Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

Fujifilm claims the 10 megapixel FinePix Z33WP is the smallest digital compact that is waterproof down to 3m. The camera comes in a bold array of colour options, including blue, green and pink, and traditional black too. Despite its small form, the Z33WP packs a 2.7in LCD screen into its list of attributes and a 3x optical zoom. On the inside the camera is also well specified, with a host of modes to keep the point-and-press photographer well satisfied.

It’s no surprise to find the Z33WP has an underwater shooting mode, bearing in mind that it can be taken down to 3m below the water line, but there are many other useful modes too. SR Auto is the camera’s Scene Recognition (SR) mode that can set the camera automatically for a number of scenarios. Be it a portrait, landscape, macro or night shot, the Z33WP will ensure the settings are fine-tuned to give the best results. Night portrait and backlit portrait modes are also useful, and like the SR offerings, they utilise the built-in face detection technology and auto red-eye removal. Even the self-timer on the Z33WP has something different to offer thanks to face detection, as you can select group or couple timer and the camera can be set up for up to four faces so it won’t take a shot until the set number of people are in the frame.

The Z33WP’s movie mode features a successive record function that very simply allows you to carry on adding video footage to a pre-recorded file. This is limited to 60 seconds, but is great for mini movies. There is also a blog mode that includes some special effects that you can add to your images. Blog mode automatically sets the camera to a reduced resolution so that the files are easy to upload to blogging sites.

This is a well laid out camera that’s easy to operate too. The playback from one image to another is tediously slow, but general operation is kept simple.