Customer Reviews

Fujifilm Finepix S6000fd 6.3MP Digital Camera with 10.7x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom with Picture Stabilization

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

OK, let's start off with what this camera ISN'T:

1. A point and shoot for easy carry
2. A DSLR that costs $1000+
3. A movie camera


OK, now that we've said that, let's talk about what this camera IS:

1. A LONG zoom DSLR-LIKE camera
2. Easy to hold
3. Easy to zoom
4. A RAW-capable, low-noise, excellent color photo machine

This camera is Fuji's answer to the Sony DSC-H5 and the Powershot G series cameras. It has 6MP of resolution in a CCD chip mounted behind a large 10.7x optical, MANUAL zoom. Let's examine some of the points to consider when talking about cameras.

First, resolution is misleading. Many consumers think that higher megapixels mean a nicer photo with sharper details and camera companies encourage this thinking by slapping megapixel numbers on the front of the camera and all over the ads. Keep in mind, though, that megapixels alone do not a perfect photo make. The pixels are tiny dots on an imaging chip and each pixel is only sensitive to ONE of the three colors cameras use to record light information: red, green or blue. Camera manufacturers choose how much of each chip's pixel allotment is assigned to each color, so you may find that maybe 50% is green and 25% each is red and blue. Once that's decided, the chip maker has to determine the number of pixels to put on the chip. Well, the bigger chips (like in DSLRs) can hold more pixels and the smaller chips (like in any camera that's NOT a DSLR) can hold more pixels ONLY if the pixels are made smaller. So, if you have a half-inch chip with 10 MP and a quarter-inch chip with 10MP, the smaller chip has MUCH smaller pixels so it can squeeze them all in. Now, you might think that this is good, since smaller pixels can capture more detail...but you're wrong. When pixels are crammed too closely together, they can interfere with each other and loss of detail (noise) can result. This camera has a 6MP resolution that is well-suited to the size of the chip. The next model up, the s9000, has too many pixels on the chip and the images are noisier as a result. So, in the basic area of resolution, this camera is respectable and, with its MANY modes, scene presets, color saturation, sharpness and exposure control and manual focus, you will be taking nice, sharp, pleasant photos.

The next big thing is the zoom. Bigger is usually better and this is no exception. A large zoom allows for framing shots and the wide angle on this lens is perfect for scenes of mountains or beaches. The manual zoom feature on this cannot be ignored: it is a SUPERIOR form of zoom control. The zoom is fluid-damped, so it's smooth and precise. You also get a manual focus ring if you need to use it and the LCD shows a focus check circle when you do (the "manual zoom" is controlled by your fingers, but it is technically electronic.) The only downside is the lack of optical stabilization. At long zooms, this is critical for a good shot. The digital stabilizer just doesn't work as well.

This camera can also shoot in RAW mode. This is CRITICAL for those professional-looking shots! You can get the image straight off the chip, with NO processing and then edit it with the included software. This means that you can adjust white balance, sharpness, color and the color curve very precisely...almost like being able to take the photo over again! I've done some macro work with the RAW mode and have been very pleased with what a little tweaking can do. This camera encourages you to learn how to use it by being able to take good impromptu photos (with the very functional face detection system) and then allowing you to set whatever manual settings you want to. Note that the JPG mode is good, but the compression of the JPG algorithm inevitably means loss of detail. It's best (though inconvenient) to shoot RAW and convert in Photoshop to TIFF for printing perfect photos.

The camera's other features are nice, as well: big, crisp 2.5" LCD with plenty of pixels for clear viewing, a previous shot mode that shows the three previous shots alongside your current window to help you frame things, a killer 640x480 movie mode with sound and 30fps capture and a long battery life with rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries. Proprietary battery packs are a pain in the rear if you're caught without a spare or hours to charge. With this, you can, in a pinch, grab some alkalines and get the shots you need! HUZZAH, FUJIFILM!


I've taken hundreds of photos with this since I got it and I can definitely say that, if you learn how to use it and the principles of photography, you can take GREAT photos with this. If, however, you don't care about anything but pushing a button and getting an acceptable photo, then this is probably too much camera for you. You MUST accept the fact that this is NOT a DSLR with a big chip and expensive lenses and it's not a movie camera...but it is very good for what it does and it is a definite recommend.

