Cracking Open Fuji’s FinePix Z1 Digital Camera
Image 1 of 39
Fuji Film FinePix Z1
Fuji Film FinePix Z1
The Fuji FinePix Z1 box.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
The Fuji FinePix Z1
The Fuji FinePix Z1
The Fuji FinePix Z1 was about as small as a standard deck of cards (less than 0.7 inches thick). Despite its small size, the digital camera featured a 5.1-megapixel CCD, a 2.5-inch LCD monitor and VGA movie capability.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Fuji FinePix Z1 Rear View
Fuji FinePix Z1 Rear View
Controls are neatly organized on the rear of the FinePix Z1. The large LCD monitor dominates the camera’s backside, a necessary benefit as the manufacturer included no alternative optical viewfinder.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Z1 Bottom View
FinePix Z1 Bottom View
In addition to the slide out door (to the right), the FinePix Z1’s bottom possessed the unit’s cradle connection socket (located just to the right of the silver Tri Wing screw in this image).
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Battery Cover Door
Battery Cover Door
Both the camera’s battery and memory card are stored behind the battery cover door. The yellow tab to the left is the battery release catch.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Empty Battery Compartment
Empty Battery Compartment
The FinePix Z1’s battery left some room for improvement. This 3.6-volt aftermarket battery (like its OEM counterpart) stored enough energy for approximately 170 shots.nnHere you can see the xD Picture Card has also been removed from the now empty battery compartment.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Z1 With Lens Cover Open
FinePix Z1 With Lens Cover Open
The FinePix Z1 was turned on and off by sliding the lens cover open and closed. Here the lens cover is open, revealing the Fuji 3x optical and 5.7 digital zoom lens.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Z1 Strap Removed
FinePix Z1 Strap Removed
Here’s a look at the FinePix Z1 with the strap removed. In this image you can also clearly see the Tri Wing tamper-proof screws used to secure the outside casing.nnAt the top of the camera’s sideplate is an infrared port, an unsupported feature on this model.nnThe FinePix’s two topside controls are also visible. The first is the Mode Switch. If set to the right the camera is placed in Photography Mode. Moving the switch to the left prompts the camera to change to Movie (video) Mode operation.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Z1 Speaker And Microphone
FinePix Z1 Speaker And Microphone
The FinePix Z1’s speaker (positioned behind the four slot cutouts) is located opposite the strap side. At the top of image you can also make out the three slots positioned over the unit’s microphone. This speaker/microphone combination enabled recording and playing back videos.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
OEM Battery
OEM Battery
This is the originial Fuji FinePix Z1 battery. The NP-40 model Lithium-ion battery produced only 2.7 Wh of power.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
xD Picture Card
xD Picture Card
The FinePix shipped with a 16 MB xD Picture Card. Because so few images can be stored on a 16 MB media card, larger models (such as this half-gig card) are often used.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Z1 Cradle
FinePix Z1 Cradle
The FinePix Z1 cradle is required to recharge the FinePix battery and to transfer images from the camera to a PC or television.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Z1 Cradle Connections
FinePix Z1 Cradle Connections
Fuji supplied an AC adapter that provided 5-volts of DC power. To the right of that DC port, which appears to the far left in this image, were ports for connecting the cradle either to a television (using the A/V out port) or a computer (using the mini-B USB port to the far right).
