Rating: 
Summary: Pro wedding photog's family camera
Review: I work as a wedding/portrait photographer using high-end Fuji and Nikon DSLR cameras. DSLRs are excellent performers, but they don't make good family/travel cameras because of their bulk. When I decided to buy a new family/travel digital camera I wanted something that could perform almost as well as high-end DSLRs but in a relatively compact form with a low-end price.
The ONLY camera that fit the bill was the Fujifilm FinePix S7000. I can't say enough about how great this camera is. The list of great things is too lengthy to go into, so I'll list the only two negative things about this camera. 1: The autofocus system is not as fast/reliable as what you can get on a higher-priced DSLR like the Nikon D70 or Fuji S2. But then, the S7000 is at least $500 less expensive. 2: The ISO noise/grain is worse than in a higher-priced DSLR, but you can remove ISO noise/grain easily using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
If super-fast autofocus speed and clean high ISOs are what you "need" then I don't recommend the S7000. But for 90+ percent of people out there, the S7000 will make an EXCELLENT camera.
Rating:
Summary: it's good!!!
Review: i would say if u like to play with close-ups or want a camera that has fantastic macro and supermacro abbilities, then you found the right one.the view finder is great.you dont even want to use the screen with such a good view finder!the only thing that this camera has that gets on my nerves is that it doesnttake good fotos with mooving objects.like if u want to take photo of kid you have to use shutter speed priority, otherwise it's out of focuss.
also the video shooting thing is fantastic!if u want a good quality camera and u r not afraid to use shutter speed button take this one.oh!it's better to have 512MB card.and also what is great is the 'delete' button!works great!saves you lot of space on card if u want to get just rid from some photos in easy way.(it lets you also to restore the photos though)
Rating:
Summary: For the DSLR RAW shooter on a budget
Review: I'm a recent Fuji-phile convert, having switched from an all Nikon lineup of Coolpixes/CF cards... best move I've made in years.One of the first things I noticed upon receipt of my S7000 is that it's slighty larger (physical dimensions) and considerably heavier than the Fuji S5000, which I've also review at Amazon. It seems to be a metal-bodied camera with a generous covering of rubber and plastic.. but as with the S5000, whatever type of plastic that Fuji is using is incredibly rugged/durable, shock-absorbent, and overall much more 'solid' than any other digital camera I've ever used. The overall impression is of a "DSLR-Like" camera of higher quality and of more substantial heft (though not in the Olympus E-10,20 league.. those things are lead!)than most any other I've checked out, and I've checked out almost all of them, having access to the offerings of a local retailer at any given time. The menu system and function buttons are quite intuitive and can be mastered in a few minutes. The LCD is large and very crisp, bright, although it suffers in bright sun. BAttery life is outstanding, use rechargeable NiMh AA. xD cards.. which I also review here at Amazon, are remarkable, and better than the CF cards that I used to use in every respect, except price. But the price has come down, and here in the U.S. prices are comparable to the faster CF cards. Photo quality is outstanding. Shoot RAW for file over 12MB, and if you have the hardware and patience for a RAW workflow, I recommend a program called S7RAW,
http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-PaloAlto/9919/s7raw.html
If you do your part.. you'll be impressed with the RAW files that this camera can generate at 12 Megapixels. I've compared the RAW output to 35mm slide (Fuji Velvia) scans from a Nikon 4000ED slide scanner,(4000dpi) and the Fuji S7000 RAW shows greater resolution. Even the highest jpeg setting is comparable to 35mm. But I admit, this is subjective. Lens -- very sharp. Experiment with aperture setting. I don't recommend a teleconverter though. So -- for a very small fraction of what you'd pay for a DSLR with interchangeable lenses, the S7000 can do many of the same things, for much less. Yes, less capability, but if you look at image quality from the 6 megapixel sensor (12 interpolated) and compare it to other cameras costing much more.. or compare it to 35mm film, this camera more than holds its own. And the price is rediculously low (in the U.S. anyway) for what you get. If you don't shoot RAW, fear not: the jpeg quality is very high as well. Shoot 12 Megapixel jpegs without sharpening, though, as the in-camera sharpening might be too harsh for some tastes. Sharpen during post processing.
Rating:
Summary: Still Good
Review: I'm an early adopter of digital cameras and have been progressively upgrading as the better technology becomes available at a reasonable price. With my current iteration, I decided to get the best available (at a reasonable and depreciating price) that I could find. I also looked at the many reviews, but went ahead a purchased this camera, mostly because of examples I found on review sits and my preference for Fujifilm digital cameras.
The bottom line? I've had this for about 7 months and still love it. New digital SLRs are coming down to the reasonable price range lately and I have NO motivation to upgrade - I can imagine using this camera for years - and that says a lot for me.
