->Discount

Been taking picture like crazy!! Haven't had a bad one yet. I took the time to read the manual and it does soooo much it's scarry!! I saw it first elsewhere but the price was too high... Thanks to Amazon, I've got a camera that will satisfy me for many years. It did eat my first batteries but I think that was because I was "playing" with every little thing it does. I now have rechargables and have no problem....and...everybody tells me what a cool camera I have.... they're right!!


->Best Price

I purchased this Fuji S6000fd, as well as a Panasonic FZ8. I had also tried out a friend's Canon S3IS. I had intended to keep whichever one I liked best and return the other -- unless both were so exceptionally good and in that case I would have kept both.

I was excited for the first weekend I had each camera. I went out to take some scenic pictures with each camera and when I got home I was left very.. Underwhelmed. The Panasonic lacked any punch to the pictures and by my mistake, I had left the Fuji set to low sharpness so all the pictures were soft. I took more shots with the Fuji this past weekend and everything was sharp and vivid when set to F-chrome mode. I will definitely be keeping the camera.

Pros:
- Excellent 6.3 MP SuperCCD; it's the same one in my F20
-- SuperCCD sensor means very low noise even up to ISO 800
- Manual zoom and focus rings
- Substantial DSLR-like feel
- Good battery life
- High resolution screen
- Sharp pictures

Cons:
- No optical image stabilizer, but boosting the ISO helps keep blur to a minimum
- Uses xD memory cards, which aren't interchangable with my other cameras and electronics that use SD cards
- Doesn't come with rechargable AA batteries

Wow. That about sums it up for me. The cons I've found to the camera are so insignificant (minus not having IS) that I KNOW this is a good camera for me. Not having IS is not a big deal for me because I won't shoot at full telephoto very often, where I.S. is more crucial. Bottom line: I tried the competition and now I know the Fuji suits me best. I'm very impressed with its pictures. Needless to say I returned the Panasonic FZ8 after 3 days and am happy with my final choice!


->Affordable

This is a great camera. Great value for money.

The low light capabilities are fantastic. I recently went to the zoo and some of the indoor exibits do not allow flash. The camera took amazing pictures. The zoom is a great feature.
I still have a lot to learn on this camera as it has a lot of features.
From the little I have learnt it has taken amazing pictures. I cannot wait to learn more.

The video feature is good too. I was going to buy a video camera but may not need to now!

Shame it doesn't use the cheaper memory cards, but if you shop around you can get a good deal.


->Compare

Cons....
-you can't just put it in your pocket.
-no image stabilization (HOWEVER... the shutter lag is darn near non-existent, so I have not missed it at ALL as I did with my Olympuz 500UZ)

My favorite things about this camera...
-Manual zoom...SO much faster and efficient than using a button. I will NEVER go back!
-Little to no shutter lag
-Face Dectection (NO gimmick... it is VERY COOL!! You can see examples of what it does on the fuji site)
-Manual Mode
-You can shoot RAW if you want to
-Takes FANTASTIC pics indoors. I am an 'anti-flash' girl. I HATE using the flash and even in low light there is 'noise' but the pictures are still great. With other cameras in the same situation the pictures would have been too dark or completely blurry.


I thought about getting a DSLR when my Olympus got dropped and broke, but then I found this camera and since it had most of the features of DSLR for less than half the price... I took the plunge and I am glad I did. This camera takes FANTASTIC photos and I didn't rack up my credit card bill to get it ;)




->Lowest Price

Those who are in the market for an ultrazoom will inevitably come to this conclusion, should I pick the Fuji S6000 over the Canon S3 IS on sale. There are many reviews for each camera, they are mostly written by pros so I wouldn't waste time writing them over again. I'll show you things they failed to mention which are important factors why I picked S6000.

1. sensor size

diagonal width height
Fuji s6000 9.500mm 7.600mm 5.700mm
Canon S3 7.182mm 5.760mm 4.290mm

Both camera utilize a 6MP sensor, Fuji's sensor is larger which makes it less noisy, shallower DOF when taking portraits for better bokeh.

2. realtime histogram

second to none, you will love this tool.

3. f-chrome mode

this mode will make your simple Point & Shoot friends drool with envy at color saturation & vividness of landscapes, flowers..etc.


->Affordable

I've had this camera for about 8 months and thought I'd post a review. I purchased this camera to help record my new son's development. Since I was taking pictures of him (and my wife) more and more, I thought it was a good time to upgrade.

First of all, the picture quality is excellent, and is on par with a dSLR in many instances. Previously I had a 4-year old Canon P&S, which still holds its own, but the s6000 is superior for interior/low-light shots, and has better color accuracy. It also takes more consistently focused and exposed pictures than my old camera. I have no regrets about upgrading. In fact my wife often asked why we didn't get a better camera sooner.

In addition to the picture quality, this camera focuses very quickly, and the Face Detection is highly useful if you take a lot of posed shots. It doesn't get in the way if the camera doesn't lock onto a face, and you can use the face detection preview feature to quickly check if your subjects were blinking when you clicked the shutter.

The next important feature is that, unlike a dSLR, I can use it to take high quality movies. No one wants invest or lug around a video camera in addition to a still camera. dSLRs don't do video (and they don't have a live preview on the back). The Fuji is great to take 50 pictures, and those 2 or 3 minute movies to fully capture the moment.

Finally, the manual zoom ring gives you great control over the framing of your picture. I originally believed a camera with such a large zoom was only useful for taking pictures of birds in trees, but it's so much more than that. From a close position you can quickly frame your image from lots of background, to practically none. This isn't an advanced technique, and a zoom ring (rather than a rocker switch) lets everyone take better pictures.

Here are a few other selling points for this camera:
Great Battery life
Fast USB 2.0 transfer to the computer
Feels solid and comfortable in your hand
Standard 4x6 (2:3) images so you don't have to crop


Minuses:
Yes, there are a few things I'm not too keen on...
First and foremost, the camera is not small. It's no P&S, and often gets in the way when I'm out and about. That's the price of a great lens I suppose. You can't quickly slip it in your pocket when you're done taking pictures, and it feels a little precarious as it hangs from a strap around your neck. So I end up holding on to it for a 5-minute round of taking pictures, then place the camera in the case and get back to enjoying my day. Because of this, I'd consider purchasing a Fuji F31fd, which is essentially the same camera without the great zoom. Having both would be ideal.

Second, the programs aren't too great. They work fine outside, but to get the most from the camera, you should shoot in the P,S,A, or M modes. In fact, if you only use the P mode, and change the ISO as needed (100 or 200 on a bright sunny day, 400 inside with lots of (natural) light, and 800 in side in dim lighting) you should be 100% pleased with your shots.

All-in-all I'm very happy with the s6000.


->Lowest Price

With three weeks of use behind me, I am finding the Fujifilm Finepix S6000 to be a great value. I still need to do some more experimenting with all the various options this camera offers, but I started out shooting great photos in the "Auto" mode right out of the box. I bought it for it's reported low light capability and feel that it is living up to the reviews. I did a lot of research prior to this purchase, and I am not disapointed.



->Best Price

Pros: When I first switched from film to digital I lost the ability to use 400 and higher ISO film. Most digital cameras do badly at high ISO but the FinePix S6000 produces good pictures at 400 ISO and usable, but grainy, pictures at ISO's as high as 3200. This is really valuable when taking pictures indoors, in the woods, in twilight, or any other situation in which light is limited. It is also helpful when photographing people who close their eyes to avoid flash! I also very much like the manual zoom, the ability to automatically bracket exposures, macro mode, and other features.

Cons: It lacks a real antishake feature, the viewfinder can be hard to use in some situations, and it is a bit heavy. Face detection does not always work as desired, particularly with faces in profiles.


