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Comment on Fujifilm Finepix S3100 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom Cheap by T.C.

T.C. — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:35:51 +0000

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

An excellent camera to replace a 35mm SLR, January 21, 2005

T.C. (New Jersey, USA) -

This review is from: Fujifilm Finepix S3100 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

My 35mm is 35 years old with multiple lenses and a mini suitcase to carry it all. I was looking for the right digital camera to replace this old and cumbersome companion in my travels. I found it in the Fuji S3100 after having done my research homework and handling the camera in the store.

Picture quality was the #1 requirement. My first test shots (in the auto mode) were downloaded to the PC and test printed as 3x5's at home. The quality was outstanding in all respects. My prior research did not disappoint. Coloration was perfect. Focus was perfect. Light balance was wonderful with the flash within its range. The pictures were velvety smooth to the point I couldn't stop looking at them. The WOW factor was evident in every shot.

I heavily cropped one picture of my son from a full length view of him (6 feet) standing in our dinning room to a view of his chest and face. I printed a 5x7 of this shot and there was neither a hint of graininess nor any deterioration of quality.

Optical zoom was the #2 requirement. I like to capture all kinds of details in buildings and monuments, etc. when I travel. The 6X optical zoom gets me close to what I want without the weight and bulkiness of my old telephoto lens.

Comfortableness/Grip was the #3 requirement. This camera fits my hand like a glove. Its grip is perfect. It is locked securely in the hand with fingers around its grip area - little or no chance this camera will ever slip out of guys' bulky hands. The shutter button can be hit with the index finger and the thumb can work the back of the camera without ever loosening the grip. The left hand can easily stabilize the camera as the shot is composed by holding beneath the lens hood with little chance of obscuring the lens or flash with fingers.

A Manual mode was the #4 requirement. After years with a totally manual 35mm SLR, I did want only a point and shoot digital. I wanted the ability to have some control. I took one test shot of myself in an area well lit with fluorescent lighting, testing the use of the Self Timer and with the camera in Auto mode. The camera warned that I needed flash, so I popped the flash, set the timer and ran into the camera's view. In Playback mode I could tell from the LCD that my face was a bit light. I went into Manual mode and stepped down the intensity of the flash, retook the picture and liked the result. With Manual mode, you can still be a bit of a photographer.

I mentioned that I popped the flash after the camera warned me. I like the fact that the S3100 does not pop and auto fire the flash, even in Auto mode. It gives you one more aspect of control in how shots are composed and one less electronic connection that can go bad. My daughter owned a Cannon Rebel with an auto pop up flash that stopped popping, and the cost to repair was not worth it. It was cheaper to buy a dedicated flash for the hot shoe connection.

Until I started working with the camera, I didn't know I would come to appreciate the electronic view finder as much as I do. When you look through this bright viewfinder you are looking at what the lens sees and exactly what the picture will look like. Because this view finder is so accurate and bright, displays the necessary information and is so comfortable to the eye to use, I use the liquid crystal display only for playback. One push of the dedicated button next to the LCD toggles between viewing by the LCD or view finder. Very nice and much less a draw on the batteries.

Finally, the camera uses alkaline AA's or Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeables. Very cost effective. I use the Hydrides and after one month of ownership and using the LCD heavily as I learned the camera, and then taking Christmas and New Year's shots, the batteries are still going strong.

T.C.
New Jersey

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Comment on Fujifilm Finepix S3100 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom Cheap by T. Tompkins

T. Tompkins — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:25:57 +0000

121 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

A nice camera, but not for the beginner, September 19, 2004

T. Tompkins -

This review is from: Fujifilm Finepix S3100 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