The only bad point is the ridiculous xD card that is only for Olympus and Fuji cameras. Not only are they more expensive per GB than any other card format, but they currently only go to 2GB. That's a lot of photos, but it's still inferior to being able to get an 8GB CF or a 4GB SD card. The s9000 CAN use CF cards, but this camera, in my opinion, takes less noisy photos and is the better buy for the price.

The "face detection" feature, which sounds like a gimmick, for me quantifies this as the best digital I've ever used. A green box will appear over your subjects face and if they're like my toddler are constantly moving will actually follow their face (as long as they are looking in the general viscinity of the camera). It will give focus and lighting priority to their faces. It even works on the TV (had to try it). The macro is excellent, and while I wasn't sure of a manual zoom it's way faster and ultimately better than a battery consuming zoom. The ISO of 3200 can take unblurry pictures without the flash in my very dark house and they're still usuable VS the throw away blurrrrr of my canon. I'm really happy I finally pulled the trigger and bought this over the S3-IS. - (From a former S2-IS owner.) Only complaints are it's fairly large, but you can't put any super zoom in your pocket really.. The "on board" memory is about the dumbest thing ever. You can take about 1 picture on the finest mode before it's full. What's the point of that? I don't understand why you would buy a 6.3mp and use low quality shots. BUT the good news is the XD cards hold more per MB than the SD cards and are fast. Use the "M". I got a 1gb card they're quite reasonable and it'll hold about 350 pics at the best resolution (fine). If you want really rapid shots you're probably better off with a DSLR (more money). This will take a shot about every two seconds with the correct focus settings. If you need faster than that.. you're not looking at sub $500 cameras anyways..

To the reviewer before me: It takes one button to use all flash features. Push once for AUTO, then once for Red Eye Reduction, then once for Forced (what yours was obviously on) and once more for suppressed (always off). They use the the lightning bolt icon same as on a Sony, and on a Canon, And it takes one setting to turn off the preview after you take a shot. Landscape setting is only for LANDSCAPES you have a landscape shot in your backyard? Compact flash cards are outdated (too big) compared to SD or XD, and you show me a new digital camera not made of plastic and I'll eat my review. I do know it is sometimes about the "feel" that's a very personal thing.. And I'm not trying to be a jerk here but you should have used "AUTO". Because anyone who doesn't know how to shut of a flash shouldn't be using the advanced settings, and then complain when they don't turn out right. I think you also shouldn't slam a product without reading the manual . It's just not fair to the manufacturers. I hope you like your next one. Cheers!

This camera was bought to replace a Kodak z740 which had lots of issues with focusing in low light. The s6000fd from Fuji is the same size of the more expensive digital SLRs and has a nice 'sturdy' feel and weight. The fact also that the camera runs on 4 'AA' batteries is nice, on one set of 2500 mAh rechargable NiMH, I have taken around 350 pictures and there is still no sign of weak batteries (it alerts you when the batteries are @ 1/4 charge left).

The manual zoom worried me at first, but since using it I will NEVER go back to the powered (?) zoom. The camera also has a manual focus ring for those that want more control. Speaking of control, the s6000fd has FULL manual control. The ISO range can go up to 3200 ISO, but noise is quite noticeable in this area. The flash has a LONG range and will light up my whole living area. The 'face detection' feature really does work and is nice to have for those of use that take a lot of portrait shots or general people shots. Face detection works by finding faces in a scene and focusing on that, not something else. It can find up to 10 faces in one scene. Natural light mode is also nice, and even though some noise will be noticed on the computer screen, it is not on actual prints. The camera also has a 'Scene position' mode that includes preset settings for beach, snow, parties, museums, fireworks, sunsets, sports, nights, landscapes, anti-blur and portraits. The camera also includes a movie feature, but I can not speak for that since I will not use the camera to make movies. I must say this camera does NOT have image stabilization, but rather the anti-blur mode. The anti-blur works by bumping up the ISO and switching to a faster shutter speed. This works, but optical image stabilization would have been better, then again I have never found the need for either. The LCD is nice and BIG for us aging people. Focusing occurs in a snap and is the fastest I have ever seen on an advanced zoom camera. Remember the low light focusing issue that I mentioned earlier with the z740? Non existent on the s6000fd! I have taken tons of pictures in low light and they all have come out sharp and focused perfectly.

