Fuji Finepix S5000 Review

Overall Rating

Looks, feels and handles like an SLR. Heaps of zoom, lots of manual settings but the auto mode makes it easy to use even by a novice.

Top control wheel moves way too easily, settings can be changed accidentally when picking up the camera or brushing against clothing. EVF is too grainy and imprecise for detail work. Focus assist lamp is pathetic. ISO 800 setting only available at low resolution.

A delight to handle and use the S5000 is the only digicam (apart from the 602) which I could use just like my SLR Nikon, felt comfortable right from day one.

I am very impressed with the 10x zoom which operates smoothly and the autofocus remains sharp throughout the range. At, or close to maximum zoom camera shake can become a problem so an eye must be kept on the warning indicator, I do not consider this a fault as a conventional camera with a long zoom would perform identically. I can see how this would give rise to some complaints I have seen relating to the S5000, nothing wrong with the focus, it would be easy for the digicam owner used to 3x zoom to forget to monitor the shutter speed.

The 2.8 lens is fast enough for available light work in conditions where other digicams need the flash. Image quality is very good for a 3.2 MP camera, I regularly print A4s straight off the card with no other enhancement and the results are superb. JPEG compression is quite severe and the onboard image processing (sharpening) will often leave discernable artifacts in images (though not usually noticeable unless you crop/enlarge) however changing the sharpening setting to 'soft' seems to reduce the effect.

Like most of the Finepix range the S5000 accentuates reds noticeably, but renders skin tones beautifully so this is an acceptable tradeoff. Fuji's system of arranging the imager elements diagonally seems to produce even, sharp images but it is very difficult to discern any image improvement at the 6MP setting, however even at 3MP images are ahead of other cameras of the same resolution.

The range of manual settings is excellent, shutter and aperture priority along with program and manual modes render top quality images in almost every situation, with plenty of scope for individual expression. The exception being the manual focus which is next door to useless as there is no way to determine sharp focus either in the EVF or LCD, however the auto focus gets it right 99% of the time so again not a biggie.

The pop-up flash is grunty and far enough away from the lens so as to minimise red-eye, no need to dive into the setup menu to disable the flash, if you dont need it, don't pop it and you will get those available light pics perfectly exposed almost every time.

IMHO no manufacturer has yet produced the perfect digital camera but until that happens the S5000 will be the best feature set for dollars alternative in its price range, sure its not a pro digital SLR but it is aimed specifically at the enthusiast market, as a semi-pro I find it does all my work with ease and my photographically challenged family can take great shots using the auto setting.