Fuji camera - to Jodi

[Shari]

Hi Jodi - I am sure I read on some thread that you have a Fuji camera. I now have a Finepix F700. It is my first digital and I have had it for a year. I was thinking of going to a SLR but with reading and giving it a lot of thought I do not think I am ready for all the lenses and learning all that comes with it. What I do want is a better zoom. Yesterday I saw a S5200 10x that Steve's reviews says handles like an SLR. I held it and found it very comfortable. The Fuji I have now is 6 pixels and this S5200 is 5.1. Maybe I should be looking to another series. What do you have and are you pleased with it.
Thanks when you have time. And anyone else that wants to pitch in I would be happy to hear your comments. I'm 64 and just got this, as my husband called it, shutter bug!.
Shari

[Jodi Frye]

wow, funny you should mention that camera since I've been looking at it also... B & H Photo had a nice deal..400 bucks loaded with 512mb card etc...OUT OF STOCK...even those that don't include accessories are out of stock...so I guess it's kind of popular right now. I suspect it's because of the low pricetag compared to the more popular brands like Canon and Nikon. But I've always been the kind of gal that prefers to save money and do the best with what I can afford. I think you could do ALOT worse than to buy this camera (If you can find it). BTW, your F700 is actual on a 3.1 mp camera...with interpolation you can shoot at 6 mp but it isn't the same as a full 6mp camera. So yes the S5200 looks perfect for you. Yes, I love my Fuji tho it is dated and lacks some features that the S5200 does have. But I love the color it produces. I'm a color person so color is very important to me. Anyways, I don't want to tell you what to do...god forbid you buy it and hate it then i will feel VERY guilty. But it looks good for that price.

[Mary]

Hi Shari - Jodi has offered very very valuable advice:) :)
When I went for a new camera I concentrated on what was really important to me. 1. OPTICAL ZOOM not the digital zoom that she also cautioned you about (I turn digital zoom off completely). 2. Steady shot to eliminate jiggle. 3. Macro settings for closeups 4.Onboard memory as well as removable memory (just in case I leave the card in the reader when a good shot comes up). 5. Additional lenses. 6. Hood to both protect the lens and to provide shade when shooting

I decided not to get a DSLR because I too felt that I would be adding several layers of complexity to what should be comfortable and fun that I really didn't want to deal with. The manual that came with my camera is 100 pages as it is and I am still learning something new about it all the time.

Some of the best advice I received was to decide ahead of time what is really important and then find the camera to fit your needs. BTW I decided on the Sony DSC-H1 and I really like it - it suits me.

[Shari]

Hi Jodi,
Never feel guilty about telling me how your feel. Any camera to me that shoots good photos is great to me. I love the color I get on outside shots on my little pocket 700. I have found the cameras ion stock. Yesterday at Costco the camera was $429. CDN. I handled it and really felt comfortable with it compared to some of the others. Today I called our local London Drugs and they have it at $449. CDN. I like to deal with them as they are so good on returns or any problems. I have a 512 card for my 700 but I would like to get a l GB. I know the XD cards are more expensive. Shows you what I don't know. I read about the 6 mp on Steves website after I bought the camera. Anyway the most I would be printing at would be 5 x 7 so I don't think it really matters does it. Mary, thanks for your input too. I will check out the camera you have. Thanks for taking the time both of you.
Shari

[Jodi Frye]

