FujiFilm FinePix S3000 3.1MP Digital Camera w/6x Optical Zoom

I've been burned by big brands with poor reliability before, so I chose Fuji after seeing Consumer's Union rate Fuji very reliable. It's big and clunky, but we wanted that shape to find it quickly in a cluttered diaper bag.

Right out of the box, if you've ever had a digital camera before, you barely need the instruction book. It's very intuitive. The LCD and viefwinder are bright, sharp, and are things of beauty. The on screen menus are great. The controls and grip are all manageable with one hand, once you learn where they are. The pictures are 3.2 megapixel great. The 6x optical zoom makes it easy to take quality face shots from a distance. Beware ANYBODY'S digital zoom it's nonsense only optical counts.

The software for your PC is so bad that Fuji should have never shipped it. First of all, my Windows XP PC will not see the Finepix as a camera. It sees it as a mass storage device. So, if you are good with geek stuff, you know how to get your pictures to go where you want them, but if you just want it to be easy, you are out of luck. This software precludes this camera from being a gift for your mother. If you manually install the USB driver, Win XP still doesn't see it as a camera. The Finepix Viewer software is just a Fuji branded Internet Explorer. There is also one item of software installed called WINASPI. There is no explanation for what it does, it is installed in your root directory ( a major software no no), it looks like a throwback to Win 3.1 when it's being installed, and it gives you messages suffering from translationitis (For to make setup effective, it necessarily will be for to resart your computing system now.)

In calculating the true cost, at a minimum, you will have to get a 64mb xD card, and you will have to get 8 NiMH AA batteries and a charger. The use of AA batteries is a huge plus, so when you are walking around Wallyworld and the batteries go dead, you can just buy 4 AAs, as opposed to cameras with proprietary rechargeables. You will also want some good photo organizing software, and because of the miserable software included, I've discovered a GREAT program online called Picasa -it is a must have GREAT photo organizer.

So, I like it, I'm happy I bought it, the price was good, but it's not perfect.

This was our first digital camera and we are very pleased with it. The documentation includes a "quick start" page to get you going right away. After reading it and installing the batteries, we were taking very nice pictures in less than an hour. The camera is lightweight and can easily used with one hand. The controls and menus are easy to use and simple to learn and remember. One small complaint regarding the LCD monitor that can be used in place of the viewfinder. The image in the monitor apprears washed out if you are not looking directly into it. This does not affect the photo image and is a very minor annoyance.

We have taken indoor pictures in a variety of lighting conditions using the built-in flash and every picture has been great. We also went outside on a sunny day and took pictures of a snowman in a blindingly, white, snow covered, yard and the pictures again turned out great. The zoom options are very nice and easy to use. The autofocus feature works great.

Downloading the pictures into the computer is also very easy. The included software installed flawlessly. Then, using the included USB cable, connect the camera to your PCs USB port and turn on the camera. The rest is automatic. The software downloads the pictures from the camera to your computer's hard drive. The program also gives you various option for cropping or other tweaks you may wish to make to improve your pictures.

This is a great digital camera package for the price. Certainly, you can spend a lot more for a lot more camera, for professional applications. But if you are just getting started in digital photography or are looking for a second, better digital camera, to take family or vacation photos or photos around the house, take a look at the the Fuji S3000.

Buy FujiFilm FinePix S3000 3.1MP Digital Camera w/6x Optical Zoom Now

I really am enjoying this camera! Initially I bought a Sony because I already have a Sony camcorder and it seemed reasonable to share the memory card I upgraded between them. I returned the Sony immediately (to Circuit City who does NOT charge a restocking fee if you return with 14 days!) and researched Consumer Reports.

This is the camera I am keeping!

My photography experience consisits of using those disposable 35mm cameras and taking grainy, dark pictures with my camcorder.

I love this camera because it is so much easier to use that the Sony was! Very, very user-friendly menus and functions. Excellent picture quality and excellent 6 x optical zoom. Pictures print beautifully also--even on my crappy Lexmark printer! No problem with any light source--this camera adjusts automatically so I don't feel like an idiot that needs to go to "camera school"!

