• High resolution, lots of detail
• Sharp, bright F2.8-3.1 10x zoom lens
• Low distortion
• Excellent color rendition
• Comprehensive photographic controls
• Fast and responsive operation
• Very reliable focus and exposure
• Excellent handling
• Well built, seems very rugged
• Easy and intuitive to use
• Perfectly usable as point-and-shoot camera
• Focuses well in low light (though see below)
• Bright, clear screen that works well in low light (though see below)
• AF illuminator
• Raw option
• Program shift
• 640x480 pixel, 30fps movie mode
• Great value for money
• Excellent battery life

• Minimum focus distance too long in normal mode
• Small screen
• Some exposure/dynamic range problems in high contrast/very bright scenes
• No image stabilization
• Occasional focus errors at long end of zoom in low light
• Some vignetting at wider focal lengths
• Unimpressive burst modes
• Auto modes don't use the full range of shutter speeds (1/4 - 1/1000 sec)
  - shutter priority allows 3 - 1/1000 sec
  - manual mode allows speeds from 15 to 1/2000 sec

Overall conclusion

When we reviewed the S5500/5100's predecessor a year ago, Phil commented 'Throughout my time with the S5000 I was left wondering what would have been like had Fujifilm used a standard four or five megapixel CCD'. Well now we know; a lot better. All the positive attributes of the S5000, from the good design and handling to the impressive zoom range and wealth of photographic controls are now married to a sensor capable of doing them justice. And the result is a camera that offers an compelling option for those wanting a big-zoom camera on a tight budget.

Like the models that came before it, the S5500/5100 is designed to be a true 'photographer's camera'; offering true SLR-like handling, fuss-free operation, and plenty of options and controls, whilst remaining perfectly usable as a 'point-and-shoot'. The screen could be bigger, the EVF brighter and smoother, and the vignetting is something Fujifilm needs to address in the S5100's successor, but overall this is a significant upgrade to the promising, but flawed, S5000.

Finally, of course, image stabilization would be a seriously useful addition; albeit one that would almost certainly lead to a significant cost increase. As it stands the combination of price, features and reliable focus & exposure stsyems mean the S5100/5500 is pretty easy to recommend.

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