Bridge Camera

ZootHornRollo

Hi,

my birthday is fast aproaching :j

my gf has offered to buy me a digtal camera.

i am looking at bridge cameras and fuji range has caught my attention.

I was looking at the s6500fd which i have found for £149 on amazon or for £132 refurb from fuji online. whilst phoning round local camera shops one offered me a used s9500 with box etc for £175. can anyone offer an opinion on these two cameras? i realise that the 9500 is a few years old now but with it being the flagship model of its time i was wondering if it would still perform compared to a newer lower end camera.

also, any suggestions for an alternative to the fuji range? i have become quite blinkered since seeing the feature list of the 6500fd. i particularly like the ability to manually focus and zoom using the bezel controls.

all opinions welcomed.

regards,

totalsolutions

>i particularly like the ability to manually focus and zoom using the bezel controls.

pro-sumer cameras do that my old, nikon 995 can dial in the distance..

Check out manufactures web site for your model regarding firmware updates and support.
Take a look at www.dpreview.com for advice and for info on bridge cameras http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_digital_camera

fwor

For quite a few years I owned a bridge camera, and I was very pleased with the results that I got from it - and the fact that a good level of zoom can be had without the need to change lenses.

However, I found that the main downside was sheer size and weight, as I often go "off the beaten track". With a DSLR you have the option to leave the bigger lenses behind - with a bridge camera it's all or nothing.

My current camera is a lesser Fuji model than the S9500, which I've had for 3 years. Works very well and when it went wrong (on/off switch went intermittent) they fixed it quickly with no trouble.

BillScarab

Might be worth looking at the 2008 Fuji range. The new cameras have bigger sensors so should give better picture quality, see here for info. Alternatively what about the Panasonic FZ18?

energy80s

Hi, I too am curently looking for a new digital camera. Originally I was going for a 10MP DSLR as they have dropped in price dramatically over the last year or so and can now be had for less than £400. However I was looking at the Fuji website and see that their latest top-of-the-range bridge camera is due out in March.

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/presscentre/uploads/fullimages/1436_S100FS_LEFT_FRONT_FL.jpg

Its the S100FS, an 11MP 14:1 cam that seems to be the dogs danglies. However there is still no mention of price. I would pay about £300 for it, but it's pointless spending any more as a DSLR will be a better buy for sheer pictrue quality and can be had for a similar price. The only drawback being the cost of extra lenses.

unrich

We have a nikon 8700. It is excellent but. The controls are difficult to adjust. You are always having to work out how to change the settings if you have it on anything other than AUTO. Also focus is almost impossible to control manually. However it is a good compromise solution.

My DSLR is twice the size and weight even with its smallest lens. My little pocket camera doesn't have the zoom or the manual controls for tricky situations.

I've used a Fuji and they seem OK. A little on the light side but that's just personal preference. The prices are keen.

ZootHornRollo

i had glanced over the S100FS and then googled it for a price.

most retailers taking preorders on it are touting £400 as a preorder price so its well out of my range.

Around £150 and maybe a tiny little bit more would be my limit. This is why i think the S6500 would be my best bet. i can't see anything that can touch it at that price.

Lumix FZ18 does not have the manual controls i am after and costs a bit more than my budget.

Red_Rose_Exile

Rather than go for the S6500, can I suggest the Fuji S9600, it is a little more expensive, but can be found for £189, but packed with a few more features

madmum33

I have the S9600 and love it! It's about as close to a DSLR as you will get for under £200. The refurbs from fuji site only have a 6 month guarantee but you can buy a superwarranty for the S9600 £49.50 (2 years).

ZootHornRollo

doing a comparison on dpreview does not reveal many differences between the 6500 and 9600. what does the extra money buy?

Red_Rose_Exile

9.1Mp as opposed to 6.5Mp

Higher resolution, max 3488 x 2616 as opposed 2848 x 2136
(larger and generally better quality prints)

Choice of flash card Xd or compact Flash for the 9600, Xd only for 6100
(compact Flash is generally cheaper than XD)

Ability to add an external flash on the 9600

Very slightly heavier, which is nice if you want to feel the camera

Faster FPS if taking pics in continuous mode