Connectivity
Software (7.0)
FinePix Viewer software is included with the Fujifilm S9000. The viewer program aspires to organize all the pictures on the computer – it digs them up and shows them through a calendar or folder interface. It shows images as thumbnails, in a large preview, or in details mode, which shows shooting data. It is also possible to add annotations and captions to images. The program can create slide shows, prep images to be sent via email, and do a bit of editing. The editing functions include rotation, cropping, insertion of text, resizing, and fixing red-eye. Image quality adjustments include brightness, saturation, contrast, hue, and sharpness. The software will also convert images to black and white or sepia tone. As an aid in editing, the program includes a one-touch control that detects faces and zooms in on them. A text help feature is available on the left side of the screen to guide users through the various camera functions. A separate program, ImageMixer VCD DVD2, is a simple disk authoring program to create backups. It does not include video editing functions.
Jacks, ports, plugs (6.0)
The Fuji S9000 can plug into computers or printers via a USB connection. It has an A/V out jack for connection to televisions or other analog video equipment, and can send PAL or NTSC signals. It also can connect to an external power supply, which is not included in the kit.
Direct Print Options (6.5)
The Fujifilm S9000 is PictBridge DCF and DPOF compatible, which is the Alphabet Soup version of the following translation: you can make prints without a computer, either by plugging the camera into a printer, or by sticking your memory card into a kiosk at the camera store. Fuji has made the printing interface simple and clear. In playback, pressing the “F” button selects an image for printing, and another step sets the number of copies you want.
Battery (5.0)
The Fujifilm S9000 takes AA batteries, and it takes lots and lots of them. We’ve found that cameras with their own custom lithium-ion rechargeable batteries tend to go much longer between battery changes than models that run on AAs – even Nickel Metal Hydride AAs, which are the kind that Fujifilm recommends for the S9000. Fujifilm’s NiMH rechargeable batteries are sold separately with a charger. The alkaline batteries included in the kit should last about 140 frames – not much when you’re shooting digital stills and nothing at all when shooting video.
Memory (4.0)
The Fujifilm S9000 accepts both xD-Picture Cards and CompactFlash or Microdrive cards. The xD cards must be 1 GB or smaller, and the camera is incompatible with Lexar 40x CompactFlash cards from 1 to 8 GB. Others should work fine. The S9000 comes with a 16 MB xD-Picture Card, which might hold a whole RAW file or two. With a 9 megapixel camera, the smallest appropriate media capacity is 512 MB – otherwise, you'll be swapping media as often as you used to change film.
Other Features (2.5)
Self-timer - The S9000 boasts a self-timer capable of delaying exposures by either 2 or 10 seconds, which ought to be long enough for most users to get into their own group shots.
Voice Memo – The S9000 can record memos up to 30 seconds long. The memos have to be associated with an image in the memory.
Digital Zoom – It’s hard to call a digital zoom a “feature,” when it’s simply going to trash the otherwise very good image quality of the S9000, but the camera includes a 2x digital zoom that we ought to mention somewhere.
