Fujifilm FinePix S5100 Digital Camera Review

Front (7.0)
As with most cameras, the lens is the dominant feature of the front. Around the lens ring are the words, “Fujinon zoom lens,” and “1:2.8-3.1 10x optical zoom f="5.7-57mm."" The outer ring around the lens is brushed and polished silver. Behind that ring is a rubber ring with tiny indentations, to give the impression of a manual focus ring grip. However, don’t be fooled: this is not an SLR; it is simply SLR-shaped and the focus ring does not function! This is one particular design element that really bothers me. Without the manual focus ring surrounding the lens, the rubber gripping just seems ridiculous. There is not enough depth to provide proper gripping, so I am inclined to believe this is purely a design element, like the gas tank outline on a model car. Would it have really required that much more engineering to make the ring functional? Above the lens is the flash, which pops up when the flash button on the side is pressed. To the right of the flash is the self-timer lamp; below the lamp and beside the lens is the circular microphone. The microphone has a brushed silver cover with ten holes in it.

To the left of the flash is the AF assist illuminator. To its left is the nicely sized right-hand grip. At the bottom of the front between the grip and the lens is a small silver plate with the words “4.0 megapixels.” Purely cosmetic, of course – but so are many things on this SLR-shaped digital camera.

Back (7.0)
The back of the camera is slightly cluttered with small buttons and the 1.5-inch LCD screen. Above the screen are two buttons and a light, laid out horizontally across the top. On the left is the indicator lamp. In the middle is the photo mode button, labeled with a Fuji-inspired “F.” To the right is the monitor selector button, labeled with “EVF/LCD.” This button allows the user to choose whether to view from the viewfinder or the LCD screen.  

Above the LCD screen is the viewfinder. When I put my eye on the nicely cushioned eyepiece of the viewfinder, my nose rubbed the LCD screen, leaving more facial oils than I care to admit to possess. I don’t have an exceptionally large nose, but the placement of the viewfinder directly above the LCD screen was not helpful. To the left of the viewfinder is the diopter adjustment, which is way too small. To adjust the focus of the viewfinder, the user must jam a fingernail into the side of the viewfinder and push the plastic dial up or down. Not a friendly design to use.

To the right of the LCD screen and viewfinder is an open field with a few buttons here and there. At the top is the zoom control, which consists of a wide angle zoom button on the left and a telephoto zoom button on the right. Beneath those buttons is the small “DISP/BACK” button, which selects what information appears on the screen display. It also works like the “escape” key on a computer does, moving the user back through the path of choices. This is one of the more logical buttons included on this model and works to make control and functionality smoother and more direct.

 Below that button is the “MENU/OK” button, surrounded by a four-way navigational dial. On the left portion of the dial is a picture of a flower, which indicates the macro button. The right side has a flash symbol on it and changes the flash modes on the camera. Below the main menu and navigation dial is the low light viewfinder button, which has a picture of a sun on it.

Left Side (6.0)
When viewing the camera from the back, the left side shows a very shallow grip. This isn’t bad; proper camera holding technique would have the user hold this camera more on the bottom than the side. The lens is the biggest protrusion on the left side; the side of the lens has the words “10x optical zoom” on it. From this view, the manual button to open the flash is plainly seen and clearly labeled with a flash symbol and the word “open” next to it.

At the top of the left side is a small bar mounted in a small niche; this contraption serves as the shoulder strap mount. Directly below it is the speaker, which is crescent-shaped and made up of seven small lines. To the right of the speaker is the door to the memory card, labeled “xD-Picture Card.” The plastic door has a raised spot on it for easy access. Inside is the slot for the xD-Picture card. At the bottom of the left side is an L-shaped rubber port cover, which does not have any raised spots for easy opening; this is best opened with long fingernails. The door is connected to the camera body with a rubber strap. The door is labeled with the USB symbol and the words “DC IN 5V” and “A/V OUT.” Inside the door, you will find just that: a USB port at the top of the L, a DC in port at the elbow of the L, and an A/V out port at the right side of the L.

Right Side (8.0)
The right-hand grip is free of distractions. There is a shoulder strap mount that’s identical to the one on the other side. Within the right-hand grip, the four AA batteries are stored. However, the door to these is located on the bottom of the camera.

Top (8.0)
The top of the Fujifilm FinePix S5100 looks like a squashed U when viewing it straight on. The lens makes the left side of the U and the right-hand grip makes the right side of the U. On the left side of the top are the focus controls: a focus mode selector button is labeled “AF/MF” and the focus mode selector lock switch surrounds it.

To the right of the focus buttons is the pop-up flash, which has the words “Fujifilm S5100 digital camera” on it. On the top of the right-hand grip are several control buttons. The most prominent button is the shutter release button, located at the tip of the protruding grip. Surrounding the button is the power switch, which turns the camera off or to Playback or Photography modes. Playback mode is symbolized by a green triangle within a square, while Photography mode is represented by a red picture of a camera. To turn the power off, the user must turn the dial to the white-lettered “OFF.”

Below those buttons are two small oval buttons which in turn are above a larger circular dial. The two oval buttons are the continuous shooting button on the left, and the exposure compensation button on the right. Both are clearly labeled, but a bit undersized. The large circular dial below those buttons is the main mode dial. There are several modes accessed on this dial: Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night scene, Programmed auto, Shutter priority auto, Aperture priority auto, Manual and Movie.