Fujifilm S3100 Digital Camera User Manual

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The Imaging Resource

Quick Review

Fuji FinePix S3100 Digital Camera

CameraQuickLook
ReviewDate11/15/04
UserLevelNovice- Amateur
ProductUsesFamily /Travel / Special Events
DigicamDesignPoint andShoot
PictureQualityGood, 4.0-megapixelCCD
PrintSizesup to 11x14,8x10 with some cropping
AvailabilityNow
Suggested Retail Price
(At introduction)
$299.99

Introduction

ReviewLinks
Overview
Picky
Details
Design
Operation
Recommended Accessories
Test Images
Specifications
Conclusion

Fujifilm produces a wide range of digicam models, frombare-bones entry-level models up to and including a high-end digital SLR. Tomy mind though, their greatest success has been in creating good-quality midrangecameras that sell at very competitive prices, and the new Fuji FinePix S3100is a good example of that trend. A couple of years back, Fuji brought long-zoomdigicams down to affordable price levels with their FinePix 2800 and 3800 models.Now, the Fuji S3100 advances the cause even further, with a 4.0 megapixel CCD,a 6x optical zoom lens, and a host of exposure features. While it still sportsa super-easy fully automatic mode, the Fuji 3100 goes beyond basic 'point& shoot' capability with an Aperture Priority mode and handful of adjustableexposure options. (However, the Fuji S3100 drops the sound recording capabilityand the Continuous Shooting modes seen in some of its predecessors, presumablyto keep the cost low in the face of its higher resolution.) All in all, theFuji 3100 offers true long-zoom capability at a surprisingly affordable price.

Camera Overview

Featuring a miniaturized, 'SLR-style' body design reminiscent ofthe FinePix 2800 and 3800 digicams, the Fuji FinePix S3100 offers the same great6x optical zoom lens, though now complemented by a full four-megapixel CCD.To accommodate the camera's long zoom lens, the Fuji S3100's body is a littlechunky, but still compact compared to many long-zoom digicams. Very portableand lightweight, the S3100 will definitely be handy for impromptu outings andsocial gatherings. An included lens cover/accessory lens adapter ring providesprotection and doesn't add too much to the bulk, so users would do well to keepit attached to protect the projecting lens from impact damage. Conveniently,the lens cap fits on both the lens and the lens with adapter ring. Too largefor a standard shirt pocket either way, the Fuji 3100 should fit into largercoat pockets and purses, and comes with a shoulder strap to make carrying iteasier. Measuring 3.9 x 3.0 x 2.7 inches (100 x 77 x 69 millimeters), the S3100weighs 14.5 ounces (410 grams) with batteries and xD-Picture Card, and fitswell in one hand. A substantial handgrip provides a very firm hold, nicely balancingout the weight of the lens barrel. The Fuji 3100's 4.0-megapixel CCD deliversclear, sharp images as large as 2,272 x 1,704 pixels, suitable for printingas large as 11x14 inches with great detail, or 8x10 inches with some cropping.(A lower resolution is also available for more email-friendly file sizes.)

The Fuji S3100's Fujinon 6x, 6-36mm lens is the equivalent of a 39-234mm zoomon a 35mm camera, representing a focal length range from moderate wide-angleto pretty substantial telephoto. A small, plastic lens cap protects the lenswhen not in use, and tethers to the camera so you don't have to worry aboutlosing it. The telescoping lens extends about an inch from the camera when poweredon, and promptly retracts when the camera is shut off. Apertures range fromf/2.8 to f/8, and can be manually set through the Record menu (in Manual modeonly). Focus remains under automatic control at all times, with a focal rangefrom 2.6 feet (0.8 meters) to infinity in normal mode, and from 3.9 to 31.5inches (10 to 80 centimeters) in Macro mode. In addition to the 6x optical zoom,the S3100 also offers as much as 3.4x digital enlargement, depending on theimage size selected. However, I always point out here that digital zoom compromisesimage quality in that it simply enlarges the center pixels of the CCD, resultingin less detail and higher image noise. Packaged with the Fuji S3100 is a lensadapter ring, which screws into filter threads on the inside lip of the lensbarrel. The ring protects the lens when it's extended and accommodates Fuji'swide angle, telephoto, and macro lens adapters, which extend the camera's zoomcapabilities. The S3100 offers both a TTL electronic optical viewfinder (EVF)and a 1.5-inch, amorphous silicon color LCD monitor. The viewfinder displayswitches between the EVF and LCD monitor via a button on the rear panel, whichmeans that the complete display is available on the EVF, including the settingsmenus. The viewfinder's information display reports variouscamera settings with a central AF target, and an optional framing guide displaydivides the image into thirds horizontally and vertically for more accurateframing.

