Today I have been at the CEBIT fair and checked the S602. They had only one pre-production unit which could be tested and another one in a case (I suggest the same units which were shown at the PMA). In response to question in this forum I have these points:
- It was not allowed to make shots with my own card (even a dutch Fuji man was not allowed to do so) because it was a pre-production model. So we have to wait some weeks for first samples.
- The electronic viewfinder EVF was improoved and it was easier to check the focus in manual mode. I could not check behaviour in very low light. The refresh rate of the EVF was similar to the 6900 (or faster) could be about 10 - 20 times per second. You can use the composition grid and the focus check function (magnifier) as for the 6900.
- You can put in SM card and CF card at the same time and have to switch in the SETUP where to store. The storage to the SM card was faster compared to the 6900. After using the burst mode storing needs about 1 sec for 1 MP shots (for 6900 about 12 sec) and about 8 sec for 6MB shots (25 sec for 6900). I have not checked with CF card.
- The 602 has an additional active AF using IR for fast AF and low light situation (there was no low ligth, so I couldn‘t check it). The active AF cannot be used if adaptor with wide or tele or macro lens is connected.
But at the light there (about 1/3 sec Aperture 2.8 at 100 ASA) the AF was very fast. Another new AF feature in the 602 compared to 6900 is the variable AF, means you can move the point for AF with the cursor within the screen to have it on the important object.
- The super macro worked upto 1 cm to the lens and the smallest object size was about 10 x 15 mm (if using the 2 x zoom) but it is difficult to have good lighting (easier if at least 2 or 5 cm). In the normal macro modus as for the 6900 the smallest object size is about 35 x 55 mm. Also in the super macro modus the AF was very fast (<0.5 sec; at least if there is high contrast in the object).
- The video modus can only be changed between VGA (640 x 480) and 320 x 240 30 frames per second. Maximum length is only limited by the memory (15 min in VGA and 1 GB microdrive, 4 GB microdrives will be available soon). The zoom cannot be changed if video is running.
- They use 4 AA cells 1,25V 1800mAh (which is about 2 times the energy of the 6900 LiIon 3.7V 1300mAh mA) Fuji has now the optional Power Pack FPP5V (4.8V, 3000 mAh) which will be connected to the power input socket and can be used also for the 6900.
- the 602 shall be available in June 2002.

In general I was impressed by the improvements compared to the 6900.
As this 602 was a pre-production unit, changes will be possible in the production unit, but I hope only further improvements.

Bernd

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BerndB