Fujifilm Finepix S5100 4MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom
By: Fuji Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 53
More Information
 On: 2008-06-19
As an owner of a Pentax K-1000, I really like this Fuji S5100. Its simple to use, and the prints come out very nice. I like the feel of this camera because it feels like my SLR. I find the little pocket digitals no different that the old Kodak pocket camera. I like the S5100 for its options and ease of use.
Congratulations!
On: 2008-05-08
I love the size, features and cost of this camera. It make it so much easier for me to enjoy taking pictures and knowing that it is helping me get the correct focus and obtaining pictures I am shooting for one reason and seeing other reasons I would have taken the same shot had I seen it originally.
Great price!
 On: 2007-12-24
The camera is fine as long as nothing goes wrong. Fuji has the worst customer service I have ever delt with. They pass you from one person to another and do everything they can not to help you. Be prepared to deal with the worst customer service in the business. I really hope this helps you.
On: 2007-12-23
The camera is fine as long as nothing goes wrong. Fuji has the worst customer service I have ever delt with. They pass you from one person to another and do everything they can not to help you. Be prepared to deal with the worst customer service in the business. I really hope this helps you.
 On: 2007-10-23
I love this camera so much, I purchased it three times.
It has great zoom, nice clear pics on 4MB selection, nice video too. It comes with a 16MB card, which, now that the hi def pics arent 2MB each (about 800k), you can fit more than 8. I purchased a 1 GB card that can hold several hundred pics, as well as decent, good quality video. It comes with FinePix software which allows you to make a Video CD, DVD, etc.. which is nice for special occassions. I purchased a USB XD reader with this to take the card out, and connect directly into my laptop, rather than physically connecting the camera to the laptop. The downside is the long startup time, and its hunger for batteries. Use Energize Lithum batteries. They last at least 50 times longer than regular batteries. Long distance inside pics with ok or dark light dont come out very well, unless you set it for nightpics, and have a tripod. The manual settings are good if you know what they mean. I like the shutter delay while photographing fireworks with a tripod.
On: 2007-10-22
I love this camera so much, I purchased it three times.
It has great zoom, nice clear pics on 4MB selection, nice video too. It comes with a 16MB card, which, now that the hi def pics arent 2MB each (about 800k), you can fit more than 8. I purchased a 1 GB card that can hold several hundred pics, as well as decent, good quality video. It comes with FinePix software which allows you to make a Video CD, DVD, etc.. which is nice for special occassions. I purchased a USB XD reader with this to take the card out, and connect directly into my laptop, rather than physically connecting the camera to the laptop. The downside is the long startup time, and its hunger for batteries. Use Energize Lithum batteries. They last at least 50 times longer than regular batteries. Long distance inside pics with ok or dark light dont come out very well, unless you set it for nightpics, and have a tripod. The manual settings are good if you know what they mean. I like the shutter delay while photographing fireworks with a tripod.
On: 2007-01-21
The camera itself if fine but please beware. They show the product weight at 20lbs meaning you will be charged over $40 to ship when the box it arrived in shows 3 lbs.
That said, I really like the camera, it is going to take a while to get through all the features but seems to be far superior to the standard point and clicks I have been using.
On: 2007-01-10
Yes, I am slow to make this review, maybe because I spend a great deal of time using this camera.
The ONLY thing I would like to have changed, is a rechargable pack. At first I burned thru many batteries. I switched to rechargables, and find that I still use a great deal of power, (I shoot often with the flash,) but now I can recharge the spent batteries after each session. I use the charge of 12 AAs in a 3 hour shoot.
I use this camera for studio work and it has served me well for a good number of years already!
On: 2007-01-02
I purchased this camera 2 or 3 years ago, and still use it as if brand new today. This camera is excellent for amateur hobby photographers like myself, as it has a lot of functions that can be accessed by the click of a dial, such as shutter speed, aperture priority, manual function, etc. To be honest, the camera has so many functions that I dont even understand how to utilize it to its full potential. If you are well versed in photography, this camera is for you. If you are just a point and shoot kind of person, this camera has too many functions that it wouldnt be worth it. I purchased a 1G memory card that will store over 1000 pictures (the camera comes with one that only saves like 20 photos). The software is easy to use and has nice photo viewing and editing capability. The only caveat is that the size makes it too bulky to take along everywhere so it can only be used in planned outings, not something you carry around with you daily, thus stripping you of your random photo op. One other thing that I have trouble with is that if the settings are not perfectly adjusted in some low light situations, the pictures come out blurry. But it does take really great flash photos and some settings make the night look like daytime. You really just have to play around with the settings if you are an amateur like me, but once you get the hang of it, its awesome. I love this camera and the quality of the photos is near professional.
 On: 2006-09-11
I have had both the S5000 and the S5100 I was disapointed when my S5000 power switch stopped working after 18 months, but I was happy with the picture quality. I replaced it with the S5100, it has a slightly better feature set over the S5000 (in particular shutter speed choices) while on a trip to Niagara Falls, I was unfortunate to give my camera a slight jolt (and I mean slight) after that it wouldnt power up. I am now looking for something a liitle more robust and reliable.
On: 2006-09-10
I have had both the S5000 and the S5100 I was disapointed when my S5000 power switch stopped working after 18 months, but I was happy with the picture quality. I replaced it with the S5100, it has a slightly better feature set over the S5000 (in particular shutter speed choices) while on a trip to Niagara Falls, I was unfortunate to give my camera a slight jolt (and I mean slight) after that it wouldnt power up. I am now looking for something a liitle more robust and reliable.
On: 2006-08-13
Had the Fuji S5100 exactly one year now. Meant to write a review after our Hawaii trip last year. Just back from second annual trip and remembered that I hadnt entered a review yet.
First - youll be more satisfied the more you use it. This is my 5th digital camera and first Fuji. Its really grown on me.
My wife rarely uses it since I take virtually every photo. But when she does, I just set it to AUTO, remind her how to zoom, and find that the pics are just fine.
I use a 512mb xD. I routinely fill up a card on one set of batteries (almost all of my shots are at the 2mp setting which are just fine for most any purpose). But beware - use only high quality digital batteries. If you are on a budget, heres a surprising find - buy the Kirkland 40-ct box at Costco. Its only about $11 and they are conveniently shrinkwrapped in 4-ct bundles - great for packing an extra set. These are far better than any other generic or store brand versions and rival the special batteries for digital products.
With a 512MB card, I never deplete batteries by reviewing/deleting photos in camera. Download using a card reader and do your purging on the PC instead. Shots you might have deleted using the LCD may turn out to have an interesting look when seen on computer. And, unless you really have to use the LCD, learn to use the viewfinder it matches the final shot pretty well and its more discreet.