Though the camera offers an Automatic and what is called a Manual exposuremode, exposure control is mainly automatic, even in the 'Manual' mode.The Mode dial on top of the camera puts the camera into Manual, Scene, Auto,or Movie modes. Auto mode determines the entire exposure automatically, withthe user able to adjust the zoom, flash mode, and image size and quality settingsonly. Manual exposure mode expands user options to include white balance, exposurecompensation, sharpness, flash power and aperture settings. Shutter speeds rangefrom 1/1,500 to two seconds, but are not reported on theLCD display. The Aperture Priority option under the settings menu offersthree apertures and an Auto setting, but this mode requires some fiddling toget to. The Fuji 3100 uses a 64-zone metering system to determine exposure,placing the greatest emphasis on the center portion of the image area. Lightsensitivity is nominally rated as equivalent to ISO 100, and is not adjustable.However, the manual states that the sensitivity will be automatically adjustedfrom 64 to 250 ISO equivalents as the shooting conditions dictate. When shootingin Manual exposure mode, exposure compensation is adjustable from -2.1 to +1.5exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments. White Balance offersseven settings, including Auto, Daylight, Shade, Daylight Fluorescent, WarmWhite Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent, and Incandescent. The S3100's Scenemode offers four preset 'scenes' for shooting in potentially trickysituations, and includes Portrait, Landscape, Sport, and Night Scene modes.

The Fuji FinePix S3100's built-in, pop-up flash operates in one of six modes,which include Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced, Suppressed, Slow Synchro, andSlow Synchro with Red-Eye Reduction modes. Through the settings menu, flashpower is adjustable from -0.6 to +0.6 EV valuesin one-third-step increments. For self-portraits or those times when pressingthe Shutter button might result in camera movement, the S3100 features a Self-Timerthat delays the shutter release until 10 seconds after the Shutter button isfully pressed. The FinePix S3100 can also capture movies without sound for amaximum of 240 seconds at its smaller resolution settingor 60 seconds at the higher resolution, while in Movie capture mode.Movie files are saved in the Motion JPEG format, at either 320 x 240 or 160x 120 pixels. Interestingly, Fuji dropped the sound recording capability foundon the previous 2800 and 3800 models, as well as a Continuous Shooting modeoption for capturing a rapid succession of images.

Images captured by the Fuji S3100 are saved to xD-Picture Cards. A 16MB cardcomes with the camera. In addition to the 2,272 x 1,704-pixel resolution size,the S3100 also offers 1,600 x 1,200; 1,280 x 960; and 640 x 480-pixel resolutions.Two JPEG compression ratios are available, including Fine and Normal. The Playbackmenu offers DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) settings for printing images ona compatible device. A USB cable and software CD accompany the camera, allowingfor high-speed connection to a computer. The software CD contains Fuji's FinePixViewer software, which organizes and displays downloaded images, and providesprinting and minor editing capabilities.

The Fuji 3100 utilizes four AA batteries for power, and a set of alkaline cellsaccompanies the camera. As always, I strongly recommend purchasing a coupleof sets of high-capacity NiMH batteries and a good charger, and keeping a spareset of batteries charged at all times. Clickhere to read my 'battery shootout' page to see which batteriescurrently on the market are best, or here for my reviewof the Maha C-204F charger, my longtime favorite. An AC adapter is alsoa separate accessory, but helpful for saving battery power while reviewing anddownloading images or when using the S3100 as a webcam. Unless you're takingadvantage of the camera's webcam capability though, rechargeable batteries wouldeliminate the need for the AC adapter.

With its compact and lightweight body, the convenienceof full automatic and partial manual exposure control, 4.0-megapixel CCD, andimpressive 6x zoom lens, the S3100 is a good choice for consumers looking fora portable, affordable, easy to use digicam that takes good pictures. The S3100offers a basic level of exposure control when you want it, some presetshooting modes for common tricky situations, and a Movie mode for capturingquick bits of action. Given the aggressive 'street' prices the S3100is selling at, it's one of the better bargains in the digicam market today.

