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The Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd is a 6.3 megapixel digital camera and features a 3x optical zoom. The Z5fd also features a 2.5 inch scratch resistant LCD, ISO of up to 1600, Face Detection technology, 14 scene modes, 26 megabytes of internal memory, intelligent flash and an ultra thin design that comes in Raspberry Red, Mocha Brown and Silver.
Get a Price on the Fujifilm Finepix Z5fd
The FinePix Z5fd is small enough that it will fit easily into a pocket or the most minimalist of clutch bags. It features the traditional ‘Z’ series sliding lens cover, with a ‘Z5’ motif that lights up in operation, 2.5” scratch resistant LCD screen and non-extending Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens so that it will emerge unscathed from even the most cluttered of spaces.
Face Detection
Fujifilm was the first manufacturer to develop hardware-based Face Detection technology for its compact digital cameras. The FinePix Z5fd joins the FinePix S6500fd and F31fd in Fujifilm’s current ‘fd’ line-up. Face Detection captures up to ten faces in a frame and optimises focus and exposure to take the best possible people-picture. Incorporating the technology on its Real Photo Processor II has enabled Fujifilm to develop a range that can detect faces and optimise settings in an industry-leading 0.05 seconds.
When Face Detection is turned on and the camera is pointed at people, target-like squares demonstrate that it has ‘locked-on’ to faces. The square will then follow those faces around in real-time until they move out of the frame or the picture is taken. In playback mode, pressing the Face Detection button will cause the camera to auto-zoom to each face in turn for easy close-up review.
Face Detection is perfect for those times, such as nights out with friends, when tweaking manual settings to get the same result may not be the user’s first priority. It can cope with back-lit scenes, settings where there’s a more obvious focus point between people’s faces or when the subject is off centre.
Real Photo Technology
Fujifilm’s Real Photo Technology (RPT) is the combination of lens, CCD and processor that helps the camera produce images of impressive quality, no matter where you take it. Fujifilm’s sixth generation Super CCD HR is a unique hexagonal shape, with a larger surface area than traditional sensors, enabling it to capture more light from the Fujinon lens. The Real Photo Processor II enables impressive operation speed and features an enhanced dual-noise reduction system that maximises the effectiveness of the camera’s high ISO capability.
A camera for any occasion
In addition to its portability, the FinePix Z5fd features a host of unique Fujifilm technologies that make it the perfect take-anywhere camera. ISO 1600 light-sensitivity at full resolution enables it to take photos in low light without flash and with less noise than competing models might produce at a lower ISO. Flash-free images are much more faithful to the original scene, with skin-tones looking more natural and no loss of background detail. In addition, because the sensor’s unique shape enables it to capture light more quickly, it is possible to use higher shutter speeds without image blurring.
For better results with flash photography, Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system analyses the scene and automatically controls flash power output. The result is balanced exposure where the scene is sufficiently illuminated without washing out the foreground in the picture or losing background detail.
Natural Light & Flash mode goes one step further, taking two photos in quick succession, one with flash and one without. Both images are then displayed on the camera’s screen for easy review.
With 14 special scene modes, including Fireworks, Beach and Snow, the FinePix Z5fd offers a one-touch setting for any situation. Continuous shooting keeps the camera shooting for as long as the shutter button is pressed down. Once released, the camera retains either the first or last three images for excellent natural shots.
The FinePix Z5fd records movies at 30 fps with sound. Movie recording time is limited only by the size of the xD-Picture Card used in the camera.
Blog mode – for the My Space generation
The FinePix Z5fd features Fujifilm’s new blog mode. In this mode the camera adjusts image settings for posting online. With the increasing popularity of blogging, Internet messaging and sites such as MySpace.com, Fujifilm expects blog mode to be a well-used feature on the FinePix Z5fd.
• FinePix Z5fd key features
• New colours: Raspberry Red, Mocha Brown, Silver
• 6 Megapixel Super CCD HR
• Real Photo Processor II
• ISO 1600 at full resolution
• 26MB Internal memory
• Intelligent Flash, Natural Light & Flash, Continuous shooting
• New slim design with tripod mount
• Illuminated product logo on sliding front cover
• 2.5” TFT LCD with reinforced glass coating
• Blog mode
The FinePix Z5fd will be available from January 2007. Pricing and stockists will be announced nearer to the date of retail launch.
ThinkCamera reviews the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes - "Inside there are no real surprises. The lens is still 3x and the sensor is 6.3MP although the camera does have Fujifilm's last Big Thing - Real Photo Technology. This combines lens quality, a 2nd generation processor and its hexagonal CCD sensor design which allows more light to hit the sensor than the traditional square shaped pixels, and this means colour reproduction is better, the camera is quicker and the camera works better in low-light situations. It has an ISO 1600 mode but no form of image stabilisation, but RPT makes up for this. All the scene modes you would expect are still there plus a new one which we haven't come across before - “Blog�? mode. Since the world and his dog seem to have a blog this seems like a good feature, adjusting image settings without you having to on camera or later on PC."
