 Everything I Wanted |
| Review Date: October 9, 2005 |
| Reviewer: R. J. Paquin, Prospect Heights, IL USA |
I spent my first day with the S9000 at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, shooting on full automatic to determine the baseline performance, and I could not be happier. I've uploaded a few shots to the image gallery, all done at 9MP(F) using Macro. Very pleased with the results. I own the S3000, making this upgrade an easy purchase decision.
The controls are easy to use, though the menus can be a bit tiresome (probably more so when you're switching modes). The ring zoom control is a nice new touch, as well as the addition of a second memory card slot. I got about 150 shots out of the set of included alkalines, then switched to rechargeables for about that many more (and haven't gotten a battery low warning on the rechargeables, yet).
I'll leave it to the "pros" to provide a feature-by-feature breakdown. But this amateur is very pleased that Fuji has once again produced a camera that makes me look like I know what I'm doing. |
Absolutely THE BEST prosumer camera on the market!
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| Review Date: December 11, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Alex Vox, Winnetka, IL |
Hey,l if you on a market for digital camera and some $575 does not scare you off get this camera! Don't listen to these tailored by other brands review because FUJi has here absolutely the best product you can dream of. I have a quite experience with digital cameras of any kind, I own two DSLR and they are in a bad shape comparing to this baby.
First it takes AMAZINGLY nice photos, with nice contrast, full of detail, excellent color reproduction and ALWAYS PERFECT light balance. The photographic quality of this camera is better than any so called "entry level" DSLR and they hate it!!! Hat down to FUJI for this camera it is a real photographic tool, with lens that is so good that I can't express it enough. If you will decide to go with DSLR you will have to spent AT LEAST $2000 to be on a par with this lens. Forget this stupid chi-chat of "the sensor size is smaller..., blah, blah, blah" who cares of the size if the photos are miles ahead and the convenience is untouchable by any DSLR? Ah?
Second all those who pour on this camera didn't find anything better to complain about that is "poor noisy ISO-1600". Who shot on ISO 1600 unless you are a spy ? I make some 22000 (twenty two thousands, not a typo) photos during a year 2005, I found 16 (sixteen, not a typo again) made on ISO 1600. It is pretty much useless ISO that virtually NO ONE uses. It is the same thing as to complain that your car has a poor acceleration on the altitudes above 8000 feet. May be it really does but who cares?!
Second this camera has SUPERIOR VIDEO mode. You can capture full blown videos, movies and make it as a top quality camcorder does and it is extremely nice!!! I don't take my camcorder anymore, I bring back some 15-20 minute of nice footage , because no one bother to watch longer than that anyway.
Third, the RAW mode. First of all the RAW isn't "hidden in the menus" but it is readily available with super usable, under finger "F" menu. Second no one who is not completely retarded takes RAW shots to convert them to JPEG. If you do it, take the basic photography class, read some books and do not embarrass yourself by publishing this pulp to everyone's eyes. You take in RAW something that is really worthy the effort, some super duper sunset for example and so on. And the included software converts it to TIFF because FUJI assumes that the camera users aren't morons!
Take this camera and learn to use it and enjoy photography. I use Fuji equipment for over two decades from their studio MF cameras to MF GA645-SZ and they never been anything less than THE BEST.
I can understand the fury of manufacturers of low end DSLRs but it is not a way to deal with a competition by pouring on the superior product. You should strive more and make better cameras. Fuji has its own superior sensor, they make their own superior glass, they have their own superior designers, they make unique , wonderful cameras. They have a luxury not to drag in a tail of someone else's sensor design they do on their own.
Every camera that I get from Fuji rejuvenates my interest to photography again and again. Thank you guys at FUJI. |
You "Professionals" that rate the S9000 less than average are out of your minds
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| Review Date: March 26, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Devon Cloud, Dallas, TX |
I have owned this camera for three months now. When I purchased the camera, I almost did not due to (a) lack of knowledge of photography along with (b)the fact that some of the so called "professionals" were giving this camera a less than average rating. I figured that due to the number of bad reviews by the "professionals" that there had to be something wrong with the camera.
As I did more and more homework, I noticed that everyone that bought the camera for the most part loved it. Those that did not, I noticed turned around a few weeks later and stated that the S9000 was actually the best camera they had ever owned and that the problems they were having were user related.
So, with this in mind, I went ahead and purchased the camera. I wanted a camera that would give me excellent quality pictures but not have the cost of an SLR (professional) camera, and this camera fit the bill.
This camera is awesome! it takes pictures that are good enough quality to blow them up and frame, be in magazines, and I cannot tell a bit of difference between the pictures I take with this camera compared to the pictures my Uncle takes with his SLR. It has features that no other prosumer camera has, it's zoom capabilities are awesome for a prosumer, 9 megapixels, macro and super-macro, and manual focus capabilities... you name it, they tried to fit it into this package... and did.
While I am just a beginner, I have done my homework enough over the last few months to finally understand why this handfull of "professionals" gave this camera a bad rating. They are comparing this camera to their professional SLR setups that probably have cost them thousands upon thousands of dollars instead of comparing this camera to the class of camera that it belongs in, the "Prosumer" class of cameras.
Why is this? I don't know for sure, but I bet it is because they picked up this camera and it has an SLR feel, can do about 90% of everything their SLR setup can do, and for a prosumer camera it has a ton of functions that until this camera came out, only SLR's had the capability of.