Basic Features

  • 4.0-megapixel square-pixel CCD delivering imageS as large as 2,272 x 1,704pixels.
  • 6x, 6-36mm lens (equivalent to a 39-234mm zoom on a 35mm camera).
  • Digital enlargement to 3.4x, depending on image resolution.
  • 1.5-inch color LCD monitor.
  • Electronic optical viewfinder.
  • Full automatic and partial manual exposure control.
  • Shutter speeds range from 1/1,500 to two seconds.
  • Adjustable apertures from f/2.8 to f/8.
  • Sensitivity equivalent to ISO 100, though automatically set from 64 to 250depending on conditions.
  • Built-in, pop-up flash with six modes and variableintensity.
  • Images saved in JPEG format to xD-Picture Card (16-megabytecard included).
  • Power from four AA batteries or AC adapter (separate accessory).
  • Interface software compatible with both PC and Mac platforms.

Special Features

  • Movie mode (without sound) and Voice Captioning function.
  • Scene mode with four preset 'scenes.'
  • 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
  • White balance (color) adjustment with seven modes.
  • Sharpness adjustment.
  • DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
  • USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included).

Recommendation

The Fuji FinePix S3100 offers excellent value and a goodfeature set for photographers interested in more telephoto capability than younormally find in zoom-equipped digicams. Its 6x zoom lens gets you twice asclose to distant objects as the typical 3x zoom you find on most digicams,while Fuji's reputation for color expertise ensures bright, vibrant colors.The S3100 would work well as an all-around everyday camera, as wellas for shooting distant landscapes or wildlife, and is portable enough to travelwith you. All in all, a nice, easy-to-use camera with a long zoom at a veryaffordable price.

Design

Small, lightweight, and comfortablein the hand, the Fuji FinePix S3100 adds to Fuji's growing line of very portabledigicams. Building on the previous designs of the 3800 and 2800 Zoom models,the S3100 features an all-silver plastic body with charcoal accents on the handgripareas. The S3100 easily fits into one hand, but is a little too chubby for mostshirt pockets. Still, the Fuji S3100 could easily find its way into larger coatpockets and purses, and the accompanying neck/shoulder strap is a convenientcarrying option. Measuring 3.9 x 3.0 x 2.7 inches (100 x 77 x 69 millimeters),the camera's all-plastic body keeps it fairly lightweight at just 14.5 ounces(410 grams) with batteries and xD-Picture Card. The S3100's silver exterioris very curvy, with smoothly sculpted protrusions for the handgrip and opticalviewfinder mechanism. Camera controls are somewhat sparse, as most featuresare automatically controlled by the camera. This keeps the user interface unclutteredand clean, as well as simple to operate, but doesn't present the sophisticatedexposure controls 'enthusiasts' look for.

The front of the Fuji 3100 is sleek and stylish, with shiny silver highlightson a matte silver body. The lens barrel protrudes from the camera front aboutan inch or so, and features the same matte silver finish as the rest of thecamera body. When the camera is powered on, the lens telescopes another inchfrom the camera body. A plastic lens cap protects the lens from scratches whennot in use, and tethers to the camera body to prevent it from being lost. Justinside the lip of the lens barrel, a set of plastic filter threads host thelens adapter ring that comes with the camera. The lens shares the front panelwith the self-timer LED (the small, red LED between the Shutter button and pop-upflash). With the pop-up flash released, the flash itself is visible, as wellas the tiny flash sensor. The bulky handgrip on the left side of the front panelensures a secure hold on the camera, and is bulky enough to be useful withoutdetracting from the camera's portable size.

The right side of the camera (viewed looking from the rear) is pretty empty,showing only a neck strap attachment eyelet.

The DC In, USB, and Video Out connection jacks are on the opposite side ofthe camera, and lack any protective covering. I generally like to see some typeof covering over these terminals, as dust and dirt can easily find their wayinto these small openings, especially on a very portable camera such as thisone. Also on this side of the camera is the second neck strap attachment eyelet,mechanical pop-up flash release button, and xD-Picture Card slot. The card slotis protected by a hinged, plastic door, which snaps firmly into place. Whenthis door is opened, power is cut to the camera, and the camera must be switchedoff and back on again to resume use.

The Fuji S3100's top panel features the Exposure Mode dial, Shutter button,Power/Mode dial, and pop-up flash.

