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Is this Camera Any Good


Kain

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http://www.jessops.com/Store/s36159/0/Digital-Compact-Cameras/Fujifilm/Finepix-S6500fd-Zoom-(Digital-Camera)/details.aspx

I'm thinking about this for my replacement for my broken camea that the insurance is paying for.

I know it's not an actual SLR, but I think it's better than what I have now (Canon Powershot A70)

Heres a review of it, but it means nothing to me

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0607/06071302fujifilms6500fd.asp

Kain

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Kain. I have the S9500 which this model supercedes, I believe. Fuji make FANTASTIC digital cameras. If it's anything like the 9500, which I highly recommend, you'll be very happy. It has a long wide angle mechanical zoom (which I prefer to the rocker type) and loads of manual features. If you're not a experienced photographer you can use the camera in Auto mode and still get great results. It has an anti shake mode in low light which works by increasing the ISO to 800 OR 1600 (film speed) automatically. Usually this mode causes an increase in the graininess of the image, but Fuji's sensor I believe is the best of the bunch in minimising it. Check the reviews and sample images for the Fuji F10 (which I also own) and you'll see what I mean. Compared to my Canon D60 DSLR it loses out.... just. Images are smoother because the Canon has a larger CMOS sensor. Don't be fooled by the amount of megapixels either. More doesn't mean better picture quality. It's a combination of pixels/sensor size that determines how clean your images are. It is though, in my opinion the best camera next to a DSLR. The S6500 should continue to be a great camera in the Fuji Line up.

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Personally I would put in a little extra (£100) and get a brand new DSLR. Any of the DSLR's will be far more suitable to astro work than the Fuji. But with the Canon 350D being phased out you maybe able to knock Jessop's down in price. £440 is the lowest I've seen it with kits lens. But you could try your luck.

Failing that there's Nikon D40 for £395 with kit lens, the phased out Nikon D50 which was £395, so god alone knows what you may get that down too. Or there's the Samsung/Pentax DSLR's for the £399 mark.

Or see what Jessop's have in the way of secondhand DSLR's in their store. I'm sure the vouchers still apply to their secondhand line.

Bottom line - if you have any plans for astro imaging forget the compacts and bridge cameras if you can possibly afford a DSLR.

Russ

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I see your point Rus, I agree with you. Problem is, I have got to sort the camera out ASAP (So Churchill has said) And soon after Xmas I just have no spare cash at the moment.

It's one of the reasons I mentioned this cam, apparently it's an 'almost' SLR.

It will be used for moon shots and widefields anyway, It will be a while before I have anything that can track!

Kain

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Don't want to hijack this thread, but this got me REALLY wound up when we got burgled. I wanted to get my boy a replacement PS2 straight away, and pay off the credit card when the cheque landed. He had been recently diagnosed as diabetic, and we had bought him stuff to take his mind off this. The insurance company insisted that we get vouchers to go to PC World etc. which was a pain in the butt. He had to wait two weeks (same as us but he has less patience) for the replacement. I have had assurances that they will do a cheque if/when this happens again. I wonder how much Jessops (etc) bung your insurance company?

Captain Chaos

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I was thinking that CC.

Last week when it all happened (or the week before, can't remember now) They said they were going to send me a cheque for £300, then I get a phone call on Friday, saying I have vouchers to the value of £300 waiting for me a Jessops in Telford.

In all fairness, I ain't too bothered, the money would have been spent on a camera ether way, but if there wasn't a Jessops locally I would have been in [removed word] street.

Not only that, what if I see a camera elsewhere which is better for cheaper? It is blumming annoying.

Still, thats insurance people for you. Quick enough to take your money, but hate paying it out when/if the time comes.

Kain

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its pretty good for moon shots, I had the S5000 its baby brother without the FD bit, you can also get a teleconverter that boosts it to around 500mm equivilent. the down side is no cable release unless you use and after market velcro on one, and the digital viewfinder..due to its low resolution its hard to see stars through it.

One good things is that with the right stepping ring you can connect it directly to the baader hyperion eyepieces for eyepice projection, (55mm - T2 thread from SRB filters)

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My local Jessops are pretty good at price matching against Internet prices,maybe you could do a bit of "research" and find a good deal (especially as the sales have just now started).This may give you some more scope of cameras.

I had a Fuji 602 zoom (similar to the one you are looking at) and struggled with focus.

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I wonder how much Jessops (etc) bung your insurance company?

Captain Chaos

We get people in work all the time with their insurance mandates. Funny that their mandate also includes an "advert" and money off voucher for another large carpet retailer.

It's also unusual for the insurance company to tell you to hurry up. They usually give you a manadate, and leave you to it. If the mandate is due to expire just phone them up for an extension.