The only complaints are that to delete a picture after taking it is to go into review and delete it from there. There is no way to delete immediately after taking. The only other issue is that it uses XD cards, instead of the more readily available SD cards. Just a side note, when I bought the XD card to use with the camera, I bought the Olympus 1 GB Model H card, its write time is about three time that of the Model M cards.

Make sure to check out a few of the pictures I have posted above for some samples of this wonderful camera's pictures! Enjoy!

I bought the Fuji S6000fd in December 2006 to help me take better pictures and to experiment with advanced photography techniques. Initially, I had mixed feelings about this camera and several times even considered selling it to get a " better dSLR". But after thinking long and hard and using it quite a bit and comparing its image qualities, I have come to the conclusion that it is indeed an excellent camera for what it is intended for. The camera is now a keeper.

I use this camera mostly for travel and family pictures. Below are my personal views about this camera:

PROS:
1. Picture quality: This is generally sharp with excellent color rendition (I use "chrome") for ISO 100-800.

2. Noise: This becomes evident only at ISO 800-1600, but they are still usable after running the pictures through Neat Image noise reduction filter, at 25% amount for ISO 800 and 75% for ISO 1600. I don't use ISO3200 because of loss of details.

3. SLR-like: This is the closest thing to an SLR with manual twist zoom, program mode dial and comfortable grip/ergonomics. The fixed lens comes with a nice looking hood and allows for the use of polarizer filter for creative control.

4. Live view/histogram: This is without a doubt the BEST feature of this camera. I use it every time to compose my shots and adjust my exposure compensation and white balance to "get it right first time". As a result, I am getting very high percentage of quality pictures out of this camera without having to do much post processing. To do this with a dSLR, you will have to take a shot first, then preview on the LCD, make the camera adjustments and then take the shot again. With the live view, it is close to WYSIWYG.

5. Focal range of 28-300mm: The 28mm wide angle provides excellent coverage for landscapes and in tight internal spaces. I don't use the telephoto range as much but it's there when I need it to zoom in on the details.

6. Face detection: It works, so I use for all people shots.

7. Movie mode: This is a bonus feature, and works well enough that it has replaced my camcorder. I get 30 minutes of video from a 1 GB card. The manual zoom works but you have to move it slowly to avoid "jumpiness" as the lens changes focus.

8. AA battery: I already use rechargeables, so not having to buy a spare lithium battery is a benefit.

9. Price: At ~$300+ and for the quality/features, this camera offers tremendous value.

CONS:
1. No image stabilization: This is a potential deal breaker for many buyers. But compared to other non-dSLRs with noisy pictures at ISO400 and up, shooting at ISO 800-1600 on the Fuji S6000fd offers a "compromise" which somewhat compensates for the lack of a real optical image stabilizer. But this is 2007, so I think it should be a requirement to include OIS on any lens longer than 200mm. I personally don't use long zoom that much, so it is less of an issue. But it would be nice if Fuji include this feature for its next release.

2. No shallow depth of field: This means you can't isolate the subject by creating a blurred background, and is a universal problem for all P&S cameras with small sensors. With Fuji S6000fd, there is some work around, such as using telephoto focal length combined with macro mode, but the blur effect is not as good as what a dSLR can produce.

3. Limited burst mode: Continuous mode is slow and the buffer is limited to only 3 shots. If you taken a lot of action photography, then this camera will be woefully inadequate.

4. Electronic Viewfinder: The brightness can be adjusted up or down but the resolution is only 135K pixels so it is not as sharp.

5. Auto mode: This camera doesn't produce good pictures with Auto mode or even the Natural mode because of the tendency to use high ISO. Those looking for a simple P&S should look at Fuji F20 or Canon models.

Conclusion: There are trade-offs in any camera purchase. Despite my initial hesitation, this is an excellent camera that offers close to (but not the same as) what you'll get from a dSLR. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn photography but not ready to invest in a dSLR.

This would have been a "perfect" camera (for me, at least) if Fuji had included optical image stabilization (for another 2-3 stop advantage) and a higher resolution EVF.