The Fuji FinePix S3100 is capable of taking pictures that look great, even enlarged to 8x10 size, when operated correctly; and therein lies the rub. The very things that add value to this camera unfortunately remove it from the list of those suitable for the beginner or those who need point and shoot convenience. The S3100 requires slightly under three seconds "warmup" with the included 16mb memory card before you can see your subject in the viewfinder. This delay appears to increase with a larger card installed and can be a hindrance in candid or spontaneous shots. The FinePix imitates an expensive SLR-type film camera where what you see in the viewfinder is actually what is coming through the lens, but displayed on an electronic screen inside. I found this to work well (and I wear eyeglasses), but one may also toggle the image to the 1.5 inch LCD monitor at the back of the camera with the push of a dedicated button. As with other cameras that feature automatic exposure and focus, the operator must push the shutter button part way down and wait for a confirmation that the adjustments have been made before pushing all the way down to take the picture. Failure to do this usually results in poor-looking photos which inevitably get blamed on the camera. Unfortunately, the image in the viewfinder/LCD freezes for a second or so during the adjustment procedure, meaning the position of a moving subject may have changed by the time you're ready to snap it. For this reason, the camera doesn't recommend itself to action photography. Autofocus is not foolproof on any camera that has it and under certain conditions I found the images I got weren't as sharp as they should have been. This subject is covered in the very complete and informative 100-page manual and as one gains experience it should be possible to forsee and work around those situations that confuse the autofocus. Beginners may find the pop-up flash confusing and forgetting to extend it in a dark setting will spoil the shot.

There is a lot to like about this camera. Although certainly no lightweight mini you can slip into pocket or purse, it is comfortable to hold with well laid out controls. The 6x optical zoom, which was a big selling point for me, brings subjects about twice as close as most zoom cameras will, albeit at the expense of some of the wide angle capability. Two accessory conversion lenses are sold for this camera that enhance its optical capabilities, but are very expensive. The user may select from three sharpness levels and five picture quality/size settings. The included memory card will store eight pictures at the absolute highest quality, or double that number one step below. You may also select from four scene modes; for example, portrait and night. Red-eye reduction and slow synchro flash modes, as well as forced or suppressed flash may be chosen. Limited-quality AVI movie shooting without sound is possible and there is a macro mode for shots as close as a tad under four inches. For those advanced amateurs who like to tweak settings, limited manual adjustments of flash brightness, EV, white balance and aperture-priority are possible. Current settings, along with any cautions, are normally displayed around the perimeter of the viewfinder/LCD screen, but may be turned off.

Several pages in the manual are devoted to discussing the rechargeable Ni-MH batteries consumers typically use in their camera. Over time, these apparently suffer from reduced life and the S3100 includes a discharge feature that may be used to (hopefully) restore their performance. The camera is supplied with four alkaline AA batteries and an optional AC power adaptor is available. In addition to the USB cable for downloading picture files, a cord is included for viewing the images through the video input of an ordinary television monitor, which I found to be a handy feature.

Probably the best photo I've ever taken, a zoomed in close-up of a seagull on a piling, came out beautifully even without using a tripod. Another, of a mostly black cat, was somewhat fuzzy, owing to autofocus confusion because of the dark fur. A hand-held macro shot of a flower blossom looked fine, even though it was taken under low light conditions without a flash.

For the money, I find the S3100 to be a good performer.

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Comment on Fujifilm Finepix S3100 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom Cheap by Thomas Janowski "tomj1963"

Thomas Janowski "tomj1963" — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:14:50 +0000

122 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

This digital camera lured me away from film, November 29, 2004

Thomas Janowski "tomj1963" (Rochester, NY United States) -

This review is from: Fujifilm Finepix S3100 4MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I have been a film photographer for over 20 years. I've exhibited on and off through the years and have always developed and printed my own black and white film and enlargements. My old Minolta 35MM was getting really old and I was seriously thinking of buying a Nikon FM3 because I love manual control. As the time to buy a new camera got closer, I began to notice the Fuji S3100 at a local store.

While I have never liked the feel of plastic bodied cameras, at least this Fuji was substantial in size. I hate tiny camera. They might be great for sticking in a shirt pocket, but they seem too small to hold and use.

So, one day I'm in the camera store and wow...the Fuji S3100 is on sale at an incredible price. I buy it on impulse.