Heres a fail-safe insurance tip for good shots. Use fast shutter mode. Theres a special button for this on the top of the camera. This allows 3 shots at a time in rapid succession. You can select first 3, last 3 or bracketing mode. I use last 3 for almost every photo. Just depress the shutter and the camera starts shooting. When you release, the last 3 shots are saved. I always find at least one keeper. (bonus tip - only in AUTO mode, you can squeeze off up to 40 in a row - try it at knee level while following your toddler or during the last 10 yards before a finish line).
I get incredible indoor shots without a flash, using Sports mode with fast shutter while increasing the ISO to 400. Be sure to resist the urge to zoom too far, the shots get darker and fuzzier in dim light. Use widest mode and move yourself closer. Great for photos of the talent show without distracting the performers with a flash.
I recently discovered a cool new technique using Continuous AF and Aperture mode. Open up the Aperture to the highest level, set your ISO to 64, and find a still subject with an interesting background. Youll get an ultra crisp detailed view of your subject with the background blurred slightly. Very professional!
I use a tiny 6 inch tripod for night shots. There are two timer modes. One for 10 seconds and one for 2 seconds. Use the 2 second mode when you are not in the shot. Be sure to use bracket mode to squeeze off 3 shots in a row. Youll get one regular, one brighter, and one darker shot to choose from later.
One technique I started using is utilizing more candid shots with less posing. You can turn off the beeper and false-click sound using Set Up mode so your subjects are less aware. While getting the family to line up for a group shot, try squeezing off a few fast-shutter shots as they are moving around. You can quietly zoom in on a smaller group and get some very interesting and touching photos and theyll never know.
I think it has a relatively fast response time. It helps a lot if you can frame your shot before hand but its not really necessary. Just squeeze half-way down so that all you need to do is squeeze all the way at the right moment. When I cant frame the exact shot, just pick a spot approximately the same distance and frame that as a substitute. This works well when theres lots of light.
Why wont I give this 5 stars? Its a bit too big to be ultra portable in a briefcase or purse (I travel a lot) and I find that some colors appear bland. I fix a fair amount with a photo editor. But its still my favorite camera.
On: 2006-08-02
A little background first...
This was an upgrade camera for me, just over a year ago. I was in 35mm format for over 20 years. I used a Pentax K1000 body and several different lenses, tele-converters and filters. At work, Ive had 4 years experience with a Fuji Fine Pix 2MP "point-and-shoot". It was provided by my work and was very durable (it had to be, as I am in Construction Engineering). When I decided to switch "personally" to all digital I was very cautious.
I first looked for pic quality and durability. From an "advanced-amature" photographers point of view, this camera is great !!!
This camera never leaves my side.
It travels with me everywhere I go.
It is extremely durable as it is mounted to an "Ultra-Pod II" and I carry it over my shoulder (I dont keep it in a bag).
It provides me OUTSTANDING QUALITY POHOTGRAPHS (close, far or fast: work or play) at a very reasonable price.
It takes reasonable video (considering my 35mm took none at all).
It is easy to use and learn (even for an old 35mm guy).
It is lightweight and power usage is not an issue (NiMH is the way to go).
I take close to 20,000 pics a year for work and play. I am always experimenting with this camera and its limits. I am so pleased with this camera (and the previous Fuji I used) that my next upgrade will be a Fuji as well (looking to 10MP).
For the $$$ you cant go wrong!
On: 2006-05-15
This cameras flaws may irritate more seasoned and adept photographers than me. However, for the amateur looking for room to grow, this camera is a great value for the money. I was drawn to the S5100 because of its automatic and manual settings. I figured that I could slowly learn how to use the more advanced functions while still being able to take photos. The 10x optical zoom is a major bonus. The colors fade a bit at full zoom, so you wont get the same terrific, sharp images as at lower magnifications, but it still beats the heck out of the point-and-shoot 3x optical zoom cameras.
Ive owned the S5100 for over a year, and though I love it, it has a few significant shortcomings:
1. While it takes beautiful pictures in bright sunlight, indoor non-flash pictures taken without the aid of a tripod are often blurry. The S5100 takes some beautiful night shots (with tripod), however.
2. Shutter speed on automatic settings is slow, and start-up once you turn it on takes too long. Also, if you turn the camera off, and then immediately turn it on again, it often wont turn on. You need to wait a beat after turning it off before turning it on again. Its not that annoying because you dont often need to immediately turn it back on after turning it off.
3. The view-finder is digital, not optical. When you look through it, youre seeing a digital image, and not actually looking through a lens. I find it difficult to see the image in the viewfinder, so I only use the LCD screen. Unfortunately, the LCD screen is hard to see when its very sunny.
4. Its hard to take incognito shots, because the camera makes a lot of noise (beeping when it turns on, and an artificial film-camera-type "click" when it takes a photo).
That said, I love this camera and would buy it again. I live overseas and often post photos of my travels online to send to friends and relatives back home. They always ooh and ah over my photos and frequently ask what sort of camera I have. The S5100 offers a lot of bang for the buck.
On: 2006-05-14
This cameras flaws may irritate more seasoned and adept photographers than me. However, for the amateur looking for room to grow, this camera is a great value for the money. I was drawn to the S5100 because of its automatic and manual settings. I figured that I could slowly learn how to use the more advanced functions while still being able to take photos. The 10x optical zoom is a major bonus. The colors fade a bit at full zoom, so you wont get the same terrific, sharp images as at lower magnifications, but it still beats the heck out of the point-and-shoot 3x optical zoom cameras.
Ive owned the S5100 for over a year, and though I love it, it has a few significant shortcomings:
1. While it takes beautiful pictures in bright sunlight, indoor non-flash pictures taken without the aid of a tripod are often blurry. The S5100 takes some beautiful night shots (with tripod), however.
2. Shutter speed on automatic settings is slow, and start-up once you turn it on takes too long. Also, if you turn the camera off, and then immediately turn it on again, it often wont turn on. You need to wait a beat after turning it off before turning it on again. Its not that annoying because you dont often need to immediately turn it back on after turning it off.
3. The view-finder is digital, not optical. When you look through it, youre seeing a digital image, and not actually looking through a lens. I find it difficult to see the image in the viewfinder, so I only use the LCD screen. Unfortunately, the LCD screen is hard to see when its very sunny.
4. Its hard to take incognito shots, because the camera makes a lot of noise (beeping when it turns on, and an artificial film-camera-type "click" when it takes a photo).
That said, I love this camera and would buy it again. I live overseas and often post photos of my travels online to send to friends and relatives back home. They always ooh and ah over my photos and frequently ask what sort of camera I have. The S5100 offers a lot of bang for the buck.
On: 2006-03-06
Having been engaged in 35mm photography for 32 years, I approached digital photography with great reluctance. I knew there would be an essential learning phase with less than ideal pictures, like my playing with a brownie for a few years as a kid -- this further delayed my plunge. Finally, an upcoming trip overseas compounded with the knowledge of what airport metal detectors do to film forced the issue.
