Sample Images

Naturally the best way to get a feel for a camera is to take it for a test drive and see what it can produce. We snapped a few images at some of the more common resolution settings to better show you what to expect from the FinePix 6900. Note that all images were shot at the "normal" resolution setting with the camera on automatic. Additionally, since the FinePix 6900 is able to capture low-resolution movies, we added a short 9-second panorama shot (it can record longer times of course).

The thumbnails of the images are shown below, so simply click on a picture and see for yourself. The images are uncompressed and in their natural state so file sizes may be a bit large.

640x480 72KB	1280x960 588KB	2048x1536 1.25MB	2832x2128 1.06MB
2832x2128 +6XZoom 1.0MB	9sec AVI filmclip 1.3MB

Real world impressions

Now that we have gotten a plethora of specs, features and insights out of the way its time to examine some things we noticed while using this camera.

We found the lens to be a bit finicky while it focuses. Depending on the settings, and object you are attempting to photograph, the camera when set to auto focus will take anywhere from a second or so to focus properly. As the camera focuses it makes an audible sound, letting the user know when the process is complete. If the environment is too dark, or the subject too close a small indicator will inform you that the Auto Focus has been unable to properly adjust under the current conditions.

Even with the macro feature enabled, this is not a camera for really intensive macro work. It will be sufficient for most casual users intent on capturing local flowers and such, but for really close up work it is not well equipped.

Getting used to how the electrical focus ring operated took some time for us. Where a traditional camera will only rotated for 360 degrees say, the focus ring on digital camera like the 6900Z will rotate endlessly (after some point it stops doing anything).

The rear LCD display is inherently brighter than the actual image so it is important to adjust the brightness of the display to more correctly represent the intensity of the image. On more than one occasion we found ourselves taking pictures which appeared to be sufficiently bright, but when transferred to the computer were too dark. From what we've seen previously, this is a major falling point with all digital cameras that used LCD-based viewfinders - the brightness of the final image and that of the viewfinder should always be adjusted by the user to better relate to one another. Without that step the photographer either has the option of haphazardly under lighting the LCD, or getting to know their camera very well, realizing that images which appear washed out may in fact be just right on the computer.

The electrical viewfinder is a nice addition, and one which will afford a slight gain in battery life over the bigger counter part, but we found using it to be a bit odd as the image appeared grainy. FujiFillm should be commended on the excellent quality of the viewfinder optics however. The LCD display was presented clearly and without any optical distortion. Our only wish was that a smaller dot-pitch was used for the LCD panel in the viewfinder.

The main controls on the 6900Z are well laid out, and not nearly as cluttered as the rear of the display. Of all the controls on the camera this area was best represented. There was nothing superfluous or unnecessary located here. The shutter release was well tensioned and sensitive enough that it didn't cause the entire camera to jerk when it was depressed. The Mode wheel is easy to operate and a very intuitive way to alter the settings of the camera - with just a slight movement of the thumb. The outer rim around the wheel can be used to change the f-stop when not on automatic settings, although I would have preferred it only travel one revolution instead of continuously.

Using the zoom button on the side of the camera was a bit awkward, and I would have liked to have seen a more integrated zoom button operable by the thumb. While there is a button on the rear of the camera that will allow the photographer to adjust the zoom settings, it is really located too far down on the body to be used while siting the camera with one hand.