Buy the Fujifilm WP-FXF10 Underwater Housing Case for F10 of F11 Digital Camera

Pocket-Lint reviews the Fuji Finepix F11 Digital Camera 24 January 2006 Fuji’s F11 steps into the company’s line-up alongside the F10, its predecessor. The F11 addresses a few elements of the F10 that were not exactly problems, more just missing, such as manual shooting control for example. So, the camera boasts more or less the same design and control layout of the F10 but with a smorgasbord of options and a new control switch that surrounds the shutter release on the top plate. It gives you the entrée to the new camera’s manual control options. These “options” include aperture and shutter priority, manual control of white balance, exposure compensation, ISO, and the like. An auto-shooting mode is still in there (the control switch must be flipped round to the required setting) as is an option allowing a fast route to a selection of subject program (or scene) modes. These include the “usual” options of portrait, landscape, and a sports mode with the latter, in conjunction with the continuous shooting mode, allowing up to 2.2fps for up to three frames.” Read more

Reviews of the Fuji FinePix F11 with the WP-FXF10 housing

Cameras Underwater review the Fuji Finepix F11

FUJIFILM FINEPIX F11: Summary and test pictures.

By Levon Dymond (Cameras Underwater)

“The 6M pixel Fujifilm Finepix F11 is Fujifilm’s improved version of the highly esteemed F10 camera. The improvements over the F10 are: Aperture and shutter priority modes, increased LCD resolution and a new macro focus distance of 5cm.

Like the F10 the F11 camera will fit in the WP-FXF10 underwater housing, which means people wanting to upgrade could use the same housing. In terms of underwater use the F11 is probably one of the best specified compact cameras; due to Fujifilms unique sensor design the F11 has a greater range of sensor sensitivity than most of its competitors, without the usual levels of image degrading noise. This allows the user to shoot in darker conditions without fear of camera shake. The F11 also has a manual white balance function which allows for the creation of custom white balance settings on any and every dive if need be. This will somewhat make up for the fact that at the moment there are no accessory filters that will attach to its housing. The macro function has also been improved which will please potential divers who enjoy close up photography. Also the improved screen resolution will help as, the larger LCD screens on modern compacts are greatly improving the ease of viewing underwater. Other features I feel are valuable for use underwater are the continuos mode that will allow continuos shooting until the card is full at 1.3 frames a second for 40 frames. This is useful for fast action sequences where you can hold your finger on the shutter button and should easily capture anything which happens to be unfolding in front of you. The F10 is known for its nearly non existent shutter lag, with the F11 there is a specific function designed to improve the focus speed and shutter lag.

How do all these features feel in use? Well I found that the F11 was responsive in use. In conjunction with the WP-FXF10 housing it was a quick and easy combination to shoot with. I never found myself waiting for the camera as can be the case with some compacts. Personally I have always felt that Fuji cameras produce some of the nicest images, and with the F11 I was not disappointed; the colours were vibrant and images are pleasing. In all it is a superb package , so long as one is aware there is not the upgrade path available that there is with other packages. An accessory strobe will fit to any housing, but no extra lenses or filters will go with the Fuji WP-FXF10 housing.”

DCViews review the Fuji Finepix F11

“The new Fujifilm Finepix F11 builds on the success of the Finepix F10, which was voted European Pocket camera of the Year in 2005. Although the F10, which is available alongside the F11, has a class-leading ISO range of 80 to 1600, it is still a completely point and shoot camera with no manual controls. This could make it less appealing to photographers who like to exert some more control over their image taking, and this is where the F11 comes in.

All the good things, such as the highly effective Super CCD, large 2.5-inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens are still there, but the camera’s specifications have been enhanced by offering more manual control in the form of shutter and aperture priority modes. Other characteristics of the 6-megapixel model include a Natural/Chrome colour mode, optional 3:2 image format and Macro up to 5cm.

Using the camera
The all-metal Finepix F11 has a brushed steel outer covering which is smooth but still provides enough grip to hold the camera comfortably. The protruding handgrip on the front certainly helps here. Your thumb naturally comes to rest on the indented area below the zoom switch, leaving your forefinger free to operate the shutter release on the top plate. Taking pictures with one hand is no problem, as the camera is light enough and easy to hold with all main controls where you would expect them to be.

There are relatively few external controls and the majority of them are situated on the back next to the large 2.5″ LCD screen. Apart from the four-way switch with direct access to macro and flash, and shutter and aperture settings, we find two buttons for setting image playback options and colour modes. A tiny button just below the 4-way dial controls the display settings of the 153.000-pixel LCD screen.

Start-up time is super quick. Within a second the F11 is ready for you. A bright green Focus Assist light will help when focusing in dark conditions. There is no optical viewfinder so image composition has to be done on the LCD screen, which is clearly viewable in all but the brightest sunlight. Shutter lag is absent and all controls are very responsive with a nice positive action and a durable feel to them. Around the shutter button we find a chunky program dial to select one of five scene modes - including Natural light, Auto, A/S/M and movie modes. ”

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