Fujifilm's 2007 budget superzoom bridge — 7.1MP CCD, 10x 38-380mm zoom, PASM modes, xD/SD, AA power.
The Fujifilm FinePix S5700 was a compact superzoom bridge camera released in early 2007, sold as the FinePix S700 in the US market. It sat at the affordable end of Fujifilm's S-series bridge range, offering SLR-style handling and manual control at a point-and-shoot price, and it succeeded the FinePix S5600.
It carried a 7.1-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD behind a Fujinon 10x optical zoom of 6.3-63mm f/3.5-3.7, equivalent to 38-380mm. Composition was via a 2.5-inch 230,000-pixel LCD or a 0.24-inch electronic viewfinder. It offered program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full manual exposure, sensitivity to ISO 1600, and a quick 1.1-second start-up. Unusually for Fujifilm at the time, it took both xD-Picture Cards and SD cards, and it ran on four AA batteries.
The S5700 suits anyone wanting one camera to cover wide-angle to long telephoto without changing lenses, and its full manual modes made it a common first step for learners. The long 380mm-equivalent reach handles distant subjects, though there is no optical image stabilisation, so telephoto shots need good light or a steady hand.
Used buyers should favour examples with SD-card capability confirmed working, since SD is far easier to source than xD today. AA power keeps running costs trivial. Check the zoom rocker operates smoothly through the full range, inspect the EVF and rear LCD for dimming, and test high-ISO output, which is noisy by modern standards. The CCD sensor gives the punchy mid-2000s Fujifilm colour that attracts digicam buyers.