Fujifilm F300EXR : Shirt pocket rocket?

[moeman1]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1007/10072109fujifilmf300exr.asp#press

I got to say that this camera by specs looks like a great shirt pocket travel cam. Autofocus as good as a DSLR? That is the single reason many parents w/ kids move to a DSLR--shutter lag.

I have a nice pocket cam (S90) that may have seen Fuji punch above its weight and kick it out of my shirt pocket.

Is there a better travel camera in this size? Waterproff is great for the tropics...

 

[TonyAAA]

Personally, I'd take your S90 over the F300EXR.

 

[lutz]

Have a look at the sample pics on the Fuji website first.
The AF technology will hopefully be implemented in other cameras soon.

 

[RickS]

I'll take the AF speed claim with a grain of salt until unbiased tests are published. You just can't believe everything the marketing department puts out.

Rick

 

[CAcreeks]

I'll take the AF speed claim with a grain of salt until unbiased tests are published. You just can't believe everything the marketing department puts out.

True.

Even so, I will likely buy one after the first non-Fuji samples appear online. I wanted an F80EXR for HD video and this seems a lot better than that camera.

EXR has great dynamic range. It is better than Bayer aspirin and far better than Bayer pattern sensors.

S90 is a nice camera, just not my cup of tea. I prefer coffee, already have a camera that can't do HD video, and 105/4.9 is not ultra exciting.

 

[snapshot09]

Seems like you are talking two different kind of cameras. If you want more zoom, then the F300EXR is the way to go.

However, if you want a faster lens for low light condition, then the S90 or the new LX5 would be more suitable.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1007/10072109fujifilmf300exr.asp#press

I got to say that this camera by specs looks like a great shirt pocket travel cam. Autofocus as good as a DSLR? That is the single reason many parents w/ kids move to a DSLR--shutter lag.

I have a nice pocket cam (S90) that may have seen Fuji punch above its weight and kick it out of my shirt pocket.

Is there a better travel camera in this size? Waterproff is great for the tropics...

 

[moeman1]

Yes... Understand the lens is faster on the S90... Hey I like my S90 (I also have a DSLR and the wife has small camera and a HD camcorder). I do love the controls and that JPEGS from the camera are solid...The LX3-5 are just a little too big to fit into my shirt pockets...They are out of my consideration.

I have two categories of cameras shirtpocket or not... I'm sure many ladies have two categories purse or not...

My beefs w/ the S90 are few but significant-- ranked:

1. Two FPS shooting.. I can tell you that this SLOW shooting rate has cost me some pics of my kid and his friends and other live action... 2 FPS is ridiculous!

2. More zoom: OK I understand there are trade offs... But I really would like more than 105mm...even if it goes below the 4.9 aperture of the 105mm.

3. Better video... The S90 has video that belongs in a camera from a few years ago not in the top of the line compact from Canon.

4. Shutter lag could be improved that would be icing on the cake...

5. HDR and Sweep panarama--steal these ideas from SONY, why not? they make the sensor in the S90...

 

[TrojMacReady]

5. HDR and Sweep panarama--steal these ideas from SONY, why not? they make the sensor in the S90...

But they haven't been combined with a low noise CCD (only fast CMOS). The low noise of that CCD is partially due to the relatively slow readout.

 

[George Lechter]

Tiny super zooms have a lot more noise than more conservative P&S's like the S90. The Fuji 300 disappointed me. It simply needs a lot of light to be decent.

 

[snapshot09]

The 300 though should be interesting; I owned the 200 and found it interesting; definitely not a simple point and shoot for best pictures.

However, it is definitely in a different class of cameras compare to the premium compacts like the Panasonic LX5 which has a fast lens and ideal for low light; not as much zoom, but then again that is not what its intended for with its wide angle lens.

Tiny super zooms have a lot more noise than more conservative P&S's like the S90. The Fuji 300 disappointed me. It simply needs a lot of light to be decent.

 

[DigiDan]

It does look like a great camera , but what bothers me is that it uses a ND filter for apertures and only has a few choices. This might not be a problem but it just bugs me.
--
Danno

 

[snapshot09]

Sorry to hear that bugs you, but you have to compare that to what else you are considering and decide which compromises you are willing to accept. For me, the LX5 offers the most in its class.

It does look like a great camera , but what bothers me is that it uses a ND filter for apertures and only has a few choices. This might not be a problem but it just bugs me.
--
Danno

 

[moeman1]

While I think the LX3 an LX5 are nice cameras they are too big for a shirt pocket on most of my shirts w/o looking like a dork.

I'll stick to my S90 and hope Fuji and others push the envelop more. I do think that Fuji has has some really good pocket cams.

Like to see a S90 with a back lighted sensor of the same size... it would be a low light king.

 

[snapshot09]

If Canon ever offers a true wide angle lens as the LX5, look for them to then be identical in size; otherwise, you get a small camera with the S90, but lose the wide angle capability.

All depends on what matters most to you

While I think the LX3 an LX5 are nice cameras they are too big for a shirt pocket on most of my shirts w/o looking like a dork.

I'll stick to my S90 and hope Fuji and others push the envelop more. I do think that Fuji has has some really good pocket cams.

Like to see a S90 with a back lighted sensor of the same size... it would be a low light king.

 

[Ed B]

Shutter lag has nothing to do with auto focus speed.

Shutter lag is the amount of time it takes a camera to actually take the picture once you've completely depressed the shutter button.

All compact cameras are slower than a DSLR and most are much slower.

 

[snapshot09]

Very true, now the trade off is the convenience of a compact camera...all up to each individual consumer to determine what is most important for them.

All compact cameras are slower than a DSLR and most are much slower.

 

[glanglois]

Shutter lag has nothing to do with auto focus speed.

Shutter lag is the amount of time it takes a camera to actually take the picture once you've completely depressed the shutter button.

All compact cameras are slower than a DSLR and most are much slower.

I hate to be picky but I guess it's my turn.

For many, shutter lag includes all activities, including focus and exposure measurement/computation/adjustment between some activity (half or full button press) and the beginning of the exposure.

If AF is being done in the series of events happening after the final button press, then it counts. And it counts big time if it hunts or stumbles for some reason, perhaps low light or a confusing (to the AF system) set of possible subjects. All reasons to use half-press or some other method to lock focus prior to final press. When possible.

But in continuous focus or when faced with a quick grab shot, AF will add to the latency and we'll live with the results of that latency.

Shutter lag and the "wide" angle lenses of P&S three years ago led directly to my first DSLR since 1969. And now I'm very happy. Thank you, shutter lag .....

 

[Ed B]

Shutter lag is what it is and, as I said, it's the amount of time it takes for the camera to actually take the picture after the shutter button is fully depressed.