Fujifilm FinePix Z1
By Pocket Lint
Tuesday 2nd August 2005 13:34 GMT
The Z1 features the same CCD technology found in the FinePix F10 - SuperCCD HR technology - providing 5.1 megapixel resolution in an extremely svelte package. The camera is so thin because it incorporates a lens with folded optics that enable a non-extending 3x optical zoom lens to be crammed within its body; it's similar to the lens technology developed by Konica Minolta for its 'X' series cameras and also featuring in Sony's 'T' series models and Nikon's Coolpix S1, writes Doug Harman.
The other design feature of note is the curvacious metal body that folds around so the back of the camera is smaller than the front, leaving the face clean and clear for the slide away front cover that also acts as the on/off switch.
This gives the camera a very attractive look and clean front plate without protuberances: ideal for popping in a pocket. It's this pockteability that makes the camera so attractive, as is its pure point and shoot philosophy: the camera has no true manual modes. Even in what it calls 'manual' shooting mode, it only provides the user with a few extra options, such as the white balance control or the +/-2EV exposure compensation setting.
However, you do get a very nice 115,000-pixel resolution, 2.5in colour screen that is both crisp and nice to use in all but the brightest of sunlight when it becomes less distinct. It's then the lack of an optical viewfinder becomes brow-furrowing, you must shade the LCD with one hand and shoot with the other.
<img src="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/images/smiles/source.jpg"> The Register
<img src="http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/images/smiles/view.jpg" border="0"> <a href=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/02/review_finepix_z1/ target=_blank> complete article</a> <img src="http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/1638/z1113wp.png" align="right">
