Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP

A decent snapper if you’re in good light conditions, and the waterproofingmeans it’s versatile

Verdict
Compact and waterproof, the Z33WP will appeal to many, but is let down by overall image quality

The good:
Nice design; decent features for the money; waterproof to 10 feet.

The bad:
Soft, grainy photos; slow performance.

The bottom line:
A simple, inexpensive waterproof camera to keep poolside, the Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP is nonetheless lacking in photo quality and performance.

For

• Waterproof to 3m
• Great value
• Stylish

Pros

• Good results at low speeds
• Accurate colours
• Waterproof up to 3 metres below the surface
• Sharp design

Cons

• No wide-angle lens
• No image stabilization
• Video is only 640 x 480 and without zoom
• Slow

This is a relatively inexpensive, waterproof digital camera. Fuji has placed the emphasis on fun and the Finepix Z33WP is available in a range of bright colours. Highlights include ease of use, but picture quality struggles in places.

plus
Good results at low speeds
Accurate colours
Waterproof up to 3 metres below the surface
Sharp design

minus
No wide-angle lens
No image stabilization
Video is only 640 x 480 and without zoom
Slow

Pros

• Particularly compact, appealing design, wears well on a lanyard around your neck
• Waterproof to ten feet (three meters)
• Very little geometric distortion, across the zoom range
• Fast shutter response, particularly at wide angle and when prefocused
• Reasonably fast flash recycle
• Excellent macro performance (but with soft corners), flash throttles down reasonably well

Cons

• Images are very soft in the corners, at both wide and tele, softness extends far into the frame
• Lots of chromatic aberration in the corners, extending far into the frame
• Distortions and color aberration limit print size to 11x14 inches max, 8x10s look better
• Poor high-ISO performance, detail diminishes quickly as ISO is raised
• Shot to shot cycle time is slow
• White balance so-so under incandescent lighting
• Camera boosts ISO to 800 in dim lighting to get acceptable flash range: Resulting images are soft and very grainy