Overview
The Fuji Finepix S2500HD is one of the cheaper options if you are looking for a digital camera with plenty of zoom power. The Finepix S2500HD has 12 megapixels and an 18x wide angle lens.
This camera is suitable for anyone who would like to take their first steps in learning the basics of photography. It has manual exposure controls, but does not have quite the array of features you find on the most advanced and expensive compact cameras. This helps with ease of use.
Other features include High Definition movies and image stabilisation. It is also one of the few digital cameras that run on AA batteries.
Picture quality roughly matched my expectations when taking the price tag into account. It takes good quality outdoor shots and can cope with most photo situations.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
18x
3 inches
109.2 x 73.6 x 81.3mm
337g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
Yes
Yes
AA
SD / SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
Overall I like my four scenic test shots. The standard is good without quite hitting the levels of some of the more expensive super zoom cameras. That seems fair enough to me.
The lens works well when it is at full zoom. There is some purple fringing showing when pictures are blown up in size, but the degree of fringing stays within reasonable bounds for this type of camera. There is a slight softening of focus as you move towards the edges. Again this is not to a level that really concerns me.
Likewise the test for the lens being zoomed right out produces a good quality photo. Again there is a small loss of sharpness as you move towards the edges.
Other common problems such as loss of detail in bright and dark areas and glare for the sun are not major issues for the Finepix S2500HD.
Portraits
I am a little concerned by the amount of pink showing in the skin tones for the outdoor portrait. The colours shown are a bit strong for my liking. As I would expect the Finepix S2500HD has no focusing issues and the shot is crisp and clear.
As with my outdoor portrait I am not sure about the colours in this shot. There appears to be a slight green tinge to the picture. This is most noticeable in larger prints around the hair. The lighting used by the Finepix S2500HD is concentrated around the centre of the face. It is subtle, but I would have like the hair to have been lit better.
Without flash the strong skin tones reappear. There appears to be a colour caste to the shot too. This is similar to the one showing when flash was used. Some definition is lost as you move away from the centre of the shot.
Macro, Colours and Noise
I am extremely impressed by the quality of the macro shot produced by the Finepix S2500HD. It is hard to find a compact camera that can do a lot better than this. The clarity of the shot is outstanding.
I like the colours in my outdoor scenes. The photos have a vivid look with deep blue skies and colourful foliage. I have reservations about my portrait shots though.
There are no serious issues with noise when compared to similar digital cameras.
Summary
In most instances the Finepix S2500HD does a good job taking into account the price of this camera. The colours produced in my portrait tests are not really to my own personal taste.
Style
The Finepix S2500HD is built along the lines of a mini Digital SLR.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.39 seconds
13.04 seconds
0.47 seconds
20.26 seconds
4.5 seconds
Ease of Use
With manual exposure controls on offer, plus a few additional features it may take a while to be fully up and running with the Finepix S2500HD. There is a fully automatic mode you can use, but this camera has a lot more to offer.
Points I Like
Features - High Definition movies - Compact Size for Type of Camera
Where it Could Improve
Colours in portrait tests - turn on time
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Fuji Finepix S2500HD Review Fuji Finepix S2500HD Specification Fuji Finepix S2500HD Sample Images Fuji Finepix S2500HD Features
Review Date
June 2010
