It’s never wise to alter a successful formula. So 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.

The S9600 design allows you to do many things that you can't with a digital SLR. For instance, using the 2-inch LCD to compose your image, rather than having to lift the camera to cover your eye. Using the zoom to reach virtually any of the major focal lengths, rather than having to change lenses and possibly see harmful dust enter the camera, not to mention missing the shot. Also, the mirror-free design allows you to enjoy the added functionality of a movie mode, which is something that SLRs cannot offer.

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.

Unlike interchangeable lenses, this one's fixed to the camera for ever. And that is a good thing – not only will the interior of the camera be protected from dust and the elements, but you also have an incredible zoom range at your disposal. 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.
*35mm equivalent

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. Unlike an SLR, you will find yourself able to shoot above your head and from the floor, unlocking amazing shooting potential.

People that use the S9600 will not miss many shots. There is no agonising wait as a motor extends the lens (it is already in position), and the autofocus locks on to subjects with a speed that will make you think twice as to whether this really is not a DSLR. With its use of manual zoom ring, dials and buttons for important functions, the S9600 is designed for photographers who do not want their camera to get in the way of their photography.

Anyone who doesn't think that much of movie modes on digital cameras has not tried this one. Not only does it offer the top-level 30 fps VGA benchmark, but you can also use the zoom lens during recording, which is a special enhancement of this feature. With the massive onboard media storage, the S9600 offers extended movie potential, and is a valuable backup to the camera's still image capability.

As an added bonus, 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. When you select the RAW option, the camera gives you the original 18 million pixel file that is delivered to the processor, and the HS-V2 software enables you to get the most out of it.

Specifications
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


*Standard number of frames / recording time per xD-Picture Card™

Still images Movie
Mode CCD-RAW 9M(Fine) 9M(Normal) 9M(3:2) 5M 3M 2M 0.3M 640 320
Number of recorded pixels - 3488x 2616 3488x 2616 3696x 2464 2592x 1944 2048x 1536 1600x 1200 640x 480 640x 480 320x 240
Quality RAW Jpeg Fine Jpeg Normal Jpeg Jpeg Jpeg Jpeg Jpeg VGA 30 fps QVGA 30fps
Image Data Size / frame rate (fps) Approx. 18.8 MB Approx. 4.5 MB Approx. 2.2MB Approx. 2.2 MB Approx. 1.2MB Approx. 780KB Approx. 630KB Approx. 130KB - -
DPC-16 (16MB) 0 3 6 6 12 19 25 122 Approx. 13 sec. Approx. 26 sec.
DPC-32 (32MB) 1 6 13 13 25 40 50 247 Approx. 27 sec. Approx. 54 sec.
DPC-64 (64MB) 3 13 28 28 50 81 101 497 Approx. 55 sec. Approx. 109 sec.
DPC-128 (128MB) 6 28 56 56 102 162 204 997 Approx. 111 sec. Approx. 219 sec.
DPC-256 (256MB) 13 56 113 113 204 325 409 1,997 Approx. 223 sec. Approx. 7.3 min.
DPC-512/M512 (512MB) 27 113 227 227 409 651 818 3,993 Approx. 7.4 min. Approx. 14.6 min.
DPC-M1GB (1GB) 54 228 456 456 819 1,305 1,639 7,995 Approx. 14.9 min. Approx. 29.3 min.
DPC-M2GB (2GB) 108 456 913 913 1,640 2,558 3,198 15,992 Approx. 29.8 min. Approx. 58.6 min.
MicroDrive 340MB 18 77 155 155 279 445 559 2729 Approx. 5.1 min. Approx. 10.0 min.
MicroDrive 1GB 55 234 469 469 842 1313 1642 8212 Approx. 15.3 min. Approx. 30.1 min.


Guide to the number of available frames for battery operation
Battery LCD monitor status Number of frames
4xAA type alkaline LCD monitor ON Approx. 120 frames
4xAA type Ni-MH(2500mAh) LCD monitor ON Approx.320 frames
According to the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards*1:
The storage media should be xD-Picture Card.
*1 "CIPA DC-002-2003 'Standard Procedure for Measuring Digital Still Camera Battery Consumption" (extract)
Pictures shall be taken at a temperature of 23°C, with the LCD monitor turned on, the zoom moved from full wide-angle to full telephoto (or vice-versa) and back again to its original position every 30 seconds, the flash used at full power every second shot and the camera turned off and then on again once every 10 shots.

System requirement
Factory installed USB port is required.
(1) IBM PC/AT compatible computer
CPU Pentium, 200MHz or higher
Windows® 98, 98SE, 2000Pro., Me, XP HE/Pro.
RAM of 256MB or more
450MB free hard disk space
CD-ROM drive

(2)Macintosh computer
CPU of Power PC
Mac OSX 10.3.1 to 10.4.6
RAM of 256MB or more
400MB free hard disk space
C-ROM drive

Including:- 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