Is this camera good?

[QueenDemetria]

After using my Note 2 to take photo's tonight, I've decided that its time to get a real camera(actually my Sony point and shoot died, but it will remain that way). I did some looking around and I came across the Fujifilm FinePix S8600 (http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/digital_cameras/s/finepix_s8600/index.html), but I am not sure if this is a good camera or not. It looks like a good camera, but for $120 I am a bit skeptical(I think the normal price is $160 though). Basically I will be using this for taking “Amazon” style images(for selling crap on eBay), glamor shots of PC's, family photos, and 'long' distance shots at sports events/concerts. I'm an amateur at photography, so even if this isn't the best camera for the price it will be fine for me, I just want to make sure that I am not buying junk. I'm also planning on using this as “training wheels” so I can get a real high end camera someday(also when I can afford one lol).

 

Here are some reasons why I am considering this camera:

• 16 Megapixel(err, the high mp count got my attention)
  
• 36x zoom(still don't know how much this actually is lol, just seemed good).
  
• Powered by AA batteries( I hated having to wait for my Sony to charge with its single Lithium battery)
  
• Large “DSLR” style of body, I find this more comfortable than the point and shoot style of body
  
• OIS, I have shaky hands, so stuff like this matters.
  
• The “screw mount” at the bottom. I know this is a fairly standard feature, but I will be using this a lot.
  
• Full sized SD, Mini USB, and HDMI out.
  

 

Things that concern me:

• JPEG w/ EXIF 2.3 still image format(so no PNG or RAW right? Just not a fan of jpeg compression, but it might not be an issue since I plan on taking most of my photos at full res.)
  
• Non removable lens(just limiting its potential)
  
• slow writing to the SD card(from watching the Fuji Guys review). They could have been using a slow SD card, but I doubt it.
  
• The display. Low res, TFT, just yuck.
  

 

I am open to other suggestions(as long as they are around $150 USD) and feedback on this camera(or Fujifilm in general). Basically in the end of the day, I just want to have a camera that can do better than this:

This was a cherry picked image too.

[lani100]

 Looks a bit better than the average camera but my option would be get a secondhand dslr.

[QueenDemetria]

 Looks a bit better than the average camera but my option would be get a secondhand dslr.

I looked around for a second hand DSLR, but I couldn't find one that fit my budget. I plan on getting one eventually, its just that I want to learn how to use a camera that isn't a cell phone first(lol). I'll keep my eyes open for a good (cheap) DSLR, but thanks for the suggestion .

[lani100]

I looked around for a second hand DSLR, but I couldn't find one that fit my budget. I plan on getting one eventually, its just that I want to learn how to use a camera that isn't a cell phone first(lol). I'll keep my eyes open for a good (cheap) DSLR, but thanks for the suggestion .

You are better of spending something more and get a secondhand dslr for 200 ish

[theodoro]

The fuji camera is nothing special, but in the other hand i don't know what you can get with this budget. 
My vote will also go at the used DSLR

EDIT: Wait... It doesn't shoot at RAW? Is would be a deal breaker for me. 

[shadowblitz3]

looks fine for that budget

[ShadowCaptain]

their image quality is not fantastic to be honest

 

you can probably get a better point and shoot

[QueenDemetria]

You are better of spending something more and get a secondhand dslr for 200 ish

 

The fuji camera is nothing special, but in the other hand i don't know what you can get with this budget. 

My vote will also go at the used DSLR

EDIT: Wait... It doesn't shoot at RAW? Is would be a deal breaker for me. 

 

looks fine for that budget

 

their image quality is not fantastic to be honest

 

you can probably get a better point and shoot

Hi everyone, just wanted to thank you for the replies . I went to my local camera store today and tried out a bunch of cameras, but I ended up buying the S8600(actually the S8630, but from what I have seen they are basically the same exact thing). Sadly they didn't have any in stock but I ordered one online. I did have a chance to use some second hand DSLR's, but I am fine with the quality of images that I took with the S8600(I was able to blow up the images on a 30ish inch Dell monitor). Even though I do plan on getting a proper DSLR sometime in the future, I want to get this now so I can have a good back up camera, and so when someone asks to borrow my camera I won't come back to $400+ of sadness(I've learned my lesson by lending out my Nikon Coolpix L11). I was considering the Canon Powershot SX400, but it was only marginally better and I like the UI of the Fuji better. Also the Fuji uses AA batteries, which I like better than lithium batteries(the Canon died while I was trying it, It was a "point proven" moment lol). The DSLR shaped body was a huge improvement over the standard point and shoot shape, but it feels a little too light weight and plasticy(I can get used to this though). If I do need a better camera in the meantime, I do have access to a Canon Rebel T5 and a plethora of lenses, so that's one of the reasons why I'm not in too much of a hurry to get a real camera. For fun I might do a review of the Fuji on here(from a noobs perspective on photography, and whether these "hybrid" cameras are worth it). I did only spend $120 though, so I guess from that perspective it isn't too bad.

[Bsmith]

Hi everyone, just wanted to thank you for the replies . I went to my local camera store today and tried out a bunch of cameras, but I ended up buying the S8600(actually the S8630, but from what I have seen they are basically the same exact thing). Sadly they didn't have any in stock but I ordered one online. I did have a chance to use some second hand DSLR's, but I am fine with the quality of images that I took with the S8600(I was able to blow up the images on a 30ish inch Dell monitor). Even though I do plan on getting a proper DSLR sometime in the future, I want to get this now so I can have a good back up camera, and so when someone asks to borrow my camera I won't come back to $400+ of sadness(I've learned my lesson by lending out my Nikon Coolpix L11). I was considering the Canon Powershot SX400, but it was only marginally better and I like the UI of the Fuji better. Also the Fuji uses AA batteries, which I like better than lithium batteries(the Canon died while I was trying it, It was a "point proven" moment lol). The DSLR shaped body was a huge improvement over the standard point and shoot shape, but it feels a little too light weight and plasticy(I can get used to this though). If I do need a better camera in the meantime, I do have access to a Canon Rebel T5 and a plethora of lenses, so that's one of the reasons why I'm not in too much of a hurry to get a real camera. For fun I might do a review of the Fuji on here(from a noobs perspective on photography, and whether these "hybrid" cameras are worth it). I did only spend $120 though, so I guess from that perspective it isn't too bad.

 

as back up it should be good yeah, i undersand your position(have been there) and everything is able to look good at some point, good to hear you found a camera that suits your likings (hopefully) or you are willing to compensate on with certain points.

 

i didn't respond before on this topic since everything i wanted to say was already said.(see quote)

 

looks fine for that budget

 

if your budget was a little(+/-100dollars) higher i would have recommanded the Canon EOS M with the EF/EF-S lens adapter wich allowes the full spectrum of canon lenses to be used on that camera in a (sadly) point and shoot form factor.

[ShadowCaptain]

if your budget was a little(+/-100dollars) higher i would have recommanded the Canon EOS M with the EF/EF-S lens adapter wich allowes the full spectrum of canon lenses to be used on that camera in a (sadly) point and shoot form factor.

 

the EOS M is actually horrible though, and is SO SLOW to focus its almost unusable

[lani100]

the EOS M is actually horrible though, and is SO SLOW to focus its almost unusable

With the latest firmware it's usable now.

[ShadowCaptain]

With the latest firmware it's usable now.

 

yeah it still sucks ass, my friend just returned his and got a GX7 instead

[Bsmith]

the EOS M is actually horrible though, and is SO SLOW to focus its almost unusable

 

i personally prefer manual fcosu a lot lately, which might be a short period, but it's personal preference