Phil Hanson takes a new waterproof camera from FujiFilm down to the poolside
Some readers may have learnt the hard way that moisture and the electronics inside digital cameras are not a good mix.
Many cameras, even some professional dSLRs, lack waterproofing and must be used with caution in inclement weather and dusty areas. Forget about giving them a good dunking.
In the days of film, photographers had to use a cumbersome casing to go underwater, or buy one of a few specialised cameras like the Nikonos or Sea & Sea models.
Special casings have largely been required for digitals going sea-side, but now some specialised waterproofed models are available and the latest to splash into D-Photo’s test pool is Fujifilm’s FinePix Z33WP.
You won’t be able to dive the Mariana Trench with this baby, but it is good at three metres for up to two hours or, more typically, splashing around at the beach or pool.
BODY BEAUTIFUL
The Z33WP’s a small camera even for compact, but it is beautifully formed and quite distinctive in a marketplace where one product often looks much the same as the other. The lens is at the top right corner (as you view it), a look inherited from some earlier members of the FinePix family, and although the body is curvy, it’s easy to hold.
The back is dominated by a 2.7-inch LCD screen and two rows of five buttons each are arranged down the right side. Apart from the shutter and on/off button, all functions are controlled by these buttons, a requirement of the waterproofing.
Although small, the buttons, which are convex, are surprisingly easy to use and the interface quite intuitive.
THE LENS
Because waterproofing and a telescoping zoom lens don’t go well together, the 6.3-18.9mm Fujinon lens is located entirely within the slim body behind a clear glass cover. There’s no protective cap and the cover must be kept clean and clear if picture quality is not to be affected.
The confined nature of the lens likely explains why its optical zoom range is a modest 3x and the maximum aperture f3.7 (and f4.2 at the tele end) when f2.8 is common on compacts. The lens represents a 35-105mm full-frame equivalent — useful for many applications, although it may not please wide-angle enthusiasts. For those who need to reach farther, digital zoom extends the range to about 5.7x with a loss of image quality.
Overall the lens performs well, although not at its best when shooting into the sun — there’s not even a semblance of a lens shade.
IN THE FIELD
Fujifilm sternly warns that the Z33WP is not shockproof, so you might not want to take it on your next extreme adventure. It also warns to be careful at the beach as sand may get into the microphone and speaker. D-Photo played it safe and took it to where many users will typically make their images: poolside and at a local lake.
Left to its own devices the camera tends to choose higher ISO speeds than I’d have thought necessary. Unfortunately, the images are getting noisy by 400 ISO, so for maximum quality, set the speed manually — the alternatives go down to a commendable 64.
It’s great to be able to splash around and not worry about wrecking your camera.
CONCLUSION
The Z33WP should enjoy a good market in our outdoorsy country, whatever the season. It’s easy to handle and use and oh-so stylish. Good one, Fujifilm.
FUJIFILM FINEPIX Z33WP – Specifcations
Manufacturer: Fujifilm
Model: Z33WP
Effective Pixels: 10 million
Lens: Fujinon 6.3-18.9mm (35mm -105mm full-frame equivalent)
Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT colour LCD, approx 230,000 pixels
Shutter: 8 sec-1/2000 sec
Aperture: f3.7-f4.2
ISO: Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400,
800, 1600
Shooting Modes: Program AE, Scene Recognition, 12 modes
and movie
Exposure Metering: TTL 256-zone
Media: SD, SDHC
File Format: JPEG Exif 2.2,
AVI, WAV
Flash: Auto, red-eye reduction and removal, slow-synchro, forced flash, suppressed flash
Interface: USB, HDMI mini connector
Battery: NP-45 Lithium-
ion rechargeable
Dimensions: 92 x 60 x 21mm (W/H/D)
Weight: 110g (body only)
CONTACT
PROS
- Stylish and well built
- Easy to use
- Waterproof and dustproof
CONS
- But not shockproof
- Modest maximum aperture
Design 18
Performance 16
Features 16
Image Quality 15
Value for money 16
TOTAL 81/100
This article if from D-Photo issue 30.
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