->Price

I've used 35mm SLRs and a Sony 4 mp point and shoot camera and this one provides a good balance between the two types. Between a test of my 4 mp camera and this one, the images were actually quite close - the 4mp camera had a little more purple fringing and color shift though. Besides its naturalistic color, where this camera really shines though is in its RAW format, and in its 10x manual optical zoom - the control factor is invaluable plus. The 'auto' settings of this camera are not its strength (actually the straight 'auto' setting of the 4mp camera took better photos overall than the Fuji did in its straight 'auto' setting) - the first thing to do with this camera is to change the sharpness to 'soft', lower the default '200' ISO setting, and change the JPEG setting (press 'F' button) to '6 mp F' or use RAW mode; otherwise the images come out too compressed and grainy. Turning off the 'focus check' is helpful for moving objects - the enlarged image popping into view at the center can be distracting.

So far it seems using the 'Program' mode allows simple enough adjustments of exposure value to make it usable for most 'point and shoot' situations while still producing excellent photos in JPEG format. Once in 'Program' mode or other more manual modes, the images are great.

Probably could not recommend this camera to someone who just wanted a point and shoot model, as it rewards those who want to explore its manual settings.

This camera would've been improved by having a jog dial for the shutter/aperture control, but all in all this is a great camera and I love using it. Would definitely recommend it to others who don't have limitless wallets, but want to be able to adjust their images in RAW format and who are willing to take some time to learn about shutter and aperture settings.

There was a review posted saying that the batteries pop out too easily because of a faulty door, but I've not found this to be the case. I did read on another forum that there were differences in lengths of batteries among different brands which may cause difficulty shutting the door properly. In any event, with my Sony batteries, I've not experienced any problem of this sort.

general tips:

* make sure you get a Type 'H' memory card, as the Type 'M's are a little slower apparently ("2 to 3 times" slower).

* the evf, being too low in resolution, is basically unusable unless you're just going to be shooting in 'auto' mode. If you plan on shooting outdoors mostly, it would be worthwhile to get an LCD shade to stick on.

* get a 58mm UV lens filter; since this lens doesn't remove, it's cheap insurance - some are coated to reduce glare if you're especially finicky, but the cheaper ones are fine otherwise.


->Best Price

This camera is great!!! It is just like my old camera, I have been trying to find a camera with a big zoom and manual capabilities that I could actually afford. There are lots of things I haven't figured out yet, but so far it is easy to use and the pictures are looking good.


->Deals

Price is low, then quality is high.
My doughter take photo almost everyday.
little bit bigger size camera but photo quality is much nicer than other compact camera.


->Sale

I got this camera so I could have more control. I'm learning to use the shutter and aperture settings...I haven't explored all the fancy settings much, but there are tons of them. I really like the continuous shooting option so I'm more likely to catch a good action shot. The wide-angle lens has also allowed me to get some pretty cool shots and the macro settings work great for close-ups. I think it's one of the best buys you can find if you want to take some pretty cool photos, but don't feel quite ready for an SLR.


->Purchase

Found this camera easy to use,large 2.5 LCD monitor,good sharp pictures,suggest using Ni-MH rechargeable batteries rather than alkaline ones as more shots can be taken.Has voice mode & 30 second movies.Has many shoot modes.


->Lowest Price

I bought the Fuji S6000fd in December 2006 to help me take better pictures and to experiment with advanced photography techniques. Initially, I had mixed feelings about this camera and several times even considered selling it to get a " better dSLR". But after thinking long and hard and using it quite a bit and comparing its image qualities, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed an excellent camera for what it is intended for. The camera is now a keeper.

I use this camera mostly for travel and family pictures. Below are my personal views about this camera:

PROS:
1. Picture quality: This is generally sharp with excellent color rendition (I use "chrome") for ISO 100-800.

2. Noise: This becomes evident only at ISO 800-1600, but they are still usable after running the pictures through Neat Image noise reduction filter, at 25% amount for ISO 800 and 75% for ISO 1600. I don't use ISO3200 because of loss of details.

3. SLR-like: This is the closest thing to an SLR with manual twist zoom, program mode dial and comfortable grip/ergonomics. The fixed lens comes with a nice looking hood and allows for the use of polarizer filter for creative control.

4. Live view/histogram: This is without a doubt the BEST feature of this camera. I use it every time to compose my shots and adjust my exposure compensation and white balance to "get it right first time". As a result, I am getting very high percentage of quality pictures out of this camera without having to do much post processing. To do this with a dSLR, you will have to take a shot first, then preview on the LCD, make the camera adjustments and then take the shot again. With the live view, it is close to WYSIWYG.

5. Focal range of 28-300mm: The 28mm wide angle provides excellent coverage for landscapes and in tight internal spaces. I don't use the telephoto range as much but it's there when I need it to zoom in on the details.

6. Face detection: It works, so I use for all people shots.

7. Movie mode: This is a bonus feature, and works well enough that it has replaced my camcorder. I get 30 minutes of video from a 1 GB card. The manual zoom works but you have to move it slowly to avoid "jumpiness" as the lens changes focus.

8. AA battery: I already use rechargeables, so not having to buy a spare lithium battery is a benefit.

9. Price: At ~$300+ and for the quality/features, this camera offers tremendous value.

CONS:
1. No image stabilization: This is a potential deal breaker for many buyers. But compared to other non-dSLRs with noisy pictures at ISO400 and up, shooting at ISO 800-1600 on the Fuji S6000fd offers a "compromise" which somewhat compensates for the lack of a real optical image stabilizer. But this is 2007, so I think it should be a requirement to include OIS on any lens longer than 200mm. I personally don't use long zoom that much, so it is less of an issue. But it would be nice if Fuji include this feature for its next release.

2. No shallow depth of field: This means you can't isolate the subject by creating a blurred background, and is a universal problem for all P&S cameras with small sensors. With Fuji S6000fd, there is some work around, such as using telephoto focal length combined with macro mode, but the blur effect is not as good as what a dSLR can produce.

3. Limited burst mode: Continuous mode is slow and the buffer is limited to only 3 shots. If you taken a lot of action photography, then this camera will be woefully inadequate.

4. Electronic Viewfinder: The brightness can be adjusted up or down but the resolution is only 135K pixels so it is not as sharp.

5. Auto mode: This camera doesn't produce good pictures with Auto mode or even the Natural mode because of the tendency to use high ISO. Those looking for a simple P&S should look at Fuji F20 or Canon models.

Conclusion: There are trade-offs in any camera purchase. Despite my initial hesitation, this is an excellent camera that offers close to (but not the same as) what you'll get from a dSLR. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn photography but not ready to invest in a dSLR.

This would have been a "perfect" camera (for me, at least) if Fuji had included optical image stabilization (for another 2-3 stop advantage) and a higher resolution EVF.




->Sale

This is a great camera. I love the onlg 10.7x optical zoom. It's a little bigger than I'm used to but the added features and that lovely zoom is well worth it. I'm not a professional but I do my best to utilize the features


->Comparison

I spent a lot of time researching cameras before I chose this one. Overall I'm quite pleased, but I'm not through mastering this camera just yet. There is only one big negative for me and that is lack of image stabilization. This is not the best camera for action shots - I get lots of blurred shots when I try to photograph my kids or dogs while they are moving - which is most of the time.

Other than that, I love the low light features - you can get a decent picture in a nearly totally dark room or outside under the moon. I love the Natural setting where you can take 2 pics with one click, one using flash the other without and compare the 2. I love the fact that my batteries last FOREVER!!!! And I love the video capabilities of this camera. I may never use my VHS-C camera again! Macro is awesome as well, I like to photograph flowers.

For the money I think this is a very good camera. I don't use the face detection feature much, don't really see the need for it, but I suppose it is kind of a cool feature for those who want it. I'd trade it for more image stabilization though.

I would reccomend this camera for anyone who wants more than just a point and shoot camera but isn't ready for an SLR or doesn't have the money to spend on an SLR.


->Discount

Good Camera for the Money.. Picture quality excellent. Used camera on recent trio to Florida for Spring Training and colors superb.Still learning the fine points and capabilties of the product. Dealing through Amazon exceptional. Product arrived well within promised time frame.
No doubt a Good Deal


->Best Price

What a great camera! Easy to use and takes wonderful pictures. I've used almost all the different settings and have had no problems learning how to operate this camera. It DOES NOT come with a memory card--at all. FYI It uses an xd memory card, too. Also, I recommend a case with a strap. Found one at Staples (of all places) for a reasonable price. This camera comes with an attachment to the lens that narrows the range and removes glare.


