PhotographyBLOG Review: Fuji FinePix F610 Zoom

#1 Josh

That's a lot of compression, 6m images 1.5mb - on my Canon A300 3m images tend to be 1.5mb on average, going down to 1mb at the lowest size i've seen, and up to 2.2mb, 3mb on one occassion! I wonder how much better the image quality would be if they didn't compress the images so much! It doesn't make sense, surely it would be beneficial to Fuji to offer more compression options, especially as it should improve image quality.

5:14 pm - Wednesday, May 5, 2004

#2 Svein

Image size at iso 800. The reason why the highest iso is available only for reduced sized images is that they use two or more pixels combined to reduce noise

8:08 pm - Wednesday, May 5, 2004

#3 Greg Ceely

Another excellent review... just the quality of comment we have grown accustomed to from photography blog

7:59 am - Thursday, May 6, 2004

#4 John Hughes

1. None of the sample images are 30fps videos.
2. Not alot of discussion of the camera's macro capabilities

6:40 pm - Sunday, May 9, 2004

#5 Murtaza

thanx for the review. I was wondering at wich quality setting did you took those 6m photos? fine, superfine? thank you.

6:57 pm - Tuesday, May 11, 2004

#6 Sid

I've been waiting a long time for this review, and I must say the wait's been worth it. Good work Mark...

I tried this camera out at the store, and at first found the odd shape and vertical construction a bit odd (I'd never held one before). After about 5 minutes though, I had gotten the hang of it.

The menu system is a bit cryptic, but after about 7 minutes of monkeying around I found the 2nd LCD very useful (and also very cool) -- especially when you want to save battery power by turning off the main LCD as the mini LCD stays on and provides you with useful information and access to most menus.

Overall, the impression I got from trying the camera out was very positive -- It definitely gets the thumbs up over the Canon S50 and the Sony DSC V1 (both excellent although more bulky cameras).

8:31 pm - Tuesday, May 11, 2004

#7 Murtaza

me again, i think the same (as said by Josh 1st comment) the file size for a 6mp camera is small. Makes me wonder about the overall photo quality! I still think the Canon S50 delivers better pictures. And look for the new S60>>> bye

9:02 pm - Tuesday, May 11, 2004

#8 Mark Goldstein

Murtaza, they were taken at the Superfine setting.

6:28 am - Thursday, May 13, 2004

#9 Mark Goldstein

In the Samples section you can click on the thumbnail images to view and judge the full-sized images for yourself

6:32 am - Thursday, May 13, 2004

#10 Sid

One of the things that I haven't been able to guage properly from reviews and checking the camera out in the store is battery life. What were your impressions, Mark? Can you give me some numbers (i.e. shots taken per battery charge)?

I need a camera for a trip that I am making in the Summer where I plan to take about 100 photos a day (mostly without flash) and charge only in the nights. Do you think that the F610 can hold up? Or do you recommend another battery?

8:23 am - Thursday, May 13, 2004

#11 Mark Goldstein

I think the F610 will definitely be able to meet your requirements Sid.

9:26 am - Thursday, May 13, 2004

#12 Murtaza

thanx Mark, now i know.

2:45 pm - Thursday, May 13, 2004

#13 Gabriel Lee

Hi Mark,

I've just bought the F610 too. However, I cannot find the menu to change the compression to 'superfine'. Can you guide me to that? The default JPEG compression is just too lossy!

Thanks very much!

4:49 pm - Monday, June 7, 2004

#14 Gabriel Lee

Hi Mark,

The EXIF info of your sample images states the quality mode as 'NORMAL (JPEG)', and not 'superfine'?

5:05 pm - Wednesday, June 9, 2004

#15 Sid

Hi,

I recently purchased an F610 as well, and am very impressed with the device. I would, however, like to change the compression settings.

I did a search in the manual and came up with nothing. I can't find the compression listed in the EXIF data either. I used Photoshop 7 to read the EXIF data. Can someone pls help me out?

Thanks!

5:35 pm - Wednesday, June 9, 2004

#16 Mark Goldstein

Errmm, there is no mention of "superfine" in my review! All sample images were taken using the default 6M 2848x2136 mode.

4:54 pm - Thursday, June 10, 2004

#17 Gabriel Lee

Well, you did mention 'Superfine' at the 8th comment of this thread!

4:37 pm - Friday, June 11, 2004

#18 Mark Goldstein

Ooops! Must have got my wires crossed

6:18 pm - Friday, June 11, 2004

#19 Paul Worden

An accurate review.

I only take issue with the negative comment about the digital zoom.
It's true there's no "OFF" for the digital zoom and I would also have preferred that option.

However, the menu zoom bar display clearly shows when the optical zoom finishes and in any case, it's easy to determine the limit of the optical zoom simply by cessation of motor vibration/noise as the lens reaches its mechanical limit.

In 12mp mode the digital zoom IS off, as it's disabled in that mode.

The camera controls are a bit fiddly - but the camera is so small it has been difficult to physically fit the buttons.

If I had the luxury of re-designing it, I'd shift the F button to the base beside the function buttons and make the detent on the rotary mode selector a bit firmer - it can be moved while in your shirt pocket.

Photography Blog - Thank you - you helped me choose my P&S.

10:25 pm - Thursday, July 8, 2004

#20 Paul Worden

I've had the F610 nearly a week now and I can add the following observations.

To make the camera easy to handle during serious photographic sessions, screw a (cheap) mini tripod into the base to form a handle.