I'm buying a battery recharger and storage case today.

The only useless feature I can find is the movie maker.

Read Best Reviews of FujiFilm FinePix S3000 3.1MP Digital Camera w/6x Optical Zoom Here

First of all, I am in my mid-fifties and I am not an expert on taking photographs. Most of the pictures I take are of my family and friends.

I purchased the S3000 in July 2004, right before our vacation to

Florida. I was having trouble deciding between purchasing a new 35mm or my first digital camera. After reading reviews on various digitals and talking with a friend who had just purchased the Fugi S3000, I chose the S3000 and I have had 'no regrets.'

The pictures are better than I imagined. They are so clear and detailed that I take photographs of everything from buildings, animals, close-up of flowers, and more. The Fugi S3000 is so easy to use. It is, more or less, a point and shoot camera and the zoom is fantastic.

I only had two minor problems. The first one was the action shots: I rectified my action shots (jet skis, running, swimming) by snapping the picture as soon as I saw the person/object in the LCD monitor. By the time the shutter reacted, I pretty much had a nice centered picture.

Since I am a novice with this camera, the second problem I assumed was my fault. From our hotel room on Cocoa Beach, we could see a night launch. I could not find the launch site nor the satillite after it was launched in my LCD monitor or viewfinder.

I give the Fugi S3000 5 stars for the ease of use, detail of the photographs and the 6x optical zoom.

I am so impressed with this camera that I am buying two more for Christmas presents.

Also look at:

Fugifilm Digital Camera Accessory Kit for A & S Series Cameras

(includes battery charger and batteries YOU NEED THIS!)

Fugifilm 64MB XD Card

(need a second card)

Fugifilm USB XD Picture Card Reader

(I found this cheaper at Wal-Mart)

Want FujiFilm FinePix S3000 3.1MP Digital Camera w/6x Optical Zoom Discount?

I've had this camera about a year now, and I really like it for the most part. Good pics, good features, and I love the 6X optical (not digital!) zoom. Having had it, I'd never buy a camera with a lower power zoom. It's also really hard to beat this camera for the money. Usually when my friends show off their new cameras I see they've paid more and gotten less, especially in the zoom department.

I use rechargable 2200 MA NIMH batteries and have not experienced any problem with battery life whatsoever, unlike other reviewers. I've taken a couple hundred shots at a time (mostly non flash, admittedly) without changing batteries. The camera is also well made and sturdy. It took a nasty fall with me near Mount Rainier a while back and sustained very little damage, unlike my knees and elbows.

While the camera is good, it isn't perfect. I have three complaints, as follows. Once you hit the button, this camera takes a really long time to actuate the shutter. If you're looking for a camera to capture fast motion, pass this one by. Often when I was zoomed in on an object moving even at a pretty slow pace, the object would be out of the field of view by the time the picture clicked.

My second (and most serious) complaint is the auto-shutoff feature. The camera loves to shut itself off and retract the lens when you've been idle. And in Fuji's book, TWO minutes is idle. This is something I've not experienced with previous Fujis. When it does turn off, you have turn the dial around two places to the OFF position, wait a second, then click it back two places to ON. The lens will slowly reappear, and you can resume what you were doing. The auto shutoff would be fine if the length of time were adjustable, but it isn't. Two minutes idle and you'll be "rebooting". I'd much rather change batteries after a couple hours than have to toggle that damn switch all day to keep the camera on. Very annoying.

Finally, I'm not thrilled that this camera uses the XD format. While the XD cards are very compact, they are also the most expensive format out there as best I can tell. If you thought Memory Stick was expensive, prepare yourself for XD. It is more expensive than Memory Stick, SD, Smartmedia, and Compact Flash. More expensive by a wide margin, too. Compare prices between a 256 MB XD card and a 256 compact flash, and you'll find the xd to be almost exactly twice as expensive. That's a lot to pay for a smaller form factor card that does exactly the same thing.

In conclusion: Good quality camera with good pics and great zoom, well worth the money if you don't mind the couple of annoyances I mentioned. Hey, Fuji! Kill the Auto Shutoff and you'll go to five stars in my book.