Fujifilm FinePix Z70 Review

The Fujifilm FinePix Z70 is a style-focused ultra-compact digital camera with a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, a 2.7 inch LCD screen and a 5x optical zoom lens (36-180mm focal length) with a sliding cover. For movie makers the Z70 has the must-have feature of 2010, high-definition 720p video recording at 30fps, with the welcome ability to use the 5x zoom during recording and a handy one-touch record button. Easy uploads to Facebook/YouTube, ISO 100 up to ISO 1600 at full resolution, Tracking Auto Focus, support for SD/SDHC memory cards, and an Automatic Scene Recognition mode for beginners complete the Z70’s main specifications. The Fujifilm FinePix Z70 costs £129.99 / $149.95 and is available in black silver, red, blue or purple.
Ease of Use

The Fujifilm FinePix Z70 is a small and slim metal-bodied point and shoot camera with a sliding cover that protects the lens and also turns the camera on and off. It's cheaper than its build quality and good looks would initially suggest, at £129.99 / $149.95 costing a lot less than other fashion-orientated snapshot rivals. Size and pricing aside, this 12-megapixel camera is as much about user friendliness as creative flexibility. For those with kids or subjects that don't stay put its auto focus tracking ability will doubtless come in handy, as will the 5x internal zoom lens, which provides a focal range of 36mm wide-angle to 180mm telephoto.

Given the telephoto lens reach of 180mm, image stabilisation is a welcome inclusion, albeit a less effective digital system which increases the ISO speed rather than the more advanced CCD-shift anti shake found on other models in Fujifilm's extensive range. In practice therefore with the Fujifilm FinePix Z70 it's mostly a case of a half press of the shutter release button and the camera does the rest, particularly with Fujifilm including an 'auto everything' scene recognition (SR) auto mode. Although far from infallible - if you're not paying close attention and it's presented with a busy scene it'll call up landscape when macro is needed and vice versa - it adds to the beginner-friendly feel.

The Z70 introduces high-definition video for the first time to the Fujifilm Z-series, capturing 1280 x 720 pixel footage at 30fps with mono sound, full use of the 5x zoom and a maximum recording time of 15 minutes per clip. Alternatively there are also 640 x 480 pixels and 320 x 240 pixels modes, also at 30 fps. Although there's no built-in HDMI port, you could use Fujifilm's optional HD Player Kit instead, which includes an HD card reader that connects the camera to your HDTV, and even a wireless remote control. The in-camera Movie Edit function allows you to make your movies black and white, sepia or even add backlight correction to correct the exposure.
Front Rear

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