By the way, to correct one reviewer's comment regarding the video recording of this camera - it is NOT limited to 30 - 45 but the limit of your memory (compact flash/micro drive or xD), and the quality of the video is quite good - I use it as a substitute for my digital video camera more frequently than I use my video camera!
Rating:
Summary: Answer on the battery discharge issue
Review: I've now learned that the problem with the batteries discharging while the camera is turned off is limited to early production models with certain CF cards left in them while turned off. In the UK Fuji repaired the cameras. In the US they've just told people not to leave CF cards in them. It turns out that the problem can also be solved by opening and then re-closing the battery compartment after turning off the camera. (It some how resets the power supply so that it doesn't drain the batteries through the CF card.) In any event, this shouldn't be an issue for anyone buying a new S7000 at this time.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of camera for the price
Review: I've only had this camera for a week now, but the "shake out cruise" at a local botanical garden left me anxious to get out and take more pictures with it. Even in 3 MP mode the images can handle significant enlargement, and my tests to date (partial frames printed on an Epson 2000P printer) suggest that the higher resolution modes will support at least 22.5x30" prints assuming you don't insist on pressing your nose against them to find fault with them. The super macro mode allowed very close up pictures of tiny flowers, and the "ISO 800" setting coupled with shutter priority mode allowed me to freeze the wings on a hummingbird. The electronic viewfinder works very well, and I like having a ring on the lens for zooming. I still haven't tried all the features, but I got a lot of decent pictures on the first time out. This is a digital camera that can do a lot of what I've done in the past with a 35mm SLR. (I shoot slides and scan them.) To be fair, it isn't perfect. I would have preferred the handgrip to be a little smaller, but I have small hands. I would have liked a 28mm equivalent short end on the zoom, but I have an adapter to give me that capability that I need to get out and try. More options on image compression would also have been nice, although it produces very good images given the level of compression it achieves. I do like the fact it runs on 4 AA batteries (but get high capacity NiMHs) and will take CF cards (preferably fast, high capacity ones). All in all, it's a lot of camera for the price.
Rating:
Summary: Upgraded from an A95
Review: May be this sounds interesting, but I'd been upgraded to the FinePix S7000 from a Canon A95.
You can ask me the question: why did I ever upgrade when I was mad about my A95?
The reasons are simple:
- Because I cannot afford two digit cams at the same time at this price level (so my second one is a Fuji A200 for pocket use).
- Because I needed a hot-shoe for future plans,
- Because it has 6x optical, 2.8-3.1 fast zoom lens,
- Because it has unlimited movie mode,
- Because although the ISO starts at 200 (160 in auto mode) it is quite clear even at ISO 400 (and 800 at the 3MP mode),
- Because of the professional feeling, excellent ergonomics,
- Because of the high resolution viewfinder,
- Because of the many extra settings and external buttons for quick menu accessing,
- Because of the 1/10,000 min. shutter speed,
- Because of the "last 5" continious shooting mode,
- Because of the 1cm super macro mode,
- Because of the faster performance in record mode, faster AF,
- Because of the USB 2.0 high-speed transfer from camera to PC,
- And because of the dual media slot that is very useful.
So what are the things I miss from my S7000 at this price range?
- Flip-out and rotating LCD
- Custom modes on mode dial (or anywhere)
- ISO 800 at full CCD resolution (6 MP) - Yes, I DO NOT miss ISO 100!
- Continious shooting mode with flash on
- A bit better auto white balance
- An AF-assist lamp would be nice (passive sensor helps mainly in good light)
Many people compare the S7000 to DSLRs. This is NOT fair IMO. Compare DSLRs to each other, this camera may look like a DSLR (that is very nice) but that is not a DSLR and it doesn't want to be one. It's an all around, full-featured prosumer camera with high quality lens and longer than average zoom.
I use only the 6MP mode, the 12MP interpolated is not my cup of tea. The images are soft and noisy for my liking in the 12MP modes, but in the 6MP mode everything is clear - so if noise is the issue you hesitate buying this camera, then go and get it, it's not an issue - at least for me.
I like the aperture of 3.1 of the 6x zoom lens at tele position very much. With this, I can make crystal clear and sharp images at full zoom, without having to struggle with light and AF. Of course, it needs external light that can be a flash unit, but this property of the S7000 is really outstanding, comparing it to any of my previous Canons.
The last 5 continious shooting mode is very useful - it even works for moving objects, I shot several sharp images of my 2-year-old daughter without any problems. Just make sure you have a big memory card, make as many photos as possible and keep the best of them at the end of the day.
