Fujifilm Finepix S8000fd 8MP Digital Camera with 18x Optical Image Stabilization
The Finepix S8000FD Digital Camera appears more as an SLR than a compact camera. It isn't an SLR because, primarily, you can't change lenses. Why would you need to? The Fujinon 18x Optical Zoom provides unprecedented flexibility in a digital-camera. With a 27mm-486mm equivalent, the need for additional zoom or wide angle lenses is gone - this extraordinary lens is all you need. A new feature found on Fuji cameras is the ability to use 3 memory card formats for wider universality. It also uses AA batteries as a power source. AA is readily available around the world. Where ever you travel, that battery type is likely to be available, With audofocus and auto-exposure, it's among the easiest cameras to use. Dual I(mage Stabilization assures sharpness despite unsteady hand movements. Face Detection helps determine proper exposure of people pictures. Ultimately, it's a serious camera for those that want to excercise creativity and freedom in taking great still pictures and movies. It's also lots of fun! Normal and macro focus 2.5 LCD high resolution 230,000 pixels and Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) Mode Dial for easy access of features Up to ISO 1600 at full resolution, up to ISO 6400 at 50% resolution 4xAA Battery Power for convenience xD / SD / SDHC Media Compatible Slot NTSC and PAL video output / USB On-camera edit modes Self-timer - Approx. 10 sec./2 sec.delay Unit Dimensions - 111.3(W)x78.2(H)x78.9(D) mm/ 4.4(W)? 3.1(H)? 3.1(D) in.(excluding accessories and attachments); Weight Approx.412g/14.5oz Comes with 4xAA type Alkaline batteries; Shoulder Strap; Lens cap & cord; USB cable; A/V cable; CD-ROM - FinePix Viewer software; Owner's Manual Windows PC and Macintosh compatible
Fujifilm Finepix S8000fd 8MP Digital Camera with 18x Optical Image Stabilization Accessories
 Kingston 2GB Secure Digital Memory Card (SD/2GB, Retail Package)
Fujifilm 2 GB XD Flash Memory Card (Retail Package)
Fuji Finepix Digital Cameras Accessory Kit with Camera Case & Tripod for S1000fd S8100fd S2000HD S100fs J50 F100fd J10 Z20fd Z200fd F60fd
Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
DigiPower DPS-3000+ 3-Hour AA/AAA Rechargeable Battery Kit with 4 AA 2700 mAh Batteries and Car Charger
Kingston, 4 GB SD Secure Digital Flash Memory Card SD/HC (Retail Package)
Sandisk 4GB Secure Digital SD HC Memory Card (SDSDB-4096, BULK, No Reader)
Kingston 2 GB Elite Pro Secure Digital Memory Card ( SD/2GB-S )
Fujifilm XL05 Accessory Travel Kit for Compact Digital Cameras
Sony 2500 mAh AA Rechargeable Nimh Batteries, 4-pack
Fujifilm Finepix S8000fd 8MP Digital Camera with 18x Optical Image Stabilization Reviews
This means when I want to try certain things, I have to spend a fair amount of time searching for the function I want. I get white streaks across the image from one side, and sometimes the image is shifted a bit to the side too. This seems to happen particularly when I've been using the camera continuously for a longish while - like an hour or so. I'm rather disappointed at this, though of course, the camera still takes very good night time shots. In this mode, you can take a series of shots of moving action, in a matter of a couple of seconds, just by holding the button down - excellent for sports. The range of settings and modes - There are so many different things you can do with this camera that are so much more versatile than the basic compact camera (though I guess this is true of most cameras of this sort).
It doesn;t seem to happen with the LCD, and I don;t think it's been affecting the quality of the pictures, so I think it's a problem with the viewfinder itself. In lower light, of course, there is the possibility of blur if your subject or the camera moves. Things I really DON'T like:. Also, take many attempts at your zoom shots - without a tripod, many will be blurred, but you might get a few that are good. I find that I get some combination of underexposed, blurred, grainy shots, no matter what settings I use. The software - the Fuji software is slow, and takes up all my computer's processing power.
The problem with this is that when you review your pictures, you lose this setting, and have to go through the menu again to set it for continuous shooting. And a tripod. The zoom - This is really amazing, and I don;t think you can get much better than this in a compact camera. Around the battery compartment does tend to warm up a bit after extensive use. But running this software means I can't do anything else at the same time, and it takes ages to do anything. But it's all fun. It tends to have a bit of a lined effect anyway, and the colours are sometimes off (reds often appear sort of magenta), but these effects are, again, only in the viewfinder, and don;t appear in the pictures.