I absolutely love this camera! It feels like a D-SLR and blows away my Sony Mavica 200 from a few years back that I paid twice the price for. I'm sure a top notch DSLR has it's advantages, but this camera gets it done really well, really quick and relatively easy! HUGE features that I love:
1) Manual ZOOM 10.7x-- You get there quick and you don't run down your batteries with power draining motor zoom (took 210 shots with older NiMH batteries). My biggest disappointment with the quick & easy cameras has always been the lame optical Zoom that usually maxed at 3x.
2) 1600 & 3200 ISO speeds -- life-saver for 4x6 moment keepers in mod>low light. A lot of sites were saying these speeds rendered totally unuseable photos, but that is ONLY if you are trying to print an 8 x 10. I have taken 100+ photos at 1600 ISO inside with moderate>low light (NO FLASH) and they totally blew away any moderate>low light picture ever taken with my Mavica 200. The Sony always streaked unless you used the flash and those pictures were always unbalanced in light and color (even after setting White Balance). It's actually hard to take an unuseable picture.
3) FACE DETECTION - Great feature to help set up the camera to take the best possible shot with the most natural color. SO EASY and works SO WELL!
4) Nice 2.5" LCD & easy to navigate -- I always frame my shots on the LCD and this one doesn't disappoint. The small Digital Viewfinder is the ONLY negative about the camera (it's somewhat challenging to get a clear look at your subject). Overall, this camera is as easy to navigate as any other I have used. A rolling dial to adjust parameters would have been a nice bonus, but not missed!
5) Natural Light Mode -- Very cool for getting the best shot without a flash (you can even take one with and one without flash at the same time--VERY COOL)
6) RAW photo capture -- SUPER HIGH RES photos with great detail! At the camera's price, that's a definite BONUS!
7) Manual options GALORE! You can go all manual, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, or a PROGRAM mode where Shutter & Aperture are still handled by the camera, but you can set most everything else (very nice).

Overall, for @$400 I don't think anyone can complain about the value/performance factor of this camera. Get a 1GB or 2GB xD Picture Card (H model) and let 'er fly. It's a FUN camera that feels like a PRO camera! I hope this helps you as I was somewhat apprehensive before I bought mine. I'm glad I picked this one!

I purchased this camera after a few months of research. I was keenly looking at the 9500/9000 series when this camera came out and it sported the spectacular F30 sensor. Initially, the first month was a learning curve, I messed up a lot of pictures, the AUTO modes were slightly different from what I had experienced in the Canons. But, after 3 months of use, I a happy with the camera. This is definitely, as of now, the best low light, mega zoom bridge camera. Indoors, low light pictures are great, it captures the ambiance well, with or without the flash. Even if it uses flash, it is not so harsh as I have seen in other cams. The face detection detects faces as FUJI claims. It has a nice 10.7X manual zoom, which is super. The camera ergonomics and design is great. Few options are slightly buried in the menus, which could have been better. The overall look and feel is great, very much like SLR. I had a few people look intently at my camera in the malls. One guy, wanted to read my model on the camera. There is a slight learning curve with this camera. It is not your simple point and shoot camera. If you want an alternative to SLR and save money, this might be the camera. The canon S2 and S3 are great cameras but they are definitely behind the Fuji in indoors and low light situation. Here is a list of what I like and what I dont like

What I like.
1. Wonderful 10.7X manual zoom
2. High ISO capability. Great low light photography. Very good ISO 800, I had some nice ISO 1600 and a few ISO 3200 were worth keeping. Ofcourse, the are no comparison to SLR, but, this is not a SLR and is a bridge cam.
3. The modes, dials, usage, feel, grip and overall feel is SLR like.
4. A best All-in-one package, non removable wideangle lens from 28-300mm, which covers most of the zoom range. Extra wide or tele can be achieved with adaptors.
5. Wonderful, live -preview 2.5 inch LCD, unlike a SLR, where you have to use the viewfinder to compose and take the shot.
6. Impressive, movie capabilities and good resolution.
7. Takes AA batteries, so the user can buy anytime, anywhere, any brand.
8. Decent software with the package. Especially, raw editor available for editing raw images.