The remaining camera controls are on the back panel, along with the LCD monitorand EVF viewfinder eyepiece. Positioned to the right are the zoom controls andarrow buttons (arranged as a four-way arrow pad), and below this are the Menu/OK,Display/Back, and Low-Light Viewfinder buttons. The right and left arrow keysalso control flash mode and macro mode, respectively. A sculpted thumb reston the right side of the back panel facilitates a tight grip on the camera,reinforced by the good hand grip on the front. Beneath the EVF eyepiece is asmall LED, which reports the camera's current status (such as when focus isset, flash is charging, etc.), and the EVF/LCD button.

The Fuji 3100's bottom panel is nice and flat, though a series of raised bumpsgives your fingers something to grip when opening the battery compartment cover.This sliding cover protects the battery compartment, and moves outward (towardthe side of the camera) before opening on a hinge to reveal the compartment.This is a great design for making the best use of space on the camera body,but bad for tripod work because you have to dismount the camera from the tripodto change batteries. I suspect this won't be much of an issue for users of thiscamera however, as its designers were clearly intending it for on-the-go use,not studio shooting. The tripod mount features metal threads (kudos for that)and is slightly off-center from the lens. The off-center mount is a little awkwardfor shooting panorama photos (a fairly arcane practice, I suspect), but theposition places it close to the camera's center of balance, increasing stabilityand reducing strain on the tripod threads.

Camera Operation

With only a few controls, the Fuji FinePix S3100's user interface is straightforward.Exposure mode, flash, macro mode, and zoom all feature external controls. Settingslike exposure compensation and white balance are adjusted through the (likewiseuncomplicated) LCD menu. Because the S3100 operates mainly under automatic control,the user need only worry about a few adjustments. Navigating the LCD menu systemis no problem, as there are only a few options for the Record menu, the optionsdepending on whether the camera is in Auto or Manual mode. The Setup menu isaccessed as an option on the Record and Playback menus. The camera's small sizeand few controls also make it easy to operate one-handed. All things considered,experienced digicam users may not even need to read the manual to operate theFinePix S3100.

RecordDisplay: In any shooting mode, the EVF and LCD monitors show a conciseinformation readout by default. An outline box and crosshair indicate that theAF and exposure metering are determined from the center of the frame. Also displayedis the exposure mode, resolution, quality, and number of available images. Camerasettings such as flash mode, EV, etc. are also displayed if enabled. Pressingthe Display button once enables a fine black framing grid in addition to theinformation display, which divides the image area into thirds horizontally andvertically. (Grids like this are handy for lining up buildings and other objects.)A second press of the Display button cancels both information and framing overlays,while a third press returns to the default information display.

PlaybackDisplay: In Playback mode, the main display shows the captured imageand a small playback symbol, while the date and time of capture and the filenumber appear for just a few seconds as you scroll to each new image. Pressingthe Display button removes the icon and disables the momentary information display,showing the image only. A third press calls up the index display mode, whichdisplays images on the memory card as tiny thumbnails, nine at a time, and alsoshows the date and time of capture and file number of the currently highlightedimage for a few seconds.

External Controls


Shutter Button
: Located on top of the camera, this button sets focus andexposure when pressed halfway. A full press fires the shutter.

Power / Mode Dial: Surrounding the Shutter button on the top panel,this dial selects the camera's operating mode. Three choices are available:

  • Record: Sets up the camera for recording still images.
  • Playback: Allows the user to review captured images, delete them,zoom in on them, or set them up for printing.
  • Off: Shuts off the camera, signaling the lens to retract.


Exposure Mode Dial
: Adjacent to the pop-up flash compartment on the toppanel, this dial controls the main exposure mode. Choices are:

  • Manual: Offers partial manual control over exposure, withAperture Priority, White Balance, and Exposure Compensation adjustments available.Shutter speed remains under full automatic control. Options for setting Sharpnessand adjusting flash power are also only available in Manual mode.
  • Scene: Accesses the camera's four scene shooting modes(Portrait, Landscape, Sport, and Night Portrait).
  • Auto: Places the camera under full automatic exposure control.The user can adjust zoom, flash mode, and image size and quality settings.
  • Movie: Allows the camera to record moving images withoutsound.


Zoom Rocker Control
: In the top right corner of the back panel, this zoomcontrol with discrete 'T' and 'W' buttons is flanked bytwo arrow keys. In Record mode, these buttons control the optical and digitalzoom, and doubles as the up and down arrow keys when navigating the LCD menusystem. In Playback mode, the up and down button controls digital enlargementof captured images. Once playback zoom is activated, pressing the left or rightarrow key switches the action of these buttons to control panning within theenlarged image. Hitting the Disp/Back button returns these buttons to controllingthe playback zoom level.

