Fujifilm FinePix E900

Model Design / Appearance (7.0)
The FinePix E900 mixes black and chrome like the Z1, and comes off looking more stylish than some of Fuji's other entries – the low-end super zoom S5200, for instance. Unfortunately, Fuji did not exercise as much restraint in designing the E900 as it did with the Z1. A functionless lump of chrome on the grip, that doesn't match with the curves and fillets that characterize the rest of the E900’s styling, crowds the front of the camera.

Although, the E900 we received shows very good manufacturing – the seams between major parts fit well, the screws sit snug in their holes, and there aren't any obvious creaks or rattles.

Size / Portability (6.5)
The FinePix E900 measures 4.0 x 2.5 x 1.4 inches and weighs 9.2 ounces with batteries and card. There are plenty of smaller cameras, but most of them offer lower resolution and less-usable controls. It's particularly relevant to camera size that the E900 has a 1/1.6-inch sensor, which is large for a compact camera. Sensor size has a big influence on image quality, so it's worthwhile to put up with the extra bulk. The lens retracts flat when the camera is shut off, and nothing else projects from the camera to snag while the E900 is stowed in a bag or purse.

We wish the E900 had better materials to seal against dust and moisture, but the built quality does supply some durability. The E900 will fit in a backpack or large coat pockets, but if those spaces are dirty, the lens setup may well take on some gunk that could work its way inside and cause problems.

Handling Ability (7.5)
The FinePix E900 has a fine grip – we found the size comfortable for a range of users and the rubber coating gave many a secure hold. Just about any camera will be steadier handheld if the user holds it in both hands, so it's good that the E900 has good spots for the left hand as well as the right. There's a small spot for the left thumb low on the back of the camera. The top and bottom of the E900 are comfortable spots for the left hand too.

The optical viewfinder is not particularly useful, so we expect most people to rely on the E900's LCD. That makes it even more vital that users steady the camera with both hands as they shoot.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.25)
Fuji's buttons tend to be mechanically very good – it's easy to feel when they've been pressed far enough to activate, and they're durable. Some of the E900's buttons are set very flush to avoid accidental pushes. For some controls, it's appropriate, but in some cases, we'd rather see other types of functioning mechanisms. Slide or rotary switches are usually more positive in their action, and it would be better if the E900 had that sort of switch for its on/off control. As it is, the push button is small and set below the surface of the camera's top. While a tap seems enough to shut it off, the shooter must hold the button down briefly to activate the E900. The button seems tweaked so that it won't turn the camera on accidentally if it's bumped in a pocket or bag, but this will obviously impact  its start-up time.

It's good that the four-way controller and the OK button are separate – shooters don't have to worry about accidentally pressing "OK" when they mean to scroll down. Having a dedicated button for exposure compensation is another plus – people do use that feature shot by shot, so it is better to have a handy button rather than a menu entry that takes a few steps to access. Direct access to the Flash Synchronization mode and Macro Focus are also good choices.

Fuji persists in putting image quality, ISO and color effects in a separate menu activated by the "Finepix" button. This is a gimmick – Fuji is trying to play up its acknowledged image quality, clustering adjustments related to quality under a branded control. It would actually make more sense to include white balance in the FinePix menu – but such a placement wouldn't necessarily reinforce Fuji’s marketing message.

Menu (7.5)
The FinePix E900's menus are readable and attractive. The self-timer is at the top of the shooting menu, which indicates an effort to reach out to beginners – why not start the list with something everyone can understand? The list goes a good bit deeper, though, including an independent flash exposure control, which will help improve fill flash performance. 

Setup
Imag Disp.	Set length of time image appears for  review on LCD after it's shot
Shutter volume	Set volume for shutter sound
Beep volume	Set volume for alert when camera controls are used
Playback volume	Set volume for video and voice memo playback
Frame No.	Set whether frame numbers are set consecutively, or start over when a blank memory card is inserted
LCD Brightness	Set monitor brightness
LCD	Turn LCD display off to save power
Digital Zoom	Turn digital zoom on or off
CCD-RAW	Set to have the camera write RAW files instead of JPEGs
Auto Power Off	Set the camera to shut itself off after 5 or 2 minutes unattended
LCD Power Save	Set to darken LCD when the camera is unattended
Format	Erase all files from memory
Date/Time	Set date and time
Time Difference	Set time zone for current location
Language	Set menu language
Background Color	Set menu and cursor color
USB mode	Set to connect to computer or PictBridge printer
Video System	Set to output PAL or NTSC signal
Discharge	Set to discharge rechargeable batteries
Reset	Return camera to factory settings

F
Size/Quality	Choose resolution and quality when shooting JPEGs
ISO	Set sensitivity from 80 to 800, or Auto
FinePix Color	Standard, Chrome or Black-and-white

Playback
[Delete]	Delete either the current image or all images in the memory
Image Rotate	Turn image 90 degrees, right or left
[Print]	Set up DPOF direct print orders
[Protect]	Set to prevent images from being deleted
Automatic Playback	Slide show
Voice memos	Record voice and associate it with an image
Trimming	Crop image and save a copy

In movie mode, the "F" button calls up quality settings, allowing the user to choose between 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 resolution. In Playback mode, the "F" button calls up print options.

Ease of Use (7.25)
The Fujifilm FinePix E900 gets high marks for ease of use. Its automatic modes are, in fact, clear and useful. Nearly all compact cameras are easy to use in automatic, though. The FinePix E900 distinguishes itself by providing good access to manual controls – for a compact camera, it's easy to set aperture and shutter speed. Exposure compensation has a dedicated button, so it's quick and easy to tweak the camera's settings.

The FinePix E900 falls short in two areas: First, users have to manually pop up the flash. This should really pop up by itself, particularly in automatic modes. Second, the manual focus control works neither quickly, nor well.