Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd

Fujifilm was the first manufacturer to build Face Detection technology into its compact cameras, and this stylish new model sees the introduction of the portrait-friendly hardware to the company’s increasingly popular ‘Z’ series.

Previously seen in the S6500fd and the F31fd, the technology is designed to make easy work of portraits, detecting either individual or multiple faces within shots and then adjusting accordingly to provide optimum results. It works well in tests too: depress the shutter halfway and a frame appears around any faces in the shot. These squares then follow subjects around the frame in realtime, and the results of the process are typically very pleasing, with facial features clear, and backgrounds softened.

So what of the rest of the Z5? Boasting a slimline design (capable, Fujifilm claims, of fitting into a pocket or “the most minimalist of clutch bags”, giving an indication of the target market the manufacturer is looking to reach with this stylish little compact) the Z5 is available in three attractive colours: silver, raspberry red and mocha brown. On-body controls are kept to a minimum, to keep the casing clutter free, and a large 2.5-inch TFT LCD dominates the back of the camera. The shutter button is joined by a switch for flicking between stills and Video mode (maximum quality 640 x 480 pixels at 30 frames per second). There’s also a button for activating the Face Detection function.

Fired up by sliding back the front lens cover, the Z5’s key functions are accessed via one of two buttons. The Menu button, positioned in the middle of the small d-pad, gives access to shooting modes, along with further options such as white balance (seven options, though no customisable mode) and exposure compensation (-2 to +2 in 1/3 increments). The ‘F’ mode button provides access to options such as image quality and colour effects.

Of particular note in the F-mode menu is the range of ISO settings. In addition to an automatic option, the Z5 also allows the user to set ISO manually up to 1600, which is notably high for a camera in this class. This allows for low-light shooting without flash, and captures images at full resolution. Fujifilm’s technology operates well too – shots taken at higher ISO settings suffer from higher noise levels than others, but this is a common problem for high sensitivity shots. For those who prefer an easy option, the camera also features a Natural Light preprogrammed mode that automatically sets a high-sensitivity setting.

The camera’s scene modes offer further interesting options. A Natural Light & Flash mode takes two photos in quick succession, one with flash and one without, and the camera also features an Anti-blur mode, which selects a fast shutter speed to reduce camera shake and blurring caused by fast-moving subjects. The usual options for shooting portraits, landscapes, action shots, as well as demanding scenes such as fireworks, snow and sunsets, are also included.

Although the Z5 provides a Manual mode, this does not allow the degree of versatility those similar modes on more advanced models offer. Aperture and shutter speed cannot be manually controlled; instead, this mode simply offers additional menu options above the point-and-shoot automatic mode. Where the Z5 does provide a better degree of flexibility is in the built-in flash, however. Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system is effective in analysing a scene and controlling the power of the flash according to the light in the frame. It’s also nice to see a Slow Synchro mode in among the flash options, once again making the camera ideal for taking portraits.

The Z5 features a high-speed Shooting mode that reduces the time required for focusing, as well as three choices for continuous shooting, including options for saving the first or last three images taken with the shutter held down.

Fujifilm makes much of its Real Photo Technology, which is effectively the combination of lens, CCD and processor, and in tests, the Z5 did perform well. Some images, particularly macro shots, lacked a little detail and the camera occasionally struggled to meter accurately, a problem compounded by the lack of manual metering options built in.

On the whole, Fujifilm’s technology performs well and the benefits of the camera’s Super CCD HR means image quality is impressive. The Z5 won’t disappoint the casual user.