FujiFilm FinePix 3800 (FinePix S304)

Opinion: The venerable Fuji S304 digital bridge camera was the first camera I bought for myself. I had previously used a compact Konica; an electric Minolta SLR; and a mechanical Pentax SLR; though all were without guidance and the only knowledge I brought to the hugely influential S304 was how to hold a camera steady.

I ultimately concluded that the S304 outshone the more advanced cameras of its time because of a relatively short start-up time, quiet operation, and easy settings changes. A touch of rubber on the shapely grip made it quick and easy to position. The speed of use, and its quiet operation, meant it helped to capture relaxed animals where other cameras only irritated them. The S304 also introduced me to video making, and although the resolution was too low to be effective, it did at least spark an interest. I quickly outgrew the spartan set of features of the S304, but I believe this reflects very positively on Fuji's guiding manual.

Positive memories:

* Lightweight
* Simple usage: plan, zoom, focus, frame, click
* Comfortable shape
* Quiet
* Good manual showing useful techniques
* Standard battery format
* Standard add-on filters

Negative memories:

* Proprietory memory-card format
* Electric menus

My S304 was ultimately passed on to my younger brother (I bought a Samsung DSLR), then returned to me (he bought a Samsung bridge). The S304 was later given to my partner, and again returned to me (I bought her a new Fuji compact).

It's limited 3 mega-pixels and outmoded memory card format mean the S304 is no longer viable.

Opinion: Excellent image quality. Have 2 newer cameras and keep going back to this one. Wish it had a wider lens.

Opinion: Excellent image resolution, sharpness, and color.
Great 6x zoom lens with F2.8 at tele end.
Very good battery life.

Opinion: Well done Fuji, after having this camera for 3yrs, I thought it was time for an upgrade. I bought the much acclaim Sony H2 about a week ago, what a shock when I compare some similar scene shot. The image from my S304 is sharper than that of Sony H2 even flash photo turn out better than H2. H2 even comes with stablilization. The only thing that S304 loose to Sony H2 is focusing and features. If I only know , I will not upgrade and save my money.

Opinion: I have taken thousands of images with this camera. The lens is great, producing very low distortion, and providing a fantastic zoom range. It's very small, and ergonomics are great. You feel as if it was sculpted straight from a hand.

The menu isn't the best I've seen, however it's very adequate.

The built-in flash is excellent. Very powerful, and no red-eye at all.

I find the 4 AA battery power source excellent.

This is a great camera, and definitely a hidden gem.

I have since moved up to the much more sophisticated FinePix S9500, however I miss the S304.

Opinion: I was given the 3800 as a gift and didn't take it out of the box for a year. I decided to try it on a motorcycle trip because of its size and weight. The image quality sold me right away. Color, contrast and shadow detail were so much better than the Nikon digitals used at work.
After a couple of years I picked up the 5100 and sold the 3800 for $100. The woman who bought it thinks she ripped me off!

Opinion: Have been using this camera for 2 years, and can say that used within its limitations this camera is a good photographic tool.

For those who say that it takes out of focus images, all that was needed was that they give time to the camera to focus - depresing the shutter in a single movement will cause many photos to come off out of focus.

What this camera needs is simply to have more ISO options, controll on the shutter speed, and maybe use the self-timer indictor lamp as an AF lamp. Infact its greatest weakness is low-light photography, where you will see nothing on the LCD or EVF (infact I find that on the EVF you might distinguish enough shadows to compose a photo - forget the LCD). Shutter lag is also very intrusive - so moving subjects are not good for it.

Opinion: Nice little camera, poor white balance

Opinion: Great Lens!!!! This is 2006 and with enough light equal or much better then any point and shoot out there. For sharpness and accuracy and great telefocus this cameras lens is one to just marvel at. . But the rest of camera is horrible. Horrific colors and white balance Definitely not recommend.