Rather than reinvent the hugely successful S9500, the new S9600 sees the introduction instead of some carefully-chosen improvements. Improving LCD size, image sharpness and low light autofocus, the new camera acts as a definite upgrade to its predecessor.
Nonetheless, you still have the impressive zoom lens; covering the crucial 28-300mm* range, and crafted from the highest standard Fujinon optics, this is a built-in lens that has been engineered to work perfectly with the camera’s sensor technology. And the sensor technology is just as advanced – a nine million effective pixel Super CCD and Real Photo Processor combination that not only delivers on detail, but also the major image quality milestones: colour, low noise, dynamic range and sensitivity.

 

Fujifilm's FinePix S9600 is the sort of camera you can take anywhere and get a great shot. Thanks to its huge 10.7x Fujinon optical zoom lens you'll capture all the action – whether you're shooting details close-up or vast landscapes. It's a hugely versatile camera, which has advantages over DSLRs for new and enthusiast users. It can shoot still photographs or movies, has a live preview screen for easy composition, and, because of Fujifilm's unique Super CCD and Real Photo Processor, image quality is spot on. Its robust, compact body means you can take it anywhere, and fixed lens housing means there's no need to worry about dust on the sensor.

 

 

This camera is about a lot more than just nine million pixels. Super CCD technology has long been associated with class-leading performance in top-end digital cameras. Unlike generic image sensors, this system is developed and manufactured entirely in-house, and is performance only available from Fujifilm. Compared to the S9500, the S9600 sees refinements in the area of image sharpness, delivering a bitingly-crisp rendition of reality. Furthermore, the impressive ISO range of 100-1600 means that you will get great, blur-free results in all light, not just daylight. Because of its incredible potential in low light conditions, the S9600's autofocus has been further improved, enabling it to find focus more quickly in dim conditions.

 

 

Fujinon optics have an enviable reputation within the photography industry for their clarity and quality, and the lens on the S9600 lives up to the name. The 13 elements include one hybrid aspherical element, one glass moulded aspherical element, as well as ED glass. Furthermore, photography enthusiasts will like the manual twist barrel zoom control, as well as the manual focusing ring, both giving pinpoint control.

 

 

One of the more visible improvements on the S9600 is the large 2-inch LCD monitor, mounted on a tiltable axis on the back of the camera. Possessing an extremely detailed display of 235,000 pixels, it enables you to check focus and get an immediate idea of image sharpness.

 

 

The S9600 comes packaged with a high-value piece of software aimed at getting the absolute maximum out of the camera's formidable imaging potential. The HS-V2 software processes RAW files from the camera, enabling the user to fine-tune sharpness settings, white balance and other image parameters without worrying about 'losing' information, which is what happens when jpegs are recorded and re-recorded again.

 

 

