Fujifilm's enthusiast 9MP compact — 1/1.6in SuperCCD HR, 32-128mm f/2.8-5.6, RAW and manual control, 2005
The FinePix E900 Zoom was the flagship of Fujifilm's E-series compacts, announced on 28 July 2005 and on sale from October 2005 at US$499. It packed nine megapixels — headline-grabbing at the time — into an enthusiast-leaning body, and was one of the few Fujifilm compacts of its era to offer RAW capture and full manual exposure control.
It uses a fifth-generation 9.0-megapixel SuperCCD HR sensor in the relatively large 1/1.6in format, with Fujifilm's Real Photo processing and an ISO 80-800 range. The Fujinon 4x zoom covers 32-128mm equivalent at f/2.8-5.6, and framing is via a real-image optical viewfinder or the 2.0in, 115k-dot LCD. Exposure modes include program, aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual. It records RAW or JPEG to xD-Picture Card, shoots VGA 30fps movies, and runs on two AA batteries rated around 270 shots.
The E900 suits photographers who want a pocketable CCD compact with genuine control: the aperture and shutter priority modes, RAW files and larger-than-average sensor set it apart from ordinary point-and-shoots of the period. Handling is conventional and unhurried, with contrast-detect AF and no image stabilisation, so it rewards deliberate shooting in good light.
Used, the E900 is one of the more sought-after Fujifilm CCD compacts thanks to RAW support and its sensor. The main caveat is storage: it takes only discontinued xD-Picture Cards, so an included card adds real value. Check the optical viewfinder for haze, the mode dial for positive clicks, and the lens for smooth extension.