Fujifilm FinePix S5700
£140.00
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The Fujifilm FinePix S5700 has been released to supersede the popular S5600 model. Resolution has been increased with the addition of a new 7.1Mp sensor.
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The Fujifilm FinePix S5700 houses 7.1Mp that will be ideal for A4 prints. It comes with both a 2.5in LCD screen and a digital viewfinder, while the ISO range reaches ISO 1600 – handy for low-light conditions – and if you enjoy taking the occasional video, the S5700 is capable of a 640x480 resolution recording at 30 frames a second.
The back of the camera is laid out neatly and although there’s no protective screen, the viewing is crisp and clear. The D-pad is easy to navigate with your thumb when your hand is wrapped around the handgrip. Super macro mode allows you to focus as close as1cm, while the 10x zoom range offers plenty of coverage, running from 38-380mm, but not quite wide enough for landscape enthusiasts.
This camera has a slightly smaller handgrip compared to other Fujifilm models but it’s still reasonable compared with other pocket-sized digital compacts and the rubberized grip ensures that it doesn’t slip out of your hand. The rotational mode dial and sideways power button are neatly positioned for thumb and index finger use and the F-mode button is a useful feature on the back of the camera, positioned just above the D-pad. This saves time searching through the main menu for settings like ISO, quality and colour. The build quality is solid for a £150 camera and, while the battery compartment has a solid feel to it, the memory card compartment feels slightly vulnerable when opened.
We tested the camera in the studio and out on location, testing it in a range of shooting situations. Unfortunately there’s no image stabilisation on the S5700, which means you’re going to need a steady hand to prevent camera shake, or you could always revert to a tripod. The 7.1Mp chip provided some sharp results from ISO 64 to ISO 400 and the autofocus performed smoothly. Moving beyond ISO 400 and onto the 800 and 1600 settings created prominent digital Noise, so these should only be used in very low-light situations.
At £150, the FinePix S5700 represents good value for money, but doesn’t quite cut it. If you have a slightly higher budget we recommend you check out the superior Fujifilm FinePix S8100 with its impressive 18x optical zoom and 10Mp sensor. You can read up on the review of the S8100 by clicking here.