You have product envy the lot of you :-)

[Mark_A]

I am really surprised to see so much talk about some new cameras which only exist at the moment in a press release.

Even before that there was as much talk about whether the 6900 etc was dead or not ... there is a shortage, there are other cameras, people who have a 6900 can make great photos already people with other cameras can also, people who want a camera now cannot get one of these, are you really going to upgrade your 6900 to the new one? will your computer be able to handle the larger file size or will you have to upgrade that as well?

I still use MS office pro 3.1 in a win95 machine sometimes because there is little that I do in later versions that you could not do in that one and I have rarely seen anyone using more than 20% of the capabilities of this suite. Is it not the same with these cameras? If you need more than a 6900 then do you not really in fact need a pro slr camera?

Surely you have one or you dont, if you have one you like it or you dont. Thats that.

I dont think there is this much discussion about new cars except among people involved in selling them or writing editorial about them.. perhaps I am wrong.

See how much fun you can have with old things below:

Sorry about the bad pic I have been looking at better ones taken with pinhole cameras
http://www.88honeylane.freeserve.co.uk/goodwood/nice_one-6.jpg--Mark in UK

 

[nefelejts]

That's what I was talking about in the "what fuji missed" (or whatever it was) thread
Robyn

2 year old computer, 7 year old printer (although tax refund will buy a new printer)

 

[Mark_A]

That's what I was talking about in the "what fuji missed" (or
whatever it was) thread
Robyn 2 year old computer, 7 year old printer (although tax refund will
buy a new printer)

Sorry Robyn I have not been reading too deeply in this forum, all the people here are nice but I felt I was limiting my exposure to ideas by only looking at pictures taken with Fuji cameras etc .. And this going on and on about a camera which no normal punter will touch for 6 months is too much for me ... just like computers arent intelligent it is not the camera which is creative !!

Point 4 of Top 20 Engineers' Terminologies
4.MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH

• It works OK, but looks very hi-tech.

http://www.88honeylane.freeserve.co.uk/fun_jokes/txt/engineers '%20top%2020%20terminologies.txt
--Mark in UK

 

[Mick Flynn]

I agree about the technology.

I got my 6900z, because I had a re-newed interest photography, after trying a point and shoot digital.

I posted this remark in 'why blame Fuji' thread.

I got a 6900z, it may or may not be dis-continued.......if it is, then so > what ?, that's progress.

I am sure they will bring out a better camera, and if I can get a good > trade I might be interested, but I had the same fully manual Yashica SLR > for 20 odd years, and as a hobby photographer it did everything I needed.

They are still arguing over there, about a camera they may never own.
Straange people.

--My Snapshots......Barcelona, Bruges, New York. http://www.solpics.com

 

[Mark_A]

I got a 6900z, it may or may not be dis-continued.......if it is, then so > what ?, that's progress.

In fact it is inevitable, our computers are obsolete almost the month we buy them these days, at least fuji are sticking with a similar format on their 49,69 and this new one so there is some family resemblance there.

I am sure they will bring out a better camera, and if I can get a good > trade I might be interested, but I had the same fully manual Yashica SLR > for 20 odd years, and as a hobby photographer it did everything I needed.

They are still arguing over there, about a camera they may never own.
Straange people.

Indeed, Nice people, but definately "techhies".

• No offence to you all

I still have the same 750 superbike I bought used in 1984 (I think) it still goes like stink, plus I know nearly all its foibles now. I would enjoy riding loads of different bikes but can get my kicks on that just fine.

There may be something about

• using the tool you have to be the best of your ability, or
• longing for a better tool,

they are not mutually exclusive but depending on the capability of the tool and the personality involved I think people might swing one way or another.

If I intended to be a professional photographer and to earn well, I would have bought a professional digital slr with a range of lenses and decent lighting equipment. I am intending to be an amateur who does some specific work in small low filesize format .. what I have will be fine.

--Mark in UK

 

[rainbowman]

That's what I was talking about in the "what fuji missed" (or
whatever it was) thread
Robyn 2 year old computer, 7 year old printer (although tax refund will
buy a new printer)

Sorry Robyn I have not been reading too deeply in this forum, all
the people here are nice but I felt I was limiting my exposure to
ideas by only looking at pictures taken with Fuji cameras etc ..
And this going on and on about a camera which no normal punter will
touch for 6 months is too much for me ... just like computers arent
intelligent it is not the camera which is creative !!