->Comparison

I've only had the camera for a few weeks now, but I already love it. It fits my hand perfectly, the lens is excellent, and the startup time is great too. I've been having particular fun with the super macro mode, although I'm going to get an additional UV filter cover for the lens because I don't want to scratch the lens getting too close to something. It has great possibility past the 'auto' settings, and isn't as heavy as some dSLRs would be. I find the EVF (electronic view finder) to be just the right brightness (some have said they thought it was too dark), and although the EVF resolution is a bit grainy, I know the photos themselves are coming out fantastic, so it's not a problem. It's my first non P&S camera - I got this instead of the dSLRs I was looking at and am VERY happy with my decision. Great bang for the buck!


->Best Price

You can't beat the features of this camera for its price. Very light weight, ergonomic, and easy to use. Takes awesome macro shots, as close as you want. It is a little hard to stay steady with the telefocus lens all the way out. Sometimes the auto uses to high an iso for my taste making the picture a little grainy during night shots. Fully manual as well. If you learn to use the manual controls you can take just about any shot you want to with clarity. I love my camera.


->Buy

THIS IS A GREAT STARTER CAMERA. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY WORK AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE VERY USER FRENDLY. I ONLY WISH I COULD CHANGE OUT THE LENS LIKE A 35MM CAMERA.


->Affordable

Very easy to use. I am a beginner and it always takes great pictures.
Love it!


->Comparison

I purchased this camera after a few months of research. I was keenly looking at the 9500/9000 series when this camera came out and it sported the spectacular F30 sensor. Initially, the first month was a learning curve, I messed up a lot of pictures, the AUTO modes were slightly different from what I had experienced in the Canons. But, after 3 months of use, I a happy with the camera. This is definitely, as of now, the best low light, mega zoom bridge camera. Indoors, low light pictures are great, it captures the ambiance well, with or without the flash. Even if it uses flash, it is not so harsh as I have seen in other cams. The face detection detects faces as FUJI claims. It has a nice 10.7X manual zoom, which is super. The camera ergonomics and design is great. Few options are slightly buried in the menus, which could have been better. The overall look and feel is great, very much like SLR. I had a few people look intently at my camera in the malls. One guy, wanted to read my model on the camera. There is a slight learning curve with this camera. It is not your simple point and shoot camera. If you want an alternative to SLR and save money, this might be the camera. The canon S2 and S3 are great cameras but they are definitely behind the Fuji in indoors and low light situation. Here is a list of what I like and what I dont like

What I like.
1. Wonderful 10.7X manual zoom
2. High ISO capability. Great low light photography. Very good ISO 800, I had some nice ISO 1600 and a few ISO 3200 were worth keeping. Ofcourse, the are no comparison to SLR, but, this is not a SLR and is a bridge cam.
3. The modes, dials, usage, feel, grip and overall feel is SLR like.
4. A best All-in-one package, non removable wideangle lens from 28-300mm, which covers most of the zoom range. Extra wide or tele can be achieved with adaptors.
5. Wonderful, live -preview 2.5 inch LCD, unlike a SLR, where you have to use the viewfinder to compose and take the shot.
6. Impressive, movie capabilities and good resolution.
7. Takes AA batteries, so the user can buy anytime, anywhere, any brand.
8. Decent software with the package. Especially, raw editor available for editing raw images.

What could have been better.
1. EVF is pathetic, very bad resolution, only suitable for framing and composing the shot
2. Uses xD card. SD card would have been a better option
3. The AUTO mode is not as dependable as I would like it. Potrait mode would be a better mode for all -round casual shooting. Of course, there a host of different modes for different settings. But AUTO, is not great.
4. Outdoor shots image quality are just a little, behind Canon. In terms of sharpness and saturation. This is subjective and depends on individual's choice.

[...]



->Prices

I have the Fujifilm S5000 and this one. I had the S9100 briefly, but returned it after learning that the Auto Mode did not work well (according to my week-long experience using it and after talking to the Fuji Tech Support Reps). The S6000 has a great SLR feel. It appears to have the same lens as the S9100. After using the S5000's power zoom, I relearned that I like a manual lens barrel zoom much better. The only drawback to the S6000 is the low power of the flash and the inability to attach an external flash (like on the S7000 and S9100). However, I took shots of a baby dedication inside a church without a flash or a tripod and the camera got great shots. I like the fact that the Fujifilm cameras use AA batteries. Ever try to find a battery pack at a national park?


->Wholesale

I bought this camera after reading many of the reviews, with particular attention to the dpreview. They were spot on: LCD is a little unclear, but large and bright enough; one needs to get into the camera vs. wanting a very simple point & shoot. But when I downloaded the photos I had taken (on auto, and some on manual settings, jpegs and raw) I was just simply excited:) The photos had great definition (long zoom and closeup), the low light shots are very interesting, and the color saturation is deep. The software works well and is very easy to use. I broke down and also bought the Olympus Xd card reader, and am glad I spent the extra $$--it does post processing using the Fuji sw while the files are on the card--very seamless. The price was right when I bought it and even better now i see (should have waited a few weeks and saved $50 bucks, but the enjoyment I've received is worth it. Go for it!


->Prices

I purchased this camera as a replacement for my Canon A80. I wanted something with a long zoom lens to give more flexibility in taking outdoor shots and pictures of my kids at their events where I cannot get close.

Physically the camera feels very comfortable; it's ergonomics are great thanks to the large hand grip and lens. Controls were easy and logical. I didn't think I'd like the manual zoom, but I actually think I'd prefer it to the "powered" zoom as it is faster and more accurate.

I'm no "prosumer" - just someone that likes to take pictures and, as such, I need something that isn't going to require complex adjustments before pressing the shutter. This is where most of my problems with this camera came in.

Performance indoors was spotty at best. Even though I was taking relatively close up shots indoors (i.e. not using long zoom), I had substantial issues with image blur. I'm not sure this is due to the lack of image stabilization (I thought that only helped when taking distant shots), I just know it was a problem. In many instances, the auto-focus clunked and whirred before taking the shot (even when pre-focusing by pressing the shutter button halfway), resulting in several missed opportunities at my son's birthday party. Nonetheless, some of the pictures it took were excellent, with incredible clarity. Again - I'm no camera expert, but since I'm using the "Auto" mode on a high priced auto-focus camera, I don't expect to make calculations and adjustments to get a good picture. I'm not sure if I COULD have done so with this camera, but requiring me to do so would be asking more than I'm willing to do.

I was sold on this camera by the excellent reviews on this site, but I definitely had the opposite experience. If you're the "point and shoot" type and not a "prosumer", I would recommend you look at some of the other alternatives. Personally I returned this camera to Amazon for a refund (which they handled flawlessly). I'll be trying the Canon S3 due to my very positive past experience with Canon.


->Lowest Price

This camera was bought to replace a Kodak z740 which had lots of issues with focusing in low light. The s6000fd from Fuji is the same size of the more expensive digital SLRs and has a nice 'sturdy' feel and weight. The fact also that the camera runs on 4 'AA' batteries is nice, on one set of 2500 mAh rechargable NiMH, I have taken around 350 pictures and there is still no sign of weak batteries (it alerts you when the batteries are @ 1/4 charge left).

