape imparts the S9000 with a stable feel when it is held, and its controls are well-placed and comfortable to access. Similarly, the flexibility of the EVF, where menus can be displayed, and the use of a virtual dial to replicate the movements of the Mode dial all contribute to making the camera one of the most pleasant to work with. Moreover, the design also offers a high resolution image for the EVF with a diopter correction, and a 1.8-inch monitor that can move up or down.'
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom and gives it a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. They write - 'The Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom is an excellent but expensive super-zoom compact digital compact camera. The Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom is a cheap but rather poor digital SLR camera. Both of these statements are true. The S9500 is the best attempt yet to fuse the advantages of compact and DSLR cameras together, but ultimately it cannot rival the entry-level DSLRs that Fujifilm is aiming at. The likes of the Nikon D50, Konica Minolta 5D and Canon EOS 350D all offer faster performance, slicker ease-of-use and better image quality than the Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom in both JPEG and RAW mode. The difference in image quality is a lot narrower for JPEGs, but the S9500 still suffers by comparison with its noisy ISO 800 and 1600 modes. RAW mode is a non-contest - the Fujifilm Finepix S9500 Zoom takes forever to record a RAW image, and I suspect that the majority of users will not be prepared to wait. In addition the RAW software that Fujifilm provides in the box is simply not up to the job.'
Imaging Resource reviews the Fuji FinePix S9000 Digital Camera and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 makes a pretty compelling case for itself, offering an excellent 10.7x zoom lens (that extends to a very useful wide angle equivalent focal length of 28mm) and loads of resolution at a price a hundred dollars or more less than the least expensive d-SLR equipped with only a modest 3x zoom. It doesn't quite approach the quickness or low light/high ISO prowess of most d-SLRs, but certainly does well enough in these areas to suit the needs of most amateur photographers. A flash hot-shoe permits the use of powerful external strobes, and it even offers a threaded cable-release socket on its shutter button. (Why more digital camera makers don't offer this is beyond us, it can't cost more than a few pennies to add to a camera, and is very useful for all sorts of situations where you don't want to jostle the camera by pressing the shutter button.) Control-wise, the Fuji S9000 offers a full range of exposure modes from fully automatic to fully manual, with program, aperture-priority and shutter-priority in between, as well as a good handful of useful scene modes. This is a camera that a pure novice can start with and grow into as their skills mature. No camera is perfect, and the S9000 has its own set of foibles, but on balance, it's a great choice for enthusiast photographers on a budget.'
BIOS reviews the Fujifilm Finepix S9500 and writes - 'In our tests the FinePix S9500 was comfortable to use, robust, and relatively easy to use - although we have seen much better menu systems. Captured images contained and a good level of detail and colour considering the small physical size of the sensor, and Fujifilm has got noise levels under control, too (except for ISO 1600). It didn�t quite approach the quickness or low light/high ISO prowess of most digital SLRs, but certainly performed well enough to suit the needs of most amateur photographers. The flash hot-shoe permits the use of powerful external strobes, and it even offers a threaded cable-release socket on its shutter button....The FinePix S9500 is a more than credible alternative for consumers considering an entry-level DSLR. Overall this is a camera that a pure novice can start with and grow into as their skills mature, but it doesn�t quite compete with a DSLR on speed, image quality or versatility. '
CameraLabs reviews the Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom and writes - 'Compared to other all-in-ones the S9500 holds its own, delivering similar quality in real-life conditions to Panasonic's DMC-FZ30 and Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-R1. While there are differences in their designs and overall feature-sets, the choice between the three ultimately boils down to which optical zoom range best suits your requirements.'
Byte Sector reviews the FujiFilm FinePix S9000 digital camera and writes - 'The Finepix S9000 is capable of a wide range of light sensitivity settings from ISO80 to ISO1600. The camera also features what Fuji calls �Real Photo Technology.� This is designed to reduce image noise at higher ISO settings. This works amazingly for images below ISO400 as the camera performs incredibly well and is comparable to some entry level DSLR cameras. Unfortunately, each step above ISO400 degrades image quality significantly. At ISO1600, the amount of grain is just awful in many situations. Fortunately, rather than dots all over the place, you get splotches of colour that make the image look more like a painting than a mess of noise.'
Posted by Darren in our Fuji category on July 28, 2005