Point 4 of Top 20 Engineers' Terminologies
4.MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH

• It works OK, but looks very hi-tech.

http://www.88honeylane.freeserve.co.uk/fun_jokes/txt/engineers '%20top%2020%20terminologies.txt

--
Mark in UK

Mark,

You hit it on the head. I was satisfied with my 2800Z FinePix when I had a software glitch and had to give it back. I was asked if my Olympus was a good camera this weekend when I was taking some pics of my nephew's poolside birthday party. My response was it's a good camera,

but the guy pushing the shutter is even better. That got a good rise from the attendees, of course.

Also, today I saw what Fuji did. They took a camera that garnered press praise and user praise, short ran it, discontinued it, redesigned it, added a bit of frosting and will charge half a thousand more for it. Sure, they've created demand for it, but the technology is changing so rapidly,

I just might go for a 3.14MP cam for 1/3rd the price, stay a little behind, and when something really terrific comes down the pike that has a high value to function ratio just go for it.

This supply and demand and gamesmanship that some companies are now playing will only sour the consuming public in the long-term. Let them make their beds and lie in them... then we'll take pictures of them pulling their hair out.
Yours truly,
Elliott Marshall, A.S., RPR

http://www.pbase.com/finepixer/galleries

 

[Boyan50503]

Well, I used Canon S10 a bit, then bought Canon S40,
the difference is huge. If someone can't see it, he/she is blind.

If you can't see, hear and feel difference between Win 95
and Win 2000 or XP you are slow computer user, of you
don't appreciate stability and easier user interface.

Have you got an ugly female or maybe none?

Well, I am just kiding, I agree partly with you.

We are human, we have time to waste, so, why
wonder why we talk such things at all?!

I posted this remark in 'why blame Fuji' thread.

I got a 6900z, it may or may not be dis-continued.......if it is, then so > what ?, that's progress.

I am sure they will bring out a better camera, and if I can get a good > trade I might be interested, but I had the same fully manual Yashica SLR > for 20 odd years, and as a hobby photographer it did everything I needed.

They are still arguing over there, about a camera they may never own.
Straange people.

--
My Snapshots......Barcelona, Bruges, New York.
http://www.solpics.com

-- Regards, Boyan

 

[Boyan50503]

my reply above is for original poster...-- Regards, Boyan

 

[John Glover]

If you can't see, hear and feel difference between Win 95
and Win 2000 or XP you are slow computer user, of you
don't appreciate stability and easier user interface.

Perhaps, but I think the intent of the original poster was not to say there is no difference, just do you need the difference? I tend to agree with him, if what you have a system works, then why upgrade everytime something new comes along. I'll wager that 99% of the computer users out there do not use 1/10th of the power of the features on their PC. If a Win95 system is doing the job and you are satisified, then why bother to change? Same with a digital camera. Granted an S40 is a major improvement over an S10, but if all you are doing is snapshots for the familiy on the web, the S40 is real overkill. The point is, does everyone really need the latest and greatest technology?

The camera manufactuers want you to think so, as they want to sell cameras (or PCs or new chrome plated go-fasters.

--John http://www.pbase.com/jglover

 

[Boyan50503]

Yep. The thing is, Win 95 is bad syste, even Win XP is bad system,
especially for people who have no clue! There is no computer
system which would be "perfect", but at least we can look
for the best there is... and since people who talk a lot,
think a lot, and don't have a lot of money, so....

Maybe first poster is rich? And maybe you too?

If you can't see, hear and feel difference between Win 95
and Win 2000 or XP you are slow computer user, of you
don't appreciate stability and easier user interface.

Perhaps, but I think the intent of the original poster was not to
say there is no difference, just do you need the difference? I
tend to agree with him, if what you have a system works, then why
upgrade everytime something new comes along. I'll wager that 99%
of the computer users out there do not use 1/10th of the power of
the features on their PC. If a Win95 system is doing the job and
you are satisified, then why bother to change? Same with a digital
camera. Granted an S40 is a major improvement over an S10, but if
all you are doing is snapshots for the familiy on the web, the S40
is real overkill. The point is, does everyone really need the
latest and greatest technology?

