Model Design/Appearance (6.0)
The black boxy shape of the Fujifilm FinePix S5100 has the same weight and measurements as its precursor, the S5000. It has an attractive SLR look. If it were larger and paired with a pirated press pass, users could get the best seats on the 50-yard line this season. (Keep dreaming.) The S5100 is only 4.4 x 3.2 x 3.1 inches around, including its wide right-hand grip. The plastic body has rubber grips and panels throughout; it also has polished and brushed silver metal highlights. This style offers the appearance of an SLR without the weight (or image quality). The design is made to appeal to those photographers who are more concerned with stability and traditional handling rather than advanced portability and style.
Size/Portability (7.0)
The S5100 is too big for a pocket, but could fit into a large purse or book-bag quite easily. This digital camera is just at the size where you wonder if a camera bag is worth getting. It would only need a small bag, because it is only 4.4 inches wide, 3.2 inches high, and 3.1 inches deep. If users opt for lens accessories and such, a camera bag might be necessary. The S5100 is 11.9 ounces without the four AA batteries and the xD-Picture Card. The S5100 is bigger than a compact camera, but not bulky, although it certainly lies in an awkward size grouping. Users will not get neck spasms or lower back problems from wearing this one around but will surely become tired of carrying it out on long excursions. The camera comes with a shoulder strap and a lens cap that tethers to the strap. Figuring out the most comfortable method of transport will be up to the user.
Handling Ability (6.5)
Users accustomed to both compact digital cameras and 35mm point-and-shoot models will surely need some period to acclimate to the S5100's shape and design, but with the large right-hand grip and wide base to support the camera, users will find overall handling for the FinePix S5100 comfortable. There are rubber grips and panels located on all sides of the camera, so fingers won’t slide around. The lens is practically positioned, protruding enough to avoid wandering fingers from finding their way into the photographs. The layout of the buttons is the only real hindrance to handling.
Control button / Dial positioning / Size (7.0)
If you’re a Fujifilm veteran, this section won’t be relevant to you. However, if this is your first camera of this brand, grab the owner’s manual and the camera and get acquainted. Once you figure out the setup, photographing is easy. It’s the discovery process that may raise the blood pressure a bit. The power switch is located around the shutter release button. Both buttons are located at the front edge of the right-hand grip. With the index finger on the shutter button, the thumb can adjust the mode dial or extend a bit farther back to zoom in and out. When in automatic mode, those are the only adjustments that really need to be made. Point, zoom, shoot. However, any settings needing adjustment beyond that can be tricky. Most can be found in the main shooting menu, which appears when the MENU/OK button is pressed. However, accessing some settings, such as the ISO speed and white balance, requires users to hold down one button while simultaneously scrolling through options with the four-way control dial. This is neither the most comfortable nor simplistic of procedures, and it requires some time and attentiveness.
While in that intensive “getting to know the camera” phase, I found myself repeatedly digging through the owner’s manual to figure out which buttons needed to be held and scrolled and switched for certain functions. Perhaps my mind just does not think like a Fujifilm designer; I found many of the buttons to be illogically placed and rather small. For example, the low light viewfinder button is located at the bottom right of the LCD screen and labeled with a sun. (It occurred to me later that the sun button brightened the viewfinder – or LCD – so it made a little more sense. This is another prime example of why you should read the owner’s manual first.) One further design flaw is the color of the buttons. They are all black, and blend into the body of the camera. Finding small buttons quickly is difficult enough; finding these small black buttons against a black body in the dark is nearly impossible.
Menu (5.5)
To access the menu, press the “MENU/OK” button to the right of the LCD screen. A list of options appears, which can be scrolled through using the four-way navigational dial. Depending on the selected mode, menus may differ. The “P” programmed auto, “M” manual, “S” shutter priority auto, and “A” aperture priority auto modes offer the following options: self-timer, white balance, AF mode, photometry (metering), option, bracketing, sharpness, and flash. In the fully automatic mode and the scene modes, the only options available are the self-timer and option. The “option” selection lets the user select LCD brightness or goes to the setup menu. The movie mode provides the option selection only. All of the menu options are clearly labeled and easy to navigate with the four-way control dial.
Ease of Use (6.5)
Loyal Fujifilm consumers would probably find this camera simple to use. However, I test and review cameras of all brands, and when compared to other digital cameras, the FinePix S5100 rates low for ease of use. Setup is difficult to learn and tedious to execute. I will admit that, once I had read the manual and knew where to put my fingers, the camera was much easier to use, but still not as easy as a point-and-shoot should be. Shooting in automatic mode was by far the easiest and most simplified means available on the camera. Changing manual settings such as the aperture or exposure became frustrating when I had to hold buttons down while scrolling with the four-way controller. Some buttons are smaller than they should be, and some buttons seem illogically placed. The S5100 is not a complete nightmare to use, though. The power button is easy to find and the automatic setting is clearly labeled on the mode dial; what more does a beginning point-and-shoot user need?