The manual zoom worried me at first, but since using it I will NEVER go back to the powered (?) zoom. The camera also has a manual focus ring for those that want more control. Speaking of control, the s6000fd has FULL manual control. The ISO range can go up to 3200 ISO, but noise is quite noticeable in this area. The flash has a LONG range and will light up my whole living area. The 'face detection' feature really does work and is nice to have for those of use that take a lot of portrait shots or general people shots. Face detection works by finding faces in a scene and focusing on that, not something else. It can find up to 10 faces in one scene. Natural light mode is also nice, and even though some noise will be noticed on the computer screen, it is not on actual prints. The camera also has a 'Scene position' mode that includes preset settings for beach, snow, parties, museums, fireworks, sunsets, sports, nights, landscapes, anti-blur and portraits. The camera also includes a movie feature, but I can not speak for that since I will not use the camera to make movies. I must say this camera does NOT have image stabilization, but rather the anti-blur mode. The anti-blur works by bumping up the ISO and switching to a faster shutter speed. This works, but optical image stabilization would have been better, then again I have never found the need for either. The LCD is nice and BIG for us aging people. Focusing occurs in a snap and is the fastest I have ever seen on an advanced zoom camera. Remember the low light focusing issue that I mentioned earlier with the z740? Non existent on the s6000fd! I have taken tons of pictures in low light and they all have come out sharp and focused perfectly.

The only complaints are that to delete a picture after taking it is to go into review and delete it from there. There is no way to delete immediately after taking. The only other issue is that it uses XD cards, instead of the more readily available SD cards. Just a side note, when I bought the XD card to use with the camera, I bought the Olympus 1 GB Model H card, its write time is about three time that of the Model M cards.

Make sure to check out a few of the pictures I have posted above for some samples of this wonderful camera's pictures! Enjoy!


->Sale

If you want a complete digital experiencie, this is the camera for you!!
MACRO, WIDE ANGLE and TELEPHOTO in just one complete and perfect lens piece....
Thanks FUJIFILM!! for making my life much easier with this new product.!!
no more words...
just complete satisfaction.




->Best Price

The "face detection" feature, which sounds like a gimmick, for me quantifies this as the best digital I've ever used. A green box will appear over your subjects face and if they're like my toddler are constantly moving will actually follow their face (as long as they are looking in the general viscinity of the camera). It will give focus and lighting priority to their faces. It even works on the TV (had to try it). The macro is excellent, and while I wasn't sure of a manual zoom it's way faster and ultimately better than a battery consuming zoom. The ISO of 3200 can take unblurry pictures without the flash in my very dark house and they're still usuable VS the throw away blurrrrr of my canon. I'm really happy I finally pulled the trigger and bought this over the S3-IS. - (From a former S2-IS owner.) Only complaints are it's fairly large, but you can't put any super zoom in your pocket really.. The "on board" memory is about the dumbest thing ever. You can take about 1 picture on the finest mode before it's full. What's the point of that? I don't understand why you would buy a 6.3mp and use low quality shots. BUT the good news is the XD cards hold more per MB than the SD cards and are fast. Use the "M". I got a 1gb card they're quite reasonable and it'll hold about 350 pics at the best resolution (fine). If you want really rapid shots you're probably better off with a DSLR (more money). This will take a shot about every two seconds with the correct focus settings. If you need faster than that.. you're not looking at sub $500 cameras anyways..

To the reviewer before me: It takes one button to use all flash features. Push once for AUTO, then once for Red Eye Reduction, then once for Forced (what yours was obviously on) and once more for suppressed (always off). They use the the lightning bolt icon same as on a Sony, and on a Canon, And it takes one setting to turn off the preview after you take a shot. Landscape setting is only for LANDSCAPES you have a landscape shot in your backyard? Compact flash cards are outdated (too big) compared to SD or XD, and you show me a new digital camera not made of plastic and I'll eat my review. I do know it is sometimes about the "feel" that's a very personal thing.. And I'm not trying to be a jerk here but you should have used "AUTO". Because anyone who doesn't know how to shut of a flash shouldn't be using the advanced settings, and then complain when they don't turn out right. I think you also shouldn't slam a product without reading the manual . It's just not fair to the manufacturers. I hope you like your next one. Cheers!


->Lowest Price

Been taking picture like crazy!! Haven't had a bad one yet. I took the time to read the manual and it does soooo much it's scarry!! I saw it first elsewhere but the price was too high... Thanks to Amazon, I've got a camera that will satisfy me for many years. It did eat my first batteries but I think that was because I was "playing" with every little thing it does. I now have rechargables and have no problem....and...everybody tells me what a cool camera I have.... they're right!!


->Price

I purchased this Fuji S6000fd, as well as a Panasonic FZ8. I had also tried out a friend's Canon S3IS. I had intended to keep whichever one I liked best and return the other -- unless both were so exceptionally good and in that case I would have kept both.

I was excited for the first weekend I had each camera. I went out to take some scenic pictures with each camera and when I got home I was left very.. Underwhelmed. The Panasonic lacked any punch to the pictures and by my mistake, I had left the Fuji set to low sharpness so all the pictures were soft. I took more shots with the Fuji this past weekend and everything was sharp and vivid when set to F-chrome mode. I will definitely be keeping the camera.

Pros:
- Excellent 6.3 MP SuperCCD; it's the same one in my F20
-- SuperCCD sensor means very low noise even up to ISO 800
- Manual zoom and focus rings
- Substantial DSLR-like feel
- Good battery life
- High resolution screen
- Sharp pictures

Cons:
- No optical image stabilizer, but boosting the ISO helps keep blur to a minimum
- Uses xD memory cards, which aren't interchangable with my other cameras and electronics that use SD cards
- Doesn't come with rechargable AA batteries

Wow. That about sums it up for me. The cons I've found to the camera are so insignificant (minus not having IS) that I KNOW this is a good camera for me. Not having IS is not a big deal for me because I won't shoot at full telephoto very often, where I.S. is more crucial. Bottom line: I tried the competition and now I know the Fuji suits me best. I'm very impressed with its pictures. Needless to say I returned the Panasonic FZ8 after 3 days and am happy with my final choice!


->Best Price

This is a great camera. Great value for money.

The low light capabilities are fantastic. I recently went to the zoo and some of the indoor exibits do not allow flash. The camera took amazing pictures. The zoom is a great feature.
I still have a lot to learn on this camera as it has a lot of features.
From the little I have learnt it has taken amazing pictures. I cannot wait to learn more.

The video feature is good too. I was going to buy a video camera but may not need to now!

Shame it doesn't use the cheaper memory cards, but if you shop around you can get a good deal.


->Lowest Price

Cons....
-you can't just put it in your pocket.
-no image stabilization (HOWEVER... the shutter lag is darn near non-existent, so I have not missed it at ALL as I did with my Olympuz 500UZ)

My favorite things about this camera...
-Manual zoom...SO much faster and efficient than using a button. I will NEVER go back!
-Little to no shutter lag
-Face Dectection (NO gimmick... it is VERY COOL!! You can see examples of what it does on the fuji site)
-Manual Mode
-You can shoot RAW if you want to
-Takes FANTASTIC pics indoors. I am an 'anti-flash' girl. I HATE using the flash and even in low light there is 'noise' but the pictures are still great. With other cameras in the same situation the pictures would have been too dark or completely blurry.


I thought about getting a DSLR when my Olympus got dropped and broke, but then I found this camera and since it had most of the features of DSLR for less than half the price... I took the plunge and I am glad I did. This camera takes FANTASTIC photos and I didn't rack up my credit card bill to get it ;)




->Compare

Those who are in the market for an ultrazoom will inevitably come to this conclusion, should I pick the Fuji S6000 over the Canon S3 IS on sale. There are many reviews for each camera, they are mostly written by pros so I wouldn't waste time writing them over again. I'll show you things they failed to mention which are important factors why I picked S6000.

1. sensor size

diagonal width height
Fuji s6000 9.500mm 7.600mm 5.700mm
Canon S3 7.182mm 5.760mm 4.290mm

Both camera utilize a 6MP sensor, Fuji's sensor is larger which makes it less noisy, shallower DOF when taking portraits for better bokeh.

2. realtime histogram

second to none, you will love this tool.

3. f-chrome mode

this mode will make your simple Point & Shoot friends drool with envy at color saturation & vividness of landscapes, flowers..etc.


->Comparison

I've had this camera for about 8 months and thought I'd post a review. I purchased this camera to help record my new son's development. Since I was taking pictures of him (and my wife) more and more, I thought it was a good time to upgrade.

