Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd

Opinion: Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd - Uncompressed format - Yes, RAW - ??? False!

Opinion: I bought this camera some 2-3 months ago, thinking to replace a point and shooter I was using, and because my eyes have reached a point where I need to have a viewfinder. Admittedly, it was an impulse purchase, I wanted a Panasonic FZ28 and it wasn't yet released. I still think I should have waited.

That said, however, the Fuji has been a surprisingly easy camera to use and to get to know. I was previously used to the madness of the Olympus menuing system, and I have now come to love that of the Fuji cameras.

The reproduction is of exceptional quality, given that this is not a DSLR, and even though there are intractible noise issues above 400 ISO, I find that using 64 or 100 and slowing the shutter speed will compensate to a large extent. A tripod helps in these situations. Daylight shots are great, and I prefer to use the Chroma setting rather than standard, because I like a bit of oversaturation. If its too much, Photoshop is always there.

Macros done with this cam are stunning. Of course you cannot expect the same level of detail as you would get with a DSLR, but for what this is, a camera sitting somewhere between point and shoot, and DSLR, its exceptional.

The specs on dpreview say that you can't go closer than 10cm: must be a typo, because at supermacro, you can get 1cm away from your subject (unless, of course, its a very nervous insect... they don't like being stared at by a monstrous camera lens)

Opinion: I bought this camera like 10 days ago.
I used it to photo some scene in the mountains and and in the wood and also at my home.
Is an average camera and you can not expect dslr-like image quality.On AUTO is not recomeneded to use it.
I am a little bit disapointed about the image quality on AUTO and on preset modes - the colours are not that great and it also use procesing to the outlines with actually lower the quality of the pictures.
(set sharpness to defaul to get rid of this).
(however with some tweaking things are geting much better).
Also on scene mode if it is not enough light it sets 400 or 800 ISO and on that ISO the image quality is not good at all.(lots of noise).
On situations where you have big diferences of light in the scene it does not behave very well.
(not on scene mode or on auto - but I am sure that with semi-manual setings it would do fine).
For indoor shooting you need to use flash if it is low light and select a low ISO (maximum 200) else the image have a lot of noise in it.
The only thing that it fully satisfies me is the image stabilization which is excelent and the zoom which allows to shoot wild life very well.
Also with some AA recharble batteryes 2700 mah capacity it lasts forever.(I think you can take over 1000 pictures).
With manual settings is a good camera (sure you can't take photos at more than 200 ISO...but hey is not a DSLR).
Be sure to not use any sharpening for pictures (put it on default) cos it messes the outlines.
Overall I think is quite enough for 250 E that I paid for it.
(if I use it on semi-manual).
Sure I could have took a DSLR but the cheapest one it would had cost me like 415 E.
(this is how prices are in Romania).

Just got firmware 1.2 and I must say that lots of problems are fixed with it.
If you are using on non automatic mode the pictures are quite awsome.
For landscapes with a tripod pictures are excelent.
With the new firmware it shoots very well up to ISO 400 even in low light without using the flash.
Also auto mode got much better.
Image stabilization works awsome for taking picture of wildlife.
Face detection also is very good it cand detects multiple faces.
I am now very satisfied with this camera.
Fuji could have put on it a 1/1.6 sensor and could have rised a little the price and it would have been best bridge on the market.
(like the sensor that is on the new compact f200exr).
This camera also offers the option of bracketing via exposure compensation which with a tripod allows you to take excelent pictures for HDR with post procsessing.
<b>It is not a camera to take pictures in auto-mode!</b>

Opinion: Get real a fine camera! For what its suppose to do, I can't believe the negatives I am reading.Everything is good as good can be at least to me..at least as much as like minded cameras from other companies. great outdoor shots , very colorful outdoors, bigger lens . No big slr without abillty to zoom to lug around This is better then the s700 I believe by quite allot A do all very good camera for the price. The 18x zoom doesn't seem as long as advertised at all but it has a slightly better wide angle I believe.

Opinion: Get real a fine camera! for what its suppose to do. I can't believe the negatives I am reading.Everything is good as good as like minded cameras from other companies. great outdoor shots . This is better then the s700 I believe.

Opinion: Very poor image quality at ISO higher than 100. If you want to make pictures indoors forget this camera - noise in dark areas is very ugly. Very poor video also, with purple cast in bright areas and sound synchronization problem (audio comes before video). 38,1 mm filter looks like a joke, nobody (including Fuji) makes filters in this size. Disappointing camera.
After one day of using I want my money back!!

Opinion: This is a very good camera for "all-round and travel", if you want to minimise the weight and size, but at the same time maximise the photographic flexibility.

Most importantly, the range of the lens from wide angle to quite far zoom, together with a well working image stabilisation (CCD shift) covers most shooting conditions one may regularly encounter. In addition, some scene modes plus modes for fast continuous shooting (at decreased resolution) are useful. The fact that it is working with AA batteries (in contrast to its competitors) adds to the value as a travel camera.

This comes, however, at a price: Don't expect DSLR image quality even at base ISO. Still, image quality up to ISO 200 is useful for moderate magnifications, from ISO 400-1600 noise reduction is clearly visible at 100%, but it is still good for standard sized prints. The lens exhibits some purple/blue fringing in high contrast situations.

Construction feels somewhat cheapish, but in contrast to other reviewers I didn't experience any specific problems with it.

I would estimate myself as an "experienced amateur photographer", and if I want to produce top quality pictures my DSLR gets in use. This camera is however very good as a "light-and-easy all-situation" camera when documentation is the most important, and for travel. It also has a pretty well working video mode.

Opinion: Looks great, feels great and takes very good shots however the body construction quality is poor.

This camera take great images in broad day light, capturing crisp definition but unfortunatley the image quality deteriorates when you are indoors, still better than other cameras in it's range.

The face detection mode is just great!!

I'm really happy with the battery life, as previous cameras I owned used to drain the batteries very quickly, but since I had this camera, I've never had the need to carry an extra pair of batteries with me.

One thing which worries me the most is the side latch for the card housing and the latch for the battery housing as they both feel "very fragile". They both grip on tiny plastic grooves, so if you apply too much pressure while opening/closing, you can easily break/damage their mechanism.

Overall I'm happy with the camera even though the control button fell off!! which apparently seems to be a very common issue with the S8000fd.

The local Fuji Suppliers (Malta) have been really helpul with my problem.

Opinion: This camera takes Appalling pictures in even minor low-light conditions. I have a FinePix s602Z (3.2 Mpixel) camera that, in low light has better quality pictures than this does.

The low light pictures have pixels that are black/white, and it smears an odd yellow-brown area that is random in size and shape all the way across the picture.

I like the other feature, SD card, double AA, 18x zoom, but it's low light is a killer. I tried another camera at the camera shop (Idaho Camera is excellent, BTW) and it performs the same.