My choice was cinched by some pictures we acquired from a friend of papal conclave 2006. We ran them as a screen saver, and I was much impressed by the sharpness, color tonality, and depth of field -- especially in cloudy day pictures of crowds in public squares. Faces far into the background were discernable. I asked what was used and it was this camera. At the camera store I was heartened to see it felt like a mini SLR in the hand, had a nice big viewer and uncomplicated, straightforward controls.
The learning phase in the backyard and around town gave me some doubts. Lack of no-shake feature is the models biggest downside; a lot got blurred especially using the zoom feature on moving subjects. Some of this you learn to shake out using point focus, but you still are going to lose a few precious moments despite your best efforts. Nor with the limited equivalent ASA range are you going to be able to get the sort of pics in museums or dark old cathedrals you are used to with a good SLR and high speed film -- but remember, this one is a starter. This thing is a monster battery eater, too: always carry 2 fully charged replacement sets with you. On the plus side, choice of black and white and chrome mode is very nice feature, and the built-in zoom has a very decent range and performance on stationary subjects. Speed of use may or may not compare well to other digitals, I dont know, but its a whole world superior to my old world. There is a rather steely patina to even the best color images, I see now after viewing hundreds, but thats a decent trade-off for the general ease of use and clarity. Incidentally, the lens on this camera gives you a lot more than what you would expect from a 4 megapixel rating.
Back from Europe this week, I have 2000+ jpegs (the keepers) all of very high quality, an achievement I could not have come close to, I am sure, either with old film camera or with most other starter level digitals. The continuing issue of shake and blur I surmounted by simply multiple shooting a lot (sometimes 5-7 images); you can erase them almost as quickly as you shoot them, and come to see this as a small nuisance in the bigger trade-off.
I do not plan to spend the rest of my life with this level digital camera, but even after I move up I think I will keep it around for sheer utilty and ease of use in the general every day world. For the price, this is about as good a deal as one can hope for.
On: 2006-03-05
Having been engaged in 35mm photography for 32 years, I approached digital photography with great reluctance. I knew there would be an essential learning phase with less than ideal pictures, like my playing with a brownie for a few years as a kid -- this further delayed my plunge. Finally, an upcoming trip overseas compounded with the knowledge of what airport metal detectors do to film forced the issue.
My choice was cinched by some pictures we acquired from a friend of papal conclave 2006. We ran them as a screen saver, and I was much impressed by the sharpness, color tonality, and depth of field -- especially in cloudy day pictures of crowds in public squares. Faces far into the background were discernable. I asked what was used and it was this camera. At the camera store I was heartened to see it felt like a mini SLR in the hand, had a nice big viewer and uncomplicated, straightforward controls.
The learning phase in the backyard and around town gave me some doubts. Lack of no-shake feature is the models biggest downside; a lot got blurred especially using the zoom feature on moving subjects. Some of this you learn to shake out using point focus, but you still are going to lose a few precious moments despite your best efforts. Nor with the limited equivalent ASA range are you going to be able to get the sort of pics in museums or dark old cathedrals you are used to with a good SLR and high speed film -- but remember, this one is a starter. This thing is a monster battery eater, too: always carry 2 fully charged replacement sets with you. On the plus side, choice of black and white and chrome mode is very nice feature, and the built-in zoom has a very decent range and performance on stationary subjects. Speed of use may or may not compare well to other digitals, I dont know, but its a whole world superior to my old world. There is a rather steely patina to even the best color images, I see now after viewing hundreds, but thats a decent trade-off for the general ease of use and clarity. Incidentally, the lens on this camera gives you a lot more than what you would expect from a 4 megapixel rating.
Back from Europe this week, I have 2000+ jpegs (the keepers) all of very high quality, an achievement I could not have come close to, I am sure, either with old film camera or with most other starter level digitals. The continuing issue of shake and blur I surmounted by simply multiple shooting a lot (sometimes 5-7 images); you can erase them almost as quickly as you shoot them, and come to see this as a small nuisance in the bigger trade-off.
I do not plan to spend the rest of my life with this level digital camera, but even after I move up I think I will keep it around for sheer utilty and ease of use in the general every day world. For the price, this is about as good a deal as one can hope for.
On: 2006-01-06
I had an S5000 but it dropped it and broke. So I decided to buy this model since I loved the S5000 so much. They took away so many of the great options and quality that the S5000 had...so now I just use a small Fuji pocket digital camera and this one sits on the shelf. It is very blurry in low light and has very little shake control. I would suggest going with the S5000 even with lower Megapixels it is much better quality.
 On: 2005-12-30
I bought this item for my Wife for her birthday in March 2005, the camera responds slowly and 3 months after we bought it the only movable item which is the right in front with the little silver push button on it Fell out. This made the camera virually unusable and sitting on my desk until we found out that to get this part fixed and installed would be another 100 dollars. Getting a receipt from my credit card company took 2 weeks and any response from Amazon and JR music world was fruitless.
I am now waiting for 3 different companies to respond so that i can get this thing fixed under warranty.
To be Continued...
On: 2005-12-29
I bought this item for my Wife for her birthday in March 2005, the camera responds slowly and 3 months after we bought it the only movable item which is the right in front with the little silver push button on it Fell out. This made the camera virually unusable and sitting on my desk until we found out that to get this part fixed and installed would be another 100 dollars. Getting a receipt from my credit card company took 2 weeks and any response from Amazon and JR music world was fruitless.
I am now waiting for 3 different companies to respond so that i can get this thing fixed under warranty.
To be Continued...
On: 2005-12-16
I received this camera for my birthday to replace my Sony Mavica (RIP). I really dont care for it. The picture quality is average considering the price and Fuji has still not sent me my $50 rebate ( 12 weeks out...) Im just not very pleased overall.
On: 2005-12-15
I received this camera for my birthday to replace my Sony Mavica (RIP). I really dont care for it. The picture quality is average considering the price and Fuji has still not sent me my $50 rebate ( 12 weeks out...) Im just not very pleased overall.
On: 2005-12-10
Takes good photos except in odd or low light conditions - then they are very grainy. Good camera to familiarize yourself with f-stop and aperture settings. I wished Id purchased a digital SLR though.
On: 2005-12-09
Takes good photos except in odd or low light conditions - then they are very grainy. Good camera to familiarize yourself with f-stop and aperture settings. I wished Id purchased a digital SLR though.
On: 2005-11-22
I purchased this camera a year ago and have loved it. I dont know a lot about cameras and I mainly wanted something that would be easy to use with a decent zoom. I have been able to take great photos with it and virtually everyone I come into contact with loves how the camera works and wishes they had one of their own. The camera was very easy to learn how to use and the photo quality has been excellent.