Strong jpeg compression is another thing I was afraid of. Having 5 Canon compacts before, my first thing was to test the image quality straight out of the S7000 without any post-processing. Some of the photos I saw on the net (on pbase) were great, but some of them looked grainy and soft. Here's my opinion: again, at the 6MP mode the images are GREAT. At the 12MP modes, although it allows for larger print sizes, images look grainy and soft to me. So I stick with the 6MP mode, it's enough for me and gives at least as detailed pictures as my A95 gave before.
What can I say about the macro mode? It's outstanding with great DOF, very high resolution and image detail. No complaining about the S7000's macro performance.
VGA movie mode - it's nice. Fills up the memory card quickly so be sure to get a few ones (or a big one). Try to avoid microdrives, nowdays high capacity CF cards can be bought, no need to a microdrive, I always preferred flash cards to microdrives.
One of the big big advantage of the S7000 to other cameras is user friendliness, ergonomics, menu and button layout. It's unbeatable I think. Everything is in the right place, you can manage the camera even with one hand.
I have only one problem at the moment, but it's not that big really. The camera seems to misfire the white balance sometimes when using flash indoors. It has a blueish tint to the images taken, that happens occassionally. In the same environment, without changing anything, I was obtain to take 9 pictures with great wb and 1 with bad (blueish) all the time out of 10. This is quite strange, may be I have a faulty camera I don't know, but it can be easily corrected in post-processing afterwards.
It did the same when using one of the pre-programmed wbs, like the incandescent setting.
Still, despite of the white balance issue, I HIGHLY recommend this camera to every serious amateur photographer out there. It's certanly NOT a DSLR but can you get a DSLR for this price? I don't think so. The S7000's outstanding ergonomics and appereance, feature set and high quality optics raise above most of today's compact (and even prosumer) cams, just go and buy it you'll love it I promise. That's what I've been told and they were right!
...
Back again. Did I ever mention the RAW format and the zoom ring for manual focus?
I would like to talk about the noise issue. The S7000's lowest noise setting is ISO200 in P, A, T and M modes, and the camera can select ISO 160 if it can. Are the images of the S7000 noisy at ISO200? I would say definitely NO. In fact, image noise of the S7000 at ISO200 match the image noise of my A95 at ISO100. One of my favourite digitcam reviewers on the net was complaining about ISO200 as the lowest selectable ISO and higher than average noise. OK, a Rebel has less noise. But hey, again, this is not the same price point. For the price, the S7000's noise is lower than average. I can shoot hand-held images without flash at ISO400 (or 800) and I don't need a tripod. Just try it yourself and you'll see that noise is not an issue, indeed it's better(lower) than average. Show me another camera at this price that has lower noise at ISO200 and ISO400 than the S7000. I wonder if you could.
So come on people, hurry up, before this excellent camera gets discontinued!
...
Another update: the more I use the camera the more I like it. There is another issue unfortunately: blown highlights. The S7000 tends to overexpose images occasionally that many times leads to blown highlights and therefore loss of detail. Be careful with the right exposure setting. I know that in winter it's really tough for the camera to set the correct metering, but the number of overexposed images seem a bit more than average to me. Still, I love this camera you just have to check and set the exposure manually a few times and then you're ready.
DOF of this camera is SOOO great!
Rating:
Summary: This is the camera DADS need to get
Review: Not just dads, but anyone not wanting to lug around a camcorder with their digital camera. I researched like crazy on what camera to buy, wanting good resolution and more importantly video capture. It came down to these cameras, the Canon S50, Fuji F700. Fuji S5000 and S7000 S50 has best picture, small, but not good zoom, doesn't take standard batteries, and the video capture is only half-rez and limited to 3-mintue max sizes. The F700 is small like the s50, taked great video (full rez, as long as you want), but it doesn't use standard batteries, only does 3MP pictures and only takes the more espensive XD cards.. Then I found the S500 which does 3MP, good zoom, but only takes half-rez video and requires XD card.. But... the S7000 seems to have everything i wanted for around the same price..
It takes standard AA batters (and rechargables too)
Taes XDcard AND Compact Flash/Microdrive storage
Has 6X zoom.
Super-macro mode,
Continuous burst shooting.
takes 6MP pictures natively (12MP possible too)
and takes full-rez video ad 60FPS for as much storage you have.... sold. I was going to only spend $300 total, but with the $100 rebate, the s700 really became worthwhile.
The camera takes AWESOME outside pictures.. a bit noisy indoors, but the flash makes it work great indoors.. Okay, a quick comment to the people that say a digital camera isn't good for capturing video for life's moments.. like recording your child's school play etc/...