First of all, the picture quality is excellent, and is on par with a dSLR in many instances. Previously I had a 4-year old Canon P&S, which still holds its own, but the s6000 is superior for interior/low-light shots, and has better color accuracy. It also takes more consistently focused and exposed pictures than my old camera. I have no regrets about upgrading. In fact my wife often asked why we didn't get a better camera sooner.

In addition to the picture quality, this camera focuses very quickly, and the Face Detection is highly useful if you take a lot of posed shots. It doesn't get in the way if the camera doesn't lock onto a face, and you can use the face detection preview feature to quickly check if your subjects were blinking when you clicked the shutter.

The next important feature is that, unlike a dSLR, I can use it to take high quality movies. No one wants invest or lug around a video camera in addition to a still camera. dSLRs don't do video (and they don't have a live preview on the back). The Fuji is great to take 50 pictures, and those 2 or 3 minute movies to fully capture the moment.

Finally, the manual zoom ring gives you great control over the framing of your picture. I originally believed a camera with such a large zoom was only useful for taking pictures of birds in trees, but it's so much more than that. From a close position you can quickly frame your image from lots of background, to practically none. This isn't an advanced technique, and a zoom ring (rather than a rocker switch) lets everyone take better pictures.

Here are a few other selling points for this camera:
Great Battery life
Fast USB 2.0 transfer to the computer
Feels solid and comfortable in your hand
Standard 4x6 (2:3) images so you don't have to crop


Minuses:
Yes, there are a few things I'm not too keen on...
First and foremost, the camera is not small. It's no P&S, and often gets in the way when I'm out and about. That's the price of a great lens I suppose. You can't quickly slip it in your pocket when you're done taking pictures, and it feels a little precarious as it hangs from a strap around your neck. So I end up holding on to it for a 5-minute round of taking pictures, then place the camera in the case and get back to enjoying my day. Because of this, I'd consider purchasing a Fuji F31fd, which is essentially the same camera without the great zoom. Having both would be ideal.

Second, the programs aren't too great. They work fine outside, but to get the most from the camera, you should shoot in the P,S,A, or M modes. In fact, if you only use the P mode, and change the ISO as needed (100 or 200 on a bright sunny day, 400 inside with lots of (natural) light, and 800 in side in dim lighting) you should be 100% pleased with your shots.

All-in-all I'm very happy with the s6000.


->Best Price

With three weeks of use behind me, I am finding the Fujifilm Finepix S6000 to be a great value. I still need to do some more experimenting with all the various options this camera offers, but I started out shooting great photos in the "Auto" mode right out of the box. I bought it for it's reported low light capability and feel that it is living up to the reviews. I did a lot of research prior to this purchase, and I am not disapointed.



->Buy

Pros: When I first switched from film to digital I lost the ability to use 400 and higher ISO film. Most digital cameras do badly at high ISO but the FinePix S6000 produces good pictures at 400 ISO and usable, but grainy, pictures at ISO's as high as 3200. This is really valuable when taking pictures indoors, in the woods, in twilight, or any other situation in which light is limited. It is also helpful when photographing people who close their eyes to avoid flash! I also very much like the manual zoom, the ability to automatically bracket exposures, macro mode, and other features.

Cons: It lacks a real antishake feature, the viewfinder can be hard to use in some situations, and it is a bit heavy. Face detection does not always work as desired, particularly with faces in profiles.


->Best Price

I've used 35mm SLRs and a Sony 4 mp point and shoot camera and this one provides a good balance between the two types. Between a test of my 4 mp camera and this one, the images were actually quite close - the 4mp camera had a little more purple fringing and color shift though. Besides its naturalistic color, where this camera really shines though is in its RAW format, and in its 10x manual optical zoom - the control factor is invaluable plus. The 'auto' settings of this camera are not its strength (actually the straight 'auto' setting of the 4mp camera took better photos overall than the Fuji did in its straight 'auto' setting) - the first thing to do with this camera is to change the sharpness to 'soft', lower the default '200' ISO setting, and change the JPEG setting (press 'F' button) to '6 mp F' or use RAW mode; otherwise the images come out too compressed and grainy. Turning off the 'focus check' is helpful for moving objects - the enlarged image popping into view at the center can be distracting.

So far it seems using the 'Program' mode allows simple enough adjustments of exposure value to make it usable for most 'point and shoot' situations while still producing excellent photos in JPEG format. Once in 'Program' mode or other more manual modes, the images are great.

Probably could not recommend this camera to someone who just wanted a point and shoot model, as it rewards those who want to explore its manual settings.

This camera would've been improved by having a jog dial for the shutter/aperture control, but all in all this is a great camera and I love using it. Would definitely recommend it to others who don't have limitless wallets, but want to be able to adjust their images in RAW format and who are willing to take some time to learn about shutter and aperture settings.

There was a review posted saying that the batteries pop out too easily because of a faulty door, but I've not found this to be the case. I did read on another forum that there were differences in lengths of batteries among different brands which may cause difficulty shutting the door properly. In any event, with my Sony batteries, I've not experienced any problem of this sort.

general tips:

* make sure you get a Type 'H' memory card, as the Type 'M's are a little slower apparently ("2 to 3 times" slower).

* the evf, being too low in resolution, is basically unusable unless you're just going to be shooting in 'auto' mode. If you plan on shooting outdoors mostly, it would be worthwhile to get an LCD shade to stick on.

* get a 58mm UV lens filter; since this lens doesn't remove, it's cheap insurance - some are coated to reduce glare if you're especially finicky, but the cheaper ones are fine otherwise.


->Affordable

This camera is great!!! It is just like my old camera, I have been trying to find a camera with a big zoom and manual capabilities that I could actually afford. There are lots of things I haven't figured out yet, but so far it is easy to use and the pictures are looking good.


->Affordable

I spent a lot of time researching cameras before I chose this one. Overall I'm quite pleased, but I'm not through mastering this camera just yet. There is only one big negative for me and that is lack of image stabilization. This is not the best camera for action shots - I get lots of blurred shots when I try to photograph my kids or dogs while they are moving - which is most of the time.

Other than that, I love the low light features - you can get a decent picture in a nearly totally dark room or outside under the moon. I love the Natural setting where you can take 2 pics with one click, one using flash the other without and compare the 2. I love the fact that my batteries last FOREVER!!!! And I love the video capabilities of this camera. I may never use my VHS-C camera again! Macro is awesome as well, I like to photograph flowers.

For the money I think this is a very good camera. I don't use the face detection feature much, don't really see the need for it, but I suppose it is kind of a cool feature for those who want it. I'd trade it for more image stabilization though.

I would reccomend this camera for anyone who wants more than just a point and shoot camera but isn't ready for an SLR or doesn't have the money to spend on an SLR.


->Comparison

Good Camera for the Money.. Picture quality excellent. Used camera on recent trio to Florida for Spring Training and colors superb.Still learning the fine points and capabilties of the product. Dealing through Amazon exceptional. Product arrived well within promised time frame.
No doubt a Good Deal


->

What a great camera! Easy to use and takes wonderful pictures. I've used almost all the different settings and have had no problems learning how to operate this camera. It DOES NOT come with a memory card--at all. FYI It uses an xd memory card, too. Also, I recommend a case with a strap. Found one at Staples (of all places) for a reasonable price. This camera comes with an attachment to the lens that narrows the range and removes glare.


->Sale

I've only had the camera for a few weeks now, but I already love it. It fits my hand perfectly, the lens is excellent, and the startup time is great too. I've been having particular fun with the super macro mode, although I'm going to get an additional UV filter cover for the lens because I don't want to scratch the lens getting too close to something. It has great possibility past the 'auto' settings, and isn't as heavy as some dSLRs would be. I find the EVF (electronic view finder) to be just the right brightness (some have said they thought it was too dark), and although the EVF resolution is a bit grainy, I know the photos themselves are coming out fantastic, so it's not a problem. It's my first non P&S camera - I got this instead of the dSLRs I was looking at and am VERY happy with my decision. Great bang for the buck!


