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The 9-megapixel FinePix S9000 looks like a digital SLR (dSLR) and in many ways, acts like one—but it's not. That's good news for photographers who want a dSLR-like experience without the expense of interchangeable lenses. With the S900's 28-300mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens, you'll have as much—or even more—focal length flexibility at a lower price.
The S9000 weighs as much as some dSLRs, with a heft of almost 1.5lbs. without batteries and media card. Outfitted with multiple external controls and a comprehensive menu system, you'll need to study the manual to figure out how to use the various buttons and dials. Despite a Function button to change the most important settings, you'll be making fairly regular trips into the menu for the rest.
A small, but adjustable LCD is usably bright but not quite as good as the camera's EVF (electronic viewfinder). Switching between the two is easy via a dedicated button, which is conveniently placed, as are all the controls.
The camera's several shooting modes include manual exposure modes, as well as a handful of scene modes. Outfitted with Fuji's 5th-generation Super CCD and Real Photo Technology, the S9000 has an ISO range of up to 1,600—far beyond where most digital cameras dare to tread. In Natural Light, the S9000 automatically raises the ISO so you can take pictures in low light without flash. In Anti-Blur mode, the ISO is bumped, and the shutter speed is raised, so you can freeze a moving subject. With the Real Photo two-step noise reduction process, images—even at ISO 1,600—are usable, although you may want to keep them small; even though noise is reduced, it's still visible and does affect image quality.
Using the flash or RAW mode slows down shot-to-shot times, but the S9000 is otherwise robust. Image quality is generally quite good, with nicely saturated colors and, while we noticed clipped highlights in some test shots, exposures were generally good. Images, particularly those shot at high ISOs, however, could be sharper. If you often shoot in low light, you'll capture pictures you otherwise wouldn't.
–THEANO NIKITAS
FinePix S9000: 
Fujifilm | www.fujifilm.com | 800-800-3854 | $700
Pros: 9 megapixels, great ISO range and noise reduction, fast start-up and autofocus, AF assist lamp works well, CompactFlash and xD card slots, good movie mode, great price.
Cons: Small, low-res LCD, images could be sharper, heavier than most consumer cameras, only a 16MB xD card.
Requires: G3 or better, built-in USB, OS 10.2.8 to 10.3.9
macHOME recommends: High-capacity Compact- Flash card
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