What does this mean? The S900 is a "Prosumer" camera that is actually closer to an SLR than a prosumer camera!
I will put it to you this way: anyone that knows a little about cameras that have looked at comparisons and reviews know one major rule: you have comparisons between one prosumer camera and another, or you have a comparison between one SLR compared to another. The S9000, a "Prosumer" camera, is being compared to the SLR's!!!!
Now, for those of us who are thinking rationally about a camera that is worth spending our hard-earned money on, this is huge if you ask me. I can buy a camera in the prosumer costrange (all be it the high-end of that range) of cost that will do most everything an SLR can do! There are of course some limitations such as not being able to change out lenses, but the lense that is on there has such a huge range of capabilities that changing the lense is not necessary for over 90% of the pictures cameras can take!
But, to the "professionals", the fact that there is some "noise" in the 1600 iso setting range on this camera makes it an inferior product???!!!! Come on here guys... name some other prosumer cameras that even have this range! There are none that I know of, and if there are some out there, let's see some comparisons!
The fact that you "professionals" try to place this "bridge camera" in the same class as your professional equipment speaks an incredible amount of superiority of this camera compared to anything in the class of cameras the S9000 truly belongs in (in my opinion of course). Why? because the professionals won't even attempt to compare another prosumer camera with the SLR's. Not only is the S9000 of good enough quality to be compared to the SLR's, it actually held it's own in a number of those comparisons and was even considered a worthy advesary in some of them.
So, let's stop bashing this camera you professionals. I know it stings when you pick this camera up and for $600.00 can do 90% of what your $10,000 setup can do, but let's give credit where credit is due. |
Fuji FinePix S9000
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| Review Date: December 23, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Rock Bottom, USA |
| Very pleased with the Fuji FinePix S9000 camera. Wonderful pictures and very true color. I have emailed several photographs that I have taken to my brother (who is the real photographer in the family) and he was very, very impressed to say the least. The camera is very simple to use on automatic, however, there is a learning curve to understanding all the advanced features that this camera offers if you are not already educated on such matters. Choose to learn these features or not, out of the box (on automatic) you can get incredible shots right away even on Macro and Super Macro settings. The camera has a very nice feel to it, is easy to hold, and looks very much like an SLR. If you are looking for a camera with (close to) Digital SLR performance without spending $2,000+, this is the camera for you. I won't bore you with too many camera specifics, go read the experts reviews. I did notice several other reviewers here on AMAZON and their low scores on this camera. I really wonder if they are reviewing the same camera??? Every expert opinion I have read has been minimum 4.5 and most rate it 5 stars for its incredible performance. I read the FinePix S9000 also just won the prestigious Gold DIWA Award. The camera has its limitations too, which all the experts will tell you, such as noise in the upper ISO's. If you are like me, taking pictures indoors and outdoors in the daylight or with the flash, this camera can not be beat. The Macro (close-up) pictures I've done have been wonderful too. I just recently tried some night time photography and have posted a few of the pictures above. THE CAMERA PERFORMED INCREDIBLY! I am so pleased with the value received and the performance of this fine camera. |
Everything I was looking for and more
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| Review Date: October 8, 2006 |
| Reviewer: W. Ivey, Austin, TX USA |
I bought this camera based on several online reviews, including Steve's Digicams, and couldn't be more pleased. I've been using it since last Christmas (bought it as a present to myself after six months of looking at various brands and models). Aside from image quality (which it has plenty of) I insisted on at least an LCD viewfinder (EVF) as well as screen, a real filter ring (no adapters, please!) easy basic controls, long optical zoom, CF card, hot shoe and the ability to use ordinary AA batteries in a pinch. Also had to fit my hand and feel natural.
This had all that, plus an actual cable release socket in the shutter button! (Thus I can easily use my cable and bulb releases, as well as a long-duration timer I have in my 35mm kit.) It also has a standard pc socket for more flash options than the built in flash or hot shoe.
The heft is good, but not very heavy. You can carry it for a long time without fatigue, but it has enough mass to steady your hand, and enough size for easy gripping. I find it very instinctive to point and shoot with it. Most of the basic control locations are convenient and easily remembered. (Zoom is manual only, but that suits me. I don't like waiting for motorized zooms to get where I want, especially with a zoom range this long.)
I'll leave it to the pro reviewers to discuss the image merits, but I will say that for me they seem perfectly sharp with very good color even at the default settings. In addition, I've gotten very good results shooting at night with very long exposures. (Starry sky, clouds backlit by the moon, streets under moonlight and streetlamps, etc.) Much less noise and "grain" than I've experienced with other cameras. So far it's the closest to film I've found in such situations - at any price I can afford, at least.
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is bright and sharp and performs well in low light. I don't miss an optical viewfinder much at all. There's a diopter adjustment to accomodate most people's visiion. (Stops just short of enough for my worst eye - comes closer than most, though - but I find I can use the EFV with my glasses on if I want).
One accessory I strongly recommend is a soft rubber, wide angle, lens shade (for a 58mm filter ring). They can be found cheap (I paid $7 at a local store) and will protect the rim of the lens when you set down the camera in addition to shading the lens. There is an included hard-plastic lens shade that clips on the outside of the lens's rim, but t's "notched" and I worry about catching it on things - I like the soft rubber ones better (they look more "pro" too). It may interfere with the supplemental illumination lamp for focussing, so you'll want to remove it when shooting close to mid-range photos in dim light. |
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