Product Description

The Finepix S8000FD Digital Camera appears more as an SLR than a compact camera. It isn't an SLR because, primarily, you can't change lenses. Why would you need to? The Fujinon 18x Optical Zoom provides unprecedented flexibility in a digital-camera. With a 27mm-486mm equivalent, the need for additional zoom or wide angle lenses is gone - this extraordinary lens is all you need. A new feature found on Fuji cameras is the ability to use 3 memory card formats for wider universality. It also uses AA batteries as a power source. AA is readily available around the world. Where ever you travel, that battery type is likely to be available, With audofocus and auto-exposure, it's among the easiest cameras to use. Dual I(mage Stabilization assures sharpness despite unsteady hand movements. Face Detection helps determine proper exposure of people pictures. Ultimately, it's a serious camera for those that want to excercise creativity and freedom in taking great still pictures and movies. It's also lots of fun! Normal and macro focus 2.5 LCD high resolution 230,000 pixels and Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) Mode Dial for easy access of features Up to ISO 1600 at full resolution, up to ISO 6400 at 50% resolution 4xAA Battery Power for convenience xD / SD / SDHC Media Compatible Slot NTSC and PAL video output / USB On-camera edit modes Self-timer - Approx. 10 sec./2 sec.delay Unit Dimensions - 111.3(W)x78.2(H)x78.9(D) mm/ 4.4(W)? 3.1(H)? 3.1(D) in.(excluding accessories and attachments); Weight Approx.412g/14.5oz Comes with 4xAA type Alkaline batteries; Shoulder Strap; Lens cap & cord; USB cable; A/V cable; CD-ROM - FinePix Viewer software; Owner's Manual Windows PC and Macintosh compatible

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17620 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Black
• Brand: Fuji
• Model: FinePix S8000fd
• Released on: 2007-09-19
• Dimensions: 4.80" h x 6.20" w x 7.00" l, .50 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• 8-megapixel CCD sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
• 18x optical zoom; Dual Image Stabilization
• 2.5-inch LCD screen; electronic viewfinder
• Face Detection with new Red-Eye Reduction System
• Stores images on xD or SD memory cards (not included)

Manufacturer Description

The Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd digital camera features the world’s most powerful 18x long zoom Fujinon lens and our new Dual Image Stabilization system (CCD shift Image Stabilization & High Sensitivity).

The FinePix S8000fd is perfect for enthusiasts looking for a combination of 8 megapixels and stabilized long zoom in a neat, compact body. The S8000fd delivers one key feature that consumers cannot easily get on an SLR, a 27mm wide-angle to 486mm super telephoto (35mm equivalent) 18x zoom lens. Many consumers are looking for an easy to carry long zoom solution for sports events, concerts, wildlife photography, or just general tourism. Long-zoom photography is very popular for action shots of kids on the sport field, unobtrusive portraits of family or friends and candid nature photography. Using the digital zoom, the S8000fd can zoom up to an astonishing 91.8x magnification.

Additionally, the S8000fd is fitted with Fujifilm’s newly introduced CCD-shift Image Stabilization, which automatically detects and correct for camera shake. It is also fitted with Fujifilm’s acclaimed Picture Stabilization mode, which uses high sensitivity to freeze fast action, or produce sharp pictures in low light. Fujifilm’s S8000fd Dual Image Stabilization offers enthusiasts consistently clean, well-focused, blur-free shots.

Making sure the perfect shot is captured Face Detection technology by Fujifilm uses an exclusive hardware-based system to optimize focus, white balance and exposure for up to ten faces in a single frame. Using Face Detection with an 18x long zoom means that users can accurately focus on faces from long distance and concentrate on framing the perfect shot. Also, leveraging Face Detection technology, the S8000fd feature the new Red-Eye Removal feature, which can detect and remove red-eye as the shot is taken.

