Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Red)

4-stars for camera design and still image quality, 1 star for video.

I have tested and compared images, video, features, and usability for all the top ultra-zoom compacts including Fuji F770EXR/F750EXR, Canon SX260HS, Sony HX9V, Panasonic ZS-15 and ZS-19/20. This was the last camera I compared and I was expecting to really like it as Image Quality is my first priority criteria, followed by video, then features/usability. Here's my main takeaways:

Well lit, ISO 100-200 shots: Fuji gets 3rd place. Canon SX260HS has best detail with least noise. Panasonic ZS-15/19/20 are next best with slightly better detail than Fuji with a tiny more noise. Sony ties for 3rd with Fuji with slightly less detail and noise (Sony has the most agressive noise reduction of the 4 so there is a little bit more detail smearing.)

Fuji is almost unusable for video. When you pan the camera the video stutters. Even worse, when you zoom, camera has MAJOR problems focusing to the point the camera will not focus properly at all most of the time beyond 7X zoom. The lens motor is also the most audible out of all the 4 cameras. Panasonics you can barely hear the lens. Sony wins with Panasonics coming in a close second.

Low-light / High ISO: Fuji comes in second. Sony wins. Panasonics come in third images are unusable beyond ISO 800, too much yellow color splotching all over. At ISO 400, it is practically a tie between Panasonic, Fuji, and Sony. At crazy ISO 1600 and up, Fuji wins with usable images (barely) followed by Sony but you really can't expect much from these small cameras with small sensors at those kind of ISOs.

Flash: Fuji comes in third. Very strange flash that only pops up manually (which has its benefits). You must press tiny button on side of camera really hard. Flash is not motorized and it looks like a part of the camera that could easily break in the future. Flash is underpowered compared to the other cameras.

Design/Usability/Software Fuji is heaviest of the 4 cameras but has a nice rubberized feeling body finish. Panasonic is amazingly small. Sony in-between. All of them have different styles of software. Panasonic has best set of software features. Sony very limited in scene modes. Fuji has nice software but many of the options are locked out when in any mode other than manual. Panasonic's wins as far as the Intelligent Auto function. Very reliable. Canon had troubles focusing sometimes.

Overall, Panasonic wins. Fuji would be a close second, tied with Sony if the video wasn't so terrible. Search YouTube for videos including this example:

I'm surprised by some of the negative reviews on this product, and wondering if the folks who had problems somehow landed with defective models. My experience has been pretty flawless from day one. I bought this camera as an add-on to my usual DSLR; I was looking for a pocket-sized camera with a great zoom (this one had markedly better range than other pocket cameras I tested) and a nice variety of auto, semi-auto, and manual features to play with.

One of the features some of the reviews took exception to was the push-button flash. I can understand the concern about breakage, but I've used this little guy for over 5 months now in less-than-delicate conditions and haven't had an issue. I actually like the manual nature of the flash, as it's an easy way to get a "flash" photo -or turn off the flash -without fiddling with the settings menu.

It's been very good with rapid response in turning on/off, the menus are relatively intuitive, and some of the menu options -such as the panorama setting -are outstanding. I've taken some of the most beautiful landscape shots with this tiny camera, many of which rival even those taken with my Canon.

Is there some noise? Yes. I also have noticed that in automatic settings, outdoor pictures tend to be a bit blown out and overexposed. I deal with that either in Photoshop/Lightroom, or by switching to a manual setting and adjusting ISO from there.

The other little quibble I have it that when the zoom is maxed out, autofocus doesn't work. You have to pull back slightly on the zoom to activate the autofocus. Other than that, I haven't experienced the loss of focus or the problem with tracking focus that another reviewer mentioned.

Is it perfect? No. But for the price, it's a great little camera for travel or for everyday shutterbug adventures when a big DSLR is too much to pack along. I'd definitely recommend this purchase.

Buy Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Red) Now

I've taken a zillion exposure-bracketed pictures (for subsequent HDR merging) and videos with this little guy and it's been great. It's certainly not perfect, but given the price, I have no regrets. The zoom is outrageously noisy when recording video and the autofocus during zooming is terrible, but I still consider this a great deal and keep it with me at all times. It's my first Fuji product and I've gained enough trust in their technology to start investigating their higher-end cameras.

Read Best Reviews of Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Red) Here

Hi users and reviewers of this camera:

The blurb above says, "High Speed Continuous Shooting Capture action at almost 8 fps at full 16-megapixel resolution or shoot at 11 fps at 8-megapixel resolution" and the manual on page 47 describes how to do this ... but I only ever got three pics. That's hardly continuous.

So I called customer support and they confirmed that it does not shoot true continuous, just three separate pics with one shutter press.

Can't be true, so I just hit "redial" on the 800 number and this time got somebody who at least cared, and was even knowledgeable.

Continuous does work (albeit with limitations,) but nothing like in the manual ... and really klunky and non-intuitive.

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I must admit, I purchased the camera because it was pretty. That being said, I needed a camera with a good zoom and date stamp.

Within a few weeks the lens cover started to stick and my photos had a black spot on the lower right corner. That self corrected after a few days. After 3 months of use the lens went bad-couldn't take any photos at all. I contacted Fuji and since the camera was under warranty they gave me directions to send it in for repair.

After they had the camera for a week, they sent me a bill for $200 to replace the lens. After a lengthy phone conversation with Fuji they fixed the camera under the warranty which we should not have to beg them to do what they promise to do when we purchase these items to begin with. I got the unit back 5 days ago with a different lens on it.

Drove 112 miles to get my photos for work yesterday and guess what?, yes my lens is malfunctioning again. Cost me time and money. I would send it in for repair, but I need to cut my loses now. They can have it back, but I won't spend the $10.00 to ship it back. It's too bad, it sure is pretty.

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