New Fujifilm "superzoom" on the way

[YEKCIM]

http://www.digital-photo.com.au/2006/07/14/the-new-fujifilm-finepix-s6500fd/

Interesting features:

*ISO to 3200
*"Face Detection"
*Dual Flash Mode
*Manual Zoom Control
*28-300mm (35mm equivalent) focal range
*2.5" LCD
*.035 second shutter lag

I believe it is supposed to have an msrp of around $500, so street price should be less, particularly after some months on the market. Availability is supposed to be September/October timeframe.

Just might be YEKCIM's new toy...

~YEKCIM

 

[ndelaware]

I love reading corporate press releases.

"Fujifilm expects the FinePix S6500fd to be a popular camera for hobbyist photographers. It will be a powerful, fun tool for people looking to move on from their compact digital camera, but who don't want the restrictions or level of manual input that can be required by a Digital SLR"


Restrictions like having one fixed lens?

Which DSLR doesn't have a "AUTO" mode?

 

[YEKCIM]

I love reading corporate press releases.

"Fujifilm expects the FinePix S6500fd to be a popular camera for hobbyist photographers. It will be a powerful, fun tool for people looking to move on from their compact digital camera, but who don't want the restrictions or level of manual input that can be required by a Digital SLR"


Restrictions like having one fixed lens?

Which DSLR doesn't have a "AUTO" mode?

All true, but this cam may be exactly what some are looking for, me included. I despise changing lenses (and missing shots) and the 28-300 range would be ideal for my photographic needs. Needless to say, I want to know a WHOLE lot more about this one before considering it for puchase.

~YEKCIM

 

[Anewman]

All true, but this cam may be exactly what some are looking for, me included. I despise changing lenses (and missing shots) and the 28-300 range would be ideal for my photographic needs. Needless to say, I want to know a WHOLE lot more about this one before considering it for puchase.

~YEKCIM

Tamron makes a 28-300mm(actually two versions) lens.

You can have the Pentax DL and that Tamron lens for around $500(BUYDIG after rebate).

Not saying everyone should choose DSLR, just stating a fact.

 

[handicap18]

I love reading corporate press releases.

"Fujifilm expects the FinePix S6500fd to be a popular camera for hobbyist photographers. It will be a powerful, fun tool for people looking to move on from their compact digital camera, but who don't want the restrictions or level of manual input that can be required by a Digital SLR"


Restrictions like having one fixed lens?

Which DSLR doesn't have a "AUTO" mode?

Well you are restricted to the number of lenses you can use (focal length's greater than 600mm are hard to come by). Nikon can't use Canon and Canon can't use Nikon. Same for the flashes. I belive the Nikon dSLR's can really only use 2 different flashes (not including the pop-up flash that is built into the camera) to full capacity. There are others that will work with them, but can't take full advantage of the features. So I guess thats a restriction.

Manual imput,,,, other than the really high priced dSLR's, there are the same/similar pre-programed "Icon" modes included. The dial doesn't turn on its own, so there is some manual imput involved there,,,, But you have to do the same for P&S camera's.

All kidding aside, it does sound like a pretty cool camera for those not wanting to go the dSLR route.

 

[0bli0]

Which DSLR doesn't have a "AUTO" mode?

my dslr doesn't, nor does it have a built in flash. the closest it has is 'P' mode, where it sets the aperture and shutter speed (which you can loosely bias), but you still need to set quite a few things - ISO, EC, FEC, etc.

but you're correct - pretty much every one out there has the ability to use like a P&S with greater control, if desired.

 

[ndelaware]

All true, but this cam may be exactly what some are looking for, me included. I despise changing lenses (and missing shots) and the 28-300 range would be ideal for my photographic needs. Needless to say, I want to know a WHOLE lot more about this one before considering it for puchase.

~YEKCIM

Sorry YEKIM, I was not commenting on the quality of the camera, just the press release.

