Rating: 
Summary: This is an outstanding piece of hardware
Review: I just recently purchased the S3000, and it is an impressive little camera.
I first used the S3000 at a Pittsburgh Pirate baseball game. The images taken using the "sports" function came out beautifully. Impressive colors, little grain, and any blur to the images were the fault of my own and not the camera.
A few days later, I used the camera at a WWE event and it was there the camera really proved itself--the images of the wrestlers performing moves were incredible.
While the sports function works wonderfully, the camera also takes excellent still life and portrait shots. While the 3.2 Megapixel capability is not the best on the market, still images come out looking quite nicely--better than images captured using an ordinary camera.
The camera itself is extremely user friendly. The enclosed quickguide will have you shooting pictures right out of the box if you so desire. The menus are easily navagated and switching from one mode to another is a piece of cake.
One caveat: although the battery life is long, the viewfinder is also digital instead of a standard viewfinder, so the batteries may not last as long as you'd like.
Other than that niggling point, I heartily recommend this camera.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE it!!!!
Review: I opened this little baby up on Christmas morning. Much to my surprise, this compact camera can really pack a punch. I took some high quality photos of my Christmas, and had them off to my grandma in less than 20 minutes. I absolutly love the zoom that this camera has as well. You just can't beat this camera. You get an amazing deal for the quality of camera that you get at an affordable price.
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera, Excellent Photos
Review: I purchased this camera several months ago, and every time I use it I'm more and more impressed! The photos are amazing! I'm still exploring the different modes (sport,scenic,potrait...). I use rechargeable NiMH batteries and they last a LONG time! I think this camera is a great value for the money. I fought going digital for so long, and now that I own this camera I feel so foolish! The software accompanying the camera is also quite good, although the slideshow function takes a few practice runs. Overall, I think this camera is fabulous, I've recommended it to everyone (my brother-in-law has already purchased one after seeing the photos I e-mailed him!). He is also now an Amazon customer! Buy this camera, you won't be disappointed! I honestly cannot gush enough over the ease of use, and more importantly, the photo quality.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for a novice!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Good all around camera for the non-professional user
Review: I wouldn't pay so much attention to the first person's review seeing as how that person is rating a digital camera's score based on its video functions. So, most of you who are shopping for this camera probably are purchasing it as a first time camera (like I did) or possibly a gift for someone else. I've been overly impressed with this camera. It has a very nice macro lens (and mode) that's user friendly. I can easily focus on subjects only 2.5" from my lens. It's great for artistic purposes or if you just need to get the camera close to the subject matter. I chose this camera over others because it offered a 6x optical zoom which is easily out of the effective range of the flash. This digital camera (like almost all) depends on the flash to maintain focus for the majority of its images. For in-focus distance images (not scenery shots), say like a graduation, you'll need a tripod to obtain images with excellent clarity. Since the flash will be out of range, you'll have to turn it off, but the camera needs to be incredibly still in order to obtain perfect images. With that said, the camera can do action shots. I'm not too sure why the other person couldn't obtain shots without them being blurred, but I was able to capture images of my friends practicing kickboxing with no motion blur (which even surprised me). Those images were obtained using the flash. Not only that, but I've taken pictures while driving in my car and I captured an image of a van I was driving by and scenery on the side. Doing 70mph pass the trees on the side of the road and getting almost no motion blur, I have trouble seeing as how the reviewer couldn't get pictures of his children running around. Clarity on images is excellent and grain is almost nonexistent. The camera offers many modes including sports, continuous (two consecutive shots only), night (good night time color, but needs a tripod for sure), landscape (beautiful pictures), portait, and a few others. This is definitely a good starter camera, and like all cameras to effectively utilize all of the options available, you have to just learn how to use the camera for whatever situation needed. My biggest complaint would have to go to the slow focusing/charging modes. It makes it hard to capture moments when you're having to focus the subject first. However, most cameras I've played with in this price range do not offer much faster, if at all, focus speeds. It's the only camera I've seen with a 6x optical zoom (which is what you want, no digital zoom) under $300, and it also has an adapter ring if you'd ever like to upgrade your range. As far as the software, it's not anything spectacular but it worked for me. Also, it's easy to use for those not too familiar with computers (slideshows, cd burning, etc.). I'm running on Windows 98, and my computer recognized the camera as a massive storage device as well; however, if you follow the installation process correctly, the software should correct that problem (the manual advises not to connect the camera prior to installing the software).
Rating: 
Summary: Zero stars...
Review: i'm in the process of trying to return this camera. This has got to be the worst digi camera available. I haven't been able to get one clear picture indoors or outdoors. There is a delay from when you take the picture until it's actually taken so you'll miss everything. Horrible quality. I can't the get software to work on my mac. All around terrible. Even Fuji can't figure out what the problem is with this horrid camera. Save your money and stay away from this crap.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to operate. Made me switch from 35mm to digital.
Review: I've always been a clutz with new technology. I also believe that if it's not broken, don't fix it. I stubbornly held on to 35 mm film camera.
But this camera is easy to use. And this camera made me switch from 35 mm to digital. The pictures I've taken make me feel like a pro. All my friends have had the greatest comments on my pictures. It has many SLR type features.
The camera is user friendly but make sure you read the owner's manual to use the camera to it's full potential. Directions are easy to understand. All the software you need is included with the camera. Just down load it into your computer and it will walk you through.
I use Window XP and have not had any conflict between programs. You need a USB Port to view images on your computer.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but some flaws
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Very Nice Camera
Review: I've been waiting for the price of digital cameras to come down before finally taking the plunge. I did it with the Fuji Fine Pix 3000. Very easy to use and moving around the menus and options is a breeze. One of the better features is the 6x Optical Zoom!!! Wouldn't own a digital camera without it!! Okay, so it doesn't have audio with the video. But this was not a factor with me as if I want movies I use a camcorder. I purchased this camera to take photos not movies!!! The software downloaded great and and with ther USB connections, the photos download great to my XP computer. Anyone looking to buy a digital camera should consider this make and model.
Rating:
Summary: Depth of field can be varied...(appendix)..
Review: In my earlier review, I had commented that the aperture priority is not showing much difference....
A series of experiments, gave me the desired results, and thus, full points can be granted for Fuji S 3000.... Its an excellent buy....
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