What could have been better.
1. EVF is pathetic, very bad resolution, only suitable for framing and composing the shot
2. Uses xD card. SD card would have been a better option
3. The AUTO mode is not as dependable as I would like it. Potrait mode would be a better mode for all -round casual shooting. Of course, there a host of different modes for different settings. But AUTO, is not great.
4. Outdoor shots image quality are just a little, behind Canon. In terms of sharpness and saturation. This is subjective and depends on individual's choice.

[...]

I am real particular with my digital cameras. I expect performance, quality, and flawless capability to adapt to different environments. After being a Kodak fanboy of owning a Z7590 and loving the capabilities of the camera, I was skeptical about this camera and Fuji's under the radar approach to digital camera. I tested this camera at a local store against a higher end kodak and the results were much better. There was less "noise" and the fuji allowed for sharper images in nighttime. People have said they have had problems working this camera inside. Its not that hard. You just have to experiment with different settings and lights. I will say this, if you just a point and shoot person, this camera may not be for you. I agree with the comment stating this is a "prosumer" camera. It has the look and feel of an SLR. It has a manual zoom which I absolutely love and the focus ring make it a better buy. I am a backpacker by nature and this camera is great outdoors. It takes vivid pictures and the macro capabilities are great. It allows for easy on and off and people say that it does not have "image stabilization" it does. I put the camera in shutter priority mode and juiced the shutter up to the max and it works great. They have a setting for the image stabilization, but i use that for keeping the camera steady when my hands arent. I will admit, its a little awkward at first, but so is riding a bike for the first time. You have to work at it to get a rythmn down and it will be easy to operate. People say they are having a hard time with indoor shooting. Honestly, work with the camera in different lightings...Problem Solved. I hate the flashes on camera indoors cause it looks bad and when I use low flashes it works perfectly because I work out a rhythm with my camera. I am experimenting with ISO settings now and the results are great. I havent had a chance to test out the software, but from what I gather it is pretty much the same as all the others. Person can do basic changes to the image. This camera I have seen go for 420 and up in stores in my hometown and you are getting a steal here. I got my camera one day earlier than expected. Every digital camera is bound to have some flaws. There is no "perfect" camera out in the market. Every one will have some barrel distortion, purple fringing, noise problems and many other things. [...] Its worthy of it with its high end capabilities. I havent dealt with AA's in cameras in a while. Good luck with your buy and happy shooting

Having already owned a nice full-featured digicam, I had only one reason to want to upgrade. Better image quality. This camera has one of the best CCD sensors available. You can confirm this by going to imaging-resource dot com and using their neat "comparometer", which gives enlargeable side by side sample images for nearly any two cameras you want to compare. This was a revelation because I'm a show-me kind of guy. You can read all the reviews you want, but this tool put the proof in my face. I stacked up nearly every other competitive brand under $500 against the Fuji S6000fd, and none could stand the comparison. This gem even takes down most DSLR's at more than thrice it's price in terms of picture detail and noise, especially at high ISO's. This proves that you don't need 12 million pixels for a good picture, just a few million GOOD pixels.

I really like the manual zoom adjust as compared to a motor driven lens, which is, BTW what crapped on my Canon S1, resulting in the dreaded E18 error code. The Fuji has plenty of other manual features too, including focus, aperture and shutter priority, here is where the best results will be obtained. My Canon definitely had the advantage in Auto mode, as my photos were consistently better with the S1.

Here is where this review turns slightly south. There are features glaringly missing in this package. Some may call them bells and whistles, but once you have them, you are spoiled. The first is optical image stabilization. I was hard pressed to take a blurry pic with my Canon, even at long zooms. The S6000 does compensate by bumping the ISO, but even at ISO 1600, detail is still lost. Secondly, having a flip LCD opens up tons more creative possibilities by allowing the shooter to compose at different perspectives without having to lie on the ground or climb a ladder. With the flip LCD, you can lurk at family events in stealth mode, camera in lap, and catch the perfect candid shot by not being seen in the arms extended digital camera pose.

Another peeve of mine is photo deletion. A good size memory card can store hundreds of hi-res photos. Why do I have to delete one at a time or all at once? Even my very old Casio QV8000 kept a folder file that allowed deletion by batches. The Fuji takes about 3-4 seconds for each photo to go bye-bye, and it's pretty easy to do an "oopsy" and kill the whole card. The S6000 does have a nice feature in the live histogram, but try holding down the button to activate it, and using your thumb to toggle the aperture while smashing your face against the viewfinder to check the results.

