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FUJIFILM'S ULTRA-THIN 5.1-megapixel FinePix Z1 is sleek and sexy, with speedy performance and a large, 2.5" LCD. A streamlined feature set makes it easy for anyone to start snapping pictures right away. The Z1 falls shy of perfection, but its few flaws shouldn't deter you.
Available in matte black or silver, the Z1 is eyecatchingly slender. Sliding the lens open powers up the camera, and the non-projecting 3x optical zoom lens keeps its surface flat. The camera is comfortable to hold and use, but it's easy for a stray finger to block the lens. While there's no optical viewfinder, the LCD performs well under all but the most extreme lighting conditions.
The Z1 comes with a cradle for image transfers and battery charging, but you ought to buy a high-capacity xD card to replace the tiny 16MB card that comes with the camera, especially for using the high-quality movie mode with sound.
A handful of scene modes includes Natural Light, which works quite well in automatically increasing the ISO for well-exposed shots. The Z1 lacks manual controls other than basics such as exposure compensation, center and multi autofocus options. We missed a manual white balance feature, but appreciate having the f/stops and shutter speed displayed on the LCD, even though there's no manual control over either.
A useful grid overlay on the LCD helped us, and the function button provided quick access to image size, ISO and color—standard, chrome (increased saturation) and black and white. Lowlight autofocus wasn't bad, but an assist lamp would have helped. Otherwise, the Z1 is fast and responsive, with speedy start-up, minimal shutter lag and above average shot-to-shot speeds.
Our test shots exhibited accurate exposures and minimal image noise. Purple fringing was above average along high-contrast edges, and images could have been sharper. Nevertheless, the Z1 is a great little camera.
–THEANO NIKITAS
FinePix Z1: 
Fujifilm | www.fujifilm.com | 800-800-3854 | $400
Pros: Ultra-portable, great design, fast performance, easy to use, low image noise, high-quality movie
Cons: Above average purple fringing, low saturation images in Standard color mode, only 16MB
Requires: Built-in USB, OS 10.2.8 or higher
macHOME recommends: High-capacity xD card
Issue reviewed: September 2005
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