On: 2005-11-16
I have had this camera for about a year now. It was the best purchase ever! The zoom is incredible, and 4.0 megapixels is just perfect. The distance of the flash is great too! This is an incredible camera and is WELL worth the money! I have had no problems, or anything that has been negative about it whatsoever!
On: 2005-11-15
I have had this camera for about a year now. It was the best purchase ever! The zoom is incredible, and 4.0 megapixels is just perfect. The distance of the flash is great too! This is an incredible camera and is WELL worth the money! I have had no problems, or anything that has been negative about it whatsoever!
On: 2005-11-03
My last camera is a 35mm point & shoot auto-focus, auto-everything. Thats great for me, because I dont want to have to work at taking pictures. My wife, however, has taken classes and wanted a full-featured camera when we went digital. On the other hand, Im an almost-expert at digital image editing, while she wants a simple "Download" and "Print" buttons.
This camera gives us the best of both worlds. I can set it in full-auto and take great (albeit simple) pictures. She can set settings to her hearts delight and take more artsy style pictures. The pictures are great either way, and the camera is easy and fun to use.
The downside is the software. I wasnt expecting anything like the full version of Photoshop, but I did expect something easy to use. I dont think it should be hard to take a picture at 4MP, download it to my computer, then resample it down to a much smaller file size to email it. This is entirely too cumbersome, anti-intuitive, and downright painful to do with the Fuji software.
The camera itself is great, but plan on lots of time and aspirin when you go to download the pictures to your computer, and even more if you want to do anything more with the pictures.
On: 2005-11-02
My last camera is a 35mm point & shoot auto-focus, auto-everything. Thats great for me, because I dont want to have to work at taking pictures. My wife, however, has taken classes and wanted a full-featured camera when we went digital. On the other hand, Im an almost-expert at digital image editing, while she wants a simple "Download" and "Print" buttons.
This camera gives us the best of both worlds. I can set it in full-auto and take great (albeit simple) pictures. She can set settings to her hearts delight and take more artsy style pictures. The pictures are great either way, and the camera is easy and fun to use.
The downside is the software. I wasnt expecting anything like the full version of Photoshop, but I did expect something easy to use. I dont think it should be hard to take a picture at 4MP, download it to my computer, then resample it down to a much smaller file size to email it. This is entirely too cumbersome, anti-intuitive, and downright painful to do with the Fuji software.
The camera itself is great, but plan on lots of time and aspirin when you go to download the pictures to your computer, and even more if you want to do anything more with the pictures.
On: 2005-11-01
Im uneasy about having to provide my personal information to register myself before I can use a CAMERA (specifically its RAW function). Even everyones favorite villain, Microsoft, allows their products to be used whether or not you are willing to enroll yourself in their databanks.
Also, even bad-guys Microsoft allows the use of a telephone to complete their "anti piracy procedure" for those whose computers are not hooked up to the internet. This upsets me because I like to use one computer for "important" stuff and a different computer for internet stuff. However, Fuji camera software will not work on internet-free computers. Obviously if all software applications follow this trend, the idea of keeping an "internet free" computer will be impossible, so I am hoping Fuji will repeal this consumer-unfriendly policy.
On the bright side, the jpeg photos (the photos I can actually access on my computer-with-no-modem) seem nice.
On: 2005-10-20
I originally bought this camera for the 10x optical zoom as I do alot of range shots, and the assortment of features was very appealing.
Since its purchase the camera has been superb in many aspects, great color with out much fuzzyness, decent to good battery life (I think I took 2 days of heavy use hmmmm maybe around 40-50 shots before the batteries got to low to function), and it was light weight.
The only thing I might say that could possibly be taken as a negative is that you should get a tripod if you do not have a very steady hand. Although the camera does has a moderate anti-shake feature if you are not good at staying steady.... you can get some fuzzy shots but not many.
I would difinately recommend this camera to my friends and others looking for a good camera.
On: 2005-10-11
Ive had my Fuji S5100 since the end of August. I actually got it for a grand total of $250 from another major online media store, and that cannot be beat! I love it so far, and yet I have not yet "scratched the surface" of what it can do, Im sure. I am still learning how to use the various manual settings that are available, but I have already taken so many great macro pics as well as everyday pics. The color and details are excellent. The camera is so easy to use and is light but sturdy. If I had to make one criticism it would be that right off the bat you need to purchase a larger memory card, plus all the rechargeable batteries and something to transfer the pics with. Those items add up quickly to about another $100 on top of the camera price. I feel the camera should come with some if not all of those things. I bought the little Fuji USB reader though instead of an A/C adapter and it is the coolest thing Ive ever seen. This camera is serving me VERY well and I highly recommend it.
On: 2005-08-31
[...]
Now the PROS:
Let me get to the point, the camera is good with a excellent feature of being able to take "RAW"(equivalent to Negative on regular FILM)images. In manual mode you can take indoor pictures without flash, so you will not that glar from Flash or red eye.
Now the cons:
The camera come with only xD card type. They are propritory to Fuji and Olympus Cameras, the xD cards are expensive like 3 times more than Compact Flash(example like we have Sony pushing you to use only memory stick)
The camera comes with 16mb, which can hold one picture of RAW type. So you have to get 512MB memory which cost around $65.
The camera uses regular 4 AA batteries and fuji gives you one set as starter later you have to buy a minimum of a 4 AA Nimh rechargable batteries and a charger.
The download of pictures using USB to PC drains your batteries. Then you will need to get a AC adapter for Download purposes.
Conclusion:
All the accessories & memory will cost you around $150. For this extra cost you could get a Canon 6.0MP wherein you get better value for the money
Do you research before you buy a xD type camera!!!
On: 2005-08-30
[...]
Now the PROS:
Let me get to the point, the camera is good with a excellent feature of being able to take "RAW"(equivalent to Negative on regular FILM)images. In manual mode you can take indoor pictures without flash, so you will not that glar from Flash or red eye.
Now the cons:
The camera come with only xD card type. They are propritory to Fuji and Olympus Cameras, the xD cards are expensive like 3 times more than Compact Flash(example like we have Sony pushing you to use only memory stick)
The camera comes with 16mb, which can hold one picture of RAW type. So you have to get 512MB memory which cost around $65.
The camera uses regular 4 AA batteries and fuji gives you one set as starter later you have to buy a minimum of a 4 AA Nimh rechargable batteries and a charger.
The download of pictures using USB to PC drains your batteries. Then you will need to get a AC adapter for Download purposes.
Conclusion:
All the accessories & memory will cost you around $150. For this extra cost you could get a Canon 6.0MP wherein you get better value for the money
Do you research before you buy a xD type camera!!!