I think because my expectations of digital photographer were so low, I was able to fall in love with this camera. Like the other reviewer said, this may not be a camera for beginners. While I expected to not understand digital photography in the same way I do understand manual film cameras, I have to admit this Fuji is easy for me to use. I guess I should also say that I opened the box in my car and instantly lost the manual. I was able to figure out everything I needed to know by scrolling through the numerous menus. Though I have to admit it was a relief to find the manual when I cleaned my car.

I just recently went to Toronto and the Fuji was the only camera I brought along. I selected 7 pictures from the trip and had 8 x 10's printed. I could not tell they were digital pictures. They were as sharp and clear and colorful as I have come to expect from film.

I have shot pictures in full auto and in manual. Both produce equally great photos.

All my friends have had digital cameras for a few years and I have seen prints and 8 x 10 enlargements taken with other cameras and I had never been impressed.

The highest praise I can give this camera is that it is the camera that finally lured me away from using my film camera.

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Comment on Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit by josh

josh — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:09:09 +0000

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

worth it, August 19, 2011

josh -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit (Electronics)

I like this package. of course you have the camera witch is a fantastic camera and i really like that you get two different lenses. the standard 18-55mm is great for indoors and just casual photography, it does what you need without making the camera too heavy. the 75-300 is great for outdoor's and more artistic photography. be aware that this lens doesn't have a stabilizer function and gets really shaky when turned to 300mm and hand held, good thing the package also comes with a tripod.

If you're looking at getting this package for the accessories aside from the camera and lenses then I would be a little hesitant. the only extra's that really make a difference is the 16GB SD card (even though it's a little slow), tripod, and the extra battery. probably only a $50-$70 value. the bag is a joke, you will NEED to buy a better camera bag and they can be rather expensive. everything else is nice to have but not really needed.

when it comes down to it, it's a great deal if the different lenses are what you're looking for. If one lens is what you want I would recommend Costco's package with a 18-135mm lens, faster SD card, and nice camera bag.

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Comment on Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit by John

John — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:02:11 +0000

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

So so, December 15, 2010

John -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit (Electronics)

Skip this package, the tripod was pretty cheap. The top broke the first week. All the cables were nice and the recharge haven't used but the case sucks. I actually ordered another case which is much more stylish and less tourist. Len's is the standard...all and all if I did it again, I would have bought the camera and everything separately, live and learn.

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Comment on Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit by Ruhil - The SWPilot "AZ Pilot, IT Geek and Ph...

Ruhil - The SWPilot "AZ Pilot, IT Geek and Ph... — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:23:15 +0000

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

Great Starter Kit for EOS 60D. Excellent Quality but Missing a few for Pro-Photography, February 28, 2011

Ruhil - The SWPilot "AZ Pilot, IT Geek and Ph... (Phoenix,AZ USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens & EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit (Electronics)

Its a great camera to get your started with Pro-Level photography. The stock lenses 18-55mm and 75-300mm are great starter lenses though I would have much rather preferred the 18-135mm lens with the kit but no complains here. You get everything to get you going with wonderful photos. As with any DSLRs, you can do wonders if you know how to use the camera. Canon EOS-60D surpasses both in picture and build quality compared to its Nikon counterparts (D90, D5000, D7100). Just Google the comparison with Nikon 7100 and you will realize how good this camera is.

Do invest in a better tripod (monopod)than the one in the kit. I would also recommend that you read Digital Photography Vol 1-3 from Scott Kelby, even if you already are a pro. Its a great way to get into serious photography without going into the geeky details. (You can always do that later).

Overall worth an investment. I have ordered the 18-135mm from the seller, anyways.

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Comment on Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 32GB Card + Case + Filter + Remote + Tripod + Cleaning & Accessory Kit by Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:06:17 +0000

Excelent Pictures, June 25, 2011

Monica Florez "Monyflowers" (Orlando, Fl USA) -

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This review is from: Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 32GB Card + Case + Filter + Remote + Tripod + Cleaning & Accessory Kit (Electronics)

This is way better than the Cannon that I had before, the colors are brighter and the images more vivid. Excellent purchase.