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Dock Tripod Mount
Dock Tripod Mount
Users wishing to attach the FinePix Z1 to a tripod will find it necessary to use the multifunction cradle; the tripod mount is built into the cradle, not the camera body itself.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Tri Wing Screw Removal
Tri Wing Screw Removal
Normally it’s best to disassemble delicate electronics using the appropriate tools. In this case, the Klein 32-bit tamper-proof bit set I ordered to assist in dissecting this digital camera proved all too large. So, I turned to a trusty Dewalt 1/16-inch drill bit to remove the Tri Wing fasteners.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Tri Wing Fastener Removal
Tri Wing Fastener Removal
Some half-dozen Tri Wing fasteners must be removed before the FinePix Z1’s case can be opened. The Tri Wing screw located above the cradle connection socket (at the center of this image) was no match for the titanium-coated drill bit.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Case Removal
FinePix Case Removal
With the Tri Wing fasteners removed, the case can be opened by simply pulling it apart. Here you can see the front cover separating from the back, wrap-around casing.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Case Removal
FinePix Case Removal
Here’s a closer look at the FinePix case as it’s separated. In this image you can see the main data/power cable that connects the camera’s electronics to the main system board and battery.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
View Inside Front Cover
View Inside Front Cover
The on/off mechanism (more on that in a moment) is connected to the inside of the front cover. The small metal cage that holds the battery, meanwhile, appears on the right-side of this image.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Battery Cage
Battery Cage
This is the metal chassis that secures the battery inside the FinePix Z1.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Front Cover View
Front Cover View
The Fuji FinePix Z1 front cover, once removed from the camera body, looks like this.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Inside The FinePix Z1
Inside The FinePix Z1
With the front cover removed, the FinePix’s main system board is clearly visible.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Fuji FP4 195 Chip
Fuji FP4 195 Chip
The actual microchip that powers the digital camera’s operations is about half the size of a stamp. You can see it here (the black square with a blue mark across its top).
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Analog Devices CCD
Analog Devices CCD
The actual CCD is located on the back of the main system board, or at least the side that faces the camera’s rear casing. The FinePix Z1 features a CCD manufactured by Analog Devices. You can see it here, clearly labeled with white lettering, in the top left corner.nnCCD stands for charge-coupled device. The CCD plays a critical role in picture quality and color reproduction.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
xD Picture Card Slot
xD Picture Card Slot
Prominent in this image is the FinePix’s xD Picture Card slot.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Flash And Capacitor
Flash And Capacitor
The Fuji’s flash is powered by a large capacitor (the dark black cylinder positioned in the middle of this photograph). To the immediate left of the actual flash (top-center) sits the camera’s self-timer lamp.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Fuji's System Board
Fuji's System Board
Fuji manufactures its own system board for the FinePix Z1. Here the Fuji logo is clearly marked on the board.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Back Cover Disassembly
Back Cover Disassembly
A large data cable (the orange-brown ribbon in the center of this image) connects the main system board to the rear cover’s controls.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Cover In Off Position
Cover In Off Position
Here the front cover is shown in the off, or closed, position. Note the positioning of the spring toward the image’s left-center.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Cover In On Position
Cover In On Position
The front cover is shown here in the On position.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix Speaker
FinePix Speaker
The FinePix audio (for video playback) is powered by this tiny .3 watt speaker.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
FinePix LCD
FinePix LCD
The FinePix Z1 LCD monitor is manufactured by Casio. In this image the LCD monitor is still connected to the main board by the orange-brown data ribbon cable.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Casio-Manufactured PCD
Casio-Manufactured PCD
A close-up of the FinePix LCD reveals its Casio branding.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Inside Rear Cover
Inside Rear Cover
This is the view looking inside the FinePix Z1’s rear cover.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Camera Controls And Board
Camera Controls And Board
With three more Philips head screws removed, the controls (4-direction button, playback and photo mode buttons, Menu/OK button and zoom switch, among others, slip free of the rear case.nnOn the left is the circuit board that actually transmits the buttons’ signals to the main board; on the right are the actual external buttons themselves.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Internal Chassis
Internal Chassis
This metal cage helps secure the system board and lens element inside the Z1.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
The Z1 Lens Element
The Z1 Lens Element
This is the Z1 lens element with all data cables removed.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
Shutter Plunger
Shutter Plunger
This rubberized switch activates the digital camera’s electronic shutter when depressed. The black cap sat just underneath the camera’s shutter button and plugged in to the main system board at its opposite end.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
The Fuji FinePix Z1 Disassembled
The Fuji FinePix Z1 Disassembled
Numerous components are required to build even simple, small cameras, as evidenced by this cornucopia of parts.
Photos by Erik Eckel for u00a9 TechRepublic