Right and Left Arrow Buttons: Located on either side of the Zoom Rockerbutton, these buttons navigate left and right through settings menus. In Recordmode, the left button accesses the Macro shooting mode, while the right buttoncontrols the flash mode. In playback mode, these buttons switch from enlargementto panning mode. Once you're in panning mode, these buttons scroll left andright within the enlarged image.


EVF/LCD Button
: Tucked away on the left side of the EVF eyepiece, this buttonalternates the viewfinder display between the eye-level viewfinder and the rear-panelLCD monitor.


Menu / OK Button
: The top button in a series of slim buttons lining theright side of the LCD monitor, the Menu / OK button activates the settings menuin any mode. This button also serves as the OK to confirm menu selections.


Display / Back Button
: Directly below the Menu / OK button, this buttonbacks out of menus and menu selections. When no menu screen is displayed, thisbutton cycles through several LCD display modes. The image and information displayis on by default. A framing grid is added to that display with the first pressof the Display button. A third press displays only the image. In Playback mode,this button toggles between an image information overlay, no image informationat all, and an index of images on the storage card. When playback zoom is enabled,this button switches from panning mode back to zoom mode.


Low Light Viewfinder Button
: Below theDisplay / Back button, this button brightens the LCD display. Pressing the buttona second time returns to the normal brightness level.

Camera Modes and Menus

Record Mode: Marked on the Power / Mode dial with a red camera symbol,this mode allows you to capture still images. Four exposure modes are availablevia the Exposure Mode dial, including Manual, Scene, Auto, and Movie. Auto modeis fairly self-explanatory. Manual mode simply increases the menu options underthe Record menu, but keeps the shutter speed under automatic control. (An AperturePriority option lets you set the aperture or leave it under auto control.) Scenemode lets you select between Portrait, Landscape, Sport, and Night Portraitmodes . Finally, Movie mode records short movieswithout sound. Following is the complete Record menu, though some options arenot available in all modes:

  • ExposureCompensation: Increases or decreases the exposure from -2.1 to +1.5EV in one-third-step increments.
  • White Balance: Adjusts the overall color balance. Choicesare Auto, Daylight, Overcast, Daylight Fluorescent, Cool White Fluorescent,Warm White Fluorescent, and Incandescent.
  • Aperture Priority: Places the aperture under automaticcontrol, or offers f/2.8, f/5, and f/8 settings.
  • Sharpness: Adjusts the in-camera sharpening to Hard, Normal,or Soft.
  • Quality: Sets the image resolution and quality. Choicesare 4M Fine (2,272 x 1,704), 4M Normal (2,272 x 1,704), 2M (1,600 x 1,200),1M (1,280 x 960), and 0.3M (640 x 480). In Movie mode, options are 320 x 240and 160 x 120 pixels.
  • Self-Timer: Activates the 10-second Self-Timer mode.
  • Flash Exposure Compensation: Increases or decreases flashpower from -0.6 to +0.6 in one-third-step increments.
  • Scene: (Scene mode only.) Places the camera into Portrait, Landscape,Sport, or Night Portrait modes.
  • Option/Set-Up: Accesses the following Setup submenu, as well as theLCD Brightness adjustment.
    • ImageDisplay: Turns on an instant image review, which displays theimage immediately after capture.
    • Power Save: Sets the Power Save function to enableafter two or five minutes of inactivity.
    • Format: Formats the xD-Picture card, erasing all files(even protected ones).
    • Beep: Sets the camera's operational beep sound to Lowor High, or turns it off.
    • Date Time: Sets the camera's internal calendar andclock.
    • Time Difference: This option lets you set the timefor another time zone. For example, when traveling, you can specify thetime at home and for where you are, and the time difference is appliedto captured images.
    • Frame Number: Continues frame numbering from card tocard, or Renews numbering with each new card.
    • USB Mode: Sets the USB mode toDSC (storage class device), WEB (for using the camera as a videoconferencingtool on Windows machines, or PictBridge (for connecting to a PictBridgedevice).
    • Language: Sets the menu language to one of six options.(English, French, German, Spanish, and two Asian languages.)
    • Video System: Designates the video signal as NTSC orPAL.
    • Discharge: Discharges the power in the batteries, handyfor avoiding 'memory effect' in rechargeable cells (do not usefor alkaline cells).
    • Reset: Resets all camera settings to their defaults.

