Review Of Fuji FinePix S5000

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_fuji_finepix_s5000.php' target='_blank'>http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_fuji_finepix_s5000.php</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Fuji FinePix S5000 Zoom is one of the more distinctive digital cameras on the market at the moment. It looks very much like a traditional SLR camera in terms of styling, but it is actually more like a compact camera in size and weight. Despite its diminutive dimensions, the Fuji FinePix S5000 Zoom has a massive 10x optical zoom which is equivalent to 37-370mm on a 35mm camera. It also features Fuji's new 4th Generation Super CCD HR sensor and can record images in RAW mode as well as the JPEG file format. And all of this is available for just over £200! So is the FinePix S5000 Zoom a bit of a bargain? Find out in my review."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/fuji_finepix_s5000_12.jpg" /><br /><br />This review gives the camera a full 5/5 and I really have to agree. When I saw this camera for the first time, I thought it was yet another point and shoot. But look at that price! And look at that camera body! It really looks like a prosumer camera and apprently it behaves that way too in terms of picture vibrancy. Finally, I don't think you are going to find another 10x zoom camera in this price range. Fuji has been doing a really good job with their recent range of budget as well as high end cameras and I think they are a real player in the digital camera market.

[Chris Gohlke]

Looks like a nice value except for the fact that it uses an xD card. That would immediately rule it out in my book.

[Suhit Gupta]

Looks like a nice value except for the fact that it uses an xD card. That would immediately rule it out in my book.
Yep, me too. Hmm, you would think that camera manufacturers would know by know that there are so many media formats and perhaps they should try and support more that just one in a camera. :roll: (Although I am sure that would have some space implications in terms of making the camera size).

Suhit

[Jason Dunn]

Hmm, you would think that camera manufacturers would know by know that there are so many media formats and perhaps they should try and support more that just one in a camera.

It's a Japanese thing (http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/~evans/teach363/keiretsu/keiretsu.htm).

[klinux]

Once you have had a 10x zoom (using a Kodak DX6490 now), you don't want to go back to anything smaller! :)

I hate xD too...

[Crocuta]

It sounds really tempting in the first paragraph... the 10x lens for 370mm equivalent is very appealing at that price. But as you read on, there are just too many compromises. 3MP isn't even all that much these days, and you don't even get that inconjunction with some of the more important features. For example, ISO 800 and continuous explosures are only available at 1MP. They may as well not be there at all. Combine that with the chioce of XD card for storage and it falls out of consideration pretty quickly. Still, there's a lot there for the price and it's a good sign that things will continue to improve for the consumer.

[Suhit Gupta]

I agree with you Crocuta on all the points you make. Other than the XD, I think this would be good for a beginner, and if the beginner is a real novice to all digital media stuff, then XD may be just fine for him/her. At that price, it is pretty good IMHO.

Suhit

[klinux]

3MP isn't even all that much these days

I disagree with you on that point there as I think most consumers will not need all that additional resolution; I hardly know anyone who makes bigger than 5x7 prints. (This crowd being the exception, of course).

When asked by people re recommendation for digital camera, my one recommendation is to always budget in 20% of the cost for accessories and photography class/lesson/books. I would take a 3 MP camera in the hands of a good photographer than 6 MP in an average consumer's hands anytime.

[Phoenix]

xD? Yuck.

Klinux makes some good points, but I also have to agree with Crocuta.

When I saw the price, I was stunned, but then realizing all of the sacrifices that were made in order to reach that price point, effectively "popped the balloon".

Nice looking camera, though. Here's to hoping that Fuji ups the ante with a later version of this model and uses SD cards.

[mcsouth]

Interesting comments so far...

xD is a deal breaker for me right away - I'm invested in CF and SD, I have no interest in getting into another card form factor right now. Besides, the little bit that I've priced xD, it seems they were priced higher than even SD.

3MP? That's fine for me - I've actually seen several articles recently were the case has been made that 3MP is lots for most folks, and that better optics and post-processing is the key to better images (and the big difference between the cheapos and quality brands). Ironically, the only time that I even print out photos anymore is for relatives, or when I'm framing a special picture for Mother's day, wife's birthday present, or school requirements (...have your child bring a photo of themselves...). Otherwise, I just view personal photos on computer. My screen saver is set to randomly display photos from "My Pictures" folder, so they're always cycling anyways.....

The 10x optical zoom would sure be nice, but I'm finding that I use a camera a whole lot more when I'm carrying it, and I just don't enjoy carrying a 'big' camera. My first digital camera was a Canon S300 - I loved the size, but battery life sucked. After a year or, I replaced it with a Canon G1 - great photos & good battery life, but I hate the size and weight compared to the S300 I had before. Soooo....I'm shopping again, to find a good 3-4MP camera with minimum 3x optical zoom, good manual controls, good battery life, and small, pocketable size. I'm trying to talk myself into a Canon S400 (see a pattern here? :wink: ), since the battery life is reported to be improved (same battery as the S300, though), but I'm looking for other options. The Pentax WR and Optio series look interesting, as do some others.....this looks too big for my tastes, though.....

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

3MP is plenty actually. However Fuji's sharpening alogrithms are horrible (has been since the 602z). Turn it off and do the sharpening in a photo editing program.

Don't look at pixels. Look at test shots (not of resolution charts please) at the maximum sizes you want to print. Many things go towards destroying resolution, including the skill of the photographer.