Fuji FinePix S5000Fuji's latest electronic SLR offers a full 10x optical zoom lens.<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 10/01/2003 |
Video
Out
The S5000 comes with an A/V (audio and video) cable that allows you to connect
the camera to a television set for reviewing images and movies. Since the viewfinder
signal in record mode is also routed to the video jack, you can also use a video
monitor as an expanded viewfinder for composing shots. A Setup menu option changes
the video mode to PAL or NTSC.
Power
The
S5000 uses four AA-type batteries for power, and comes with a set of single-use
alkaline cells. As always, I strongly recommend buying a few sets of high-capacity
NiMH AA cells and a good charger, and always keeping a freshly charged set on
hand as spares. You can read my battery test results here,
or see this
article for a review of my favorite charger.
An AC adapter is available as a separate accessory, potentially handy when downloading images or reviewing captured files, and essential if you plan to use the S5000 as a webcam. (If you don't plan on using the camera as a webcam, a good set of rechargeable NiMH cells should more than do the trick.) An Auto Power Off function shuts off the camera automatically after either two or five minutes of inactivity (adjusted through the Setup menu), but can be disabled if you want to keep the camera ready all the time, at the obvious cost of shorter battery life. There's also a "Discharge" function accessible through the Setup menu, which discharges the batteries. (Only use with NiMH rechargeable batteries, and never alkaline cells.) The Discharge utility completely discharges the batteries, so that they can be recharged completely. - This is a nice feature, handy if your NiMH charger doesn't have a "conditioning" option on it. (For best results, discharge-condition your NiMH batteries every 20 charge cycles or so.) The table below details power consumption in various operating modes.
|
|
(@ 5v) |
(1600mAh, 4.8v 4 NiMH Cells) |
| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
|
|
| Capture Mode, EVF |
|
|
| Capture Mode, "sleeping" |
|
|
| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
|
|
| Half-pressed w/EVF |
|
|
| Memory Write (transient) |
|
|
| Flash Recharge (transient) |
|
|
| Image Playback |
|
|
The S5000 is really a stellar performer when it comes to battery life. While you don't have the automatic advantage of a camera with a purely optical viewfinder (no need to power an LCD when shooting with an optical VF), the S5000's power consumption is quite low, even when the full LCD is being used. An automatic "sleep" mode stretches battery life dramatically, yet leaves the camera ready to go on a few seconds' notice. Overall, a great performance, but my advice to purchase at least a couple of sets of high-power NiMH rechargeable batteries and a good charger still stands.
Included Software
Packaged with the S5000 is a software CD containing Fuji's "Software for FinePix," compatible with both Windows and Macintosh platforms. In addition to USB drivers, the software package includes FinePix Viewer for organizing files, and a RAW File Converter for processing RAW data files. Windows users can take advantage of the PictureHello application, which turns the S5000 into a webcam.
Included Hardware
Included in the box are the following items:
- Fuji FinePix S5000 digital camera.
- Neck strap.
- Lens cap with strap.
- Lens adapter ring.
- A/V cable.
- USB cable.
- Four AA-type alkaline batteries.
- 16MB xD-Picture card with case.
- Software CD.
- Instruction manuals and registration information.
Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it when
you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time
to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos
due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few things
more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen with any
card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. "Stuff happens,"
as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered
with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount
of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam
reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read
our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now,
so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then
it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for
Windows or PhotoRescue for
Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF
manual and quickstart
guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need
it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue
is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen.
(Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly
recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly
scheduled review...
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