Fujifilm FinePix S5000

Model Design / Appearance (7.5)
Unlike many of its lightweight counterparts, the FinePix S5000 opts for a more substantial body frame than most, attempting to mimic the style of a standard SLR. The S5000 does pull off the box shape far better than many mock-SLR designs, giving the FinePix S5000 a sleek edge and compact feel that many of its counterparts lack. The beauty in the S5000’s design lies in its unique ability to contain a point-and-shoot feel while retaining its SLR styling.

The boxed, rectangular frame and dull two-tone black finish is not going to weigh much for contemporary image trends until the retro photographic look comes back around. However, the small, sleek SLR mirage may be deemed "cute" like a Bulldog or a Min-Pin — not actually attractive but somewhat appealing in its size and awkwardness. It looks like a tiny SLR and for those accustomed to lugging around old 35mm manual film cameras, they will get a kick out of the micro features this apparent novelty provides.

The shape of the S5000 is composed with a thick, protruding section located below the shutter release button and surrounded by a grooved rubber casing. This substantial segment provides a stern, conformable grip for the user’s right hand, along with added stabilization. Few cameras can be controlled as well with one hand and not fit into your pocket. Whether you would want a point-and-shoot camera that does not fit in your pocket is left to personal preference.

Size / Portability (7.0)
Let's face it: the FinePix S5000 is a point-and-shoot camera. Don’t let the SLR styling fool you. For many users who bask in the lightweight portability and easy automatic controls of many point-and-shoot cameras, some resentment may arise in the size of the S5000’s frame. The FinePix S5000 certainly won't make its home in your pocket so if constant travel is anticipated, be prepared to carry this camera strapped to your neck or housed away in an accessory bag. This may discourage some point-and-shooters, for whom the SLR frame may wear a bit thin when stuck carrying it for extended periods of time, in spite of its meager weight.

Officially, the FinePix S5000 is 4.4" long x 3.2" tall x 3.1" deep and weighs 11.6 oz. These dimensions apply to the basic frame itself and do not include alterations in form from additional lenses.

Handling Ability (8.0)
Once the user has worked through the conflicting proportions of FinePix S5000’s design, the camera has a nice feel. It has a grooved finger grip for the right hand and a rubber ring around the lens, begging to be held by the left hand. However, I must warn the potential user: although it’s intended to appear as a manual focus ring, it is not! This will lead to initial disappointment; however, the camera’s weight is distributed around this position and after the disappointment fades, the feel is unusually stable and secure for a small point-and-shoot imager.

The practical issues with the S5000’s design stem from its being shaped as an SLR; the FinePix S5000 is made to look like an SLR, not function like one. This leads to many handling issues when users do not use the viewfinder but rather opt for the larger LCD view to frame their images. On many digital cameras this is not an issue because the camera is crafted around this style. However, the SLR style the S5000 emulates is a traditional 35mm SLR, one that is generally made for a viewfinder and manual focus ring. This leads to issues with comfort and balance as often I felt my left hand had no room below the camera and my fingers were left to dangle awkwardly.

Control-wise, the FinePix S5000 is an even mix all around and I did not feel that the camera was difficult to control. It has some stability issues stemming from its design conflicts but its light weight, smaller SLR style frame, and simplistic button orientation make the S5000 easy to learn and control.

Control buttons / Dial positioning / Size (7.0)
On the FinePix S5000, the button placement is logical and friendly to the suggested hand positioning. With its large frame and spacious layout, the controls are easy to reach and handle the camera’s functions.
 
The large body of the Fujifilm FinePix S5000 also allows access to configuration controls without fear of fumbling, as many point-and-shoot cameras often cram their controls onto a small space, making it difficult to access a button without touching another.

The FinePix S5000 also contains a BACK button, located just above the MENU controls. The back button returns the user to the previous screen and supplies immediate eradication of the last command. This is a nice security feature for clumsy control fumbling and will help beginner users become oriented with the camera as well as provide a simplified navigational experience. Just above the back button is the Zoom Toggle. The zoom toggle is clearly labeled and practically placed within comfortable reach of the user’s right thumb. The much used zoom toggle is composed of two large semi-square shaped buttons that are well counter-balanced to the finger grip on the front right of the camera and also help to contribute additional support.

The LCD is easily accessible and placed away from direct control, so unobstructed viewing is able to continue amidst control manipulating. Additionally, the entire far-right portion of the back of the S5000 is free of buttons and controls and dedicated purely to supporting the right palm and working to aid stability. On top of this support segment, towards the front of the camera is the shutter release button, while behind is the mode dial. These two essential function controls are well placed proportionally and comfortably supported.

Menu (7.5)
The menu function on the FinePix S5000 is favorable; it is easy to navigate through and has plenty of options in addition to a back button, allowing the user to revert to the previous screen. The menu button is located on the back on the camera, to the right of the LCD screen. It is encircled by a directional pad, which navigates through the menu options. Within the menu screen, the FinePix S5000 contains white balance options , AF (automatic focusing) selections, photometry selections (to aid in extreme contrast shots), a bracketing option, flash control, sharpness and type of image as well as a self-timer, and LCD control screen for brightness.

When scrolling through the menu selection screen, the menu button also doubles as an enter or selection button. This simplifies usage and narrows the controls to two main buttons (MENU, BACK) with the directional pad used to cycle through the options. Overall, the menu is simple and well designed, helping to make the S5000 available for even the beginning user to pick up and use immediately.

Ease of Use (6.5)
For basic camera functions, the FinePix S5000 is one of the more simplistic cameras to use and control. The sparse button layout and basic two-button navigation control help to ensure that unfamiliar hands are not lost for long on its lightweight frame. On par with most point-and-shoot cameras, the automatic functions take care of most of the work and allow the user to explore the scene. The simple functionality of the FinePix S5000 is one of its strongest attributes and because of its larger body, the FinePix S5000 seems easier to control than many of its point-and-shoot counterparts.

The only blatant drawback I found in controlling the S5000 lies in some of the more advanced shooting modes, such as manual focusing. This feature is difficult to access and too tedious to utilize. Focusing should not require multiple buttons and menus to control and this is where real time can be lost. Although the FinePix S5000 is a faster shooting point-and-shoot camera, if in manual focus mode, time and energy will go to focusing the image, not on composing the shot. Overall, as long as the FinePix is in automatic, point-and-shoot mode, this will be a friendly camera for any beginner.