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)
Problems:
Disappointed that there are no filter addons: I saw some work done with an FZ28 with Raynox extension lenses and was very impressed. Went looking for Fuji equivalents but alas, not available for this camera.
The camera is slow by some points of comparison. Shutter lag is evident but not as bad as on my previous cameras
Cannot comment on movie mode because I don't use it.
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)
Problems:
Disappointed that there are no filter addons: I saw some work done with an FZ28 with Raynox extension lenses and was very impressed. Went looking for Fuji equivalents but alas, not available for this camera.
The camera is slow by some points of comparison. Shutter lag is evident but not as bad as on my previous cameras
Cannot comment on movie mode because I don't use it.