Reasonable digital P&S - Fuji?

andreios

andreios

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I've just sold my not-so-long-ago-purchased DSLR with some manual lenses, because I realized that I do not use it at all. It is too big, heavy and bulky, and for all occasions when I'd like to "play" with photography and enjoy it I'm using film, not digital. But of course there is the need to have at leas something digital at home and I'd like it to be:
1. Small - pocketable
2. Simple - so that my wife could use it for snapshots of our boy (and soon his sister also) - this means NO micro4/3 with interchangeable lenses, but only a tool to grab and take pictures.
3. with some reasonable image quality
4. with at least some options for manual operation
5. cheap. I mean, if it is cheaper than the Canon G11/S90 for example, I'd be happy. And I don't mind buying 2nd hand.

I've read some comments about good image quality of Fuji point'n'shoot cameras - F31 or F72? Is it true? Is there any other camera with image quality that is considerably better than other cameras?

I'm thinking about buying a Ricoh GRD or a Sigma DP1, but that wouldn't be an all-round family camera, just for me to play with, so I need to hear some other tips. Thanks!
 
I have found the Sony 6 MP DSC W50 to be an excellent P&S. You can see one at http://cgi.ebay.com/Used-Sony-6MP-C...-Camera-Case-/280549433621?pt=Digital_Cameras or do a search for one on ebay. You will also find accessories listed there such as a charger (a neccessary accessory of course). You will also want a carrying case. I didn't have one and once when I had it in a jeans pocket (they are quite small), I damaged the LCD beyong use.

Fortunately I found a Chinese seller of LCDs (on ebay) and got one for only $20.00. It now works perfectly again.
 
Fuji has announced the new F305 (F300 in most parts of the world), a direct successor of the F200.

Google it and you'll get some idea about the image quality the line offers.
 
I have an F31 and F72. They are great, and take great photos. But due to the amount of settings and modes, they might be harder to use than say a little Canon A550 in vivid mode.
 
I've got an older F30 but it's not the low light champ it's touted to be, unless I'm doing something wrong. Otherwise it's fine.
 
Hi Leigh

Hi Leigh

The LX5 preview shots on dpreview look impressive at 800 with good exposure, but pretty bad at 1600.

However, much better than the LX3, IMHO.

I think a late model u4/3 or NEX might better the LX5 at high ISO, but that's just my guess.

On the other hand, the LX5 looks stellar at ISO 80, and 100.


Leigh Youdale said:
What about the new Panasonic LX5? It will even take the EVF from the GF1 and that's got to be better than only having the LCD screen on the back of the camera!
Click to expand...
 
not quite as good

not quite as good

The f40, f45, and f50 weren't as good as the F20, 30, and 31, but from the 50 on they offered a half resolution mode, when going to 3200-6400 the resolution drops, but the sensitivity increases.

For straight 6MP 1600, and 3200, I'd take the f30 and f31 any day, especially in b/w mode.

nightfly said:
Does Fuji make anything like their old F31 that everyone loved?
Click to expand...
 
You said cheap...

Look for the Fuji Finepix F20. It's purely point and shoot but has the same sensor, image processor, and lens as the F30. I think it's an absolute gem. Although I have not used all the cameras that now boast high ISO speeds, the general consensus is that the F10-F31 still reigns supreme in this regard due to the slightly larger 1/1/7" proprietary Super CCD sensor designed capture more light and the sensible 6 megapixel (plenty) limit.

Oh - cheap. I paid about $80 for mine used on the big auction site. Here's some sample pics, but bare in mind they're tweaked considerably:

39916_1416273444094_1150326236_30992411_5701241_n.jpg


40173_1426732665568_1150326236_31020530_1346358_n.jpg


44399_1432747575937_1150326236_31037257_421326_n.jpg


4628_1091384362070_1150326236_30228671_2310087_n.jpg


There's usually a few up on eBay (not tons). Only one is up now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en
 
Last edited:
Nice work Nick.

Couple of questions on the f20:

Hows the shutter lag (time from pressing the button to it actually shooting the photo)?

What type of processing are you doing? I really like both the black and white and colors you are getting. They lack the plasticy look of a lot of digital stuff.
 
Thanks, Nightfly -

Shutter lag - not an issue, IMO. Found this on the web - 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.4 second start-up. I think the black and whites were in-camera, the tomatoes pic was its "Chrome" mode (Camera has normal, black and white, and Chrome (vivid) mode) - I usually sharpen a tad, sometimes light noise reduction. I don't think these were PS's much as I initially stated in my first post thinking back... I think I pretty much stuck with in-camera on these.

Sleeper camera IMO - most go for the F30/31 because of the manual control but I think manual control on this level of camera is a little silly if you have to pay a lot for it, so the F20 gets overlooked.
 
There's lots - each has there faves. When shopping you need to create a small list and look up every review on the 'net and look at sample pics. (True of old cameras too - isn't it) That's 1/2 the fun of buying a camera - isn't it?

What I see in these threads is someone says "cheap". Then recs come in for $500 cameras... I know what I paid for a used F20 in "near new" w/box and all accessories. $80 is sub-100 and as cheap as it gets I think. The F20 was a bargain new at around $150 US. Same lens, processor, and CCD as the F30,31. Same images.
 
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