The camera manufactuers want you to think so, as they want to sell
cameras (or PCs or new chrome plated go-fasters.

--
John
http://www.pbase.com/jglover

-- Regards, Boyan

 

[Bill Brosen]

Most people dont need the biggest and best, but some like me crave something newer and better, like me I bought a point and shoot Fuji fine Pix 2400 in sept 2001, I have quickly out grown the camera...I am a self starter and fast self learner...I know this about myself and so i gauge that on what software and hardware i buy...I started out with Photoshop 6.0.1 why? because i knew id sit down and learn it and use it, which i do every day...I have out grown my point and shoot, my next step although a point and shoot per se, will be the s602, then probably the s3 pro after that...most people do not take the time to learn a program to its fullest especially one like photoshop, its not user friendly or intuitive.....im upgradeing my computer from win 98 128 ram 400 mghtz 10 gig hard drive to a 512 mb ram, 1.7 gightz 80 gig hard drive because i have out grown this pc, it should be here any day now.....it has served me well for 3 1/2 yrs but now that im into digital photography its needed...-- http://www.pbase.com/wbrosen/photoart

 

[Tony Mason-Sherwood]

I have to add my two cents to this thread. It is part of the lyrics from a song.
I had a little gramaphone
I'd wind it roung and round
and with a sharpish needle
It made a cheerful sound
And then they amplified it
to make it louder yet
Used sharp and finder needles
to make it soft again.

I had the chance to work on a 1.7 gigahertz XP professional machine today and the thing that amazed me was that with this new more powerful operating system it didn't seem noticably faster than the 350 Mhz machine I use every day that is still running Win98. Yes it is a game. I have used a 1.1 gig machine with Win98 and it is awesomely fast.

The thing I have noticed since I started using the 6900 is that I am no longer concerned about resolution. I mean the combination of the quality of the lens and the resolution has freed me to think more about what I am taking pictures of and not whether the quality is sufficient. Thank you Fuji. I don't feel the need to run out and buy the 602 but when I am ready for a second camera it is a likely choice. I use it professionally and have little or no desire to have the SLR bodies. I think that what we are seeing is a new style of camera that will ultimately replace the slr.

Tony

 

[Jerry Hazard]

Yep. The thing is, Win 95 is bad syste, even Win XP is bad system,
especially for people who have no clue! There is no computer
system which would be "perfect", but at least we can look
for the best there is... and since people who talk a lot,
think a lot, and don't have a lot of money, so....

Maybe first poster is rich? And maybe you too?

If you can't see, hear and feel difference between Win 95
and Win 2000 or XP you are slow computer user, of you
don't appreciate stability and easier user interface.

Personally, I dont care what the difference is between XP and or 2000. Win 98 works fine for me and my photoshop 5.5. Slow or not.

(my system crashes occasionally, does yours? if so, then how can be it any "better" ?) If you are looking for the best computer system, where would you look? mac, linex, or windows. I'm no expert, but when 98 works fine after a couple service packs, why upgrade to an OS like xp that's buggy just out of box? -- nothing against xp users or anyone, except maybe the manufacturer. They are releasing products that are NOT ready for the market, and people like 'us' eat them up because they are the newest, fastest, most advanced, etc. - not realising we are the beta testers now.

I think we all are somewhat interested in the new stuff, just to see what's out there. I believe that's natural. Some people still shoot with film, at manual settings, and print in a darkroom with chemicals. funny thing is, their prints look fantastic. even funnier, they have no concern about how fast their computer goes, or how many megapixels the new S2 or D60 will have.

Bigger faster more advanced is not always better, that's all I'm getting at.-- http://www.pbase.com/jhazard

 

[Mark_A]

Mark,
You hit it on the head. I was satisfied with my 2800Z FinePix when
I had a software glitch and had to give it back. I was asked if my
Olympus was a good camera this weekend when I was taking some pics
of my nephew's poolside birthday party. My response was it's a good
camera,
but the guy pushing the shutter is even better. That got a good
rise from the attendees, of course.