And I usually end up with some really good shots. If the subject is stationary it's not a problem - I use the night settings, and get very good results. The problem of course is camera shake - if possible, use a tripod; if not, try to stabilise yourself in whatever way you can. I'm really only a learner with respect to photography, so professionals and experienced amateurs may not find my opinions too useful. On the whole, though, I am extremely happy with this purchase. Despite this, I still prefer to use the viewfinder than the LCD for framing my shots.
The natural light mode - I love the way this mode keeps the colour and produces high quality pics. This is something I am working on. I find this kind of limiting - with my old camera (Kodak DX7440 - a very decent camera in my opinion) - I could get exposure times up to about half a minute, and maybe more. Perhaps with a better computer this wouldn;t be a problem, but my computer does everything else I need to do as fast as I want it to. I think I got excellent value for money, my photos have improved tremendously, and I am having a lot of fun and learning a lot about the art of photography.
I guess as I get accustomed to the camera, though, this will be less of a problem. Of course, nothing in life is perfect - there are a few things I'm not too thrilled about. Also, it takes a few seconds after you finish a series of shots to save the pics, so you can't take any more shots in that time. Things I really like:.
The problems are really minor compared to the things I love about it. It's particularly designed, I think, for less than ideal lighting conditions, but I find it works well in bright light too. The continuous shooting mode - I love this.
I prefer to use the electronic viewfinder when using high zoom - I find it helps to stabilise the camera. I've recently found that the electronic viewfinder sometimes goes a bit funny. I've taken to using Picasa to edit my pics instead. I find myself shooting the same scene over and over in different settings to find which is the best. On the plus side, the software saves the info on the settings used in taking the picture, so you can review your pics and work out what you;ve done wrong and what works best.
I think this is probably the most difficult sort of shot I've tried to take. That said, I think I take most of my pics in this setting. Switching off and then on again fixes it temporarily, but it tends to come back after a few minutes. Use the wide range of settings to get the best results. Macro and Super-Macro modes - I get amazing close up shots with these modes. I've owned this camera for about a month now, and am generally very happy with my purchase - especially given the price I paid for it, which was $290.
I've been wondering if this might be caused by the camera getting a bit warm. Changing the ISO, colour saturation, white balance, different flash settings, etc, etc. In general, also, I'd say I'm not thrilled by the quality of the image in the viewfinder, either.
Of course, if you WANT to get blurred shots, using the night setting can produce some interesting effects. The menus - I find the menus to be rather complex and not particularly intuitive. Low light conditions, moving subjects, especially in combination with the zoom.
Some recommendations: buy a camera case, spare batteries and charger, and a fairly large memory card. Limited exposure time - the maximum length of exposure seems to be 4 seconds. Things I am having some difficulty/problems with:.
As a result I take A LOT of pictures. Possibly the camera's best feature. I've been able to get really good close up shots of distant subjects.
And most of all, don't treat this like a "point and shoot".
My experience with their customer service (after my daughter broke her camera) was one of the best experiences I've ever had - and sold me on Fuji as a company. After putting it through its paces, I am very pleased with both the feel of the camera, the quality of the pictures, the great range of the zoom, the ease of use and the comments of others who can't believe that it didn't cost much more. That said, I still wondered how the product itself would perform. I specifically looked for a Fuji camera when I wanted to upgrade.
The camera is light, but that is because where most quality camera manufactures use metal (usually an aluminum alloy) in the barrel (zoom lens) of the camera, Fujifilm uses plastic. Too bad a person couldn't "try before you buy," like some software manufactures offer. I've owned several over the years, starting with the one I bought while serving in Vietnam. I wonder if Fujifilm is the same company.
I find that my new Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd takes grainy (blurry) pictures. And the plastic lens has around 125 thousandths movement from side to side when extended. I took a number of pictures, all using a tripod for stabilization, and they all turned out grainy. The way I test the quality of a digital camera is to view its photographs on a computer at 100 percent.
(After all, what good is a 8 megapixel camera if one could merely zoom the pictures from a 4 megapixel camera to 200 percent and get the same quality). (I used the Auto function to allow the camera to choose the "best" setting). If so, the company seems to have lessened their standards. Fuji used to mean quality.
So far I am impressed with this camera. Granted I have to learn to adjust some settings to perfect my picture taking but I was impressed with the camera on a first time using basis. I am looking forward to other events to test this camera out. My first real test was a few days after I got it I went to an indoor circus. There was very low light conditions and the camera seemed to do well.
I would recommend this camera to anyone who likes to take pictures. I like the view finder and the stabilization features. The different settings are also easy to work with. It takes wonderful pictures and the zoom is fun to work with. The pictures download to the computer easily. We are getting used to working with the Fugifilm S8000.
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