Fuji S6500

External Since: Aug 03, 2007 Posts: 1

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could share some opinions on this camera?
I'm considering buying one as I quite like the look and feel and also
the spec.

Thanks.

Neil

External Since: Aug 02, 2005 Posts: 3961

On Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:58:35 -0700, Greenbrightly wrote:

> I was wondering if anyone could share some opinions on this camera?
> I'm considering buying one as I quite like the look and feel and also
> the spec.

The S6000fd/S6500fb is a very nice, reasonably priced camera. I
haven't used one but I'm pretty sure that it's quite a bit better
than my similar, smaller, older, 4mp Fuji S5100/S5600 which has been
a very good performer. DPReview said :

> It's only when you look at these 'real world' crops that the real
> advantage of the Super CCD sensor used in the S6000fd is obvious.
> With all small CCD compacts we see serious smearing of low
> contrast detail at ISO 200 (sometimes even lower), but the S6000fd
> manages to keep plenty of texture at ISO 400, and even ISO 800 and
> 1600 haven't smeared it all away (in fact the noise reduction at 800
> and 1600 appears to be very similar; you just get more noise at 1600).
> ISO 3200 is, to put it politely, rather light on detail, and you're
> certainly not getting the claimed 'full resolution' ISO 3200 output.
> Still, it's better than anything else on the market...

> Although the S6000fd's output has a little of the classic 'Super CCD'
> artefacts look to it and is a touch over-sharpened, there's no denying
> that it is outperforming the Sony [the DSC-H2] - which is fairly
> representative of the other 6MP super zooms on the market - by a
> considerable margin. Edge-to-edge detail is excellent, colors bright
> but natural and contrast excellent. It's interesting to note that the
> S6000fd actually produces output that actually looks better at 100%
> (as here) than the S9000 we tested last year (which has the same lens).
> Comparing the results would seem to suggest that the lens itself is the
> limiting factor; it works brilliantly with this 6MP sensor, whereas the
> S9000's 9MP sensor is simply asking too much of it.

> More of the same really; the S6500fd's output is starting to show signs of
> breaking down, but compared to the H2 it looks clean, clear and detailed.
> Just like the F30, the S6500fd's output at ISO 800 is considerably better
> than most of its competitors manage at ISO 400 - and some at ISO 200.
> To have a small-sensor camera capable of producing results that are
> perfectly usable at ISO 800 is a luxury we have rarely seen before, and
> something for which Fuji must be congratulated.

> Comparison cameras:
>
> * Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd / S6500fd (6 MP, 10.7x zoom)
> * Sony DSC-H2 (6 MP, 12x zoom)
> * Canon PowerShot S3 IS (6 MP, 12x zoom)
> * Panasonic DMC-FZ7 (6 MP, 12 x zoom)
>
> Shots here are of our standard resolution chart (version one or two).
> This chart allows us to measure the actual performance of the lens
> and sensor system. It measures the ability of the camera to resolve
> lines at gradually higher resolutions and enables us to provide a
> definitive value for comparison purposes.

here, the S6500 clearly produced more detail than the other
cameras tested, and DPReview added :

> Although the JPEGs are a bit over-sharpened, and they don't quite
> match the F30, the S6500fd sets a new standard for resolution in a
> 6MP 'super zoom' camera, and out-performs cameras with one or
> even two million more pixels. There's little, if any moiré and only the
> merest hint of jagginess on 45 degree diagonals, and overall you can't
> fail to be impressed with a camera that really does squeeze the
> maximum detail out of 6 million pixels, across the frame.

and from the Conclusion page :
> * Excellent resolution & sharpness
> * Very good results up to ISO 400, ISO 800 perfectly usable
> * Class-leading high ISO performance; might not be fantastic,
> but it's the best you'll get
> * Very low shutter lag
> * Comprehensive photographic controls
> * Excellent battery life
> * Highly versatile 28-300mm zoom range
> * Low distortion lens with excellent edge-to-edge performance
> * Good flash performance
> * Decent movie mode, can zoom whilst filming
> * CCD-raw mode and decent raw conversion utility
> * Fairly fast focus (especially towards the wide end of the zoom range)
> * AF illuminator
> * Fast, effective face detection system (bit of a novelty for the serious user)
> * Large clear screen
> * Threaded lens for optional wide / tele convertors
> * Good value for money

> I must admit I didn't really know what to expect from the S6000fd
> (having used some of its predecessors), and I was pleasantly surprised
> to find it was a well designed, well executed and surprisingly versatile
> photographic tool. It's probably not the best 'point and shoot' model
> in its class (you'll get better results if you know what you're doing),
> but the combination of features, output and unusually able high ISO
> performance means that - whilst far from perfect - it can easily hold
> its own against some of it's more 'high profile' competitors.

The full review starts at :

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms6000fd/