Elliott, perhaps a certain level of capability in the tool is required but after that it has to be how well the user can wield it which will make the difference.

Note: Part of the reason I love my 1979 superbike is that it still often seems to go faster and handle better than some of the very latest rocketships. Of course it cannot really, it is just that some of the riders of the new machines don't have much experience on their new bikes while I have many miles on mine.

Also, today I saw what Fuji did. They took a camera that garnered
press praise and user praise, short ran it, discontinued it,
redesigned it, added a bit of frosting and will charge half a
thousand more for it. Sure, they've created demand for it, but the
technology is changing so rapidly,

Similar perhaps? : Mobile phone producers are hurting because during their explosive growth they kept pumping in new models to remain competitive and appear not to have noticed the saturation point arriving.

Pretty much everyone who wanted one now has a mobile phone, there are few new users around so they need existing users to upgrade.

But for a significant part of the market "a phone is a phone"... so volumes have gone down and companies have folded.

Mind you it was this inexorable drive of new models from the japanese motorbike industry that killed off British bike companies some years ago. Every year new models, every year lots of small incremental steps forward. Perhaps from the company point of view it is the best way, in fact I argue for it in an article and tried as a manager in manufacturing to get my company to do this. I certainly dont see that users need to take every little step as well when they could use the product for its life and when they return to upgrade the maker will certainly have something great for them to upgrade to.

I just might go for a 3.14MP cam for 1/3rd the price, stay a little
behind, and when something really terrific comes down the pike that
has a high value to function ratio just go for it.

I fully agree with your "stay a little behind" as a user, if only because one can save so much over people that want the latest and are throwing their money at it.

This supply and demand and gamesmanship that some companies are > > playing will only sour the consuming public in the long-term. Let
them make their beds and lie in them... then we'll take pictures of
them pulling their hair out.
Yours truly,
Elliott Marshall, A.S., RPR
http://www.pbase.com/finepixer/galleries

Elliot I love the pictures in your gallery, they are definately inspiring.

I would really appeciate your comments, I am starting making pictures and am workiing now to get slick at product photogaphy because this will help me company web work. I have been using a 4900 now for about 2 months (2,000 odd pictures) and am now working to learn about making clean small images to integrate into web pages.

I put up a small gallery at:
http://www.88honeylane.freeserve.co.uk/p/index.htm

and will be loading some pictures of cables and connectors later today because I will be targetting a company which has truly awful over optimised badly cropped cable pictures on their website :-0
.. any critical comments would be appreciated.

--Mark in UK

 

[Mark_A]

Well, I used Canon S10 a bit, then bought Canon S40,
the difference is huge. If someone can't see it, he/she is blind.

Sure but the difference between a 6900z and the new one... not that huge unless you are looking for low light or macro mode?

If you can't see, hear and feel difference between Win 95
and Win 2000 or XP you are slow computer user, of you
don't appreciate stability and easier user interface.

I have an ancient dos database system which I still use on a win98 machine, the filesizes are tiny and it can query the whole dataset in a fraction of the time MSAccess takes to re arrange its GUI in!!

I have to refer you to someones joke
It's lucky cars don't run windows, because a car crash is not the same!
I.B.M. = I blame microsoft
P.C.M.C.I.A = people can't remember computer industry acronyms
I.S.D.N. = It still does nothing.

Have you got an ugly female or maybe none?

!!" # eh.. ?

Well, I am just kiding, I agree partly with you.
We are human, we have time to waste, so, why
wonder why we talk such things at all?!

You just encapsulated my reasons for posting that!! --Mark in UK

 

[Mark_A]

Most people dont need the biggest and best, but some like me crave
something newer and better, like me I bought a point and shoot Fuji
fine Pix 2400 in sept 2001, I have quickly out grown the camera...

I felt the same, I only had point and shoot instamatics till now and never really spent time to get good images, I borrowed a finepix 1200 (I think it was) last year and found because of the instantness of digitial I could now learn quickly and get images worth having. This kindled my interest but .. I wanted more lense options so bought a 4900.. For me that was a heck of a lot of money to spend on a camera, especially when used film slrs are now so cheap but the instantness of digital alows me to learn now without paying for processsing and that delay..

