Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 – A Good Value Of Money Compact Megazoom
Thumbs Up:
The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 is a compact camera with 10x zoom and wide angle lens. The feature set offered here are also pretty decent for the price.
Thumbs Down:
The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 has got certain irrelevant features and the photo quality offered by the camera is also pretty decent.
The Whiz Kid Speaks:
Price: $219.95 – $249.99
Manufacturer: Fujifilm
Part Number: 16008391
Product Type: Compact Digital camera
Weight: 5.2 oz
Dimensions (H x W x D) in inches: 2.2 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches
LCD size: 2.7 inch LCD
Display: 2.7 in Color LCD display in TFT active matrix
Resolution: 14.1 megapixels
Optical Sensor Type: CCD
Camera Flash: Built-in flash
Shooting Modes: Frame movie mode
White balance: Automatic, Custom, and Presets
Supported Flash Memory: SD Memory Card
Flash Modes: Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, slow synchro, Auto mode and Red-eye reduction
Peripheral Devices: CD-ROM drive and USB port
Exposure Modes: Automatic, Program
Shooting Programs: Text , Dog , Cat , Beach , Snow , Flower , Night mode , Fireworks , Sunset , Sports mode , Landscape , Party/indoor , Portrait enhancer , Portrait mode , Natural light , Natural light & with flash and Night (tripod)
Software: FinePix Viewer, Drivers & Utilities
Cables Included: USB cable
Connector Type: USB and Composite video/audio output
Additional Features: Direct print , Face detection , DPOF support , Audio recording , Resizing an image , Face Recognition , Built-in speaker , Exif Print support , Cropping an image , PictBridge support , Automatic Scene Recognition (SR Auto), Digital image rotation , USB 2.0 compatibility , and 720p HD movie recording
Included Accessories: Carrying strap
Focus: Automatic
Supported Battery: Fujifilm NP-45A
Razzle Dazzle:
The overall body of the Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 is pretty compact and the key attraction of its pocket friendly body is the 10x zoom wide-angle lens fitted in its compact body. The camera has rounded lens and corners, and hence the design doesn’t have anything snagging out of the body, so taking the camera in and out of the pocket and bag is pretty smooth. The metal body of the camera provides a fashionable feel, but at the same time the smooth body of the camera makes holding the camera tricky job. But in general the design of the camera is decent and makes it look stylish.
Inside Dope:
The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 and Fujifilm FinePix JZ300 are Fujifilm’s effort to offer one and all something to cheer about. In their effort to make Fujifilm has tried real hard and while they have brought some interesting features, there are some irrelevant features as well. One of the interesting features that we found here is the 10x zoom wide angle lens. Consider the $249.95 price of Fujifilm FinePix JZ500, the feature set offered here is real great. But at the same time there are certain features that you will find irrelevant. The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 and Fujifilm FinePix JZ300 is almost the same camera with the only difference being of resolution and color choices. The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 is available only in black color, while there are color choices of silver and black for 12 megapixels JZ300 can.
The controls on the camera are pretty basic and hence even the out of the box users won’t have any problems in operating the camera. Located right at the top of the camera is the shutter release, power button and zoom ring. The power button of the camera is buried in the body, but is surrounded by a lip which makes operating the button without even looking at it is not a big deal. The backside of the camera hosts the small shooting mode dial, it is positioned alongside the LCD and the dished shape of the dial provides a little space to let you place your thumb for smooth operation of the camera. The only thing you need to watch out for regarding the shooting mode dial is that while taking the camera in and out of your pocket or bag makes sure you check the settings. Except of this the shooting mode dial operates effortlessly. Underneath the dial, the dial there are some other physical controls for the camera including the playback button, a directional pad with middle menu/select button and another display button for turning the onscreen info on and off. Apart from the menu and setting navigation, the directional pad can also be used for changing the timer, macro focus, exposure compensation and flash.
Positioned right at the bottom (at right) of the camera are the battery and card slot compartment. The door which covers the two doesn’t locks and hence when you are handling the camera you need to watch out for it.
The performance offered by Fujifilm FinePix JZ500, is pretty decent for its price. Though the quality of photos easily could have been improved, but was acceptable. Also like any other compact camera the photo’s taken at low ISO appeared sharp. But at the same time you can’t expect printing photos larger than 8 x 10. So expecting performance floating in between good and excellent will be the right thing to do at this point of time.
Nitty Gritty:
The Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 is a good value of money compact Megazoom, from performance as well as features point of view, though the photo quality here is a bit lagging.
