Fuji Finepix S6500fd Digital Camera Review

I have always had a passion for photography. I used to spend hours driving around, looking for the perfect place or thing to shoot. I had a great old Canon AE-1 at the time and loved it dearly. Then life seemed to get in the way: career, marriage, 3 kids...Digital cameras became the new standard in photography and I bought a point and shoot camera that served my basic needs, but left much to be desired. I missed the feel of my old camera, so I started looking into the new wave of digital cameras with the feel of a SLR. I wanted something that I could use as a "point and shoot" when time was limited or my hands were full, but that I could switch to manual setting, and adjust shutter speed, aperture, color, etc. I also wanted a decent sized LCD screen and something with a comfortable, solid grip. I wanted sharp images with fine detail and good color retention, something I missed greatly with a point and shoot 4.0 megapixel camera. I did a lot of research online and asked a few photographers I knew. To my surprise, they all seemed to agree that Canon had lost its place among the top rated cameras, and had been replaced by Fuji and Olympus.

The first time I held the Fuji Finepix S6500fd digital camera, I knew it was the camera for me. The feel of it was perfect. My hands fit it perfectly, it was not too heavy or bulky, as far as cameras of this type go. I also really like the professional look the camera has. What I also found intriguing was the new "Facial Detection System", although I admit I was wary of it at first. But it works! The camera truly will pick out faces in a picture and focus on them. The only time I have found an exception is if the person was facing sideways, or otherwise looking away from the camera. I was also nervous that I wouldn't be able to figure out all of the controls, or that I would have a difficult time accessing them when I needed them, but everything is very easily accessible and within reach. I love the 10x optical zoom feature that lets me really get in up close to my subject, and although the professional reviews I read harped on the camera's lack of image stablization, I have not found it to be an issue at all. The LCD screen is large enough that I can really get a good feel for the shot I am going to take, and even shows up well in sunlight. It also doesn't devour batteries like many cameras seem to do! I can record short videos, or take continuous shots. The continuous shots I have taken of my sons' soccer games are priceless!

I have been extremely satisfied with my purchase of the Fuji Finepix S6500fd digital camera. It fits my needs and lifestyle well, whether I am on the sidelines of my kids' sports games with a baby on my lap, or alone taking photographs of the moss-covered oak trees along the river at sunset. This camera gets a great review from me!