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Well I rang Jessops this morning, and told them about this camera, and that I want to use it alone side my telescope.

They said it's a good camera to start with.

They even said, they will speak to the manager and sort out some sort of adaptor that allows it to be fitted to my scope, but I will be totally honest, it all went over my head as I had no idea what he was talking about.

The guys said (He was assistant manager) although an DSLR would be better, if I have no experience with them, this one would be a better choice as there is an auto function on too, which will help if I struggle with the other bits and bobs on it (That wasn't the words he used, but I was flooded with that much info in a 5 min phonecall, my head was spinning!)

I told him it would be mainly moon shots and possibly things like M42 (He knew what I meant when I said M42 as well which was surprising - when I spoke to Churchill, the guy thought I photograph motorways!)

So now I have to wait for Churchill to buck there ideas up, as they have had no fax from them to confirm I have £300 to spend, but they have put the camera up anyway for me. He said I have £50 left to spend, if I want to buy anything for my scope, I'm welcome to use that Lol.

Quite pleased about it all :)

Kain

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You need to make sure this camera will definately attach to your scope before you buy. The assistant manager I feel is also a little confused, as timed exposures are normally made in the Manual mode of the camera. YOU control the time of exposure whether it be 1, 5, 8, 15 or 30 seconds. In Auto, as he suggests, the camera decides, and can't always be relied on for correct exposure. It may be more reliable for daytime exposures but astro shots rely on various timed exposures to see which is best. Also in photographic terms, M42 is a lens mount. He may have thought you were referring to that rather than the Orion nebula :) I'm surprised at Churchill making you rush the purchase. At the end of the day the insurance matter should be settled when they hand you the vouchers. How and when you spend them should be up to you.

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Personally Kain, and no offence intended, but by the sounds of it, I just don't think you know enough about getting started in astrophotography. What you need to do first of all is just drop EVERYTHING about any camera for the moment. I wouldn't worry about the insurance company or any time limit in spending your vouchers. Just give them a ring to explain why your'e not gonna rush your purchase. Next, you need to do some homework. Get online, surf and ask questions. Find out about how to get started. It's all out there if you look. Find out what mounts and adaptors you need, starting from your telescope focusser to the eventual camera you'll get. There'll be many people ready and willing to help you. I personally agree with rus. If you can, save a little extra and get a DSLR. Accessories for attaching to a scope are easily available from many websites. You'll get full manual control of exposure times and apertures. The bigger sensor in the camera (compared to a digital compact) should give you better images and less noise. Also, have a think about a webcam. Seen some great images from them. Definately worth a look at least :)

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Either way, I need a new camera whether its any good for astro stuff or not, I use my camera alot in my other hobby too.

Tony, I learn by doing, reading a load of stuff will never get me anyware, Look at my early images of the moon, now look at them. I did not read anything for that, it was just trial and error and advice from folks here.

I'm starting to get abit fed up of trying this whole astro thing to tell the truth, I seem to be getting no where fast.

Kain

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Kain,

If you would like advice on choosing/buying a camera, feel free to call me.

Before Aunty FLO, I clocked up two decades in photo retail and 5 years as a freelance photographer - I can't sell you a camera but I can point you in the right direction :)

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Me too. when the car got mashed the insurance company sent me to a certai n bodushop for repairs. Now - from experience I knew they weren't so good and told the broker this. "Sorry, that's the company we deal with..." was all they said. Anyway, went to let them have a look at t he damage and on the wall were several posters saying things like "We specialise in (insert car make here) repairs - you do not have to use the company your insurance company dictates...". Hmm, thinks I. Call to brokers... "Sorry, you have to use them" Call to insurance company - "That's correct Mr Edwards, you may use any registered bodyshop you care to nominate as long as they are members of the (can't remember the "guild") and are happy to take on the work"

So, I used my preferred bodyshop in the end. TBH, I'm not sure Jessops would be my preferred dealer in this case either.

Arthur

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Kain,

I only just looked at this thread and someone may have mentioned it already, but it is my view that you'll have trouble finding anywhere more expensive to buy than Jessops. Again, it is my view that they are like Dixons and just by saying they're cheap people actually believe its true! Shop around is my advice.

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Well I have ordered the Fuji anyway now.

DSLR is on the birthday list for July :lol:

Along with a motor driven scope :)

Once I'm back at work too, I will have some spare cash to get more into this imaging lark, for now its back to the moon and wide field shots. This is the most complex camera I would have had to date, so between now and July I can have a play with the manual settings and that and then move up to the DSLR. I need to learn to walk before I run.

Kain

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