The S8000fd offers ISO1600 at full 8.0-megapixel resolution, and ISO6400/ISO3200 at 4-megapixel resolution--so important for high-quality pictures in low light or freezing fast-moving subjects. The S8000fd takes advantage of this high sensitivity with Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system, which controls power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure. Also, Dual Shot Mode takes two full resolution photos in quick succession - one with, and one without, flash. Both photos are then displayed side by side for quick comparison so users will never again be left struggling with flash settings long after the moment has passed.

Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd Highlights

3x zoom/18x zoom

18x wide-angle optical zoom One of the largest zooms on a fixed-lens camera in the industry, the Fujinon 18x Optical Zoom provides unprecedented flexibility in a compact SLR body style camera. With a 27mm-486mm equivalent, the need for additional zoom or wide angle lenses is gone - this extraordinary lens is all you need.

Dual image stabilization The FinePix S8000fd gives you the best of both worlds where image stabilization is concerned. With industry standard optical images stabilization, the photographers hand is steadied for a clearer, blur free shot. Add to that the addition of Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization Technology, and increase clarity and sharpness is achieved, even in low light conditions or when shooting moving subjects. The combination of the two is the ultimate in stabilization technology.

Image stabilization reduces blur and delivers crisp, clear images

Compact, SLR-style chassis Like the feel of a big SLR but don’t like the weight, changing lenses, or the price tag? Then the S8000fd is for you. This camera offers much of the advanced functionality of Big DSLR cameras with none of the hassle or expense. And, with the 18x optical zoom, there’s no need to have additional lenses.

Face Detection in action

Face Detection technology The new S8000fd Finepix digital still camera features Face Detection technology by Fujifilm to significantly improve your picture taking by identifying human subjects' faces in the frame (up to 10 faces) and in real time, determining the optimal focus and exposure settings for the absolute best results possible in any shooting conditions. Behind Fujifilm's Face Detection technology is a newly-developed LSI chip combined with patented software that allows the FinePix S8000fd digital still camera to reach a level of performance in digital photography never before possible.

Operates on 4 AA batteries The ultimate in convenience and accessibility, using AA batteries means in a pinch, more batteries are just moments away at any Drug Store, Convenience Store, or dozens of other retailers near by. Additionally, rechargeable AA batteries may also be used to extend the life and performance of the camera without purchasing disposable batteries over and over. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

xD/SD-compatible slot The Finepix S8000fd features an xD/SD compatible slot, allowing the use of either xD Picture Card or SD media to store and transfer your photos. This convenient and flexible capability assures compatibility with a wider variety of applications than ever before, and allows users to choose the media technology that is right for them.

What's in the box

Fujifilm Finepix S8000fd digital camera, 4 x AA type Alkaline batteries, shoulder strap, lens cap, lens cap cord, USB cable, AV cable, CD-ROM: FinePixViewer, owner's manual

Customer Reviews

FUJIFILM DIGITAL CAMERA
IT FINALLY ARRIVED AND WAS FINE. IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF CALLS TO GET IT HERE.

Very good if you're willing to play with the settings
I've owned this camera for about a month now, and am generally very happy with my purchase - especially given the price I paid for it, which was $290. Of course, nothing in life is perfect - there are a few things I'm not too thrilled about. I'm really only a learner with respect to photography, so professionals and experienced amateurs may not find my opinions too useful.

Things I really like:

The zoom - This is really amazing, and I don;t think you can get much better than this in a compact camera. I've been able to get really good close up shots of distant subjects. The problem of course is camera shake - if possible, use a tripod; if not, try to stabilise yourself in whatever way you can. I prefer to use the electronic viewfinder when using high zoom - I find it helps to stabilise the camera. Also, take many attempts at your zoom shots - without a tripod, many will be blurred, but you might get a few that are good.

The continuous shooting mode - I love this.... In this mode, you can take a series of shots of moving action, in a matter of a couple of seconds, just by holding the button down - excellent for sports. The problem with this is that when you review your pictures, you lose this setting, and have to go through the menu again to set it for continuous shooting. Also, it takes a few seconds after you finish a series of shots to save the pics, so you can't take any more shots in that time.

