Fuji S5100 Camera

[jadinolf]

A friend of mine has gotten me interested in buying this camera but since I have already made one bad choice on my existing camera I thought some of you folks might have some useful thoughts.

Here's the link to newegg.com

http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=30-122-044&DEPA=7

Until today they have been more than $100 over their competition so I might not buy from them but they have a nice link so I used it here.

Good or bad, let me have it.

 

[jadinolf]

No one familiar with it?

 

[bendixG15]

Not too many photo bugs at t his site
I know it was highly regarded when it first came out.

Its a decent camera, but prices have been dropping like crazy.
Last I remember at Christmas, I was surprised at the low price
for a 4 mp, but don't remember the exact amount.

If you need a review try ............
http://www.steves-digicams.com...eviews/fuji_s5100.html

 

[jadinolf]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I'm afraid to order because the price keeps dropping almost daily.

I'll check out Steve's.

Thanks again.

 

[imported_amx]

pbase.com real usert pictres and reviews on every camera and lense

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: amx
pbase.com real usert pictres and reviews on every camera and lense

Thank you very much.

 

[akira34]

Judging from what I saw on newegg (from your link) I wouldn't recommend it for anyone over the novice level. The ISO equivalent (sensitivity to them) is not up to snuff, shutter speed is ok, for a novice. Looks like you're locked into auto-focus mode, even though it's trying to make you think it's built on a SLR body (it's not). It also only offers jpeg format when it comes to the image.

Now, if you want a camera that you'll NOT regret buying, look at the Canon EOS 20D. I have the 10D, the one before the 20D and even the older model is EXCELLENT. Since it IS built on a SLR body, you have a huge range of lenses to select from. With it taking Compact Flash media, you also have the micro drive media to select from (I'm using a 4GB micro drive inside my 10D). You can shoot all week with one of those and not fill it up.

If you're serious about photography, or want to do more than just point and shoot, look for a camera that's really built on a SLR body. Otherwise, you'll just be disappointed again and be looking for another new camera.

BTW, I paid ~$730 for my 10D less than two months ago. The previous owner had just had it serviced by Canon, as a precaution, and it's performed flawlessly for me. I also picked up a 28-105mm zoom lense for ~$150 that's great. I'm looking to get some shorter lenses (under 20mm) to open up the close in range. Later, I'll probably look for a longer zoom lense (probably an 80-300mm) to get the longer shots. With the SLR body, I can do that as I wish AND get excellent shots in the process. Try to do that with a point and shoot, or fixed lense camera and all you'll be is disappointed.

 

[jadinolf]

The Canon looks fantastic but that is far more camera than I will ever need. I just want to replace my 1999 digital camera which lacks just about everything.

I do, however, appreciate your input.

 

[Tbirdkid]

Look at the outside of the photos in raw format... you will see noise... and that isnt something you want...

Im not sure if this one has image shake or whatever but in a mega zoom camera you want image shake. other wise it will not look so good on the high zoomed pics...

my recommendation if you want it... is to buy a minolta z3 or a nikon. I bought a nikon 4800 and love it... but if you want an slr like you can get the next one up and that is like the nikon 5400.

Those would be my choices....

 

[jadinolf]

I'm collecting this info and will make my decision soon. I really am not looking for a professional camera just one that is half decent.

Thanks.

 

[akira34]

Look at more Canon models then... Of course, you will need to figure out what your maximum budget amount is first, then try to find a camera that will fit it.

As for noise, you actually want a minor amount, depending on the image, otherwise it will look flat. Noise has other purposes as well. When you look at a gradient, without noise it looks flat, with noise, it looks smooth.

As for the shake comment, I hope you're talking about shake compensation in the camera. Of course, you never should hold onto a camera and take the shot at less than 1/60 of a second. Below that, unless you're a rock, you will have at least some shake/blur on the image. That's what tripods are made for, so you can take slower shots and not ruin it by your motion. Even breathing can cause the image to become blurred.

Also, what sizes are you going to print? If you're only going up to 8x10, with some cropping, then you could get away with a 3.1-3.2MP camera. Ignore digital zoom, ONLY look at optical zoom. If you want to print out larger images, or you know you'll be cropping out a lot, then you need a camera with good optical zoom (to do part of the cropping before you take the shot) or something over 4MP.

Oh, and the RAW format means (at least on my Canon) that it takes more pixels and doesn't toss out any. I can get about 1500+ shots on my 4GB micro drive under the large-fine setting. If I go to RAW (large) then I can only get about 670 shots on the same drive. That does give me more image to work with, of higher quality (not less). The BETTER cameras offer you the option to capture in the RAW format as well as the jpg (and even TIFF) format.

Don't expect a sub $700 camera to perform as well as a digital SLR can. The two are not even in the same class. Digital SLR (or DSLR) is at least a step or three above the fixed lense cameras, no matter who makes them.