fujifilm S5500??

[ccharlie6]

i was wondering if anyone had any views on the above mentioned camera?
i know its not one of the superdooper expensive jobbies alot of you use, but i want to get into learning to take good pictures, not just take pictures like i do with my sony digi cam at the moment i've been able to learn some techniques (esp panning at race meetings) but would like to move up a level. i like the fact it has a both an SLR type body and also a pretty good zoom.

any views would be greatly appreciated

[Bee_Jay]

You can get excellent, impartial reviews and advice from these two sites:

www.dpreview.com
www.steves-digicams.com

A better recommendation I cannot give.

If you are not careful, after too long reading this board you will walk away either a member of the "Nikon D70 Clud" (ask simpo or 406) or "The Dark Side" otherwise known as Canon SLR ownership.

Then several '00s if not '000s of pounds and a lot of metal, plastic and glass later you will be seeking counselling for addiction.

This forum is really just the equivalent of AA for digital SLR owners...

Seriously though, how much are you looking to spend, and have you looked at getting a DSLR like the Canon 350D for example?

>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Tuesday 31st May 09:21

[simpo two]

ccharlie6 said:

i want to get into learning to take good pictures, not just take pictures like i do with my sony digi cam... would like to move up a level.

Bee_Jay said:

have you looked at getting a DSLR

There's your answer. Whether a compact is shaped like an SLR or a banana is neither here nor there Lob another £100 or two into the pot and move up the level you want to.

Bee_Jay said:

This forum is really just the equivalent of AA for digital SLR owners...

AA? Never! Li-ion is far superior!!



I may need counselling...

>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 31st May 10:04

[406]

Bee_Jay said:

Have you looked at getting a DSLR like the Canon 350D for example?

Nooooooooo don't go to the DARK SIDE, come over to the light side - the D70 Clud, the farce is stronger here and we out number that lot. You could even get one of these, but without the red line under Clud

[beano500]

Well, to answer your original question, it depends what you're wanting to achieve.

Fuji's are general pretty good, reliable and get above average or average reviews.

They've been sort of on the sidelines of more "serious" photographers going back to their SLRs of the seventies.

Their own technology for sensors is pretty good. The algorithms they use with them turn out good colour JPEGs on the whole. And so it should be - they have the knowledge to make some of the best films, both colour and B&W, that the world has ever seen.

Their top of the range dSLR though is relatively unloved. The middle range "prosumers" (hate the word, but it conveys the message ) are all good value and have good specs and can be found at good prices.

What I would say, is that if you think you are going to get more interested in your photography, I have another suggestion. It's to consider the Panasonic Lumix FZ20. Reason I would do a comparison if you get the chance, is that this has an arguably better bit of glass stuck on the front, has good reviews for its VR technology and will, I believe, lend itself better to exploring the manual side of things. The latter would mean a more useful learning curve.

I also think that you might get better value for money with either the Fuji or similar, a decent size card or two, and a bit of experience and trial and error, before you throw good money at the dSLR market - brilliant though the little beauties are.....

>> Edited by beano500 on Tuesday 31st May 12:14