Fuji FInepix advice.....Help please!!!

[downunder]

I am after some advice on buying a new camera. I currently have the Fuji Finepix S3500. I am completely happy with this camera and it takes amazing quality photos.

Here is the problem. (FIrstly i am from australia so prices are in aussie dollars).


The camera I have finepix is S3500 has 4 mega pixals and 5 times optical zoom.

The finepix S5600 is on special for $290. It has 5.1 mega pixals and 10 times optical zoom.

The finepix S6500 costs $600. It has 6.0 mega pixals and 10 times optical zoom.

Basicall you pay an extra $300 for 0.9 worth of mega pixals.

The guy at the camera shop said that you wont really notice the difference in mp's and he adviced me to get the cheaper of the two. SInce i am completly thrilled with my current camera i am thinking that maybe i should just get the one for $290 and save myself the extra $300 for disney surprises.

What do you think???

DOes anyone own any of these cameras.

Please help me!!!!

 

[ukcatfan]

I am not familiar with them, but if there is not a special feature that the expensive one has that you cannot live without, then go for the cheaper one. There is almost no difference in a 5MP and 6MP camera, so that should not be a deciding factor. MPs are a diminishing returns feature and also start to have noise problems when you get above 6MP. One last thing to check on them though is the sensor size. If the cheaper is a 1/2.5" sensor vs a 1/1.7" one in the expensive model, it might be worth it for the decreased noise levels. Even then and double the price, I doubt it would be worth it.

Kevin

 

[Groucho]

Like Kevin said... sensor size is key, especially because Fuji offers some really terrific big sensors. I think the 6mp 1/1.7" is their top sensor in terms of performance but I'm not positive. I would not get anything bigger than a 6mp.

It sounds like the S5600 is the same as the S5200 we have here, which only has a 1/2.5" sensor - strictly average size for the class. The S6500 has a 1/1.7" sensor. So the latter will have much better low-light ability.

But twice the price? I would check some Australian online retailers, I should think that you could find it cheaper than that. In the US, the S6000fd (which is very similar) has been available very cheaply lately.