Verdict
Pros
- Low price, large zoom, big screen
Cons
- Sluggish performance, overall poor image quality
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £120
Despite the decent specification, the Fujifilm Finepix JZ500 build quality is very much that of an entry-level compact. The body feels plasticky in the hand, as do the mode dial on the rear and the shutter release on the camera’s top. The menu system is also fairly basic and doesn’t make access of menu functions particularly simple.
Focus with the Fujifilm Finepix JZ500, while by no means sluggish, isn’t particularly accurate. The model also exhibits a tendency to overexpose, with white balance also performing poorly and erring on the cold side of the scale. Another disappointment is the resolution of the screen, with image assessment on the rear of the camera made difficult, although this is hardly unique for a compact camera at the affordable end of the scale. One final disappointment is processing time – the JZ500 takes up to two seconds to process a simple JPEG, which is really quite slow.
Fujifilm Finepix JZ500 Image Quality
Image quality with the Fujifilm Finepix JZ500 isn’t great. An overall softness is apparent on most images, an appearance which is accentuated towards the corners of the frame. Colour reproduction is generally good although, as previously mentioned, there are a few issues with white balance. ISO performance is generally acceptable – noise is well controlled throughout the ISO range, although it does serve to accentuate the softness at higher ISO settings.
Verdict
On the face of it, the Fujifilm Finepix JZ500 performs ok for a camera of that price level. However, the market is constantly developing with better cameras available at lower prices. With this in mind, it really is difficult to be considerate towards the flaws in the JZ500, such as sluggish performance and poor image quality, and for that reason it disappoints.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Value 9
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Design 8
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Features 9
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Image Quality 8
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Performance 8
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Professional conduct
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.