Fuji FinePix S6000 Fd Digital Camera Review

Fuji has produced many fine cameras in their FinePix line. The S6000 fd is no exception. This camera has many features and is a step up from the previous S5000 model. It is full of features that will thrill the camera enthusiast, whether experienced or new.

The Fuji FinePix S6000 fd is not your standard "point and shoot" camera. Fuji has included many features in this camera that have previously only been included in a true SLR camera. This camera sports the following high end features: 6.3 mega pixels; Intelligent Face Detection-can identify up to 10 individual faces in a frame; Optical Zoom: 10.7X; Digital Zoom: 2X ; 14 different programmed scene selections; Movie mode (30 frames/second).

The S6000 fd has many more manual functions than previous cameras in the FinePix line. One feature that is particularly nice is the manual zoom lens. A camera with a mechanical zoom has a slight delay in focusing time. This manual zoom is much more responsive, and allows for a much faster response time between photos. This is a good feature especially when shooting sporting events or wildlife-any situation where the subject of the shot will be moving quickly from one place to another.

Unlike many digital cameras on the market today, the S6000 fd also has a manual focus setting. This is, again, a feature that is often reserved for higher end, SLR cameras. It is a nice addition when electronic focusing can be difficult. Under most conditions, you can use the auto focus feature. The S6000 fd also has an auto focus assist light, which will help to focus on subjects in low light conditions. This was a great addition to the FinePix line, starting with the S5000.

Fuji cameras always seem to have very clear screens. The S6000 fd has a 2.5" LCD screen that is crystal clear, and you can preview your pictures and even edit them on the screen in playback mode. The viewfinder is also very sharp. There is no problem seeing your subjects clearly and being able to take good, clear pictures.

The S6000 fd is also very well made. The case of this camera, like all of its predecessors, is very sturdy, unlike some of the competitors' cameras. It is also aesthetically pleasing. There are no sharp corners, or plain edges on this camera. The form fitted grip makes handling this camera very comfortable. The camera also comes with a sturdy neck strap that is very comfortable to wear, and helps in bearing the weight of the camera. There is also a clip that attaches to the neck strap that holds the camera lens cap while you take pictures, ensuring that the cap never interferes with your pictures.

There are a few things that could be improved with the S6000 fd. In full auto mode, I found the flash to be a bit bright for indoor shooting. It tends to wash out the subject of the photos. However, with the wide selection of manual settings, you can certainly compensate for this problem.

Another problem is the small amount of built-in memory. Fuji only built in 10Mb of memory, which only allows for 3 pictures in Fine Picture mode. This camera, like all of Fuji's cameras, takes the XD picture card. I recommend at least a 1 gigabyte card, which will hold about 340 pictures in Fine mode. Fuji also now has a 2 gigabyte card.

Another feature that I am not impressed with is the "continuous shooting mode." This mode is not nearly as smooth as I expected it to be. The camera doesn't respond fast enough to take pictures in quick succession. The camera also has no way to turn off the picture post view. The shortest period of time to which you can set the post view is 3 seconds. This seems to be extreme, since reviewing each picture will drain battery life.

Finally, another drawback to this camera is its size. It is hard to get the features of this camera in a smaller package, but it is still a bit cumbersome to carry around. The manual zoom lens makes it protrude out further than might be expected. You have to trade size and weight for the quality and features of this camera.

Overall, the Fuji FinePix S6000 fd is an excellent camera. Do keep in mind that this camera is not a "point and shoot" type camera. If you are new to photography, you will have to spend some time learning the features on this camera. But, when you learn all that is available, you will be taking fantastic pictures! One of the greatest things about this camera is the price. Though it retails for $499 or more, in reality it can be found for a much lower price. Realistically, you can purchase this camera for less than $300. I think you will be very happy with this camera.