Fuji FinePix S100fs Digital Camera
(4 out of 5)
A pricey, SLR-like camera that delivers better image quality than other super zoom cameras.
Review date: Jul 18, 2008
The Fuji FinePix S100fs is an impressive camera, though its price makes it a tough call. It costs twice as much as other super zoom cameras, and more than some entry-level D-SLRs (though, to be fair, adding a comparable lens pushes the price of an SLR to over $1000). The S100fs is better than other ultra zooms in most respects, save for purple fringing, RAW editing, and battery life. Is it $300 - $400 better? I'm not so sure of that. If you're willing to part with nearly $700 on a fixed-lens camera, then the FinePix S100fs is absolutely worth a look. However, I'd take a close look at both cheaper ultra zooms as well as entry-level D-SLRs before you buy it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|
- Very good photo quality
- outperforms other super zooms at high ISOs by at least a full stop
- Whopping 14.3X, 28 - 400 mm zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
SLR-like body has excellent build quality
- Manual zoom and focus rings
- Articulating 2.5" LCD display with good outdoor and low light visibility
- Effective dynamic range expansion feature
- Redeye not a problem
- Hot shoe and flash sync port
- VGA movie mode with optical zoom and image stabilization during recording
- Optional wired remote control
- Memory card slot supports both xD and SD/SDHC cards
| - Lots of purple fringing
- SuperCCD tends to smudge fine details a bit
- Expensive for a fixed-lens camera
- Below average battery life
- Awkward manual focus system
- Full shutter speed range not available in shutter priority mode
- Very slow RAW editing software
- Buttons are scattered all over the body, require user to search for them
- Not much built-in memory
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