Model Design / Appearance (7.0)
This model is clearly meant to imitate a DSLR. It certainly has the look with its sleek black body and chunky features. The lens protrudes several inches, as does the handgrip. The handgrip is covered in a rubber material, which is black like the rest of the camera body. The S9000’s body is different from SLRs because it’s made from cheaper materials. Most SLRs are built from either magnesium or aluminum alloy, while some cheaper models are formed out of a polycarbonate frame. The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 is constructed from molded plastic parts. This camera is far less durable than most DSLR bodies. While the FinePix S9000 still has that professional black look, it surely lacks the feel.
Size / Portability (4.5)
The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 is roughly the same size as the popular Nikon D70. The S9000 measures 5 x 3.7 x 5.1 inches, which is smaller than many digital SLRs but bigger than almost every compact camera. This Fujifilm is quite heavy for its size, even when pitted against other compact or point-and-shoot models. It weighs 22.8 ounces without the cards, batteries, and other accessories. With a tiny xD-Picture Card and the four AA batteries, the S9000 weighs 26.6 ounces. By the time a conversion lens and a flash attachment is added, photographers will have to haul a sturdy tripod to keep the camera steady. Because the Fujifilm S9000 is bulkier and heavier than most consumer-level cameras, a camera bag will be a definite necessity. The bag should be made to fit SLR cameras, as this model has a protruding lens and grip. Unfortunately, without the option to detach the lens, the S9000 is even less portable than most DSLRs (though probably lighter). The S9000 will be transportable in a camera bag, but it will require a bag large enough to fit the shape and it will still be somewhat heavy. When out of the bag, the camera has a neck strap to distribute some of the weight but will still feel like a heifer to those accustomed to one-handed shooting. However, anyone downgrading from a DSLR will find the weight of the camera to be a friendly relief.
Handling Ability (6.0)
The weight of the FinePix S9000 will inhibit most from shooting with one hand and probably deter some from wanting to handle the camera at all. However, if you don’t mind a little weight or are accustomed to an SLR, you should give it a try in your hands. The rubber material on the right-hand grip is very comfortable, as are the ergonomic divots on the grip. There is a horizontal niche running across the top of the grip for the index finger – when it is not on the shutter release button of course. There is also a vertical divot for the finger tips to rest in. These little features make a big difference in the overall handling. Holding and shooting with the camera is comfortable, but making changes to exposure settings could pose a handling problem. There are buttons on three sides of the body, so both hands will be furiously searching for them. The buttons aren’t all that easy to figure out either; some buttons have to be held down while the jog dial is being rotated. Overall, the S9000 is not as intelligently designed as SLRs. The controls require some work to find and functionality is not optimal. The camera is easiest to handle as a point-and-shoot but unfortunately, it is meant to be more advanced than that.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
There is a button for everything on this digital camera, which is both a blessing and a curse. The buttons are clearly labeled, so photographers shouldn’t have to dig through pages and pages of menus to find the auto focus mode options. However, switching options even with the on-camera buttons usually requires several movements. Remember the efficiency experts that reduced the number of motions car manufacturers made into what eventually became the assembly line? The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 could use an efficiency expert or two. Some changes are just completely non-intuitive and difficult to understand. For example, to change the aperture in Manual mode users have to hold down the exposure compensation button while turning the jog dial (a flaw consistent with many cheaper DSLRs). The buttons are big enough and the placement of the major dials and buttons is decent, but the overall setup is not very natural. Photographers who purchase this camera will have to bust out the user manual and read it religiously, then study it for another six weeks while shooting rigorously before all the nuances are figured out.
Menu (7.5)
The menu button is positioned in the center of the multi-selector and is the portal to pages and pages of menu options. The menus are gray and have tabs on the left side to show how many pages of options there are. The functions are listed as icons directly to the right of the tabs. When users scroll over the icons, text titles appear at the top. The menu feature is one of the more intuitive aspects of the S9000. Since there are so many on-camera buttons, many of the functions are repeated. The recording menu consists of the following options: Self-timer, White Balance, High-speed Shooting, AF 
Mode, Flash, Setup, Sharpness, Saturation, Contrast, Bracketing, Multi-Exposure, and External Flash. If users are searching for the ISO, it can only be found in the menu that appears when the “F” Photo Mode button is pressed. That button has a menu for Picture Quality, ISO, and Color Mode. The Playback menu offers these options: Erase, Image Rotate, Print Order (DPOF), Protect, Playback, Setup, Voice Memo, and Trimming. The lengthiest menu is the Setup menu, which lets users toy with everything from the background color to the shutter volume.
The Setup menu has these options: Image Display, Shutter Volume, Beep Volume, Playback Volume, Frame No., LCD Brightness, Media, CCD-RAW, EVF/LCD Mode, AE-Lock Mode, AF Illuminator, Auto Power Off, Format, Date/Time, Time Difference, Language, Background Color, USB Mode, Video System, Discharge, and Reset. As I stated before, the menus are the most intuitive aspect of the Fujifilm FinePix S9000.
Ease of Use (5.0)
To really take advantage of all the S9000 has to offer, users will need four hands, two brains, and about eight times more patience than is regularly needed with a digital camera. Holding the camera is easy – if you’re accustomed to shooting with an SLR. Figuring out the buttons and jog dials and all their hidden functions may require at least a two-year degree. DSLRs are not known for their ease of use and the Fujifilm S9000 is probably more difficult to use than most DSLRs. The camera lacks intuitive shortcuts – even omitting the option to switch back to shooting mode (from playback) by partially depressing the shutter release. Pointing and shooting is fairly easy – but maximizing the camera’s potential presents a challenge. One thing is for sure: the FinePix S9000 won’t be known for its ease of use.
