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Fujifilm improves stabilization on 50x zoom FinePix S9900W, makes tougher FinePix XP80

With focus shifting to the high-end X-series, Fujifilm continues to cut down its FinePix line with just some minor updates to existing models.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice

Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.

Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials

More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.

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Joshua Goldman

Jan. 14, 2015 9:01 p.m. PT

2 min read

Fujifilm continues to whittle its FinePix line of point-and-shoots down to just essentials. At the moment this includes making just minor updates to existing megazoom and rugged cameras.

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The new FinePix S9900W (US only) and S9800 are tweaks to 2014's S9400W and S9200. The updates share their predecessors' 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, 50x f2.9-6.5 24-1,200mm lens (35mm equivalent) and abundant shooting options including 10-frames-per-second burst shooting, full-manual and semimanual modes and full HD movie capture.

What's been added is five-axis image stabilization (two-axis optical and three-axis electronic stabilization) to help with camera shake in all directions and should be especially helpful when taking advantage of its 1,200mm focal length.

Fujifilm also significantly increased the resolution on the electronic viewfinder from 200K dots to 920K dots, which should make subjects and onscreen settings sharper and easier to see.

The difference between the two models is Wi-Fi: the FinePix S9900W has it, the S9800 doesn't. Both cameras will be available in March for $349.95 and $329.95, respectively. Pricing for the UK and Australia wasn't available for the S9800, but it converts to £230 and AU$430.

Joining the S-series models is the FinePix XP80, an ultracompact rugged camera that's waterproof to 50 feet (15m), shockproof from 5.8 feet (1.75m), freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius) and dustproof. By comparison, its predecessor the XP70, is waterproof to 33 feet (10m) and shockproof from 5 feet (1.5m).

It, too, features a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, but with a 5x 28-140mm zoom lens and has built-in Wi-Fi for transferring photos and movie clips to smartphones and tablets and remote control of the camera. The camera also has an Action Camera mode that, when paired with the ACL-XP70 lens, gives you a superwide field of view of 18mm (35mm equivalent).

The Fujifilm FinePix XP80 arrives in March for $229.95. Pricing for UK and Australia were not available, but it converts to £150 and AU$280.