Fuji FinePix s8000fd

Reviewed April 2008

Introduction

When most folks hear "point-and-shoot digital camera," they envision a pocketable package with a low-magnification zoom--something in the 3x to 5x range. But there's a class of pop-and-cop snappers that have more in common with digital SLRs than they do with the vari-colored femcams crowding the market these days. The kings of this camera class are the DSCs with monster optical zooms--18x or better. It’s among these giants that Fujifilm has placed its FinePix S8000fd.

Because of its size--4.4-by-3.1-by-3.1 inches--and hefty looks, the eight megapixel digital camera, which sells in the range of $300 to $400, could be mistaken for a DSLR by a casual observer. And because of the unit's rich feature set, the operators of the camera can have the kind of hands-on control of their photography that makes DSLRs so attractive. Nevertheless, if all a shutterbug wants is to escape the 3x rut of the point-and-shoot world, they can let this Fuji model sit in auto mode and be perfectly happy with the results.

As with any camera with a high magnification lens, image stabilization is very important, unless you intend to keep a tripod in tow wherever you go. This Fuji has very good image stabilization. It can make shots that appear shaky on the unit's 2.5-inch LCD display or in its electronic viewfinder look as if they were taken with a rock-steady hand.

An interesting innovation in this ultra zoom is an addition to its mode dial that allows you to compare flash and natural light versions of a photo side-by-side. In the mode, a press of the shutter button will shoot two photos in rapid succession--one with a flash, one without--and then display them on the LCD.

For lenseslingers who want video in their repertoire, the S8000fd captures moving pictures better than many digital still cameras in the market. The sound with its video--the bane of not only DSCs but many camcorders, too--was particularly impressive.

The camera has some quirks that can increase the learning curve for users who hate to read manuals, also known as docuphobians. On the unit's mode dial, for instance, there are settings marked SP1 and SP2. Both settings access the same set of scene functions. The idea is that you can set each item to a different scene option and move between the two with a twist of the dial as opposed to hunting through a menu to switch between them. It's a good idea but a little confusing in its implementation.

Also, in a mode where shutter speeds or aperture settings can be changed, the exposure compensation button is used to access the display for making those changes.

Anomalies aside, the FinePix S8000fd performed well in a variety of conditions and would be an excellent camera choice for image snatchers who want a big optical zoom but don't want to travel down the digital SLR path.