The natural light mode - I love the way this mode keeps the colour and produces high quality pics. It's particularly designed, I think, for less than ideal lighting conditions, but I find it works well in bright light too. In lower light, of course, there is the possibility of blur if your subject or the camera moves. That said, I think I take most of my pics in this setting.

Macro and Super-Macro modes - I get amazing close up shots with these modes!!! Possibly the camera's best feature!

The range of settings and modes - There are so many different things you can do with this camera that are so much more versatile than the basic compact camera (though I guess this is true of most cameras of this sort). Changing the ISO, colour saturation, white balance, different flash settings, etc, etc. I find myself shooting the same scene over and over in different settings to find which is the best. As a result I take A LOT of pictures.... But it's all fun! And I usually end up with some really good shots.

Things I really DON'T like:

The software - the Fuji software is slow, and takes up all my computer's processing power. Perhaps with a better computer this wouldn;t be a problem, but my computer does everything else I need to do as fast as I want it to... But running this software means I can't do anything else at the same time, and it takes ages to do anything. I've taken to using Picasa to edit my pics instead. On the plus side, the software saves the info on the settings used in taking the picture, so you can review your pics and work out what you;ve done wrong and what works best.

The menus - I find the menus to be rather complex and not particularly intuitive. This means when I want to try certain things, I have to spend a fair amount of time searching for the function I want. I guess as I get accustomed to the camera, though, this will be less of a problem.

Limited exposure time - the maximum length of exposure seems to be 4 seconds. I find this kind of limiting - with my old camera (Kodak DX7440 - a very decent camera in my opinion) - I could get exposure times up to about half a minute, and maybe more. I'm rather disappointed at this, though of course, the camera still takes very good night time shots.


Things I am having some difficulty/problems with:

Low light conditions, moving subjects, especially in combination with the zoom. I think this is probably the most difficult sort of shot I've tried to take. I find that I get some combination of underexposed, blurred, grainy shots, no matter what settings I use. If the subject is stationary it's not a problem - I use the night settings, and get very good results. This is something I am working on... Of course, if you WANT to get blurred shots, using the night setting can produce some interesting effects.

I've recently found that the electronic viewfinder sometimes goes a bit funny... I get white streaks across the image from one side, and sometimes the image is shifted a bit to the side too. This seems to happen particularly when I've been using the camera continuously for a longish while - like an hour or so. Switching off and then on again fixes it temporarily, but it tends to come back after a few minutes. It doesn;t seem to happen with the LCD, and I don;t think it's been affecting the quality of the pictures, so I think it's a problem with the viewfinder itself. I've been wondering if this might be caused by the camera getting a bit warm... Around the battery compartment does tend to warm up a bit after extensive use.

In general, also, I'd say I'm not thrilled by the quality of the image in the viewfinder, either. It tends to have a bit of a lined effect anyway, and the colours are sometimes off (reds often appear sort of magenta), but these effects are, again, only in the viewfinder, and don;t appear in the pictures. Despite this, I still prefer to use the viewfinder than the LCD for framing my shots.


On the whole, though, I am extremely happy with this purchase. I think I got excellent value for money, my photos have improved tremendously, and I am having a lot of fun and learning a lot about the art of photography. The problems are really minor compared to the things I love about it.

Some recommendations: buy a camera case, spare batteries and charger, and a fairly large memory card. And a tripod! And most of all, don't treat this like a "point and shoot". Use the wide range of settings to get the best results.

Excellent value
I specifically looked for a Fuji camera when I wanted to upgrade. My experience with their customer service (after my daughter broke her camera) was one of the best experiences I've ever had - and sold me on Fuji as a company. That said, I still wondered how the product itself would perform. After putting it through its paces, I am very pleased with both the feel of the camera, the quality of the pictures, the great range of the zoom, the ease of use and the comments of others who can't believe that it didn't cost much more!