 

[YEKCIM]

Understood, and no offense taken. Depending on what kind of reviews this thing gets, it may fit the bill, especially since I already own an S5200 and have a few coins tied up in xD cards. The only real drawback for me, personally, assuming IQ is good, is lack of hot shoe. IS would be nice, too, but I've lived without it for this long...

~YEKCIM

 

[manning]

I have become a fan of the ultra zoom because of the size. I use to use SLR (own four film type). I just got tired of lugging all that stuff around. I realize that DSLR (due to sensor size) will produce better pictures, but I have found out that the upper level point and shoot produce pictures that I am happy with. Many come close to DSLR. I'm not shooting to make money, just fun.

I also don't want to get involved in having to clean or have cleaned the sensor on a DSLR.

One of the keys (an important one) to getting a good picture is to get to know your camera like the back of your hand. Learned that many, many years ago when I use to do professional.

Some people come down on a camera because of its brand. The fact is all of them make good ones and bad ones and anywhere in between. You know the old story, one man's gem is another's rock.

Also Panasonic has announced their FZ50 camera. The big question is going to be if it will be better or worse with noise. They have put a new processor (Venus III, same as the one in the TZ1) into it but have increased the MP from 8 to 10 using the same physical size sensor. Usually trying to pack more pixels into a same size sensor leads to more noise. We'll find out in the fall.

Did I put anyone to sleep??

 

[Carolc]

YEKCIM -

I'm really impressed with the photos you've been able to capture with your S5200. I'm checking out a few user reviews on it, wondering if my husband might like it. He has a 6 year old brick that takes nice pictures, but has horrible shutter lag and start up....and forget trying to take more than 1 photo within 5 seconds! He doesn't seem to like using my little Casio (perhaps too small) or my Olympus DSLR (perhaps too many settings). Maybe he'd like something like what you have... I was surprised at the price... pretty reasonable!

 

[YEKCIM]

Carol,

The 5200 is a bargain right now. I paid $272 from butterfly in March, and had a $50 rebate, so the current price is about what my after-rebate price was. I'll have to say that I'm mostly pleased with the camera, but it does have a pretty good learning curve. Without going into all the details, let me just say that, at least for me, reading the manual thoroughly and doing a lot of experimentation has helped me get "up to speed" on it.

A few negatives I have experienced:

*Flash performance is erratic; sometimes great results, sometimes horrible (probably user-related, at least in part)
*Images are usually a little on the soft side, out-of-camera. I generally sharpen most every shot in Picasa
*I hate the zoom rocker switch on the back of the camera; very inconvenient place to put that control. I'd have preferred a manual zoom ring on the lens, as will be the case on the S6500.
*Camera is currently in the shop for repair of power switch. While at wdw, the switch became very difficult to rotate, especially when used in a warm (hot?) environment. No impact on performance, but at times I had to use such force to turn on/off that I was fearful I would break the switch. The camera has a one year warranty so I'm expecting it to be repaired at no charge, but still a nuisance.

Now, having said that, let me say that I have really enjoyed the camera. The 380mm equivalent tele end of the zoom range is very useful and I found myself at that end of the zoom a lot last week at WDW.

A few reviews you may want to check out:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/fuji_s5200.html

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5200/S52A.HTM

http://www.megapixel.net/reviews/fuji-s5200/s5200-gen.php

Of course, the new s6500 looks to be a significant improvement in many ways over the 5200...*IF* you have the $500 (street price is sure to be less than that..)

PM me if I can answer any specific questions for you.

~YEKCIM

 

[YEKCIM]

Carol, one additional thought on the S5200, and that is high ISO. The 5200 goes up to ISO 1600, although it is pretty noisy. I find that ISO 800, however, is very useable. Here is an example of a handheld ISO 800 shot of SSE, made last week. Had I been limited to 200 or 400, I doubt I could have made this shot w/o a tripod:

Also, please accept my thanks for starting the "Pictures that normal people don't make (sic)". That thread was, in all seriousness, my inspiration for many of the pix I made last week.

