I love my Fuji FinePix 3800!!!
Written: Apr 04 '05
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Pros: For the pro, it's fun; for the novice, it'll make you look like a pro.
Cons: The photo program on my PC is easier, but with practice I'd enjoy the Fuji.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this camera to anyone due to its ease of use and outstanding quality results.
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| angelrab's Full Review: FUJIFILM FinePix 3800 Digital Camera |
Although I'm no camera guru either, as an Art Major I did take a couple photography classes in college, so I've done it "the hard way" with a standard 35mm camera, so I have some comparison experience.
The purchase of the Fuji FinePix 3800 was the result of my husband's research (his nickname is "Gadget Man" if that says anything...) and we got a real deal on it at right around $400.00 from a camera shop in February of 2003.
Agreed, it, like most digital cameras, sucks the life out of batteries almost as fast as you put them in, but I invested in a recharger and 2 sets of AA rechargeable batteries right off the bat, so while one set is in it, the other is recharging, and frankly, I've found them to last longer than non-rechargeables, so this would be a wise step to take when buying ANY digital camera.
Be sure, however, to buy the better brands of rechargeables. (You know the brands.) I'm cheap - I tried some of the off-brands and they didn't last long enough to even fill the 16 mg card. The better brands last for WEEKS.
Everything that comes with it is easy to use and makes the camera easier to use. The camera itself is so self-explanatory, you may not ever have to refer to the manual.
It's light and small, and shaped with a curved, cushioned, rubberized grip on the right hand side, so if you are right-handed, you can actually hold and shoot with one hand, as it sits on your palm even vertically, comfortably and easily, within easy reach of your digits to press the shutter button or even spin the wheel to another function (i.e. JPG movie).
This is saying something, as I do not have very large hands, so that gives an indication of just how comfortable this camera really is. On the other side of the coin, however, it's not SO small as to be difficult to use if you have larger hands.
It does include the USB cable, but with most of today's PCs having built in card readers, plus the easy accessibility of peripheral USB card readers (around $30), the SD card easily pops out and slides right into the card reader. This is faster for transferring photos than the USB cable.
I would strongly recommend buying a larger capacity SD card. They typically run between $50 and $70 for the smallest upgrade at your local electronics store. If you want a much larger capacity, you will pay for it, to the tune of around $200-250 for a 512 SD card.
The SD capacity needed depends on your use of the camera. I have yet to upgrade our SD card and it's been a hindrance on more than one occasion. The card that's included will only take around 48 mid-quality photos, and if you create JPG movies, they use it up even faster.
A month after we bought the camera, I landed a job as a freelance writer/photographer for our local newsletter, and the camera paid for itself in short order. This is where I learned both the lifespan of the rechargeable batteries and the need for the extended storage SD card!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 400.00
This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts
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Epinions.com ID:
angelrab
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Reviews written: 1
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