On: 2005-08-25
Acabo de comprar esta camara y la verdad que me gusto mucho, el zoom es muy bueno y las imagenes de una gran calidad, tiene sus detalles, como el que no puedas usar el zoom dutrante el modo de video y por otro lado es un poco complicado el uso del balanceo de blancos, pero la verdad es muy buena camara, eso si... No es la mejor (por esteprecio) acabo de encontrar la Canon Powershot S2, no no no, esta si no tiene madre, es de 12X optico, tiene estabilizador de imagen es estereo y mientras grabas video puedes usar el zoom y capturar imagenes, y la verdad por 200 dolares mas creo que mucho mejor compra, ya estoy pensando seriamente en vender la finepix y comprarme esta, algun interesado?
Saludos
On: 2005-08-24
Acabo de comprar esta camara y la verdad que me gusto mucho, el zoom es muy bueno y las imagenes de una gran calidad, tiene sus detalles, como el que no puedas usar el zoom dutrante el modo de video y por otro lado es un poco complicado el uso del balanceo de blancos, pero la verdad es muy buena camara, eso si... No es la mejor (por esteprecio) acabo de encontrar la Canon Powershot S2, no no no, esta si no tiene madre, es de 12X optico, tiene estabilizador de imagen es estereo y mientras grabas video puedes usar el zoom y capturar imagenes, y la verdad por 200 dolares mas creo que mucho mejor compra, ya estoy pensando seriamente en vender la finepix y comprarme esta, algun interesado?
Saludos
On: 2005-07-31
Pros:
*Excellent zoom for the price
*WILL work with 1gb xD cards, but not recommended with the movie recording feature (camera may overheat).
*Very light and easily fits in my small hands.
*Wannabe SLR means that you are actually seeing what the lens sees, even if its not really an SLR.
*Excellent intermediate camera - enough adjustability for learning photography, not as spectacular as a more expensive model...definitely what I needed, since I wasnt really sure that I would really use the features.
Cons:
*Both viewing areas (large screen & eye piece) are digital. And both have a split second freeze-frame when you push the button. Ok for most circumstances, but miserable for action shots where you need to follow the target.
Recommendations:
*Get large xD cards. The 1gb card is the best deal, at about $90 right now.
*Get a strap pad of some sort if your neck chafes easily.
*Get rechargeable camera batteries...this camera uses remarkably little battery juice, but at 4AA a shot they can get expensive!
On: 2005-07-16
i gave this camera 4 stars because it did not allow me the opportunity to photograph things really close. im a total novice and i bought the camera after much research because lets face it,...it makes more economical sense to go digital when you have a family and 2 growing little children. the time and convienence of this camera are astounding and despite the way it looks it is increadibly lightweight. no more running to the store for 35mm film or to develop pictures,...its all in the palm of your hand. it is sooo easy to use for those of you that are intimidated by the lengthy directions that you get with major electronics. there is a quick start sheet that shows you the basics. ive opted to purchase a seperate lense that will allow me closer shots as i am a tarantula hobbyist who likes to photograph my specimens. however for everything else this camera really does it all. the price for me was hefty but i do go by the saying that you get what you pay for. i got a nice $50 rebate through fuji. their website is not the greatest but overall im pretty pleased with this camera.
On: 2005-07-15
i gave this camera 4 stars because it did not allow me the opportunity to photograph things really close. im a total novice and i bought the camera after much research because lets face it,...it makes more economical sense to go digital when you have a family and 2 growing little children. the time and convienence of this camera are astounding and despite the way it looks it is increadibly lightweight. no more running to the store for 35mm film or to develop pictures,...its all in the palm of your hand. it is sooo easy to use for those of you that are intimidated by the lengthy directions that you get with major electronics. there is a quick start sheet that shows you the basics. ive opted to purchase a seperate lense that will allow me closer shots as i am a tarantula hobbyist who likes to photograph my specimens. however for everything else this camera really does it all. the price for me was hefty but i do go by the saying that you get what you pay for. i got a nice $50 rebate through fuji. their website is not the greatest but overall im pretty pleased with this camera.
On: 2005-07-13
I read an article about this camera and the CEO of Fuji before I purchased this camera from AMAZON.COM. The CEO of FuJi said, "We wanted to make a Camera that would appeal to those consumers who wanted a great camera at an under $400.00 price" I believe his goal was met and by far surpassed his expectations. This camera is selling like hot cakes!!! I waited for over a month from Amazon to receive this camera.....it was worth the wait!!! I have a fuji 2 meg camera that took great pictures but did not come close to the features of THIS CAMERA. I doubt there are that many people who need a camera with more then 4 meg(larger then 8 1/2 by 11)and better detail then this camera can offer. If youre looking for a camera with great detail, self contained 10X zoom and can be used by anyone in your family, novice or not...for the price you cant beat it.
On: 2005-07-03
This site I stumbled upon has an excellent detailed review.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5100/S51A.HTM
On: 2005-06-30
I ordered this camera, its the same one a friend of mine has and loved hers while I was on vacation so I decided to buy one of my very own, I ordered it on day 2 of my vacation and thought to save a little bit of money and go for he free shipping that is offered... it isnt that grand... I have yet to recieve my camera despite ordering it several weeks ago... I have never waited this long for anything from AMAZON before... good grief people are you making the darn thing from scratch or what????
On: 2005-06-29
I ordered this camera, its the same one a friend of mine has and loved hers while I was on vacation so I decided to buy one of my very own, I ordered it on day 2 of my vacation and thought to save a little bit of money and go for he free shipping that is offered... it isnt that grand... I have yet to recieve my camera despite ordering it several weeks ago... I have never waited this long for anything from AMAZON before... good grief people are you making the darn thing from scratch or what????
On: 2005-06-13
Lets be completely honest about the downfalls of this camera...
1. It has slightly noticable vignetting in some cases (i.e. shooting a clear blue sky) but nothing that cant be fixed easily with a few clicks of a photoshop brush.
2. Its zoom from about 8x-10x is almost useless (at least with my tests)
4. Its high-rez video recording has too many artifacts (too compressed) for my tastes...
However, I still love the camera. Let me list the ways.
1. It feels great in your hand
2. Its manual mode is incredibly easy to use and gives you 5x the picture-taking capabilities of other cameras in its class
3. the ability to attach standard lense filters is unheard of at this price. I use a UV filter and it gives outdoor photos an extra edge.
