having problems with Fuji Finepix S9600 - any advice?

mosaicwendy

Hi
In Feb 08 I bought a Fuji Finepix S9600 - wanting to take the next step from compact, but couldn't afford a DSLR, after research this was the camera I went for.

However, after 3 months of using it I am still struggling with it - I get great macro or portrait photos - but landscapes are just flat, lack depth and detail.

I've posted on the Fuji site and they have been really helpful but nothing I do seems to make any difference.

I've got to the point of putting it on Ebay to get some of my money back and possibly buy a Panasonic DMC FZ18 - but wanted to pick your collective brains first!

Does anyone have any tips or advice for me - feeling very despondent about it this morning :-(

Many thanks
Wendy

Lyrrad

Impossible to comment without see an example. I love portrait photography but just 'can't see it' when it comes to landscape. However I blame myself and not the camera.

28mm eqiv to 35mm is hardly wide but that should not be stopping you. Are you post processing or just going to Boots for printing?

What light conditions/time of the day are you taking these landscape pictures?

Too many factors involved just to sell camera.

IMHO to make a landscape 'pop at you' will almost certainly require manipulation in Photoshop.

It's why Fuji sell Velvia film. It behaives very differently to Fuji Astia. The first is the Rolls Royce in landscape photography yet would be disguting for portrait work, the second great for fashion photography but for landscape it would be 'flat' lack of depth and detail' in appearance.

Digital photography does require more than point & shoot to get results.

If you do decide to sell save up for the DSLR. The main advantage is that you can have dedicated lenses for each of your types of photgraphy. A macro lens, a portrait lens and that landscape lens. There is no real way any zoom lens can really cater and replace all of the prime lenses just mentioned.