Playback Mode: The traditional playback symbol (a green arrow withina rectangular outline) designates this mode on the Power / Mode dial. Here,the user can review captured images, enlarge them, delete them, or set themup for printing on a DPOF-compatible output device. Pressing the Menu buttonpulls up the following options:

  • Erase:Deletes the selected frame or all frames.
  • DPOF: Marks the current frame for printing, and allows you to establishwhether the date is imprinted over the image.
  • Protect: Adds or removes write protection for individualframes or all frames.
  • Set: Allows you to adjust the LCD brightness, or pulls up the sameSetup menu as in Record mode.
  • Automatic Playback: Enables an automated slide show ofcaptured images on the memory card, letting you select the transition styleand interval.
  • Trimming: Lets you crop an image by zooming in and savingthe cropped portion as a new file.

In the Box

Fujifilm digital camera finepix

Packaged in the box are the following items:

  • Fuji FinePix S3100 digital camera
  • Neck / shoulder strap
  • Lens cap with strap
  • 16MB xD-Picture Card
  • USB cable
  • Four AA-type alkaline batteries
  • Lens adapter ring
  • Software CD-ROM containing USB drivers, FinePix Viewer, QuickTime, and ImageMixerVCD
  • Instruction manual and registration information

Recommended Accessories

  • Two sets of rechargeable batteries and charger
  • AC adapter kit

Specifications

See camera specifications here.

Picky Details

Cycle times, shutter lag, battery life, etc. can be found here.

Sample Images

See the full set of my sample pictures and detailedanalysis here. The thumbnails below show a subset of my test images.Click on a thumbnail to see the full-size photo.

'Sunlit'
Indoor Flash
Indoor
House
Musicians
Macro
Davebox
Resolution
Viewfinder Accuracy

Test Results

In keeping with my standard test policy, the comments given here summarizeonly my key findings. For a full commentary on eachof the test images, see the Fuji FinePix S3100's 'pictures' page.

Not sure which camera to buy? Let your eyes be the ultimatejudge! Visit ourComparometer(tm)to compare images from the Fuji FinePix S3100 with those from other camerasyou may be considering. The proof is in the pictures, so let your own eyesdecide which you like best!

Need to compare specs and features? Check out our 'comparecameras page,' where you can compare all the specifications andfeatures of the S3100 against other cameras you may be considering.

As with all Imaging Resource product tests, I encourage you to let your owneyes be the judge of how well the camera performed. Explore the images on theFuji S3100 pictures page, to see how the S3100's imagescompare to other cameras you may be considering.

