Performance
It’s odd that while Fujifilm has provided aperture priority and manual exposure modes (as well as 13 scene modes), it hasn’t provided a histogram view to back them up. This would be very useful given the difficulty of seeing the screen when shooting outdoors.
While the 256-zone multi-metering system performs reasonably well, it has a tendency to overexpose landscapes and it can be helpful to turn to the centreweighted or spot metering options instead.
Noise isn’t really a problem with images from the FinePix REAL 3D W1, although its removal is an issue. High-sensitivity 2D images have a slightly grainy texture, and when examined at 100% on the computer screen it is clear that they have sharp, high-contrast edges with a soft wash of colour between them. The results look much better at sensible printing sizes, but I’d limit prints to A4 or smaller.
Image: On the W1’s LCD screen these two images combine well with the swan and first jetty standing out clearly from the river and background
I found that the W1’s automatic white balance setting produces reasonably good colours in a range of conditions, but they sometimes benefit from a slight post-capture tweak. The enclosed shot of a river, for instance, originally looked a bit too blue. On the whole, though, the camera tends towards producing pleasantly warm images, even in some quite shady conditions. This may not be entirely accurate, but the results are pleasing to they eye.
In 3D mode, the W1 has a single, central AF point, so it‘s often necessary to focus and recompose images before taking the shot. The AF response is fairly swift and accurate, and the system only struggles with low light or contrast.
When 2D images are being captured, the W1 has a Multi AF point option, but the user cannot select a specific point and the camera focuses on the highest contrast area in a small section around the centre of the image frame. Given the relatively small area covered by the AF system, I think it’s better to opt for the central point option as this allows control over which part of the scene is in focus.