I have become spoiled by long zoom cameras since I love shooting birds and other wildlife, so I put a high priority on features like "IS" and a flip LCD. If i were rating this camera stricly on the image quality it's capable of, it would be an easy 5 star review. However, I don't throw out 5 star reviews for just any product that I like. So you should consider this a very good review from a demanding customer. If Fujifilm upgrades this camera to include more features and improves the auto mode, they have a Canon killer, especially at the near $320 price point.

The good:
Best image quality for this price any beyond
Great macros
Good battery life
Super photos at higher ISO
Manual zoom and focus rings
Good in low light
Wide range 28-300 lens
Some neat shooting modes

The Negs:
No optical image stabilizer
No flip LCD
Slow picture deletion
Some controls fiddly in "P" mode
It's big!

This may be one of the best secrets -- and bargains -- in digital cameras. I found out about it only after doing a lot of research. If you are an experienced or serious amateur (e.g., a former film SLR user), you will almost certainly love this camera. But even a less-experienced point-and-shooter may be surprised at how easy it is to take great pictures with.

(Note: At the end of July 2007, Fuji announced a new 8MP version of this camera coming in Sept. But more megapixels aren't always better. For example, the Finepix F31fd with 6MP provides slightly better quality -- lower noise -- than the F40fd with 8MP.)

My wife wanted the best picture quality possible without going up to a $700 digital SLR. She likes to take people pictures, often in dim light without flash. I wanted a camera that would enable me to control the shutter speed and/or aperture, and be a worthy successor to my old manual-focus Canon A-1 35mm film SLR. So I looked at models with excellent sharpness, low-light sensitivity, and manual controls. At first I was considering more compact cameras (such as the Canon SD800, Fujifilm Finepix F31fd and E900, and the Panasonic Lumix LX3 or TZ series). But after reading several detailed reviews, I got very interested in the S6000fd. I then played around with one at the camera store and was surprised by how easy to hold it was. And after using it for almost 500 pictures on a one-week vacation in Colorado, it has exceeded my high expectations for quality, ease of use, and versatility.

The best features:
1. Low-light sensitivity. Unlike other non-SLR digicams, the S6000fd sensor takes very clear, low-noise pictures even at ISO 400 or 800 (with an option to go up to 3200). This enables you to take better handheld shots with less light, even at twilight or with regular indoor lighting. It also makes the lack of electronic image stabilization unnecessary -- unless perhaps you often need to take telephoto pictures in low light.
2. Excellent zoom lens goes from an equivalent 28mm (true wide angle) to 300mm (10.7x), so you can frame just about any subject perfectly. The best aspect of the zooming is that you do it manually with a twist of the lens ring itself -- MUCH faster and easier to frame your subject precisely than any automatic zoom!
3. Very comfortable and secure grip makes the increased size and weight vs. our other point-and-shoot cameras almost unnoticeable. I mean it. This was my No. 1 concern, but I actually believe this camera is more comfortable and easy to hold steady than any of those sleek little silver digicams! (Caution to men: Before you get this for your wife, mother, daughter, or girlfriend, however, remember that she might also want to keep a little camera in her handbag.)
4. Face-detection feature -- This really works! It not only ensures the faces are in focus, but also meters to ensure they are correctly exposed. This enables you to concentrate on timing to get those smiles. It's also easy to turn off (in case you are more concerned about the scenery) with direct button access.
5. Quick response from power-up, and almost nonexistent shutter lag. Autofocusing and shot-to-shot are not the fastest (or so I read), but plenty fast enough for 99% of the time, I believe.
6. Uses AA batteries -- easy to get fresh set, just in case your rechargeables are out or not ready.
7. Able to zoom while taking movies!
8. Outstanding flash strength -- up to 27 feet! And almost no red-eye, partly because the flash pops up quite high.
9. Able to take RAW photos for more flexible correction of exposure or color on the computer. (I have used it a few times, but it does take time to edit and then convert to JPEG for slide shows, etc.)
10. Large and sharp (215k) 2.5" LCD screen...which leads me to the
ONE real disadvantage:
1. The "eye-level" (traditional) viewfinder is an electronic one that provides only about 100k pixels, so it's not quite as sharp as one would like. But it's certainly good enough to compose pictures, and if even if you wear glasses, it has a diopter adjustment -- a feature one rarely finds except on higher-priced models. The only reason I need this viewfinder is my presbyopia. No that's not a religion, but a vision problem of middle age: I cannot easily focus on the LCD without my reading glasses.)