4. If you are lucky enough to own photoshop CS2, you can edit in RAW > a feature almost unheard of for under [...].
5. I have made some beautiful 8X10 prints that look astonishingly clear.
Youre pratically stealing this camera with the mail-in rebate bringing the final cost to [...]. If all you need is a max 8x10 enlargement, this is about the best buying decision you can make for the money.
good luck
On: 2005-06-01
I was looking for a digital camera to replace a 2.1 megapixel camera with the features and feel of a film SLR without breaking my checkbook and I found what I was looking for in the S5100. I can get great pictures in auto mode and in auto even my wife (who is electronicaly challenged!) is able to use it with outstanding results (even on a moving motorcycle). The camera has a wide variety of features that I use to get the shots and quality I am looking for. The 10X optical zoom was a major feature that I was looking for and it provides closeups that are crisp and clear. Photo quality is excellent in all modes and I feet it is an excellent value in a camera that goes for under $300. It compares very favorably with cameras that a few of my friends, who are professional sports photographers, use and out shines or equals many cameras that cost twice as much.
It takes a bit of reading to fully understand the functionality of all the features but the menues and features follow a relatively simple logic and with a little practice, they are easy to use and master. The manual is clear and easy to follow.
This is not a beginners camera but Fuji has made it easy enough for the interested novice to get excellent results with a very small learning curve. While it is not a pocket camera, it is small and light enough to carry and not get in the way. The xD memory cards are a little expensive but you can get over 150 on a 256 card in the highest quality mode.
I obviously am very impressed.
by: bkd990 On: 2005-05-27
Ive recently purchased this camera to replace a canon S330 and Canon G5. This cameras highlight, also the reason why I bought this camers, is that it has 10x zoom. Other postive aspects, it does not drain battery and it uses AA batteries, which means when you run out, you can pretty much purchase them anywhere and get back into action. The negative side is that it does not take pictures as well compared with the Canons in darker areas. The LCD view finder is smaller and not as clear as the canons. When used all 10x, it has a problem with auto focusing. But with the price tag on its quality, one cannot really complain, compared with other cameras with 10x, you are really getting a good deal. Also, of course, quality compared to the G5 is lower, but the G5 still cost over 350 bucks while this guy cost is around 250. I purchased an adapter ring 55mm to 52mm and all my Canon lenses fit perfectly for this camera. Overall, Im pretty impressed with this camera with its price vs value.
On: 2005-05-26
Ive recently purchased this camera to replace a canon S330 and Canon G5. This cameras highlight, also the reason why I bought this camers, is that it has 10x zoom. Other postive aspects, it does not drain battery and it uses AA batteries, which means when you run out, you can pretty much purchase them anywhere and get back into action. The negative side is that it does not take pictures as well compared with the Canons in darker areas. The LCD view finder is smaller and not as clear as the canons. When used all 10x, it has a problem with auto focusing. But with the price tag on its quality, one cannot really complain, compared with other cameras with 10x, you are really getting a good deal. Also, of course, quality compared to the G5 is lower, but the G5 still cost over 350 bucks while this guy cost is around 250. I purchased an adapter ring 55mm to 52mm and all my Canon lenses fit perfectly for this camera. Overall, Im pretty impressed with this camera with its price vs value.
On: 2005-05-19
I recently purchased this camera for my wife .... well it was a Mothers Day present, but it quickly became one of my favorite toys in the house....
Anyway, this is our second digital camera, this one replacing the familys Sony DSC-P71 3.2 MP. The Fuji blows away the previous camera that we had, image quality far surpassing my expectations.
Although an avid photo taker of my children, I had really never had professional photo training.... with this in mind, I did some research, and came up with the Fuji S5100 as the best camera for my budding photo craze... I am very pleased by the cameras Look, feel, and overall weight balance. Image quality is exceptional especially for a 4MP camera, I have found it takes photos at the quality of a higher MP camera.
Price was incredible... $314 on sale at Best Buy + $50 rebate from Fuji = $264... a steal, considering that I resold our last camera for $140... overall net cost to me was $124.
Again, this is our first more serious digital camera, and love it... at thisi point would definitely buy another Fuji product...
On: 2005-04-24
I replaced my ancient Olympus, 26 years old, that I had fully outfitted with lenses, etc. with a Fuji Finepix 3800. I was very pleased with this, with one exception. I missed the ability to change films speeds from the SLR film world. I moved up to the 5100 and have not stopped being amazed with the results. I bought a wide angle lens to increase the options with this.
Today I bought a 3100 model for my daughter.
I have complete admiration for all the Fuji products.
On: 2005-04-23
I replaced my ancient Olympus, 26 years old, that I had fully outfitted with lenses, etc. with a Fuji Finepix 3800. I was very pleased with this, with one exception. I missed the ability to change films speeds from the SLR film world. I moved up to the 5100 and have not stopped being amazed with the results. I bought a wide angle lens to increase the options with this.
Today I bought a 3100 model for my daughter.
I have complete admiration for all the Fuji products.
On: 2005-04-08
We used to own a Olympus D550 and Fuji A303. Both are good cameras juat not good enough. With the newborn baby growing everyday. We feel like we need a better camera to capture all the precious moments. It took us weeks to do research, Finally we decide to get this Fuji Finepix S5100 as it is a SLR camera at a very affordable price. Since it arrival (less than a week), we took more than 500 pictures without reading the menu. They all turned out to be awesome. It is very easy to operate. The movie mode is very clear, we prefer this over the Camcorder. My Husband and I love this very much that use it pretty much every day....The next camera will sure be a Fuji Finepix but at a much higer Megapixel like the S7000...Enjoy
On: 2005-04-08
If you have any question about the function or the features of this camera, I recommended this group. I found a lot of answers for my question.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fujigroup/
On: 2005-04-07
This camera is everything its cracked up to be. I bought a Powershot A95 because of the features and the price. It is a good camera, but it just didnt feel very good in my hands and it certainly would not be taken seriously from a visual standpoint when I tell people Im an amateur photographer. So I sold it and bought the fuji finepix s5100. WOW what a difference. You can feel it as soon as you pick it up. It truly feels and operates like a mini SLR. I used to own a Minolta 35mm SLR film camera and this is the digital answer to that camera. I am blown away by its performance. Is it perfect? No. But unless you spend $600 or more, youre not going to find a better value. This camera flat out rocks! I feel like a photographer again.
On: 2005-04-07
If you have any question about the function or the features of this camera, I recommended this group. I found a lot of answers for my question.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fujigroup/
On: 2005-04-06
This camera is everything its cracked up to be. I bought a Powershot A95 because of the features and the price. It is a good camera, but it just didnt feel very good in my hands and it certainly would not be taken seriously from a visual standpoint when I tell people Im an amateur photographer. So I sold it and bought the fuji finepix s5100. WOW what a difference. You can feel it as soon as you pick it up. It truly feels and operates like a mini SLR. I used to own a Minolta 35mm SLR film camera and this is the digital answer to that camera. I am blown away by its performance. Is it perfect? No. But unless you spend $600 or more, youre not going to find a better value. This camera flat out rocks! I feel like a photographer again.
