Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD – Reasonable Way To Get 18x Lens

We loved:

The Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD is a reasonably priced camera for a megazoom, has semi-manual and manual shooting modes; contended design and runs on AA size batteries.

We hated:

The Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD’s performance can be sluggish at times and the image quality drops considerably above ISO 200.

Introduction:

The Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD enters the already flooding megazoom camera segment of the market with its 18x zoom and affordable price of $250. Though, its nice to see that while the megazoom cameras are all over the market, in every size and shape; Fujifilm’s FinePix S2550HD with its 18x zoom fits carves its own niche with lens that that its reach and “budget” price tag of less than $250; though you can get the camera easily for less than $200, as well. The best thing about the camera is its shooting features, which are just superb for its class including the including the manual and semi-manual controls in addition to plenty of burst shooting options. The camera also has an electronic viewfinder, which many of the manufacturers have started dropping from their lower-end megazoom cameras.

Conversely, though the looks of the camera makes it looks like a shrunken digital SLR, the shooting performance of S2550HD in general is really low. Capturing a decent photo for a moving pet or child will be tricky here. Also, if you are looking for a camera that can capture decent quality low-light or indoor photos, then this surely is not the camera that you should be considering. This camera is best suited for outdoor photography, that too in brilliant lighting conditions. But if all these things haven’t bothered you, then this camera definitely is worth considering.

Build and Design:

The Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD definitely is not a pocketable camera, but despite its major attraction: the 28-504mm wide-angle equivalent lens, the camera is compactly packed. The vast right-hand drip of the camera gives you something to hold on to while shooting. The same extended grip of the camera houses the SDHC card slot for the camera and its powering four AA-size batteries and in addition it also has some space for shooting controls. The shooting controls for the camera include devoted buttons for face detection and burst shooting besides the zoom ring, off/on slider and shutter release. Though, make sure that you hold that on/off slider for comparatively long period of time, or else the camera won’t get on or off. Positioned on crest of the camera is the Mode dial, which is decently marked with its 10 main shooting options.

Positioned at the back of the camera is a courteously bright 3-inch LCD and on top of it is the electronic viewfinder. Entire settings for the camera can be viewed on both; though, both of them black out when you capture a photo. So they surely are not ideal for setting up the next shot pretty soon, but is typical of EVFs. The color quality for the camera seems to be a tad off on the LCD, as well, which makes judging the shots on the spot a tad hard.

Placed on the left side of cameras textured thumb rest is a button for switching in between the LCD and EVF. Placed under that are the Playback, OK/Menu, F-mode, Display buttons, Exposure Compensation and a directional pad to alter the screen brightness, macro settings, flash and an Instant Zoom feature that is intended to help you frame randomly moving subjects simultaneously as using the zoom lens. Press the F-mode button of the camera it will bring a relative shooting menu, while pressing the Menu/OK buttons brings up one more set of set of connections and shooting menus. Its pretty standard stuff; and once you remember when to press F-mode rather than Menu, it becomes pretty straightforward.

The camera is powered by AA-size batteries, though it is shipped with alkaline batteries, the camera is companionable with rechargeable lithium-ion and NiMH batteries as well. Both of these batteries will deliver slightly more talk time than the alkaline batteries. The memory card slot and batteries of the camera are accessed through a locking door positioned at the base of the camera. Also keep in mind that the door needs some additional force for locking and opening; which can be annoying at times. Located on the right hand side of the body is a little door, which covers Micro-USB/AV and Mini-HDMI ports that lets you attach the camera to a monitors, HDTVs or computers.

Specifications:

Manufacturer: Fujifilm
Part Number: S2550HD

Price: $187.99 – $249.95
Product Type: Digital Camera
Dimensions (H x W x D) in inches: 2.9 x 4.3 x 3.2 inches
Weight: 0.7 lbs
Display: 3.0 in Color TFT active matrix
Resolution: 12.2 megapixels
LCD size: 3 inch
Camera Flash: Built-in
Optical Sensor Type: CCD
White balance: Automatic & Manual
Flash Modes: Auto mode having red-eye reduction ,   Auto mode ,   Red-eye on ,   Flash OFF mode ,   Forced OFF mode ,   Red-eye off ,   Slow synchro ,   Forced ON with red-eye reduction ,   Slow sync with red-eye reduction mode
Shooting Modes: Semi-manual and manual
Flash Memory: 23 MB Flash – Integrated
Exposure Modes: Aperture priority,   Program,   Manual and Shutter priority
Included Accessories: 4 x AA-size alkaline batteries, Carrying strap, USB-A/V cable and Lens cap
Shooting Programs: Scene recognition auto , Auto mode , Normal movie mode , Panorama , Landscape , Portrait , Night mode , Sport , Fireworks , Tripod , Snow , Daylight , Beach , Natural light , Flower , Party , Smile shot and Text
Software: Drivers & Utilities
Connector Type: 1 x USB & 1 x HDMI output
Cables Included: 1 x USB cable
Additional Features: DPOF support & PictBridge support
Supported Battery: 4 x AA-size alkaline batteries

Performance:

Except for the burst shooting mode of Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD, the overall performance of the camera is really slow. The camera takes around 3.5 seconds to capture its first shot from a completely off state, which could easily prevent it from capturing the shot of your choice. Though, for shot to shot timings the camera improves a lot, with an average of 1.8 seconds with no the flash; the time gets doubles if you are using the flash. Though, the shutter lag is always noticeable here, regardless of the lighting conditions. In bright lighting conditions the camera takes around 0.7 second from pressing the shutter to actually capturing the shots; while in dim or poor lightening conditions that time goes up to 1.1 seconds. Even extending the lens doesn’t help here, either; the autofocus as the telephoto end is really pokey, so on a whole shooting any moving object from this camera is a tricky job.

There isn’t much to talk about the quality of photos here, and the camera delivers just OK photo quality, but going up in terms of ISO significantly distorts the image quality and up to ISO 800 the image becomes almost unusable.

Expert Comments:

The Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD is a cheaper way of getting an 18x wide-angle lens, the Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD delivers really decent or we can say OK photos and shooting performance.