You might use a camcrder to capture 90-minutes of video.. but really, you gonna watch that full 90-minutes at a later time? no, youre gonna edit, fastforward or whatever just to get to the part you want to watch which will probably be like 10 minutes tops.
Rating:
Summary: Update after half a year's experience
Review: Now that I've had the camera for several months its seems like a good time for an update, especially given some of the criticisms that have been leveled at the S7000. The short answer is that I still love the camera, even though it's not perfect. The long answer deserves some explanation. I have many years experience with 35mm film, but also many years experience with computers and computer graphics. Even today, film has capabilities that can't be matched with digital cameras, except possibly by cameras beyond the means of most people. On the other hand, digital photography has huge advantages in terms of immediate accessibility, cost per shot, electronic distribution, editing and enhancement, and the ability to control the printing process to get prints that look the way you want them to. My initial path into digital photography was to buy a film scanner and scan 35mm slides, which in some ways still represents the best of both worlds. But it is a time consuming and expensive (on a per shot basis) approach. My move into digital cameras has occurred in two steps. The first was to replace my "little" 35mm camera with a compact digital camera. For recording events and snapshot photography digital cameras became the preferred approach several years ago, and I'm on my second generation compact digital camera. I love being able to go to a family gathering, then go home and do a quick sorting and editing of the pictures, dump them on the web, and e-mail out a URL so everyone can see them while the gathering is still fresh in their minds. Replacing my 35mm SLR is a tougher problem, and one that hasn't been completely solved yet. The biggest issue I have is that the format of available digital sensors means that there are no really wide angle lenses available for reasonably priced digital SLRs. This, more than any other issue, keeps me from buying a digital SLR. I bought the S7000 as a way to get most of what my 35mm SLR does at a reasonable price, while retaining the 35mm SLR, the film in the refrigerator, and the film scanner as a backup until there is a digital SLR that comes close enough to my ultimate requirements that I'm willing to pay the extra money for it. The S7000 is a remarkably capable camera for the price. The wide end of the zoom is restrictive for me, but I have an adaptor and a Raynox 0.66x lens that help. A fast 1GB compact flash card makes it easy to take a lot of pictures at essentially zero marginal cost. It is true that the lack of control over the compression is an occasional annoyance, but the compressed pictures usually come out very well. Then there is the noise issue. There is no question that if you want to blow up the images and look for noise you will find it. For many shots it's not an issue, but for clear skies and a few other situations you can clearly see it. In most cases screen images and prints of modest size won't show unacceptable noise, but there are situations where it will be evident. Note that there are tools available to make the nose less apparent in images, and if you only occasionally make big enlargements they may solve the problem (if it is one) for you. To continue on this issue, if I scan a slide from ten or more years ago I will generally get grain that is more evident than the noise in an S7000 image. Newer film, thanks to the intense rivalry between Kodak and Fuji in the 90s, has noticeably less grain, but it is still there. So it is all a matter of expectations. The S7000 can create images with noise no more evident than the film grain of days not long since past. Yes, for half again as much you can buy a camera with less noise, but is that a reason to criticize the performance of the S7000? The S7000 can create marvelous images at a great price. It doesn't quite match the capabilities of a cameras that cost significantly more, but why should it? I'm delighted with the S7000, and have taken a lot of pictures that I really like with it. I like being able to shoot hundreds of pictures without changing film. The battery draw bugs me a little, but the problem is not that I've ever had to stop while shooting to change batteries. The strange thing is that it draws down batteries while it is turned off, so I have to plan on inserting fresh batteries each day. But that's a small problem when you expect it. I keep up on what's happening in the digital camera world, and I knew when I bought it that it was possible to buy a better camera at a higher price. But, as I alluded to above, I'm waiting for the digital SLR system that gives me everything I want before I make a big investment, and this camera offered pretty much everything available at its price point or even a step or two higher. The one competing camera that intrigues me is the Sony DSC-F828, which has a wider zoom and a four color CCD mask. But it not only costs half again as much, it weighs nearly twice as much as the S7000. So I still think the S7000 is the right camera for me at this time. That doesn't mean that it is the right camera for everyone. But when you compare its strengths and weaknesses it should be clear why many people love it even though, as some critics point out, it certainly isn't perfect. But it is a very capable and fun camera!
Rating:
Summary: Very Nice
Review: Okay I'll be honest. I am a complete amateur(for the moment) when it comes to cameras and all the jargon that is associated with them, but I must say that this baby does a really nice job of what it is supposed to do and that is to take good,high quality pictures. Tinkering around with the buttons for an hour or so will give you a general idea of what this camera is capable of. The only problem that I did face was that the memory card supplied with the camera is woefully inadequate for the kind of images that you would like to take with a camera of this calibre. All in all I am extremely pleased with my purchase.
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