Well that sounds like a really good price ! Well if you do get it you can plan on taking alot of 'test shots...that's what's so nice about digital. When I first got my Finepix I really had to learn how much I could push it....mostly when it came to the macros. My problem is that my hand isn't always steady enough which poses a problem but this year I'm going to get one of those little tiny tripods for flower shots. I guess the trick is to set the self timer and let the self timer take the macro shot...cause i guess even just pushing that button to take the shot causes unwanted movement. Trying to get too close was also my downfall. Looking through the LCD and having the auto focus on worked well for this tho since if I was too close it would not give me the "beep -beep, ok you are focused "' sound. Ya, I confess I use all the auto modes on my camera...program, aperture, shutter etc...I tried the manual a couple of times and I guess I just couldn't get that great a shot....probably because of my lack of knowledge ...tho i thought I knew a thing or two :rolleyes: I find setting it to Aperture priority works best on macros while the Program setting works for just about everything else. The Portrait mode is nice but I haven't spent that much time with it. Maybe this year I will. It has some other auto settings that I have never used...like sports, nature/landscapes, night shots. Ok, I'm rambling...I guess what I was getting at is that I took alot of shots in the beginning with the different settings and trying different modes before I started to get a better feel of what my camera did best or liked to do best. I do have to spend more taking taking RAW shots this season as well...ah ! I wish Spring would get here !!!!

[Shari]

Jodi - were the photos in your gallery taken with your Fuji - because if so - maybe I could buy lessons from you along with the camera!!

[Jodi Frye]

Yup, fuji shots...I think there is one in there that was taken with my first little digi point and shoot kodak. Thanks for the compliment but I'm still learning too. I'm also going to get some reflectors this year...gold is what I want...for shots of my kids. I have to keep track of my 'want' list... :) it's getting heavier by the minute !

[lindajay]

Mary, I'm glad to hear you like your Sony. I am hoping for the Sony DSC-H5, when it comes out. It seems to have all the features I'm currently looking for, except for RAW, and I wish it had a larger sensor, but it still beats out the competition for that price range, I think. I keep wishing it was available TODAY, but then I remember -- I don't have the money TODAY anyway :(

--Linda

[TonyW]

Shari: I have the Fuji 9000 which is similar to the 5200 but with a few more Mp and settings to play with. I can highly recommend them. Very pleased with mine. I think it would suit you just fine and you can't beat the price. And shop around for a good price on XD cards - I have the 1G card and I've seen them recently for under $100 Can.

Tony

[Shari]

Thanks Tony. I had been admiring your gallery. Did you take those daffodils in the rain with that camera? I thought it was wonderful. I did look and research the 9000 but I think it is more advanced than I need. The zoom is the main thing I want. I am feeling a bit guilty buying a second camera within a year but how was I to know I would enjoy photography to much!!

[jwhitten]

Shari,

I'm happy to hear that you have found a camera you like and you didn't let the DSLR fever take control of you. I have a Nikon D70 and I love it, but somtimes people don't tell you everything.

I don't think anyone in the other threads mentioned the curse of the sensor dust. When you remove the lens on a DSLR dust freqently gets in the camera and sticks to the sensor and shows on every image you take until you clean it off. Cleaning it off can be a challenge.

In addition, you may or may not have a built in flash and if you do it probably won't be very good. I paid $300 for the flash I use.

Good lenses are not cheap.

DSLRs are usually quite heavey compared to digicams.

You are making wise decision :)

Joe

[Shari]

Thanks Joe. That makes me feel better. I know you suggested the Kodak but I love the Fuji I have and decided to see what else was available in Fuji. It felt so comfortable to hold and I know that is important. I realize that I am really a beginner that the DSLR is just too advanced right now. Part of my fun is doing editing to my photos and making cards for my friends and family - so with this new Fuji I will have the zoom to get better detail. I just looked back on my thread on the SLR and I see that I only read the first few replies. For some reason they did not show in my e-mail. A lot of people went to a lot of trouble to explain for me. The store I am going to purchase from gives 15 days where you can take back with no questions. So I can just use my 512 card I have now and see how everything works. I was also looking at night school classes - but I think I will wait until next winter. Who knows at some point I may absorb all the info I need and feel comfortable with an SLR but for now - I'm still at point and shoot!!! Sorry for writing a book and thanks again.
Shari

[jwhitten]

It wasn't really my point to talk you into the Kodak as much as make you aware that there are some digicams in the market these days that rival DSLRs for quality and are much easier to use. I think the Fujis are great cameras as well. I'm happy to hear that you are getting a camera you will enjoy using and one that will help bring out the true photographic aritst hiding in you :)

Joe