Number of effective pixels	9.0million pixels
CCD sensor	1/1.6-inch Super CCD HR Number of total pixels : 9.24 million pixels
Number of recorde pixels	Still image - 3,488x2,616 (9.03 million) / 3,696x2,464(3:2 format) /2,592x1944/ 2,048x1,536 / 1,600x1,200 / 640x480 pixels Movie - 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec., with monaural sound
Storage media	Slot No 1 - xD-Picture Card™ (16MB to 2GB) Slot No 2 - CF Card and MicroDrive™(compatibility is listed on Fujifilm website: http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital/)
File format	Still image - CCD-RAW/JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2) Movie - AVI (Motion JPEG ) Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible
Lens	Fujinon 10.7X zoom lens , F 2.8 - F4.9
Lens focal length	f=6.2 - 66.7 mm. (Equivalent to 28 - 300 mm on a 35 mm camera)
Focus	Auto focus (Area,Multi,Center)/Manual focus/Continuous AF AF assist illuminator available, Effective range:up to 3.5m(Wide angle)
Focus distance	Normal - Wide Angle: Approx. 40cm /1.3 ft. to infinity Telephoto: Approx. 2.0m /6.6ft. to infinity Macro - Wide Angle: Approx. 10cm - 3.0m /4.0 in.- 9.8 ft. Telephoto: Approx. 90cm - 3.0m /3.0ft.- 9.8 ft. Super Macro - Approx. 1cm - 1.0m / 0.4 in.-3.3 ft.(Wide angle only)
Shutter speed	Auto/Anti Blur/Natural Light/Portrait/Landscape : 1/4sec. to 1/4000 sec. Night Scene : 4sec.to 1/500sec. P/S/A : 4sec. to 1/4000sec., M : 30sec. to 1/4000sec Bulb(Up to 30sec.)
Aperture	F2.8 - F11, 13 steps in 1/3 EV increments Manual/Auto selectable
Sensitivity	AUTO/Equivalent to ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600
Exposure control	256-zone TTL metering-Multi/Spot/Average
Exposure modes	Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
White balance	Automatic Manual : Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light, Custom(2 types)
Electronic Viewfinder	0.44-inch low temperature polysilicon TFT(approx.235,000 pixels), Approx. 100% coverage
LCD monitor	2.0-inch Low temperature polysilicon TFT (approx. 235,000 pixels), Approx. 100% coverage
Flash	Auto flash Effective range : Wide angle: Approx. 30cm to 5.6 m / 1.0 ft. to 18.4 ft. Telephoto: Approx. 90cm to 3.0 m / 3.0 ft. to 9.8 ft. Flash mode : Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro Red-eye Reduction + Slow Synchro.
Self-timer	Approx. 2 / 10 sec. delay
Video output	NTSC / PAL selectable
Digital interface	USB2.0 High-Speed
Power source	4xAA type alkaline batteries(included)/ 4xAA type Ni-MH rechargeable batteries(optional) or AC power adapter AC-5VX(optional)
Dimensions	128.0(W) X 93.0 (H) X 129.0(D) mm / 5.0(W) X 3.7(H) X 5.1(D) in.
Weight	Approx. 650g / 22.9oz.(excluding batteries and storage media)
	Approx. 760g / 26.8oz.(including batteries and xD-Picture Card)
Digital Zoom	Approx. 2.0 X (10.7x optical zoom lens is used together: Max. zoom scale: 21.4x)
Shooting modes	Normal - Auto, Scene Position, Anti-Blur, Natural Light, Portrait, Landscape, Night Continuous - 1.Top-4 : Max. 1.5 frames / sec. up to 4 frames 2.Final- 4 : Max. 1.5 frames / sec. up to 4 frames 3.Long-period : Max 1.1 frames / sec. up to 40 frames High speed shooting
Colour modes	STANDARD/ CHROME / B&W
Movie recording	640 x 480 / 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec., with monaural sound. AVI format (Motion JPEG )
Playback	Single frame, 9 Multi-frame, Exposure information with histogram, Sorting by date, Image rotate, Trimming, Automatic playback, Navigation screen on playback zoom
Voice Memo	Up to 30 sec. WAV format
Accessories included	4xAA type Alkaline batteries Shoulder strap USB Cable (mini-B) A/V Cable for FinePix S9600 Lens cap Lens cap holder Lens hood USB driver FinePixViewer ImageMixer VCD2 LE for FinePix RAW File Converter LE Hyper Utility Software
Optional accessories	xD-Picture Card ™ : 128MB,256MB,512MB,1GB,2GB Wide Conversion Lens WL-FXS6 Rechargeable Battery 2000mAh (4x AA type Ni-MH) World Travel Charger 4x AA type Ni-MH batteries AC Power Adapter AC-5VH PC Card Adapter DPC-AD Image Memory Card Reader DCR2-xD DCR2-161 Multiformat reader and 3 port hub Compact Flash Card Adapter DPC-CF Premium Leather Case for FinePix S9600 Premium Leather Multi-purpose case