.....im upgradeing my
computer from win 98 128 ram 400 mghtz 10 gig hard drive to a 512
mb ram, 1.7 gightz 80 gig hard drive because i have out grown this
pc, it should be here any day now.....it has served me well for 3
1/2 yrs but now that im into digital photography its needed...

This is perhaps a hidden cost that people might well consider from the larger mpx cameras .. is your present computer up to it? I cannot really work with the tiff images from the 4900 though perhaps should be able to, they are 16mb and my pc is too slow.

Did you consider a mac because they are apparently way faster for graphics.--Mark in UK

 

[gingerbaker]

I am really surprised to see so much talk about some new cameras
which only exist at the moment in a press release.

If you need more than a 6900 then do you not really in

fact need a pro slr camera?

See how much fun you can have with old things below:

Sorry about the bad pic I have been looking at better ones taken
with pinhole cameras

Mark,

What a great old racer! Too bad you can't take a picture with it.

Just like I can't go out to the store and buy a 6900 if I want it - it's gone.

So, for folks like me, I am very interested in the replacement. I'm new to this world of digital photography, but from what I gather Fuji really listened and (supposedly) rectified the issues associated with the 6900 and made a better camera.

It's great that the folks on this thread like their 6900's. But it sure sounds like sour grapes to me when every one comiserates and doesn't celebrate!

C'mon, admit it... you all want the new camera, its just difficult to justify a significant expenditure for a (supposedly) marginal gain. That's cool and it is certainly human nature, but it's just licking ones wounds.

Now is the time for all brave men with pixel envy to shed their fears, sell their cameras, and seize the opportunity to confront their inner demons and upgrade at the same time! Gentlemen, start your engines!--Gingerbaker http://www.pbase.com/gingerbaker/galleries

 

[Lynn C]

Elliot

Just a brief post to let you know how much I enjoyed your galleries. I was sure the Excitement of Color was my favorite until I saw the Classic Cars. Your pictures are really interesting and make me want to look at them for some time to see the different details. Thanks for sharing them.
Regards
Lynn C

Elliott Marshall, A.S., RPR

http://www.pbase.com/finepixer/galleries

 

[Dave Lewis]

I still use MS office pro 3.1 in a win95 machine sometimes because
there is little that I do in later versions that you could not do
in that one and I have rarely seen anyone using more than 20% of
the capabilities of this suite. Is it not the same with these
cameras? If you need more than a 6900 then do you not really in
fact need a pro slr camera?

Interesting point. I've had a whole bunch of digitals primarily because I like the damn things. I'm always looking at new stuff. I recently bought a Canon D30 and can tell you the consumer digitals are so far from it that playing around with a half a dozen of them is rather futal. I should have long ago banked my money and gone for the D30 or one of the other pro cameras. I know the files from the 6900 are wonderful as are the ones from the Canon G1 which I also have, but side by side with those from the D30 there is just no comparison. You've got to play with those D30 files and experience just what SLR can do for you before you realize what you are missing. I'll still continue to use my consumer digitals, particularly the G1 and the Finepix 2600. They are wonderful little tools, but for the best quality, there is no substitute to moving up to the pro level stuff.

As for camera envy, sure, I'm already looking toward the D60. It is a disease. I love it.--Dave Lewis

 

[Mark_A]

See how much fun you can have with old things below:

What a great old racer! Too bad you can't take a picture with it.

Next time I will be prepared to make a decent shot

C'mon, admit it... you all want the new camera, its just difficult
to justify a significant expenditure for a (supposedly) marginal
gain. That's cool and it is certainly human nature, but it's just
licking ones wounds.

Nope I dont want the new one, but perhaps that is because I have not mastered the one before the just obsolete one yet !

Now is the time for all brave men with pixel envy to shed their
fears, sell their cameras, and seize the opportunity to confront
their inner demons and upgrade at the same time! Gentlemen, start
your engines!

Gingerbaker you don't work for a camera company marketing dept do you?

So what you mean is dig real deep because with all that extra resolution you are also going to need a faster PC or a Mac, way more Ram to be able to use the files, loads more CDs for backing up and a better printer to take advantage.. phew that is a pile of bucks for an incremental improvement...

Think I will wait in case I could / should justify a pro camera someday thanks
--Mark in UK