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People looking for digital cameras tend to focus on pixel counts: All other things being equal, the more pixels, the better the image. But pixel ratings don't give the whole picture. Vendors are now offering cameras with hardware interpolation to boost image quality--and pixel ratings. While we generally like photos from cameras that use interpolation, such images don't match the output of cameras with higher native ratings.

We hoped that FujiFilm's $799 FinePix 4700 Zoom camera would be an exception to the rule. It uses the company's new 2.4 million-sensor CCD to capture images, and yields 4.3-megapixel output. FujiFilm says that the CCD's octagonal sensors "see" more like the human eye than do conventional rectangular sensors. Overall, we were pleased by this zoom digital camera: It's a great-looking, easy-to-carry, and fun-to-use device that produces both still shots and short, low-resolution movies (with sound) that you can publish on the Web. That said, the camera can be somewhat complicated to operate outside the default mode. And, despite the Super CCD hype, we found that the picture quality--good for a 2.4-megapixel CCD--wasn't on a par with comparably priced 3-megapixel digital cameras.

Sleek and Stylish

Although the FinePix 4700 Zoom has the same chic brushed-aluminum case sported by earlier Fuji models, inside it's a different camera. The exterior has been reconfigured to accommodate a pop-up flash and a newly designed battery compartment, which is thick enough to make the camera a tight fit in your shirt pocket. The pop-up flash--which requires you to press a button to raise it into place--adds an extra 2 centimeters of distance between the lens and the flash tube to help reduce red-eye. The battery compartment accommodates two rechargeable nickel metal hydride AA batteries, which aren't as good as dedicated lithium ion batteries. Unfortunately, the FinePix 4700's power requirements are such that the camera won't work properly with cheap, ubiquitous alkaline batteries.

Other improvements include a Universal Serial Bus interface, a microphone and speaker, and an illuminated feature-selection wheel that glows red for a few seconds in the shooting/recording mode and green in playback mode.

While the camera flashes friendly "Hello!" and "Bye!" messages when powered on and turned off, the operating icons are small and difficult to see when the illumination is off. The camera's controls and commands are clustered in three areas: the feature-selection wheel, the LCD viewfinder, and a wheel around the shutter. Selecting the correct control and navigating through the menus can be confusing, and requires developing a familiarity with the camera.

The FinePix 4700 Zoom is designed for easy right-handed point-and-shoot photography. The on/off switch is strategically located in the middle of the camera's back, and switching from shooting/recording to playback is accomplished with the flick of a lever. Turning the camera on automatically retracts the protective metal plate and extends the 3X autofocus lens. The optical viewfinder has a circle to indicate what exposure is being read in the spot meter mode, and also has black hash parallax marks for close-ups. Unfortunately, it lacks a focusable diopter for users with eyeglasses.