If you see a picture of the Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd and are told that it contains a 12x optical zoom, then you can't help but visualise the camera being quite a hefty and weighty beast. Imagine the surprise, then, when you take it out of the box to find that it fits neatly into the palm of a hand, with very little weight behind it.

Measuring only 102.5 x 73 x 67.8mm and weighing 325g (excluding batteries), the shape and dynamics are pretty similar to the 11-megapixel and 14.3x Fujifilm FinePix S100FS released at the same time. The great news is that the S1000fd packs in as many features as, if not more than, prosumer models of a similar group, with the added bonus of being able to pack it easily into a small bag or larger pocket.

On picking up the S1000fd it's clear to see that controls have been well thought out and it's easy to quickly alter shooting modes and exposure options whilst in mid shoot. The zoom control dial is especially well placed, falling naturally underneath the index finger and containing the shutter button.

The biggest selling point of the S1000fd is its generous zoom scope. So how does this bear up? Well, it's quick to respond and is fairly quiet on zooming into objects. However, the sound of the zoom on retract is slightly noisier and could be a bit distracting if you were anywhere quiet like a museum or a wedding ceremony.

As with all zoom lenses, especially those on a compact or enthusiasts' camera like this, once the zoom is at full capacity camera shake is very obvious. To solve this there's a well-placed tripod thread at the centre of the base so you can mount the unit for a sturdier shot.

One slight niggle with the design is that, although the right hand does feel comfortable and natural, it is difficult to know what to do with the left hand. If you're not careful you can find that fingers start to fall over the lens, especially when you're shooting at wide angle. This is because there's no grip on the left-hand side, not even a small one, so you have to gently cup your hand on the bottom of the camera.

Features-wise the control over capture is excellent. As well as the usual P, S, A, M modes and Auto shooting there's also the opportunity to take panoramas using an easy ‘1, 2, 3' process in which you take a shot from left to right. Rather than clutter the mode dial up with different scene modes, move the dial to either ‘SP1' or ‘SP2' and you can use the Menu button to access a host of different scenarios such as Fireworks or Flowers.

Another good little extra is a ‘Natural Light' mode that automatically increases the sensitivity of the camera so you can capture images in low light without resorting to flash. Of course, this means that your images will appear a little grainier, but it saves a lost shot and means you don't have to trudge through a labyrinth of menus to find the ISO options. The camera can also capture video at 30 frames per second, with sound.

The LCD monitor on the back measures a generous 2.7 inches in width and the image quality is sharp and colourful thanks to the 230,000 pixels of TFT. If you're shooting outside in bright sunlight, sometimes monitors of this size can fall victim to glare. However, press the EVF/LCD button next to the monitor and there's the option to frame the shot using the Electronic Viewfinder feature instead.

Unfortunately, the LCD monitor does not lie flush with the camera body, meaning that it falls into the body slightly. Whilst this doesn't cause a problem with viewing, the screen has a habit of collecting a vast amount of dust that's particularly tricky to shift, and you can't just get a lens cloth out and wipe the screen as it still collects around the ridge.

Picture quality on the FinePix S1000fd is good, with sharp detail and vibrant colours. In automatic modes the camera does tend to underexpose a little, but if you're finding this is happening then altering the EV+/- settings means it's not too much of a burden. As well as a Macro mode there's also the added advantage of a Super Macro mode, so you can really have fun photographing flowers and textures at a distance of only 2cm.

Verdict
For the size and price the Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd is a good option for those who are interested in branching out from fully automated compact cameras to something with more manual settings. It's responsive and flexible enough to cope with trickier shooting scenarios, but also easy enough to kick back into auto mode with good results if you're just after snapshots.

Company: FujiFilm

Contact: 0870 084 1310

Tags: fujifilm finepix fujifilm electronic viewfinder fujifilm finepix s-series international organization for standardization zoom lens lucida sans unicode digital camera