Fujifilm's budget 30x superzoom bridge of 2011 — 14MP CCD, 24-720mm equivalent, EVF, AA power
The FinePix S4000 was Fujifilm's entry-level 30x superzoom bridge camera, announced ahead of CES in January 2011 alongside the 24x-zoom FinePix S3200. It was sold in some markets as the FinePix S4050, and an S4000A variant shares the same manual. It sat below the EXR-sensor S-series models as an affordable all-in-one.
It paired a 14-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a Fujinon 30x zoom covering 24-720mm equivalent at f/3.1-5.9, backed by sensor-shift image stabilisation. A 3.0-inch 230k-dot LCD and an electronic viewfinder handled framing, with P/A/S/M modes, AF tracking, 720p HD video at 30fps, an HDMI port, SD/SDHC storage and power from four AA batteries.
The enormous zoom range in a cheap AA-powered body made it a popular holiday and safari camera. It rewards good light: at the long end the small CCD and slow aperture demand steady support, and contrast-detect autofocus is leisurely by later standards, but the 24mm wide end is genuinely useful.
AA power and SD cards keep it easy to run today. Check the zoom travels its full range without grinding, that both the EVF and LCD display, and that the battery contacts are free of corrosion, as leaked alkalines are common in stored examples. Verify stabilisation by comparing handheld long-zoom shots.