On: 2005-04-01
Hi everyone! First, the story: This is my first professional diginal camera. I had two others wich were very simple and I just decided to go for a much better one and, after some research, I picked up this one... and Im glad I did.
Now the facts: The camera has en excelent response in several conditions. I mostly take my pictures using the automatic mode and Ive got some wonderful ones. Also, the response for taking pictures of moving objects or while photografer is in movement, is excelent. However, the other modes are also great, so I can always get great pictures, even when I still cannot use it perfectly.
I have taken pictures facing the sun at sunrise or sunset and I also got some astonishing pictures.
A feature that really got my attention is the movie mode. The output is excellent and the sound is magnificent. The microphone can get sounds of up to 7 m (8 yards, aprox.) crystal clear.
This is also a very comfortable camera to carry and to grab and the different functions it offers cover most of my needs when its about taking goos pictures. The zoom is great and the flash its great too.
The software is very useful and the looks of the camera are terrific. My friends think I paid a fortune for it.
The only thing I dont like at all is the fact that the flash has to be manually activated. Still, I love this camera.
Another thing: the camera sucks disposable batteries very fast, but it can last days using rechargable ones.
I hope this is helpful for you. Greetings from Mexico!
by: Anonymous On: 2005-03-29
I bought this camera on a trip to NYC. I didnt do much research on it before i bought this camera like i normally do on big purchases. Well after i bought it fell in love with it. Its the best camera i have ever owned!!! I recommend this camera for everyone!!!
On: 2005-03-28
Thanks MetroPlex for your review - the ISO setting at 64 makes for much better pictures, why dont they tell you that in the manual???
I have had my camera for less than 1 week. I am taking such awesome pictures, I can hardly believe they are mine. After playing with the settings, Im now getting much better photos.
As far as Im concerned, my camera just paid for itself yesterday when I saw a Great Horned Owl sitting about 30 feet up in a pine tree and I took a bunch of pictures of him. I couldnt see it with my own eyes, but when I downloaded the pictures, you can even see his yellow eyes! AWESOME! The macro setting is as amazing, taking a photo of a partridge pea plant, you can see the fine hairs on the pea pod.
2 questions:
1. When the lens is extended, does it wiggle a little? Im wondering if this is normal, if not, then I want to take it back.
Im still playing with the camera and appreciate all of your comments. Thanks!
On: 2005-03-28
I bought this camera on a trip to NYC. I didnt do much research on it before i bought this camera like i normally do on big purchases. Well after i bought it fell in love with it. Its the best camera i have ever owned!!! I recommend this camera for everyone!!!
by: fusionvic On: 2005-03-21
Ive read many reviews of the S5100 and have found that many of the pros have addressed the pros/cons of this camera ad nauseam. So I will simply add info that you wont find in most websites:
* Use a low ISO setting for reduced noise in the picture. I found the lowest setting, 64 ISO, gives me the least noise in my photos (indoors and outdoors).
* You dont need a 256MB or 512MB xD card unless youre going to be outside away from a PC for extended durations. I bought a 128MB card becauase it was inexpensive and holds 66 high quality pics (4MP in FINE mode, 6:1 compression) which is about 3 rolls of film. If I was going to take lots of photos for a week out in some excursion, Id probably buy a few of the 512MB cards. If you want to just mess around and take snaps for your blog, website, or a school newspaper or project, the 128MB comes at a great price and offers decent storage size.
* Definitely get NiMH rechargeable batteries with the highest capacity. For a recharger, I recommend the Maha Powerex. Im using Energizer AA 2.5 AH NiMH batteries and theyve lasted at least a week.
* Remember to use the MACRO (Flower) feature for taking very close pics. If I can get the detail off of the center electrode from a Motorcraft spark plug, so can you.
* Definitely get a filter!!
The lens adapter that comes with the S5100 takes a standard 55mm filter. I recommend Hoya Multi-Coated filters as they appear almost invisible to the naked eye. I thought the store sold me a metal ring until I saw a reflection of the glass. Remember those Lenscrafters Invisibles commercials? The coatings on each side of the glass allows for 97%-99% light transmission with minimal reflectivity. That is why they appear almost invisible!
The Fuji lens cap will NOT work with a 55mm filter, so you will need a 55mm snap-in lens cap along with a Sima Cap Keeper II.
The filter protects your camera lens from damage. If you crack the filter it is only a few bux to replace compared to a new camera lens.
* Get a camera bag. The Fuji holster is a piece of garbage worth only about 1/4 the asking price. Get a decent mini zoom SLR camera bag.
Overall, the S5100 is NOT a Canon Rebel Digital SLR, but it worked just like my Minolta 35mm film SLR.
You get 10x optical zoom, and up to 36x digital+optical zoom in the 0.03MP mode. At 36x you can actually pick out the details from your subject.
The 640x480 VGA video looks spectacular. VGA mode is about 80MB/min while the 320x240 mode is 40MB/min.
What remains to be the seen is the durability of the S5100 in a mid to long term fielding.
On: 2005-03-20
Ive read many reviews of the S5100 and have found that many of the pros have addressed the pros/cons of this camera ad nauseam. So I will simply add info that you wont find in most websites:
* Use a low ISO setting for reduced noise in the picture. I found the lowest setting, 64 ISO, gives me the least noise in my photos (indoors and outdoors).
* You dont need a 256MB or 512MB xD card unless youre going to be outside away from a PC for extended durations. I bought a 128MB card becauase it was inexpensive and holds 66 high quality pics (4MP in FINE mode, 6:1 compression) which is about 3 rolls of film. If I was going to take lots of photos for a week out in some excursion, Id probably buy a few of the 512MB cards. If you want to just mess around and take snaps for your blog, website, or a school newspaper or project, the 128MB comes at a great price and offers decent storage size.
* Definitely get NiMH rechargeable batteries with the highest capacity. For a recharger, I recommend the Maha Powerex. Im using Energizer AA 2.5 AH NiMH batteries and theyve lasted at least a week.
* Remember to use the MACRO (Flower) feature for taking very close pics. If I can get the detail off of the center electrode from a Motorcraft spark plug, so can you.
* Definitely get a filter!!
The lens adapter that comes with the S5100 takes a standard 55mm filter. I recommend Hoya Multi-Coated filters as they appear almost invisible to the naked eye. I thought the store sold me a metal ring until I saw a reflection of the glass. Remember those Lenscrafters Invisibles commercials? The coatings on each side of the glass allows for 97%-99% light transmission with minimal reflectivity. That is why they appear almost invisible!
The Fuji lens cap will NOT work with a 55mm filter, so you will need a 55mm snap-in lens cap along with a Sima Cap Keeper II.
The filter protects your camera lens from damage. If you crack the filter it is only a few bux to replace compared to a new camera lens.
* Get a camera bag. The Fuji holster is a piece of garbage worth only about 1/4 the asking price. Get a decent mini zoom SLR camera bag.