  • Color: A tendency toward warm color casts, but goodaccuracy and pleasing color otherwise. Overall, color was somewhat warmwith the Fuji S3100, and both the Auto and Daylight white balance settingstypically produced similar color casts. As a result, skin tones tended tobe warm and red/orange, and the blue values appeared purplish. Indoors, theS3100's Incandescent white balance option worked fairly well with the difficulthousehold incandescent lighting of my Indoor Portrait test, but still leftmore yellow in the image than I'd personally prefer. In the Davebox test shot,the S3100 produced fairly accurate results, the main issue being significantoversaturation of the red-hued color blocks on the MacBeth(tm) chart. Outdoors,the camera tended to overreact slightly to reds, but generally delivered verypleasing colors.
  • Exposure: Good exposure accuracy, but high native contrast.The S3100's exposure system performed fairly well, though the high-keylighting of the 'Sunlit' Portrait threw it slightly. Contrast inresponse to the deliberately harsh lighting there was high, and midtones slightlydark, though detail remained fairly strong in the midtones. It underexposedthe outdoor house shot slightly, but it did a good job holding detail in theshadow area. I generally needed to use less exposure compensation with theFuji S3100 than most cameras I test, but I'd have been happier if its imageswere a little less contrasty.
  • Resolution/Sharpness: High resolution, 1,150 - 1,200lines of 'strong detail.' The S3100 performed well on the 'laboratory'resolution test chart. It started showing artifacts in the test patterns atresolutions as low as 600~800 lines per picture height, in both horizontaland vertical directions. I found 'strong detail' out to 1,150 -1,200 lines in both directions. 'Extinction' of the target patternsoccurred around 1,300 lines.
  • Image Noise: Slightly better than average image noise. TheFuji S3100 has no ISO adjustment, so we can't talk about its high-ISO imagenoise, but at its default ISO of 100, its images generally show slightly lowerimage noise than I'm accustomed to seeing from other 4-megapixel cameras.
  • Closeups: About average macro performance, but gooddetail. Flash throttles down a little too much, is shaded slightly by thelens. The S3100 performed about average in the macro category, capturinga minimum area of 2.99 x 2.24 inches (76 x 57 millimeters). Resolution wasvery high, and detail was strong in the dollar bill, as well as in the coinsand brooch. Details softened in the corners of the frame from some lens distortion,but were still well-defined elsewhere. The S3100's flash throttled down alittle too well for the macro area, and underexposed the shot. (Probably planon using external lighting for your closest macro shots with the S3100.)
  • Night Shots: Limited low-light shooting capabilities,but good enough for typical city night scenes. Very limited low-light autofocuscapability though. The S3100 produced clear, bright, usable images onlydown to the one foot-candle (11 lux) light level. Color was warm with theAuto white balance setting, and the warm cast increased as the exposure dims.Image noise was moderate. Its ability to capture images at one foot-candlewould let it snap decent-looking pictures under typical city street-lightingat night, but the S3100's biggest low-light limitation is its autofocus system,which can only focus well down to about a two foot-candle limit. -You'll thus only be able to expect sharp photos under very bright outdoorlighting at night.
  • Viewfinder Accuracy: A slightly tight electronic viewfinderand LCD monitor. The Fuji S3100's electronic 'optical' viewfinder(EVF) was surprisingly tight, and showed only about 88 percent frame accuracyat both wide angle and telephoto zoom settings. The LCD monitor proved slightlymore accurate, showing about 90 percent frame accuracy at wide angle, andabout 91 percent at telephoto. Given that I like LCD monitors to be as closeto 100 percent accuracy as possible, the S3100's LCD monitor has a littleroom for improvement here.
  • Optical Distortion: Average barrel distortion, higherthan average pincushion though. Moderate chromatic aberration, better thanaverage sharpness in the corners of the frame. Optical distortion on theS3100 was about average at the wide-angle end, where I measured approximately0.8 percent barrel distortion. The telephoto end fared only slightly better,as I measured approximately 0.6 percent pincushion distortion. (That's a fairlylarge amount of pincushion, but not unusual for a long-zoom lens.) Chromaticaberration was moderate, showing about four or five pixels of coloration oneither side of the target lines, visible at both wide angle and telephotofocal lengths. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringearound the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.)The S3100 did do a bit better than average job of maintaining sharpness inthe corners of its images, something a lot of digicam lenses have difficultywith.
  • Shutter Lag and Cycle Time: Good to slightly slow shutter lag,average cycle times. With shutter lag that ranged from 0.68 to 1.11 second,the Fuji S3100 spanned the range from faster than average to a bit slowerthan average. - But it did pretty well when compared with other long-zoomdigicam models. Prefocus lag was 0.12 second, a very good number. Shot toshot times were average, at 2.2 seconds/shot for large/fine images. (All shotshappened that fast though, there was no delay after a buffer memory filled.)The S3100 has no continuous shooting mode.
  • Battery Life: Really excellent battery life. Witha worst-case run time of 4.3 hours with 'standard' 1600 mAh NiMHcells, and a run time of over 8 hours in playback mode, the Fuji S3100's batterylife is much better than average. I still recommend that you purchasea good set of high-capacityNiMH batteries and a good-qualitycharger, but the S3100 does much better than average in the battery lifedepartment.

Conclusion

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The previous Fuji FinePix 2800 and 3800 Zoom cameras turned out to be exceptionalvalues for the money, and the updated FinePix S3100 offers the same great valuewith the addtion of a 4.0-megapixel CCD. The S3100's higher resolution is awelcome improvement, providing great image quality for a budget-priced digicam,and its 6x optical zoom is excellent for distant subjects. Though it lacks 'enthusiast'features such as full manual exposure options, the S3100 does feature an adjustableaperture setting, adjustable flash intensity, and a selection of preset 'scene'modes. For everyday outdoor shooting, the S3100 does very well and really setsa benchmark for an affordablelong-zoom digicam.

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Fujifilm FinePix S8200 bridge camera equipped with a powerful 40x (24-960mm) Fujinon super-zoom lens cover everything from ultra-wide angle to extreme telephoto.

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