fofa's Full Review: FUJIFILM FinePix S5200 / S5600 Digital Camera
First, if you are here, you most likely have reviewed, and are aware of the specifications of this camera. but if you are like me, what do those specs translate into for real life usage? If you are one of those individuals that likes to take manual control over the camera, well first you should be looking at DSLR's, and second, my review will not be of great interest. How ever if you like the camera to do most of the thinking for you, read on.
My path to the S5200 purchase will help explain a few things. I had a Casio 8X optical zoom, swivel lens camera I loved, but it started acting persnickety. I thought I wanted a compact camera, so bought a Nikon 3200 with a 3X optical zoom. Well as it turns out, once you have a good camera with a large optical zoom, it is hard to go back. So the hunt for a large optical zoom was on.
After looking at many cameras, I was having trouble getting the field lowered to say 3 to focus on. So what made a big difference, was I went back, and analyzed the actual type of pictures I had been taking the last 4 or 5 years. Interesting enough it was a mix of indoor pictures, some in existing light, some with flash, and outdoor. So I needed something that could perform in both places.
Looking at the well lite outdoor shots, almost all cameras did good there, so time to focus on indoor, and specially existing light photos. It didn't take long to determine the S5200 was a true exiting light camera, or move to a DSL type at a much greater expense.
Comparing the S5200 to some DSLR's, what I found out was beside the expense, it took a case about 4 times the size of one that held the S5200, to carry the body of a DSL, and two lenses. It takes about two lenses with the DSLR to equal the zoom capability of the S5200. DSLR's take better pictures in all environments than the S5200, but if I had to pack all that hardware, well, I most likely would not take the camera along. What good is a camera sitting at home?
The hip pack I carry the S5200 around in is not small, it is 7" x 5" x 5", and it holds the camera nicely, spare memory cards and a spare pack of AA batteries. Really everything I could need on a full day of shooting.
Batteries, it uses 4 AA batteries. Do yourself a favor and buy some good rechargeable batteries, but even more important, a good recharger. The cheap ones don't fully recharge the newer batteries. The S5200 is pretty frugal on battery power compared to my last two cameras. I can get about 200-300 photos depending on LCD vs. EVF use, and flash usage. Shoot, I even got 187 off a set of alkalines, about 15% that were flash!
I find the S5200 very ergonomical. It fits my medium sized paws pretty good. The only thing I don't like, and it is a minor complaint, is the tele/wide buttons don't fall naturally under your thumb. You have to think about it to move your thumb over to them. But it is like anything, almost a natural movement for me now.
The S5200 is fast! Other than the flash recycle time, you are ready for the next photo right off, OK maybe a half second, but for most practical purposes, right away. Focus time depends on the zoom range, the more zoom, the longer to focus. Also since it uses the contrast focus method, object with little contrast take it a tad longer to focus on. I would say on the average, it is still a half second from shutter press, to picture taken if you make it focus. How ever if you prefocus (I.E. the half shutter press thing) it takes the shot right off, no delay. DSLR's beat this in the speed department, but like I said, who cares how fast it is if it is at home on a shelf. The lens does not move in and out on this camera. Advantage, no places for dust to get in and settle on the sensor. Disadvantage, well the lens is always “out” in length, but I do not find this an issue.
Pictures, go look at sample pictures, do a web search, there are many out there. How ever I will tell you I have a problem with the quality of the pictures. They are so good I hardly throw any away! I am going to have to get a large hard drive now! Example, with either of my old cameras, I would go to my daughters school, some thing or other. They would be on a stage inside. Just so you understand, my wife has M.S., and we usually sit in the back so she can be closer to the rest rooms, things of that nature. I have a monopod I use in these instances. With either of my old cameras, I would take maybe 60-80 shots (no flash, to far away) and if I was lucky, I would have maybe 7-10 keepers due to slow shutter speeds, and subject movement. With the S5200 I might throw away 5-10 shots leaving me with a whole bunch. It's natural light mode, and high ISO settings (all automatic mind you, no manual stuff for me) just keep astounding me. Plus since like I said, we are usually in the back, a lot of them are taken AT FULL ZOOM, 10X optical zoom. Of course the monopod helps reduce my movement. One other side effect I never realized until I had taken some indoor flash shots at parties, the higher ISO helps fill in the back ground on those. So instead of your flash shots being really dark in the back ground, you can actually see stuff back there. Plus it has a more powerful flash than I am accustom too in the older cameras. It does a wonderful job outside. I have found it does a tad better on those tough shots that part sun, part shade than my old cameras did. Where the sun part is blown out, or the shade part to dark, not near as bad with the S5200. The S5200 has an antishake mode, that ups the ISO setting, allowing you to use a faster shutter speed. It seems to work really good. One of the advantages of this over the other types that reduce camera shake, is it also reduces the subject movement, where the others only reduce the camera movement.
The S5200 is not small, nor compact. It is not large either. It is pretty light weight, and easy to hold and use. I like using the EVF a lot, but still use the LCD depending on the shot. I wish it had one of those swivel LCD’s as I always found the swivel lens on my old camera a very valuable feature. But I can live without it. I don’t see replacing this camera any time soon. As long as it keeps working, I will most likely be using it. It has surpassed all my expectations. Oh, I have tinkered around with the manual controls on this camera, and did many variations of the same shot comparing auto to many different manual settings, and in 8 out of 10 times the auto won. I had to use the manual focus once in a special shot, and that is not the easiest way to control focus with the buttons, but it does work. I also find the macro mode a little lacking. It does work, and gives really good shots, but you can not get closer than like 10 inches at full wide angle, and that distance increases with zoom. So without special add on lenses (screw on the font of the normal lens, it has 55mm threads) you are not going to get up and personal with a bug or anything like that. But for shots of “stuff” up close, like eBay pictures of things, it works fine.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 302 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts
5.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints 10x optical zoom (equivalent to a 38-380mm on a 35mm camera) 1.8-inch l...More at Amazon Marketplace
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