TrustedReviews - Fujifilm FinePix S5500

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?page=2574&head=63' target='_blank'>http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?page=2574&head=63</a><br /><br /></div><i>"With its SLR-like handling and impressive range of features, the S5500 is a good half-way point between the pocket compact and the serious semi-pro or D-SLR models costing hundreds of pounds more. Its excellent movie mode, big zoom range, good picture quality and solid construction make it a very tempting bargain for the price."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/FUJIS55.JPG" /><br /><br />10x optical zoom. Sweet. If I was not intent on saving up for the Rebel XT, this seems like a pretty nice camera.

[flooder]

I had this camera in my hands today. I was impressed. I am a dSLR guy, but am looking for a camera for my parents. I liked the feel of the camera, but the best part was the price.

[Jason Dunn]

How was the shutter lag - could you shoot fast with it?

[jizmo]

Gotta love Fuji's excellent video shooting abilities, they do come handy time after time.

On another note, does any dp expert on this site know if there are any systems or compact cameras that can record clips in 720p yet?

/jizmo

[jeffd]

imo this camera fails in one huge point, lack of image stabalization.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

IS is BS. =P

Shutter lag is nowhere near that of a dslr, even on something as slow as the EOS 300D.

[ojlittle]

I have the Panasonic FZ-20 with two modes of IS. There is a definite difference in picture quality (for the better) when I'm shooting at 12x with IS enabled then when it is not enabled. No comparison actually....

[Crocuta]

IS is for real; you'd be nuts to buy a 10x zoom digicam without it. Consider that the whole reason you're buying this instead of a DSLR is that you're looking for something compact that doesn't require a load of extra pieces to get the job done. There is no way that you'd be able to get sharp images at 10x (about 380mm equivalent) under most circumstances without either IS or a tripod, and the whole point of a camera like this is to not have to carry stuff like a tripod.

I considered this model before I bought my Canon S1 and really loved the handling and feel of it. It also seems to take nice quality images if the test shots on the various review sites are a fair test. But for me there were two problems that could not be overcome. The first is the lack of IS. The second is that it uses xD cards. Sorry Fuji... come back with those two problems solved and we'll talk.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

XD cards are indeed the main problem with Olympus and Fuji cameras, which is a pity, considering the cameras. The smiley that forms when you type the card name says it all: XD

IS is useful, but no deal breaker for me. The Fuji at 350mm, gives you an aperture of f/3.1, under 1/3 a stop slower than f/2.8.

Now consider this, at ISO 100, under shade on a cloudy day (which I figure is the average worst case scenario most would want to use such a long focal length), that's about EV 10-11. At f/3.1 that will give you a shutter speed of about 1/80-160, about one to two stops less than the so-called rule of thumb. Proper handling techniques will take you down that one stop, and here's the one advantage non DSLRs that will overcome the one more stop: the lack of a mirror. I find that adds another stop.

Using a Nikon 5700 at 280mm I've hit a shutter speed of 1/80 and still got sharp shots of static objects (something I can't do on a SLR; I'll need at least 1/125). Anything that's moving faster than a sloth at that shutter speed and focal length will probably be blurred. However, even IS won't save you then.

[jeffd]

Yea IS is in no way helpfull if your trying to sharpen moving objects. It only compensates for small motions in the camera due to jiggling of the arms.