Digital Camera Info has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes, "It is rare that a sexy camera actually performs decently. The Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd does just this though. It comes in a 0.8-inch skinny metal body with a sliding lens cover – and in three colors too. Then Fujifilm added a few ingredients from older models such as the automated modes and ease of use before spiking it with a new image processor and technology found in the high-performing FinePix F-series. The Z5fd has effective face detection technology and an i-Flash system that helps snap great portraits. The 6.3-megapixel digital camera appeals to the younger generation not only with its trendy colors, but with its IrSimple wireless communication technology and Trimming for Blog mode. Fujifilm envisions young users to snap pictures and beam them to computers to be added to personal blogs and networking web sites. There are a few drawbacks to the camera such as a 3-shot burst mode, a relatively small maximum aperture, and some of the smallest controls out there. Still, the $229 retail price and encouraging pictures on the show floor make the future look bright for the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd. Check back in a month or two for the full review to see if this digital camera lives up to the hype."
Trusted Reviews has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes, "Although it is clearly designed for social snapshot photography, the Z5fd acquits itself well shooting normal photographs in daylight as well; in fact I can only describe the picture quality as outstanding. Despite its size the lens performs brilliantly as long as it’s kept clean, with minimal distortion or chromatic aberration, and even the usual Fuji bugbear of purple fringing is almost completely absent. The level of detail is excellent for a 6MPcamera. ... Proving that you should never judge a book by its cover, the party-oriented Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd is a very accomplished little camera, capable of producing excellent results both indoors and out in a wide range of lighting conditions, as long as you keep your grubby fingers clear of the lens. It is stylish, well made, performs and handles well, and is very easy to use. The only real issue is the limited battery life, but if as long as you keep it charged up this shouldn’t be a problem."
CrunchGear has a review of the Fujifilm Z5fd and writes, "Face detection on the Z5fd is quite accurate and great for party shots. I took this camera to a wedding and, when the images weren’t washed out by flash, the group shots looked just fine. ... Images taken with the Z5 were fairly bright and detailed with just a bit of noise in visible in out of focus areas. I printed out a few of the images and saw no noticeably egregious problems but the images were slightly washed out in natural light. ... Is it a great camera? No. Is it a acceptable pocketable camera from a company that knows its stuff? Yes."
Gizmodo has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes, "The most trumpeted feature is an auto-resizing tool that lets you shoot at full resolution, then do a "save as" at 640x480, the better to fit on your little patch of real estate in the blogosphere. When you are reviewing your shots, you just hit the F button and then select "Trimming for Blog." You can crop or not, but either way, you save the file in the low-res format. It's a great idea, but there's this problem: The largest image we typically run on the Giz is 500 pixels across. I don't know what fancy blog Fujifilm had in mind, but I need to shrink things down a little tighter than VGA res. Also, there's no file optimization. The resulting file is still over 100KB, rather than a nice tight 25KB."
Unbeatable has a review of the Fuji Finepix Z5FD and writes, "The image quality is absolutely superb and we really stuggled to find fault with any of our images. Colours were brilliantly reproduced and were bright and sharp. A quick start-up to shoot time completed the perfection of such a small, compact camera which is rare to find today. ... We really enjoyed using the Fuji Z5FD and though it was excellent value for money. Although the battery life could be slightly better, the images we recived were fab and as long as you keep the battery charged for every occassion you should have no problems with this one."
PhotographyPress has a review of the FujiFilm FinePix Z5fd and writes, "The Fuji Z5fd provides the sort of image quality that other digital compacts with higher resolution sensors can only dream of. The good lens performance also helps and while this is, strictly speaking, a trendy, nice-looking snapping camera, probably to be found in clubs or pubs, it deserves a wider audience but particularly for those looking for a simple to use, ultra-compact digital camera that takes excellent pictures."
AbsoluteGadget has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes, " While most of the time you will have it on auto mode (which will do for most pictures) you'll be able to take good pics. ... it does a good job of taking pictures and as it starts up quickly, it is easy to pull the thing out, open the cover, take a shot and put it away again. Worth considering for a second camera you can take on a night out or where you don't want to lug around a big camera."
Imaging Resource has posted a review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd digital camera where they make the following recommendation - 'The Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd's performance ranges from good to just about average, depending on what you're trying to do. Startup time is a little sluggish at two seconds, but shutdown time is almost instant. Shutter response is good at both wide angle and telephoto, at 0.55 and 0.75 seconds respectively, and even faster at 0.29 second in High Speed AF mode. "Prefocusing" the camera by half-pressing and holding down the shutter button before the final exposure results in an impressive lag time of only 0.018 second. Shot-to-shot cycle times are slower than average, at about 2.65 seconds for large/fine JPEGs, and the camera appears to capture shots continuously in single-shot mode without having to stop and clear the buffer. Continuous mode is average, at 0.52 frames-per-second for 20 large/fine JPEG frames. The flash takes 5.7 seconds to recharge after a full-power shot, which is on the sluggish side. Connected to a computer or printer with USB 2.0, download speeds are fast enough that you shouldn't need a separate card reader. Overall, the FinePix Z5fd is responsive enough for most average family and travel shooting situations, though its shot-to-shot time is somewhat on the slow side.'
CNET reviews the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes - 'Though its photos can be pretty good, the Z5fd performs inconsistently. On one hand, I see no lens distortion or focus problems, nary a compression artifact and only the occasional case of purple fringing. Photos look relatively sharp and white balance reasonably neutral. If you want that typical vivid snapshot appearance, you'll have to switch into Chrome (as in slide film) color mode, because the standard mode looks a little flat relative to most point-and-shoot models.'
Get a Price on the Fujifilm Finepix Z5fd
Posted by Darren in our Fuji category on November 09, 2006