Viewfinder (0.0)
The FinePix Z1 has no optical viewfinder; however, this doesn't feel like an omission, as Fuji has compensated by giving the user a 2.5” LCD display.
LCD Screen (7.0)
The FinePix Z1 has a 2.5-inch, 115,000 pixel LCD. Though relatively few compact cameras had 2.5-inch screens a year ago, the size has become the standard for cameras in this class. Unfortunately, as the size went up, the resolution stagnated. 115,000 pixels was common on 1.8-inch screens. So, while the image is larger onscreen, it does not show any more detail.
The FinePix Z1's LCD displays pretty well off-axis – images remain visible even when the camera is tilted away from the viewer. That's an advantage for users who expect to use the LCD to share their pictures with friends.
Flash (3.0)
There are some major issues users will face with the Z’1 fixed flash unit, beginning with its size. The flash on the Z1 is very small. Light sources this small (you could hide it behind a jelly bean) tend to produce very harsh shadows. That's really bad for portraiture, because it accentuates wrinkles and facial blemishes. The Z1’s flash is also positioned close to and off-center from the lens. Red-eye, the peculiar glow that shows up in people's and animals' eyes in flash pictures, is caused primarily by having a light source too close to the lens.
The FinePix Z1 combats red-eye with a pre-flash that shrinks the subjects' pupils before the exposure and the main flash. It's a common solution on cameras as small as the FinePix Z1, but it causes the camera to take a full second after the shutter is pressed to take the picture.
The flash on the FinePix Z1 is directly to the side of the lens, which is a problem for taking horizontal shots: the flash will cast dark shadows to the left of the subjects. For vertical shots, however, things will work out better, if you turn the camera counter-clockwise to take verticals. That way, the flash will be situated directly above the lens, masking the shadows behind the subjects.
Furthermore, the Z1’s flash is not very powerful; in Auto mode, Fuji says the flash is only effective to 10 feet for wide angle shots, and 7.5 feet for telephoto. By comparison, many similarly-styled and priced models will reach 13-16 feet.
Zoom Lens (5.5)
The lens on the FinePix Z1 has been carefully crafted by Fujifilm to remain inside the slim body without protruding beyond the frame. This will help keep the camera compact as well as providing a bit of added speed when powering up.
The lens has a variable length of 6.1-18.3mm, which is equivalent to a 36-108mm zoom lens on a 35mm camera. The 36mm equivalent wide angle will be convenient for taking pictures of small groups of people, but it's not wide enough to capture whole rooms in most houses. Conversely, the 108mm equivalent telephoto is long enough for portraits, but not for most sports or wildlife.
The lens is a bit handicapped by its limited aperture range. The maximum aperture of f/3.5 is more than half a stop slower than many competing cameras, which open to f/2.6. This limits the FinePix Z1's advantage in low light shooting and offsets some of the added sensitivity range.
