FUJIFILM FinePix S1000fd Digital Camera
- Digital Zoom: 5.7x
- Camera Type: Standard Point and Shoot
- Weight: 0.72 lb.
- LCD Screen Size: 2.7 in.
- Resolution: 10 Megapixel
- Optical Zoom: 12x
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Fuji FinePix S1000FD Digital Camera:Can Make An Amateur Look Like A Pro
Pros
Easy to learn. 10 Mega pix, 12 Zoom
Cons
Too many steps for specials. No flip screen to protect from scratches.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This Fuji FinePix S1000FD Digital Camera is the latest in our camera collection. It allows more freedom in experimenting yet it does everything automatically when wanted.
The latest addition of digital camera in our home is the Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd. It's also another step up from those we have. We have owned and still use Canon products like the Canon Powershot A530. This is also the first time we have tried the Fuji brand, that is, except for their rolls of film we used from time to time years back.
Update Feb 2009
After using the camera for a month my wife and I decided that thought the images came out well getting there was a bit combersome compared to our older camera. It was a difficult decision because the zoom on this camera was everything my wife liked and the bulkier size and feel was perfect for me. We returned it and are now shopping for another camera.
end update
Cool Features and Benefits That Sold Me
This Fuji FinePix S1000FD Digital Camera had some specs that drew me to it. It has 10 Mega PIxels. This was important because my wife has many photos enlarged. The 10 pixel make for a clearer more sharp photo. Of course the image must be well focus in the first place and the auto focus on this camera is excellent. It also has what Fuji calls a Intelligent Face Detection Feature. The camera finds the faces of people and auto focuses to them giving the best picture available.
The camera also has a red-eye removal that virtually eliminates any red-eye completely. That was important to us. A built in picture stabilization feature was import to me. I read quite a bit about fuji cameras. The Fuji 700, I believe, was rated VERY well bit didn't have this feature.
Very important to my wife however is the 12x optical zoom. She is always taking photos to extremes. Even though this cameras body is small it can zoom in on what would be the equivalent of 396 mm on a 35 mm camera. That's a lot of zoom power. I remember having to buy huge lenses for my old SLRs to get such optics. The camera starts at what would be a 33mm on a 35mm camera. Unfortunately no true wide angle here.
Another feature that the company touts, but we use rarely on another camera that has the feature is the ability to do Panarama shooting. This is where the camera can stitch together three separate images making them into one seamless shot.
Perhaps though, and we really haven't grasped all the possibilities are the functions that make this camera more versatile to creating no Auto focus images. It has more features that can work like an SLR than any digital camera we have owned before. We still are working with the White Balance and the light metering system this camera has. (It can do Spot and average setting) As we learn more about them, I will continue to update this review. That includes using the F-Mode Menu that will allow us to take more pictures in varied light conditions. and play with the focus too. For this feature makes this camera much more like the SLRs we once owned and used. The Sport mode and other settings allow for high speed shooting. I like that!
Fuji FinePix S1000fd Basics
The size and shape of this camera helped make it our choice. I purchased it for my wife. The body of the Fuji FinePix S1000fd is a bit more bulky than the others we owned. Part of that is because it uses 4 AA batteries. We happen to like using such because they are easy to find and the rechargeable batteries we use (they don't come with them) work well for us. We have tried other cameras with specialty batteries before with little luck finding them and/or keeping a good charge. To date, this camera does well with batteries, keeping a charge for a good amount of photos per day and using the built-in, pop-up flash it comes with. Because of the four batteries and taking advantage of the extra bulk the camera has to have they designed a nice grip that feels great to the hand. My hand and her hand wrap around the grip giving a steady hand and firm feel. I like that, though she would have preferred a smaller feel.
The camera comes packaged with four Alkaline batteries. They are still being used for the last few days. My wife has not yet had to replace them with our rechargeable batteries. We had to attach the new shoulder strap. It's much more substantial than other straps at about a one inch width. It is adjustable too. A lens cap was also packaged inside along with USB cable and A/V cable. A CD-ROM that was compatible to our Windows system, helped get us going. It's also good for Mac owners.
I also appreciated the FinePix Quickstart paper that gives camera basics in an easy to follow and use black and white format. The front view shows the AF-assist illuminator/Self-timer lamp, the flip up flash and pop-up button, Microphone and speaker. The top view and back view are filled with much more information but it was easy to find and follow. That ease is important to me. Even though we have now owned digital cameras for six years, it still takes us time to get used to new "things".