Good luck with your cam purchase, if you go that route.

~YEKCIM

 

[Carolc]

YEKCIM - thanks for the info on your camera... I will check it out. Hubby doesn't take a whole lot of pictures, so there's no urgency - but it would be nice for him to get a new one, I think... one that he likes.

Also, please accept my thanks for starting the "Pictures that normal people don't make (sic)". That thread was, in all seriousness, my inspiration for many of the pix I made last week.

Good luck with your cam purchase, if you go that route.

~YEKCIM

You know, that thread has had more hits and replies than I could have ever hoped for! Many of the photos are really unique, and I look forward to looking for the 'sources' next month. It's truly amazing what a photo can do... makes you look at things in a whole new way. I also have drawn a lot of inspiration from them and hope I am able to capture a few of my own. I'm glad to hear that the thread really inspired you. I hope you will post more of your unique views on it when you've had a chance to go through all, was the number, 2000? There's another 'show me' thread I started specifically aimed at the 'props' Disney uses to decorate queue areas, etc. Got any for that one? Show me: Disney Theme Park "props"

Thanks again for the info!
Carol

 

[YEKCIM]

Carol,

I'm slowly but surely going thru all 2000 pix I took, as well as transferring about four hours of WDW video to DVD, so it is a slow process. As I said, the out-of-the-camera S5200 images are a little soft for my liking, so I'm doing some minor editing (auto contrast, straightening, if necessary, and some sharpening) in Picasa2. Once done, hopefully this weekend, I'll upload some of the better ones to photobucket and cull out 100 or so to make 4X6's of. Mrs. YEKCIM is into scrapbooking, and she took 1000 pix herself, with her little Canon A75, so we have a pretty good task ahead of us, just in selecting pix for scrapbooking, which will probably be slightly different than some of the "creative" shots I'll upload and print for myself.

Hopefully, by this weekend, I'll have the keepers uploaded, and will begin to post to the thread on this page, plus the HUGE photo thread on the "Attractions and Strategies" page. I had hoped to have more time to shoot at a leisurely pace, but between keeping up with Mrs. YEKCIM and our 8 YO daughter, I mostly had to just snap a shot here and there when I could. Mrs. YEKCIM is not always as patient with my desire to stop and shoot a pic of some obscure detail as I would like, but I'm mostly pleased with what I got, especially considering that I'm not using anywhere near a pro level camera.

As stated before, I'm really intrigued by the new S6500, and may very well change my mind on acquiring a dslr, in favor of the Fuji. We're planning a visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway the third week in October, and I'd sure like to have a new cam, if I do "make a move", by that time.

BTW, if your husband just needs a good, simple, point and shoot, you might consider one of the Canon PowerShot cameras: A610, A620, A700, S2-IS, or S3-IS.

~YEKCIM

 

[Carolc]

Carol,
... I had hoped to have more time to shoot at a leisurely pace, but between keeping up with Mrs. YEKCIM and our 8 YO daughter, I mostly had to just snap a shot here and there when I could. Mrs. YEKCIM is not always as patient with my desire to stop and shoot a pic of some obscure detail as I would like, but I'm mostly pleased with what I got, especially considering that I'm not using anywhere near a pro level camera....

I know what you mean. I've only had the DSLR for about 4 months, and my three children have already grown impatient with my picture taking. DH is sitting this WDW trip out so I won't have a whole lot of time to stop and take many details... otherwise I will surely lose my kids in the sea of people. It would be fun to take a trip to WDW with my brother (ObliO), just to take pictures. We grew up going to Disneyland with our dad and have a big love of (most) things Disney. But he lives in Australia now, so it would be very expensive for him. Someday, perhaps.

...
BTW, if your husband just needs a good, simple, point and shoot, you might consider one of the Canon PowerShot cameras: A610, A620, A700, S2-IS, or S3-IS.

Hmm, well if the one you have does have a learning curve, maybe he would do better with a simple point and shoot. But I admit that if I buy him one like yours, I may steal it on occasion to try it out.

