Performance Speed

Start to capture: Fuji
The Fujifilm FinePix S2000 HD is quicker to the draw by at least a full second. The two cameras have similar power switches, so it was a fair test to start the camera up and snap the first picture. The Kodak is certainly not designed for spontaneous photography.

Burst: Fuji
The burst modes on these two cameras aren’t very impressive. Neither of the cameras is leaps and bounds above the other. The Kodak Z1015 is the fastest at full resolution at 2.1 frames per second. But it needs to catch its breath after a short sprint of only three or four pictures (specs claim three shots, but we got it to go four).

The Fuji S2000 dawdles along at 1.1 fps at its 10-megapixel resolution; it too only lasts three shots at this pedestrian pace. If you want more speed and don’t mind reduced resolution, the S2000 has a respectable 7 fps burst rate at 5 megapixels that lasts for 33 shots. There is also a 3-megapixel burst mode that shoots 13.5 fps, but the resolution will be so poor that these images will be hardly usable for anything but a blog.

If I have to pick one over the other, it’d be the Fujifilm. The S2000 has more options and the option for a faster burst rate – although with reduced resolution. It also has the edge in the playback mode; the LCD shows the first image taken in a burst series and then shows the others in a small corner of the screen in a video-like sequence. This way, you don’t have to scroll through 20 pictures of basketball action when you really want to view a picture of the post-game celebration.

Shutter lag: Kodak
The Fuji may have won the startup and burst contests, but the Kodak doesn’t take as long to actually snap a picture. Still, neither camera is incredibly impressive in this area. They may look like SLRs, but once you take some pictures and realize how long they take to capture the scene, you will understand one of their many differences from true SLRs.

Write speed: Kodak
It takes the Fuji longer to do its business of recording. You will see that “PROCESSING” message on the LCD way too often.