Fuji FinePix S9100

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FinePix S9100 Prices

External Reviews
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Although the case of the S9100 is matte black plastic, it feels pretty robust and should stand up to use, with no obvious gaps where dust and liquid could get in. My only major concern is with the LCD screen: the connection between this and the case feels like it might not stand up to rough treatment, such as shoving the camera into a case with the screen still in the extended position. But it fits flush with the case when it is properly installed, so it should be OK if you make sure it is put back before you put it away.

 

The 27 oz. S9100 is at the higher end of the scale in terms of both weight and bulk: at 5 by 3.7 by 5.1 inches, it’s not something you are going to put into a pocket. But that’s not really the point of the camera. It’s designed for a more sophisticated audience than the point-and-shoot crowd, and these sophisticated users don’t mind extra bulk if it gets them extra features and ease of use.  

 

The other upside of the large size of the case is the wide grip on the left side (looking from the front) that fits comfortably into the hand and provides for a firm grip. It isn’t likely to slip from your hands when shooting. However, you really need both hands to use the other controls (such as the adjustment dial on the top right of the back of the camera), as it can have a tendency to slip from the hand when you loosen your grip to use the controls. Using the other hand on the lens stabilizes it well, though.

 

Most of the commonly used controls (such as the exposure lock, mode dial and the adjustment dial are easily reached with the thumb of the right hand (although you need to use the left to brace the camera) and can be used when the eye is to the viewfinder. You can also change the metering mode without taking your eye of the subject, but some controls (such as the AF mode) are located on the left side of the camera, which is significantly more awkward to access. However, these aren’t the controls that you would generally need to change while shooting, so it’s not a major problem. The zoom is controlled by the zoom ring on the lens, so you’ll need two hands to zoom in and out.

 

The S9100’s menus are clear and straightforward, requiring only a single press of the menu button to access and the directional buttons to navigate.

 

 

The S9100 is a relatively simple camera to use, with most features where you expect them to be. The number of buttons (11 on the back alone) may be intimidating to some users, but this makes the controls available when you need them, not buried in an on-screen menu somewhere.