->Compare

You can't beat the features of this camera for its price. Very light weight, ergonomic, and easy to use. Takes awesome macro shots, as close as you want. It is a little hard to stay steady with the telefocus lens all the way out. Sometimes the auto uses to high an iso for my taste making the picture a little grainy during night shots. Fully manual as well. If you learn to use the manual controls you can take just about any shot you want to with clarity. I love my camera.


->Best Price

THIS IS A GREAT STARTER CAMERA. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY WORK AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE VERY USER FRENDLY. I ONLY WISH I COULD CHANGE OUT THE LENS LIKE A 35MM CAMERA.


->Lowest Price

Very easy to use. I am a beginner and it always takes great pictures.
Love it!


->Best Price

I purchased this camera after a few months of research. I was keenly looking at the 9500/9000 series when this camera came out and it sported the spectacular F30 sensor. Initially, the first month was a learning curve, I messed up a lot of pictures, the AUTO modes were slightly different from what I had experienced in the Canons. But, after 3 months of use, I a happy with the camera. This is definitely, as of now, the best low light, mega zoom bridge camera. Indoors, low light pictures are great, it captures the ambiance well, with or without the flash. Even if it uses flash, it is not so harsh as I have seen in other cams. The face detection detects faces as FUJI claims. It has a nice 10.7X manual zoom, which is super. The camera ergonomics and design is great. Few options are slightly buried in the menus, which could have been better. The overall look and feel is great, very much like SLR. I had a few people look intently at my camera in the malls. One guy, wanted to read my model on the camera. There is a slight learning curve with this camera. It is not your simple point and shoot camera. If you want an alternative to SLR and save money, this might be the camera. The canon S2 and S3 are great cameras but they are definitely behind the Fuji in indoors and low light situation. Here is a list of what I like and what I dont like

What I like.
1. Wonderful 10.7X manual zoom
2. High ISO capability. Great low light photography. Very good ISO 800, I had some nice ISO 1600 and a few ISO 3200 were worth keeping. Ofcourse, the are no comparison to SLR, but, this is not a SLR and is a bridge cam.
3. The modes, dials, usage, feel, grip and overall feel is SLR like.
4. A best All-in-one package, non removable wideangle lens from 28-300mm, which covers most of the zoom range. Extra wide or tele can be achieved with adaptors.
5. Wonderful, live -preview 2.5 inch LCD, unlike a SLR, where you have to use the viewfinder to compose and take the shot.
6. Impressive, movie capabilities and good resolution.
7. Takes AA batteries, so the user can buy anytime, anywhere, any brand.
8. Decent software with the package. Especially, raw editor available for editing raw images.

What could have been better.
1. EVF is pathetic, very bad resolution, only suitable for framing and composing the shot
2. Uses xD card. SD card would have been a better option
3. The AUTO mode is not as dependable as I would like it. Potrait mode would be a better mode for all -round casual shooting. Of course, there a host of different modes for different settings. But AUTO, is not great.
4. Outdoor shots image quality are just a little, behind Canon. In terms of sharpness and saturation. This is subjective and depends on individual's choice.

[...]



->Purchase

I have the Fujifilm S5000 and this one. I had the S9100 briefly, but returned it after learning that the Auto Mode did not work well (according to my week-long experience using it and after talking to the Fuji Tech Support Reps). The S6000 has a great SLR feel. It appears to have the same lens as the S9100. After using the S5000's power zoom, I relearned that I like a manual lens barrel zoom much better. The only drawback to the S6000 is the low power of the flash and the inability to attach an external flash (like on the S7000 and S9100). However, I took shots of a baby dedication inside a church without a flash or a tripod and the camera got great shots. I like the fact that the Fujifilm cameras use AA batteries. Ever try to find a battery pack at a national park?


->Deals

I bought this camera after reading many of the reviews, with particular attention to the dpreview. They were spot on: LCD is a little unclear, but large and bright enough; one needs to get into the camera vs. wanting a very simple point & shoot. But when I downloaded the photos I had taken (on auto, and some on manual settings, jpegs and raw) I was just simply excited:) The photos had great definition (long zoom and closeup), the low light shots are very interesting, and the color saturation is deep. The software works well and is very easy to use. I broke down and also bought the Olympus Xd card reader, and am glad I spent the extra $$--it does post processing using the Fuji sw while the files are on the card--very seamless. The price was right when I bought it and even better now i see (should have waited a few weeks and saved $50 bucks, but the enjoyment I've received is worth it. Go for it!


->Purchase

We bought this camera so that my husband could take pictures of our son playing basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. and he has found this camera to be easy to use and of a very high quality. He's able to take great action shots without having to do too many adjustments. He loves it! And ordering it from Amazon.com was a great experience too!


->Compare

OK, let's start off with what this camera ISN'T:

1. A point and shoot for easy carry
2. A DSLR that costs $1000+
3. A movie camera


OK, now that we've said that, let's talk about what this camera IS:

1. A LONG zoom DSLR-LIKE camera
2. Easy to hold
3. Easy to zoom
4. A RAW-capable, low-noise, excellent color photo machine

This camera is Fuji's answer to the Sony DSC-H5 and the Powershot G series cameras. It has 6MP of resolution in a CCD chip mounted behind a large 10.7x optical, MANUAL zoom. Let's examine some of the points to consider when talking about cameras.

First, resolution is misleading. Many consumers think that higher megapixels mean a nicer photo with sharper details and camera companies encourage this thinking by slapping megapixel numbers on the front of the camera and all over the ads. Keep in mind, though, that megapixels alone do not a perfect photo make. The pixels are tiny dots on an imaging chip and each pixel is only sensitive to ONE of the three colors cameras use to record light information: red, green or blue. Camera manufacturers choose how much of each chip's pixel allotment is assigned to each color, so you may find that maybe 50% is green and 25% each is red and blue. Once that's decided, the chip maker has to determine the number of pixels to put on the chip. Well, the bigger chips (like in DSLRs) can hold more pixels and the smaller chips (like in any camera that's NOT a DSLR) can hold more pixels ONLY if the pixels are made smaller. So, if you have a half-inch chip with 10 MP and a quarter-inch chip with 10MP, the smaller chip has MUCH smaller pixels so it can squeeze them all in. Now, you might think that this is good, since smaller pixels can capture more detail...but you're wrong. When pixels are crammed too closely together, they can interfere with each other and loss of detail (noise) can result. This camera has a 6MP resolution that is well-suited to the size of the chip. The next model up, the s9000, has too many pixels on the chip and the images are noisier as a result. So, in the basic area of resolution, this camera is respectable and, with its MANY modes, scene presets, color saturation, sharpness and exposure control and manual focus, you will be taking nice, sharp, pleasant photos.

The next big thing is the zoom. Bigger is usually better and this is no exception. A large zoom allows for framing shots and the wide angle on this lens is perfect for scenes of mountains or beaches. The manual zoom feature on this cannot be ignored: it is a SUPERIOR form of zoom control. The zoom is fluid-damped, so it's smooth and precise. You also get a manual focus ring if you need to use it and the LCD shows a focus check circle when you do (the "manual zoom" is controlled by your fingers, but it is technically electronic.) The only downside is the lack of optical stabilization. At long zooms, this is critical for a good shot. The digital stabilizer just doesn't work as well.

This camera can also shoot in RAW mode. This is CRITICAL for those professional-looking shots! You can get the image straight off the chip, with NO processing and then edit it with the included software. This means that you can adjust white balance, sharpness, color and the color curve very precisely...almost like being able to take the photo over again! I've done some macro work with the RAW mode and have been very pleased with what a little tweaking can do. This camera encourages you to learn how to use it by being able to take good impromptu photos (with the very functional face detection system) and then allowing you to set whatever manual settings you want to. Note that the JPG mode is good, but the compression of the JPG algorithm inevitably means loss of detail. It's best (though inconvenient) to shoot RAW and convert in Photoshop to TIFF for printing perfect photos.