There are a couple of other nitpicks, such as the menu system being a little less user-friendly than some, and the color saturation boost from the F-chrome setting being a little overdone. (I use it anyway because I like how it boosts the intensity of otherwise somewhat drab greenery.)

Many people seem to think that somehow xD Picture cards are slow or hard to find. I got a 2GB "H" speed (for about $45) and it is plenty fast. True, not all printers have an xD slot. So get a $10 card reader, or just upload the pictures to your PC. (If it still bothers you, the new S8000 has an SD/xD card slot.)

The Canon SD800 and Canon S5 were two models on my list. The SD850 doesn't have a long telephoto (or face detection), and the S5 lacks a true wide-angle lens (yet costs a lot more). I was also considering the Panasonic Lumix LX, and TZ series with wide-angle lenses, but all of them suffer from high noise (and noise reduction) starting at ISO 200-400. The Sony H7 or H9 are also worthy competitors, but they didn't seem to have any major advantages, unless you need stabilization for lots of extreme telephoto pictures. In that case, another attractive model is the Olympus Evolt E510, with an incredible 18x zoom starting at 28mm and OIS.
But in detailed picture-quality comparisons, the Fujifilm S6000fd was superior to all of those, and it's almost $200 less.

I've had this camera for about 8 months and thought I'd post a review. I purchased this camera to help record my new son's development. Since I was taking pictures of him (and my wife) more and more, I thought it was a good time to upgrade.

First of all, the picture quality is excellent, and is on par with a dSLR in many instances. Previously I had a 4-year old Canon P&S, which still holds its own, but the s6000 is superior for interior/low-light shots, and has better color accuracy. It also takes more consistently focused and exposed pictures than my old camera. I have no regrets about upgrading. In fact my wife often asked why we didn't get a better camera sooner.

In addition to the picture quality, this camera focuses very quickly, and the Face Detection is highly useful if you take a lot of posed shots. It doesn't get in the way if the camera doesn't lock onto a face, and you can use the face detection preview feature to quickly check if your subjects were blinking when you clicked the shutter.

The next important feature is that, unlike a dSLR, I can use it to take high quality movies. No one wants invest or lug around a video camera in addition to a still camera. dSLRs don't do video (and they don't have a live preview on the back). The Fuji is great to take 50 pictures, and those 2 or 3 minute movies to fully capture the moment.

Finally, the manual zoom ring gives you great control over the framing of your picture. I originally believed a camera with such a large zoom was only useful for taking pictures of birds in trees, but it's so much more than that. From a close position you can quickly frame your image from lots of background, to practically none. This isn't an advanced technique, and a zoom ring (rather than a rocker switch) lets everyone take better pictures.

Here are a few other selling points for this camera:
Great Battery life
Fast USB 2.0 transfer to the computer
Feels solid and comfortable in your hand
Standard 4x6 (2:3) images so you don't have to crop


Minuses:
Yes, there are a few things I'm not too keen on...
First and foremost, the camera is not small. It's no P&S, and often gets in the way when I'm out and about. That's the price of a great lens I suppose. You can't quickly slip it in your pocket when you're done taking pictures, and it feels a little precarious as it hangs from a strap around your neck. So I end up holding on to it for a 5-minute round of taking pictures, then place the camera in the case and get back to enjoying my day. Because of this, I'd consider purchasing a Fuji F31fd, which is essentially the same camera without the great zoom. Having both would be ideal.

Second, the programs aren't too great. They work fine outside, but to get the most from the camera, you should shoot in the P,S,A, or M modes. In fact, if you only use the P mode, and change the ISO as needed (100 or 200 on a bright sunny day, 400 inside with lots of (natural) light, and 800 in side in dim lighting) you should be 100% pleased with your shots.

All-in-all I'm very happy with the s6000.