 

[YEKCIM]

Carol,

Glad to know that I'm not the only one whose family "interferes" with photography. The funny part, on my end, is that Mrs. YEKCIM is a freelance pro photographer, and *expects* patience on the part of me and aforementioned YEKCIM-ette, when SHE is trying to get a shot!

On the hubbycam, you might want to consider the Canon S2-IS; I don't have one, and don't even know anyone (personally, that is) who does. but so many folks here on this forum have recommended it, I don't see how you could go wrong. You can get it for around $300 online at present. It has a 36-432mm (equivalent) zoom, which is pretty nice, and also IS (obviously). I looked long and hard at the S2 and the Sony H1 before buying the Fuji. When it came down to it, it was a simple matter of economics. I could afford the Fuji, but not the Canon or the Sony, at the time. Purse strings have loosened a bit now, which is why I'm looking for an upgrade so soon after the 5200 purchase. I'm not unhappy with the 5200, but really wanted a dslr at the time I bought the Fuji; it simply was not fiscally possible at that time. The Konica/Minolta 5D was very tempting but since K/M has not sold out to Sony, it's probably best that I did not go with the 5D. I have a ton of Maxxum lenses, though, so the new Sony A100 is somewhat of interest, although with the 1.5X crop factor, I'd still have to have at least one wide-to-normal lens, and still be faced with lens swapping which I detest. That is one reason the Fuji 6500, with its 28-300mm (equivalent) lens appeals to me.

Good luck with your search; I'll be looking for some great pix after your upcoming trip to see Mickey!

~YEKCIM

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I hope they use the same lens quality like the S5200 and not like the S9000. I can't stand the colour abberation and softness of the S9000 but love the resulting pics from the S5200.

I read this thread too late. I've just got back from purchasing another 30D body.

 

[YEKCIM]

Kelly,

I'm sure your 30D will be much more satisfying than the 6500, no matter HOW good it is. I'd all but made up my mind to pull the trigger on a Pentax DL, but the "all in one" aspect of this camera has given me pause. If the reviews look good, and the street price is more reasonable than the $500 US msrp, it just might be my next camera. The results I got in The World last week with the 5200 were very acceptable, at least to my eyes.

~YEKCIM

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Kelly,

I'm sure your 30D will be much more satisfying than the 6500, no matter HOW good it is. I'd all but made up my mind to pull the trigger on a Pentax DL, but the "all in one" aspect of this camera has given me pause. If the reviews look good, and the street price is more reasonable than the $500 US msrp, it just might be my next camera. The results I got in The World last week with the 5200 were very acceptable, at least to my eyes.

~YEKCIM

That is true. However, sometimes I want to travel 'light' and the startup time, (lack of) shutter lag, high ISO capability, crazy zoom and not to worry about dust penetration of the Fuji 6500 will also make a very satisfying holiday.

I bought the 30D is basically because I'm tired of changing lens between the 17-55 and the 70-200. The caveat, of course, now I'm carrying two bodies wherever I go (might as well tattoo "show off" on my forehead) LOL!

 

[YEKCIM]

...sometimes I want to travel 'light' and the startup time, (lack of) shutter lag, high ISO capability, crazy zoom and not to worry about dust penetration of the Fuji 6500 will also make a very satisfying holiday.

...I'm tired of changing lens between the 17-55 and the 70-200. The caveat, of course, now I'm carrying two bodies wherever I go LOL!

Those are very compelling reasons that I'm broadening my search to include the 6500. My experience with the S5200 has been satisfying enough that I think the new Fuji might be a significant improvement over my present camera, for the reasons you mention.

BTW, look for a slew of S5200 pix from last week's WDW visit to pop up on the boards in the next few days. I'm uploading to photobucket as I type...

My photobucket site, if anyone is interested in a "preview" is:

http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/fasteddiew/DisneyWorld 2006/


~YEKCIM