The camera's other features are nice, as well: big, crisp 2.5" LCD with plenty of pixels for clear viewing, a previous shot mode that shows the three previous shots alongside your current window to help you frame things, a killer 640x480 movie mode with sound and 30fps capture and a long battery life with rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries. Proprietary battery packs are a pain in the rear if you're caught without a spare or hours to charge. With this, you can, in a pinch, grab some alkalines and get the shots you need! HUZZAH, FUJIFILM!


I've taken hundreds of photos with this since I got it and I can definitely say that, if you learn how to use it and the principles of photography, you can take GREAT photos with this. If, however, you don't care about anything but pushing a button and getting an acceptable photo, then this is probably too much camera for you. You MUST accept the fact that this is NOT a DSLR with a big chip and expensive lenses and it's not a movie camera...but it is very good for what it does and it is a definite recommend.

The only bad point is the ridiculous xD card that is only for Olympus and Fuji cameras. Not only are they more expensive per GB than any other card format, but they currently only go to 2GB. That's a lot of photos, but it's still inferior to being able to get an 8GB CF or a 4GB SD card. The s9000 CAN use CF cards, but this camera, in my opinion, takes less noisy photos and is the better buy for the price.


->Compare

I was upgrading from my film SLR and wanted better quality shots and more zoom capabilities than standard pocket sized digital cameras. For the money the camera has some nice options but it does have it's limitations. One thing I was not aware of when I bought the camera is that the lens is not interchangable - the lens it comes with cannot be removed. Also, shots taken with the optical zoom option from a distance come out pretty grainy. The rest of the shots are clear. All around it is a nice camera with decent options, good software, and at a good price point.


->

I love this camera. My husband and i have had alot of pictures shown on tv with this camera.The fujifilm finepix s6000 takes great pictures.
We are still learing something new every day about it. I love Flowers. I can't wait until Spring so i can use the macro mode. My husband took a picture of our cat using the macro mode and i swear you can count the fur on him. This camera does take great movies with great sound also.


->Comparison

I am absolutely NOT a professional or even a "prosumer." In fact, I have always been a "point and shoot" child of the '80's, using only 35mm film cameras and disposables. But now that I have toddlers (i.e. always on the move), my point and shoot digital camera results in blurry pictures. I'm still fine tuning the Fuji, but already it is better than my Sony SD40 bought about 18 months ago.

I don't have any technical advice. All I know is the more I play with the camera, the more I like it. Good luck!




->Deal

I absolutely love this camera! It feels like a D-SLR and blows away my Sony Mavica 200 from a few years back that I paid twice the price for. I'm sure a top notch DSLR has it's advantages, but this camera gets it done really well, really quick and relatively easy! HUGE features that I love:
1) Manual ZOOM 10.7x-- You get there quick and you don't run down your batteries with power draining motor zoom (took 210 shots with older NiMH batteries). My biggest disappointment with the quick & easy cameras has always been the lame optical Zoom that usually maxed at 3x.
2) 1600 & 3200 ISO speeds -- life-saver for 4x6 moment keepers in mod>low light. A lot of sites were saying these speeds rendered totally unuseable photos, but that is ONLY if you are trying to print an 8 x 10. I have taken 100+ photos at 1600 ISO inside with moderate>low light (NO FLASH) and they totally blew away any moderate>low light picture ever taken with my Mavica 200. The Sony always streaked unless you used the flash and those pictures were always unbalanced in light and color (even after setting White Balance). It's actually hard to take an unuseable picture.
3) FACE DETECTION - Great feature to help set up the camera to take the best possible shot with the most natural color. SO EASY and works SO WELL!
4) Nice 2.5" LCD & easy to navigate -- I always frame my shots on the LCD and this one doesn't disappoint. The small Digital Viewfinder is the ONLY negative about the camera (it's somewhat challenging to get a clear look at your subject). Overall, this camera is as easy to navigate as any other I have used. A rolling dial to adjust parameters would have been a nice bonus, but not missed!
5) Natural Light Mode -- Very cool for getting the best shot without a flash (you can even take one with and one without flash at the same time--VERY COOL)
6) RAW photo capture -- SUPER HIGH RES photos with great detail! At the camera's price, that's a definite BONUS!
7) Manual options GALORE! You can go all manual, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, or a PROGRAM mode where Shutter & Aperture are still handled by the camera, but you can set most everything else (very nice).

Overall, for @$400 I don't think anyone can complain about the value/performance factor of this camera. Get a 1GB or 2GB xD Picture Card (H model) and let 'er fly. It's a FUN camera that feels like a PRO camera! I hope this helps you as I was somewhat apprehensive before I bought mine. I'm glad I picked this one!


->Comparison

I am real particular with my digital cameras. I expect performance, quality, and flawless capability to adapt to different environments. After being a Kodak fanboy of owning a Z7590 and loving the capabilities of the camera, I was skeptical about this camera and Fuji's under the radar approach to digital camera. I tested this camera at a local store against a higher end kodak and the results were much better. There was less "noise" and the fuji allowed for sharper images in nighttime. People have said they have had problems working this camera inside. Its not that hard. You just have to experiment with different settings and lights. I will say this, if you just a point and shoot person, this camera may not be for you. I agree with the comment stating this is a "prosumer" camera. It has the look and feel of an SLR. It has a manual zoom which I absolutely love and the focus ring make it a better buy. I am a backpacker by nature and this camera is great outdoors. It takes vivid pictures and the macro capabilities are great. It allows for easy on and off and people say that it does not have "image stabilization" it does. I put the camera in shutter priority mode and juiced the shutter up to the max and it works great. They have a setting for the image stabilization, but i use that for keeping the camera steady when my hands arent. I will admit, its a little awkward at first, but so is riding a bike for the first time. You have to work at it to get a rythmn down and it will be easy to operate. People say they are having a hard time with indoor shooting. Honestly, work with the camera in different lightings...Problem Solved. I hate the flashes on camera indoors cause it looks bad and when I use low flashes it works perfectly because I work out a rhythm with my camera. I am experimenting with ISO settings now and the results are great. I havent had a chance to test out the software, but from what I gather it is pretty much the same as all the others. Person can do basic changes to the image. This camera I have seen go for 420 and up in stores in my hometown and you are getting a steal here. I got my camera one day earlier than expected. Every digital camera is bound to have some flaws. There is no "perfect" camera out in the market. Every one will have some barrel distortion, purple fringing, noise problems and many other things. [...] Its worthy of it with its high end capabilities. I havent dealt with AA's in cameras in a while. Good luck with your buy and happy shooting


->Prices

I bought this camera from this very page. I love it! The camera is absolutely the best for the money I know of. I use WinXP, and ACDSee, and never had to load a single driver, even if taking pictures in the RAW mode. I got a 2gig card that lets me take pics all week. BUT be forwarned........I accidently had the camera in MOVIE mode and took a short motion picture I didn't want. I later used the "delete" function on the camera and it asked me if I wanted to delete ..."THIS FRAME or ALL FRAMES" Thinking that it was a movie I was deleting, I chose all frames (of the movie).... BUT little did I know that FRAME is FUJISPEAK for picture and I deleted 2 days and 1.25 gig of nephew wedding pics that I will never get back.


->Compare

During my teenage years I used a 35MM SLR and really enjoyed having the manual settings, focus, F stop, etc. Mostly enjoyed controlling the exposure, blurring the background, etc.

I've been almost completely happy with the standard digital cameras I've had over the years, with a big missing hole in the zoom department. I finally decided that it was time again to dive in. Having the Fuji Z1 and loving it, I chose that brand to try out a digital SLR type camera.

So far this has been a great camera to get back into having the option of manual settings and great zoom. Learning the basic use of the camera took almost no time at all, 15 or fewer minutes in the manual for anything that wasn't 100% intuitive. There are more things I want to brush up on and learn, but I am totally confident using the camera already for any typical photography. Build quality seems high. The camera is not heavy, but also doesn't seem light & cheap. It is just about the perfect weight/density.

Completely satisfied with the outcome of photos from the camera as well.