I miss having a Histogram.

The SuperCCD definitely gives better highlight control.

The rotary mode dial is easily knocked around - you need to check it each session.

Battery life has been sufficient to shoot 60 images over an hour (no flash) and the indicator still hadn't changed to half charge.

Image writing to the card at 12 mp is fast.

The menu system works well for me. It's fast and intuitive.

The images do have noise (compered to my Canon 300D) - but little if no fringing. To reduce noise, expect to use a tripod and the slowest ISO 160 for critical work.

White balance on Auto didn't always deliver - I got some strange filtration for no reason that I can explain where early morning sun reflected off a white building.

Colours tend to be "gutsy" compared to the softer tones from a Nikon Coolpix that I owned.

Conclusion after a week?

A small and user friendly P&S that's producing good images.
But why no Histogram....! ?

9:30 am - Monday, July 12, 2004

#21 azam ali

I have had the Fuji 610 for about 6months now. I bought this camera because i had MX-1700 and it produced great results.

I can tell you that this camera takes pictures with clarity and perfect colours. I had to blur some close-up pictures because they showed too much of the skin defects.

I would say day time and flash photography is no trouble for this camera, however pictures taken in the dark or if subject is over 3meters then you will find that its impossible to take a picture. Of course this is not a normal situation but if u had a stand then it will fine.

I have taken pictures on 6mb and 12mb pixils and the quaity is great.

Final analysis. This camera is going for around 300 pounds. so its only about 50 pounds more expensive then standard 3 or 4 mb pix. This extra money is well worth spending becuase cheap camera in digital world means CHEAP pictures too.

11:57 am - Friday, August 6, 2004

#22 azam ali

I have had the Fuji 610 for about 6months now. I bought this camera because i had MX-1700 and it produced great results.

I can tell you that this camera takes pictures with clarity and perfect colours. I had to blur some close-up pictures because they showed too much of the skin defects.

I would say day time and flash photography is no trouble for this camera, however pictures taken in the dark or if subject is over 3meters then you will find that its impossible to take a picture. Of course this is not a normal situation but if u had a stand then it will fine.

I have taken pictures on 6mb and 12mb pixils and the quaity is great.

Final analysis. This camera is going for around 300 pounds. so its only about 50 pounds more expensive then standard 3 or 4 mb pix. This extra money is well worth spending becuase cheap camera in digital world means CHEAP pictures too.

12:01 pm - Friday, August 6, 2004

#23 azam ali

I have had the Fuji 610 for about 6months now. I bought this camera because i had MX-1700 and it produced great results.

I can tell you that this camera takes pictures with clarity and perfect colours. I had to blur some close-up pictures because they showed too much of the skin defects.

I would say day time and flash photography is no trouble for this camera, however pictures taken in the dark or if subject is over 3meters then you will find that its impossible to take a picture. Of course this is not a normal situation but if u had a stand then it will fine.

I have taken pictures on 6mb and 12mb pixils and the quaity is great.

Final analysis. This camera is going for around 300 pounds. so its only about 50 pounds more expensive then standard 3 or 4 mb pix. This extra money is well worth spending becuase cheap camera in digital world means CHEAP pictures too.

12:04 pm - Friday, August 6, 2004

#24 Phil Richmond

Just read your review of the Fufi F610 zoom.
Thank you, very useful, I wanted to compare features
with the 4800 zoom I purchased recently for £49 in Jessops.

The digital zoom on the Fuji cameras use the unused bits.
If you are in VGA mode, it samples down the full sensor
to get the image, when you digitally zoom they eventually end up just using the centre of the sensor.
The detail is there if the lens has the reolving power to illuminate only one pixel with detail. Pity other cameras offer only the crap digital zoom you refer to.

Cheers !

Phil.

7:44 pm - Monday, September 13, 2004

#25 Azam Ali

Hello Again:
I was really impressed with new Konika and Olympus ability to take picutures 2cm away using super macro function. But i just found out that i can do same with F610 camera but only if i reduce my pixil to 1m. Then i can go around 2cm away and still take a good picture with marco function.

Is there a place to get firmware update?

1:21 pm - Thursday, September 23, 2004

#26 Big Lad

I bought the F610 for £175 this week, so had plenty of change from my budget t get a 512Mb card, case, tripod & 2 spare batteries (tho 1 is enough). Everything initially feels really quick & the quality is far superior to other cameras in this price range - it probably IS worth double that and more! Cheers for the review - it confirmed my choice for certain!

9:31 pm - Tuesday, April 12, 2005

#27 Elaine Mosse

Hi - just bought a fuji recon 610 and am generally delighted with it. However, I have just used it for some outdoor shots (in bright light) and the pictures look "overexposed" - very little definition. Indoor shots are fine. This is obviously something I'm doing wrong - I had the setting on manual so assume that I need to fiddle a bit! Having looked through the manual I am still unsure how to fix the problem. Can anyone help?

11:48 am - Sunday, February 19, 2006

#28 Nat

Hello,
I recently bought the f610 and am still getting to grips with it, although I love images it produces.
I would like to mainly use the camera for live music events, nightclubs, gigs and concerts. It's obviously pretty difficult to carry a tripod around to these places and I'm struggling to get clear images. If I use the flash it only lights up the crowd and the band are an afterthought. Apologies, I'm sure this is a real 'newbie' question, but I'm still mastering auto! Can anyone offer any tips for night/dark photography that I can try?

Much appreciated!

11:41 pm - Saturday, April 29, 2006