Fujifilm FinePix T500 Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification



The Fujifilm FinePix T500 was announced in January 2013 and is an entry-level camera which updates the T400. There are more megapixels and more zoom, with a 16 megapixel sensor and 12x optical zoom, but the screen is smaller - if you want a 3 inch screen there is the T550, which is otherwise identical. The T500 is available in black, red and white for £97.99.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Features

The Fujifilm FinePix T500 has a 16 megapixel CCD sensor and 12x optical zoom lens, which is a 35mm equivalent of 24-288mm, and there is also 24x intelligent digital zoom. To help reduce blur when using the optical zoom there is lens-shift image stabilisation.

Key Features

• 16 megapixel CCD sensor
• 12x optical zoom lens (35mm equiv: 24-288mm)
• Lens-shift image stabilisation
• 2.7 inch 230k dot LCD screen
• Advanced filters (6 special effects)
• 720p HD video recording
• ISO 100-3200
• 5cm minimum focusing distance
• Motion panorama
• 1.1 fps continuous shooting
• Available in black, red and white

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Handling

The Fujifilm FinePix T500 has a pocketable aluminium body with grooves on both the front and rear, as well as a dotted area for your thumb to aid grip. On the top of the camera is the on / off switch, zoom rocker, shutter release and a movie record button. On the rear are playback and display / back buttons as well as the d-pad, which also provides quick access to the flash, macro mode and timer.

The d-pad is also used to cycle through the camera menus, with a menu / OK button located in the middle. The menu system is easy to navigate, any options which aren't available in the mode you are using are greyed out.

Battery life is rated at 230 shots according to CIPA test results, which should be enough to get you through a day of shooting. We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.

Shutter Response		0.125 secs
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response		0.5 secs
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response		1.05 secs
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo		2.35 secs
Shot to Shot without Flash		2.6 secs
Shot to Shot with Flash		2.8 secs
Continuous Shooting		1.1 fps

Continuous shooting records in full 16 megapixel resolution, but is limited to just three shots.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Performance

Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Sample Photos

Sample Photos - Images are well exposed with pleasing colour reproduction. Portrait shots have decent skin tones and a free of red-eye.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Lens test images

Lens Performance - Detail is OK in the centre of the images but they are softer in the corners, with a decent control of purple fringing. Detail suffers a little in darker areas of the images. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 5cm, but macro shots don't pack much detail.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 ISO test images

ISO Noise Performance - Noise is low at ISO 100, but there is enough at ISO 200 to cause images to become a little soft. Images are very soft at ISO 400, with small amounts of detail lost in places which just worsens slightly at ISO 800. Lots of detail is lost at ISO 1600, at ISO 3200 image quality is poor and file size is limited to just 4 megapixels.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 White-balance test images

White Balance Performance - Under the incandescent lights, the Auto White Balance (AWB) produces an image with a slight magenta cast, with the incandescent preset taking an image with an orange cast. Under the fluorescent lights, the AWB performs well, with all three fluorescent presets having colour casts.


Panorama | 1/110 sec | f/8.6 | 4.3 mm | ISO 100

Panorama mode - Panorama images have a decent amount of detail and are well stitched together.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Digital filters

Digital Filters - The T500 has a number of special effects within the advanced filters, with examples of each above.

Video - Below is a video recorded in 720p HD. Quality is good, but you can't use optical zoom during recording, although there is digital zoom.

Value For Money

The Fujifilm FinePix T500 is available for £97.99. Other cameras with a similar amount of zoom include the Olympus VR-370 at £109.00, Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 at £99.99, Samsung WB30F at £119.99, Nikon Coolpix S6400 at £148.99, Sony Cybershot DSC-WX200 at £158.99, Canon IXUS 255 HS at £199.94 and Ricoh CX6 at £149.99.

You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Verdict

Many entry-level cameras tend to have a 5x optical zoom lens, so if you want an easy to use camera with more zoom the T500 is an ideal option. Although image quality isn't the best, if you're the type of person who shares images on the web via sites such as Facebook it's unlikely you'll have any complaints. It's good to see optical image stabilisation, but we found the T500 struggled to focus in dark conditions. The T500 has a solid aluminium body and is excellent value for money.

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Pros

Optical image stabilisation
Good zoom range in a compact body
Aluminium body
Easy to use
Excellent value for money
Advanced filters allow for creative photography
Video quality is good

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Cons

Shortish battery life
Image quality isn't the best
Screen is quite small

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Fujifilm FinePix T500 Specifications

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