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Comment on Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 32GB Card + Case + Filter + Remote + Tripod + Cleaning & Accessory Kit by gg

gg — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:29:41 +0000

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Worthy compleate packge, June 9, 2011

gg -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Nikon D5100 16.2 MP Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 32GB Card + Case + Filter + Remote + Tripod + Cleaning & Accessory Kit (Electronics)

I brought this Product like a week back its pretty good cam. I rate cam 5 star but accessories Like Filter tripod cleaning kit and remote looks like cheap quality probably this is my first cam kit I brought I feel so, I haven't seen any cam kit before... Tripod which I received was different from which it is listed but customer service guys gave credit for that...

Pros:
32 Gb memory card which worth $35
Cam Bag of original Nikon Brand which is worth more that $25 I believe.
Kit savior of 50$ I think!!!

Cons:
Shipping Charges are Very High!!!
Remote quality was not good and Initially it was not working until I changed the cell in that!!

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Comment on Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 55-300mm VR Lens + 32GB Card + .45x Wide Angle & 2x Telephoto Lenses + Remote + (2) Filters + Tripod + Accessory Kit by ATP

ATP — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:04:16 +0000

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

great camera, September 18, 2011

ATP (ohio) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens with 55-300mm VR Lens + 32GB Card + .45x Wide Angle & 2x Telephoto Lenses + Remote + (2) Filters + Tripod + Accessory Kit (Electronics)

We take sports photos (football). this camera is great!! it takes great action photos. the 55-300 lens is great to get close up shots from half way across the field. the 18-55 lens takes very nice close ups. the 32GB card gives me 6 thousand pics at a setting of fine/ large jpg files that is about 4mb per pic. even though you can get everything in the bag it is too small and it will be the first thing that i replace. the wide angle add on lense does work but i have not had much time to work with it. however the 2x telephoto add on lense hooked to the 55-300 lens makes the camera unable to auto focus and even on manual pics are foggy. All other items in this kit work like i would expect them too. all in all i love the camera and the two nikon lenses. I would suggest the d5100 and the two nikon lenses to anyone who wants a good nikon

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Comment on Sony VCT-R100 Lightweight Compact Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head by Mike

Mike — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:40:10 +0000

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

Among The Best Portable Consumer Grade Tripods!, April 9, 2009

Mike (San Jose, CA United States) -

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This review is from: Sony VCT-R100 Lightweight Compact Tripod with 3-Way Pan/Tilt Head (Electronics)

As a former professional Videographer and avid amateur Photographer I've worked with (and owned) the best tripods money can buy. It's a given that such equipment is a joy to use, not only from a functional standpoint but from the superb results that can be obtained. That said, most hobbyist shooters wouldn't seriously consider spending a small fortune for this type of gear even if the weight and size were practical. That's where the VCT-R100 comes in. Though it lacks the bullet-proof construction of pro models, it is amazingly light, compact (only 14" fully retracted), and plenty sturdy for the average user. Furthermore, it's 3-Way pan head is surprisingly fluid and smooth versus other tripods in it's class.

As far as possible cons go, most would be related to the fact that the maximum extension of this model is about 40 inches. That said, video shooters have little to worry about. Most modern camcorders use a flip screen (rather than a viewfinder) so angling the screen upwards easily allows you to shoot in comfort without crouching. On the other hand, photographers using cameras with a fixed (back of camera) screen will have little choice but to either sit, crouch down, or use the tripod on an elevated surface (eg; a table). In such cases, a 52" or taller model with a sturdy elevator might be a better choice (though portability will suffer as such a unit will be undoubtedly collapse to no less than 2 feet). Lastly, keep in mind that this unit is designed primarily for consumer grade equipment weighing less than 2 or 3 pounds.

As most of my video/photo work is hobby related these days, I really do appreciate the quality, portability and overall value of the VCT-R100. All things considered, I don't think you can do a whole lot better for less than $80. At $27 it's a steal!

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