The layout of the back with the many built-in controls gives easy enough access even with my "fat" fingers. My wife figured out all the dials and such, no problem. There is however more in this camera than we have ever had in a digital. More later.
Set Up
The quick start paper gives the basics on how to install the batteries, set the language for the screen prompts and such. The battery cover is easy to open and we purchased an xd-Picture card at a local shop. It uses an SD Memory card too. I like that it is interchangeable with a couple of the cameras we already own.
The camera was ready for picture taking right away. The first thing stressed is holding the shutter halfway down so the focusing system could work properly.
Installing Software
There was a time when such action as installing software would seem to be too much for me to handle. No prob any more. The CD-ROM was set into the drive and the set-up screen appeared. I followed a few prompts and all is good. The connecting USB cable did the rest when I was ready and everything simply starts on its own. Viewing images after they were in the computer is easy too.
The LCD Monitor
The camera has a 2.7" LCD monitor. It's not huge but it's not too small either. Because of the configuration of the camera, a larger screen would have meant a larger camera body. We didn't want more bulk. The screen light-up bright enough for viewing inside and outside, even on a bright day. The playback on the screen is clear too.
For me though having a built-in viewfinder is a real plus. I can see much more easily that way. It's still more natural to me, even after using just the screen with other cameras we have owned.
A Few Negatives
If I had to list negatives about the camera I would first say I wish the screen had a flip back so we could protect it from scratches.
I also wish it came with some kind of built in, but removable and changeable lens protector. Though the camera came with a lens cap, I like to protect the lens further.
and Finally
This camera seem to have everything we want in a semi-small bodied size. It's all auto or we can work it much more like the SLR cameras we once used to use all the time. It is a bit different and we are both still trying to get the motions down without fuss.
We haven't used the filming mode. Though we used it from time to time, we never cared all that much about that feature in our other digital cameras like the Canon Powershot A530 that we like and still use. When I do use it, I will update this review.
There's so much to absorb about this camera but the step by step booklet makes the learning easy. I really like the compact size and the AA batteries that also help form the shape of the camera that feels excellent in my hand. It isn't too heavy but doesn't feel like a toy either. Thankfully we have not dropped the camera but the casing seems substantial. I like the all black colour and its looks. I like the fixed lens too. I never liked the lens opening and closing on the other small digital cameras we owned.
The most important thing about the camera is that it does take excellent images. To date my wife, the artist, (who is much more critical than I am in regard to images) likes what she sees. The camera is also easy to use and yet has the capability of being much more like an SLR with the manual focusing, speed shooting and all this camera can do.
I paid $!99 for the camera. It seems to be available in many stores and at on-line shopping. A few dollars may be saved but I believe I paid a reasonable price for what this camera offers.
Looking for some excellent subject matter to take images of? Click here.
Update Feb 2009
After using the camera for a month my wife and I decided that thought the images came out well getting there was a bit combersome compared to our older camera. It was a difficult decision because the zoom on this camera was everything my wife liked and the bulkier size and feel was perfect for me. We returned it and are now shopping for another camera.
end update
Cool Features and Benefits That Sold Me
This Fuji FinePix S1000FD Digital Camera had some specs that drew me to it. It has 10 Mega PIxels. This was important because my wife has many photos enlarged. The 10 pixel make for a clearer more sharp photo. Of course the image must be well focus in the first place and the auto focus on this camera is excellent. It also has what Fuji calls a Intelligent Face Detection Feature. The camera finds the faces of people and auto focuses to them giving the best picture available.
The camera also has a red-eye removal that virtually eliminates any red-eye completely. That was important to us. A built in picture stabilization feature was import to me. I read quite a bit about fuji cameras. The Fuji 700, I believe, was rated VERY well bit didn't have this feature.
Very important to my wife however is the 12x optical zoom. She is always taking photos to extremes. Even though this cameras body is small it can zoom in on what would be the equivalent of 396 mm on a 35 mm camera. That's a lot of zoom power. I remember having to buy huge lenses for my old SLRs to get such optics. The camera starts at what would be a 33mm on a 35mm camera. Unfortunately no true wide angle here.
Another feature that the company touts, but we use rarely on another camera that has the feature is the ability to do Panarama shooting. This is where the camera can stitch together three separate images making them into one seamless shot.
Perhaps though, and we really haven't grasped all the possibilities are the functions that make this camera more versatile to creating no Auto focus images. It has more features that can work like an SLR than any digital camera we have owned before. We still are working with the White Balance and the light metering system this camera has. (It can do Spot and average setting) As we learn more about them, I will continue to update this review. That includes using the F-Mode Menu that will allow us to take more pictures in varied light conditions. and play with the focus too. For this feature makes this camera much more like the SLRs we once owned and used. The Sport mode and other settings allow for high speed shooting. I like that!