->For Sale

I have been waiting for the S6000 to hit my locals stores since the camera was announced by Fuji. On paper, this camera looks like a real winner: uses the same CCD found in my Fuji F30 (a great little camera), a nice 10.7x zoom with a wode angle of 28mm, flash sits high (reduces chance of red eye), and the manual zoom (end up liking that better than I thought I would), but after testing the camera at my local store I was decided against purchasing the unit.

While the basic control layout is the same as the F30, there were a few differences in ISO settings, reviewing pictures, and such that made this camera feel a little more awkward than the F30. Also, the camera is larger than and heavier than I had expected. These items by themselves were not show stoppers, but did catch my attention.

The real problems came in with the cameras picture quality. While I have had excellent results with the F30, I had all sorts of focusing issues with the S6000 -- especially at the long end of the zoom. Test picture after test picture would not focus. In addition, the pictures on the pictures that did focus, the colors were not as sharp as the F30 and the noise reduction appears to be more aggresive (loss of detail) at the higher ISO settings than the F30.

The other major issue is the lack of optical image stabilzation with the camera. I knew that the camera did not have this feature when I was looking and given the results I had from my F30, I thought the bump in ISO would not be a big issue (the camera bumps up the ISO setting to adjust for camera movement). With the 'image stabilization' setting, the ISO was set to AUTO and usually choose ISO 3200, which has a very negative affect on picture quality.

In the end, the focusing issues and lack of OIS were showstoppers and I gave up the superior flash and ISO capabilities of this unit and purchased a Canon S3 IS.

I really hope Fuji can add OIS in the next upgrade to this line and fix some of the focusing/image issues, because I think they would have the best non-DSLR zoom camera on the market with these features. Until then, I am very happy with both my Fuji F30 and the Canon S3 IS.


->Sale

I purchased this camera as a replacement for my Canon A80. I wanted something with a long zoom lens to give more flexibility in taking outdoor shots and pictures of my kids at their events where I cannot get close.

Physically the camera feels very comfortable; it's ergonomics are great thanks to the large hand grip and lens. Controls were easy and logical. I didn't think I'd like the manual zoom, but I actually think I'd prefer it to the "powered" zoom as it is faster and more accurate.

I'm no "prosumer" - just someone that likes to take pictures and, as such, I need something that isn't going to require complex adjustments before pressing the shutter. This is where most of my problems with this camera came in.

Performance indoors was spotty at best. Even though I was taking relatively close up shots indoors (i.e. not using long zoom), I had substantial issues with image blur. I'm not sure this is due to the lack of image stabilization (I thought that only helped when taking distant shots), I just know it was a problem. In many instances, the auto-focus clunked and whirred before taking the shot (even when pre-focusing by pressing the shutter button halfway), resulting in several missed opportunities at my son's birthday party. Nonetheless, some of the pictures it took were excellent, with incredible clarity. Again - I'm no camera expert, but since I'm using the "Auto" mode on a high priced auto-focus camera, I don't expect to make calculations and adjustments to get a good picture. I'm not sure if I COULD have done so with this camera, but requiring me to do so would be asking more than I'm willing to do.

I was sold on this camera by the excellent reviews on this site, but I definitely had the opposite experience. If you're the "point and shoot" type and not a "prosumer", I would recommend you look at some of the other alternatives. Personally I returned this camera to Amazon for a refund (which they handled flawlessly). I'll be trying the Canon S3 due to my very positive past experience with Canon.


->Best Price

This camera was bought to replace a Kodak z740 which had lots of issues with focusing in low light. The s6000fd from Fuji is the same size of the more expensive digital SLRs and has a nice 'sturdy' feel and weight. The fact also that the camera runs on 4 'AA' batteries is nice, on one set of 2500 mAh rechargable NiMH, I have taken around 350 pictures and there is still no sign of weak batteries (it alerts you when the batteries are @ 1/4 charge left).

The manual zoom worried me at first, but since using it I will NEVER go back to the powered (?) zoom. The camera also has a manual focus ring for those that want more control. Speaking of control, the s6000fd has FULL manual control. The ISO range can go up to 3200 ISO, but noise is quite noticeable in this area. The flash has a LONG range and will light up my whole living area. The 'face detection' feature really does work and is nice to have for those of use that take a lot of portrait shots or general people shots. Face detection works by finding faces in a scene and focusing on that, not something else. It can find up to 10 faces in one scene. Natural light mode is also nice, and even though some noise will be noticed on the computer screen, it is not on actual prints. The camera also has a 'Scene position' mode that includes preset settings for beach, snow, parties, museums, fireworks, sunsets, sports, nights, landscapes, anti-blur and portraits. The camera also includes a movie feature, but I can not speak for that since I will not use the camera to make movies. I must say this camera does NOT have image stabilization, but rather the anti-blur mode. The anti-blur works by bumping up the ISO and switching to a faster shutter speed. This works, but optical image stabilization would have been better, then again I have never found the need for either. The LCD is nice and BIG for us aging people. Focusing occurs in a snap and is the fastest I have ever seen on an advanced zoom camera. Remember the low light focusing issue that I mentioned earlier with the z740? Non existent on the s6000fd! I have taken tons of pictures in low light and they all have come out sharp and focused perfectly.

The only complaints are that to delete a picture after taking it is to go into review and delete it from there. There is no way to delete immediately after taking. The only other issue is that it uses XD cards, instead of the more readily available SD cards. Just a side note, when I bought the XD card to use with the camera, I bought the Olympus 1 GB Model H card, its write time is about three time that of the Model M cards.

Make sure to check out a few of the pictures I have posted above for some samples of this wonderful camera's pictures! Enjoy!


->Prices

If you want a complete digital experiencie, this is the camera for you!!
MACRO, WIDE ANGLE and TELEPHOTO in just one complete and perfect lens piece....
Thanks FUJIFILM!! for making my life much easier with this new product.!!
no more words...
just complete satisfaction.




->Sale

The "face detection" feature, which sounds like a gimmick, for me quantifies this as the best digital I've ever used. A green box will appear over your subjects face and if they're like my toddler are constantly moving will actually follow their face (as long as they are looking in the general viscinity of the camera). It will give focus and lighting priority to their faces. It even works on the TV (had to try it). The macro is excellent, and while I wasn't sure of a manual zoom it's way faster and ultimately better than a battery consuming zoom. The ISO of 3200 can take unblurry pictures without the flash in my very dark house and they're still usuable VS the throw away blurrrrr of my canon. I'm really happy I finally pulled the trigger and bought this over the S3-IS. - (From a former S2-IS owner.) Only complaints are it's fairly large, but you can't put any super zoom in your pocket really.. The "on board" memory is about the dumbest thing ever. You can take about 1 picture on the finest mode before it's full. What's the point of that? I don't understand why you would buy a 6.3mp and use low quality shots. BUT the good news is the XD cards hold more per MB than the SD cards and are fast. Use the "M". I got a 1gb card they're quite reasonable and it'll hold about 350 pics at the best resolution (fine). If you want really rapid shots you're probably better off with a DSLR (more money). This will take a shot about every two seconds with the correct focus settings. If you need faster than that.. you're not looking at sub $500 cameras anyways..

To the reviewer before me: It takes one button to use all flash features. Push once for AUTO, then once for Red Eye Reduction, then once for Forced (what yours was obviously on) and once more for suppressed (always off). They use the the lightning bolt icon same as on a Sony, and on a Canon, And it takes one setting to turn off the preview after you take a shot. Landscape setting is only for LANDSCAPES you have a landscape shot in your backyard? Compact flash cards are outdated (too big) compared to SD or XD, and you show me a new digital camera not made of plastic and I'll eat my review. I do know it is sometimes about the "feel" that's a very personal thing.. And I'm not trying to be a jerk here but you should have used "AUTO". Because anyone who doesn't know how to shut of a flash shouldn't be using the advanced settings, and then complain when they don't turn out right. I think you also shouldn't slam a product without reading the manual . It's just not fair to the manufacturers. I hope you like your next one. Cheers!