Fuji FinePix S1000fd Basics
The size and shape of this camera helped make it our choice. I purchased it for my wife. The body of the Fuji FinePix S1000fd is a bit more bulky than the others we owned. Part of that is because it uses 4 AA batteries. We happen to like using such because they are easy to find and the rechargeable batteries we use (they don't come with them) work well for us. We have tried other cameras with specialty batteries before with little luck finding them and/or keeping a good charge. To date, this camera does well with batteries, keeping a charge for a good amount of photos per day and using the built-in, pop-up flash it comes with. Because of the four batteries and taking advantage of the extra bulk the camera has to have they designed a nice grip that feels great to the hand. My hand and her hand wrap around the grip giving a steady hand and firm feel. I like that, though she would have preferred a smaller feel.
The camera comes packaged with four Alkaline batteries. They are still being used for the last few days. My wife has not yet had to replace them with our rechargeable batteries. We had to attach the new shoulder strap. It's much more substantial than other straps at about a one inch width. It is adjustable too. A lens cap was also packaged inside along with USB cable and A/V cable. A CD-ROM that was compatible to our Windows system, helped get us going. It's also good for Mac owners.
I also appreciated the FinePix Quickstart paper that gives camera basics in an easy to follow and use black and white format. The front view shows the AF-assist illuminator/Self-timer lamp, the flip up flash and pop-up button, Microphone and speaker. The top view and back view are filled with much more information but it was easy to find and follow. That ease is important to me. Even though we have now owned digital cameras for six years, it still takes us time to get used to new "things".
The layout of the back with the many built-in controls gives easy enough access even with my "fat" fingers. My wife figured out all the dials and such, no problem. There is however more in this camera than we have ever had in a digital. More later.
Set Up
The quick start paper gives the basics on how to install the batteries, set the language for the screen prompts and such. The battery cover is easy to open and we purchased an xd-Picture card at a local shop. It uses an SD Memory card too. I like that it is interchangeable with a couple of the cameras we already own.
The camera was ready for picture taking right away. The first thing stressed is holding the shutter halfway down so the focusing system could work properly.
Installing Software
There was a time when such action as installing software would seem to be too much for me to handle. No prob any more. The CD-ROM was set into the drive and the set-up screen appeared. I followed a few prompts and all is good. The connecting USB cable did the rest when I was ready and everything simply starts on its own. Viewing images after they were in the computer is easy too.
The LCD Monitor
The camera has a 2.7" LCD monitor. It's not huge but it's not too small either. Because of the configuration of the camera, a larger screen would have meant a larger camera body. We didn't want more bulk. The screen light-up bright enough for viewing inside and outside, even on a bright day. The playback on the screen is clear too.
For me though having a built-in viewfinder is a real plus. I can see much more easily that way. It's still more natural to me, even after using just the screen with other cameras we have owned.
A Few Negatives
If I had to list negatives about the camera I would first say I wish the screen had a flip back so we could protect it from scratches.
I also wish it came with some kind of built in, but removable and changeable lens protector. Though the camera came with a lens cap, I like to protect the lens further.
and Finally
This camera seem to have everything we want in a semi-small bodied size. It's all auto or we can work it much more like the SLR cameras we once used to use all the time. It is a bit different and we are both still trying to get the motions down without fuss.
We haven't used the filming mode. Though we used it from time to time, we never cared all that much about that feature in our other digital cameras like the Canon Powershot A530 that we like and still use. When I do use it, I will update this review.
There's so much to absorb about this camera but the step by step booklet makes the learning easy. I really like the compact size and the AA batteries that also help form the shape of the camera that feels excellent in my hand. It isn't too heavy but doesn't feel like a toy either. Thankfully we have not dropped the camera but the casing seems substantial. I like the all black colour and its looks. I like the fixed lens too. I never liked the lens opening and closing on the other small digital cameras we owned.
The most important thing about the camera is that it does take excellent images. To date my wife, the artist, (who is much more critical than I am in regard to images) likes what she sees. The camera is also easy to use and yet has the capability of being much more like an SLR with the manual focusing, speed shooting and all this camera can do.
I paid $!99 for the camera. It seems to be available in many stores and at on-line shopping. A few dollars may be saved but I believe I paid a reasonable price for what this camera offers.
Looking for some excellent subject matter to take images of? Click here.