Overall, the S5100 is NOT a Canon Rebel Digital SLR, but it worked just like my Minolta 35mm film SLR.
You get 10x optical zoom, and up to 36x digital+optical zoom in the 0.03MP mode. At 36x you can actually pick out the details from your subject.
The 640x480 VGA video looks spectacular. VGA mode is about 80MB/min while the 320x240 mode is 40MB/min.
What remains to be the seen is the durability of the S5100 in a mid to long term fielding.
On: 2005-03-11
This camera is nothing short of a mini marvel.Evidentually Fuji did some homework as the 3100 and 5100 take excellent pictures.The difference between the two lies in (you guessed it!) the features.The S3100 is a auto focus (point and shoot camera) while the S5100 is a auto focus (point and shoot)/manual camera.The s7000 has even MORE features than the S5100.The reason I spent the extra dollars and got the 5100 instead of the 3100 is simple.I like having the choice of switching auto everything off at times.Yeah I know there are Olympus digital cameras,Pentaxes,Kodaks,Sonys,Canons,JVCs and a bunch more but this camera has been good to me.
P.S. Although they give you a complimentary 16MB XD card,Id invest in at least a 256MB XD card and some rechargable batteries...but you knew that didnt you?
On: 2005-03-02
First, I am an amateur photographer. I just wanted something to take pictures at my sons basketball game. Pretty simple task.
I love the look and feel of this camera. It looks great, fits well in you hand, controls are easy to figure out, and I really like the protective hood. It starts up fast and is very quick from picture to picture.
I really wanted to love this camera but I could not take a decent picture. If your subject is within flash range, youre fine. If you are in a well lit area (like a basketball gym or at the camera store)and you dont use the flash, the shutter speed is set extremely slow and you cannot have any movement whatsoever. This is of course on the full auto mode and Im sure if you know what you are doing you can take fine pictures in manual but for the point and shoot set, this doesnt work well. I am comparing this to my Minolta S414 that takes the same paicture just fine in auto with no flash. I had the clerk in the store try to take a picture with the same results.
Maybe I am askign too much but my other camera does just fine in the same situation. Of the 200 or so pictures I took, I got about 5 that are keepers and none with any movement.
On: 2005-02-25
I bought this camera to replace a Fuji that I received with my Dell laptop about a year ago. I had abused it horribly taking it all sorts of places and it was starting to die.
I received this camera the day before we went on vacation in Florida. I took a whole bunch of pictures of birds (my passion) and my family and was VERY impressed by the picture quality.
Battery life seems quite good, I would say based on my impression, the best of the 3 digital cameras Ive owned. (Note that I dont use flash a whole lot.)
It is easy to pull out of the box and start shooting and get good results, but there is enough "under the hood" to make me look forward to really getting to know this camera.
The 10x optical zoom is great for nature photography. I just had some prints made of some of my photos--the first digital photos Ive liked enough to do so with.
From the cameras I looked at, this one is in a class by itself for its price range. I was looking at $100 more in any other brand to get comprable features.
On: 2005-02-24
I bought this camera to replace a Fuji that I received with my Dell laptop about a year ago. I had abused it horribly taking it all sorts of places and it was starting to die.
I received this camera the day before we went on vacation in Florida. I took a whole bunch of pictures of birds (my passion) and my family and was VERY impressed by the picture quality.
Battery life seems quite good, I would say based on my impression, the best of the 3 digital cameras Ive owned. (Note that I dont use flash a whole lot.)
It is easy to pull out of the box and start shooting and get good results, but there is enough "under the hood" to make me look forward to really getting to know this camera.
The 10x optical zoom is great for nature photography. I just had some prints made of some of my photos--the first digital photos Ive liked enough to do so with.
From the cameras I looked at, this one is in a class by itself for its price range. I was looking at $100 more in any other brand to get comprable features.
On: 2005-01-02
I read the reviews and couldnt agree more. This is a great little unit. It does everything the high end cameras do without the price tag. The only thing I would change is an optical view finder.
Youll want to invest in bigger memory cards and some recharchable batteries.
This unit is very easy to use and takes very high quality shots.
Lastly, I dont usually go in for the extended service plans but for a purchase like this I thought it was a god idea. You make the call.
On: 2004-12-27
I just got the S5100 for christmas. I work as a sports reporter and had been using an olympus stylus 3.2 megapixel camera to take photos to accompany my articles. The stylus, while an excellent point and shoot camera for vacations and snapshots, just wasnt cutting it for professional looking pics. The S5100 on the other hand, has been everything I was looking for in a surprisingly affordable price.
The controls are fairly intuitive, Im the kind of person who jumps right in with a gadget instead of pouring over the instruction manual first, and there were very few things that I couldnt figure out how to do just by working with the camera itself.
The video and sound quality is absolutely amazing. If you get a 512mb xd card, you can record movies with sound well over seven minutes long at a 640x480 display, and much longer if you cut the display size.
What I really love about this product is the ability to continuously shoot. Basically, you set the camera to continuous shoot and press the button, the camera will keep taking shots (just under 2 per second) for up to 40 exposures, perfect for my line of work.
Also, its extremely lightweight. At just under 12 oz, the batteries are the heaviest part of the camera (4 AA).
The flash works perfectly, providing ample illumination even at full 10x zoom.
You can take video while zoomed in, something else my stylus cant do. I love being able to zoom in on something far away (again, sporting events) and capture the movement. My old camera would only record videos with the zoom pulled all the way back.
Now for the Cons:
-Its a hog for memory on your computer. A full length video of over 7 minutes comes near half a gig of memory on my laptop (i know, obvious, a 512 mb card = half a gig no matter what media you put on it, so this is something every camera will do). Just making sure that people are aware that if theyre planning on making a series of longer movies or taking a giant amount of pictures, as with any camera, it would be a good idea to invest in a burner.
-Youre going to need add ons. The price of this camera alone is amazingly fair for what it can do. I would highly recommend buying a larger xd memory card to accompany it though. Depending on your needs, anywhere between 128 and 512 megs should be fine. You just cant utilize everything this camera is capable of doing with only 16 megs of space. Also, Id consider picking up the case and possibly a battery recharger so you dont end up spending a chunk of money every so often on one time use batteries, but thats up to you.
In Conclusion:
I would highly recommend one of the finepix cameras, and though I didnt pick it out as it was a gift, and I had no previous loyalty to fuji, Im a believer now. The s5100 appears to be middle of the road for their non pro series of finepix, you can go higher or lower based on your needs, but this camera really can do it all.
Its excellent for a wide field of consumers. Those who are brand new to digital photography will find it easy to learn, the centering and automatic tools will make taking snapshots a breeze. The more experienced users will enjoy the bevy of advanced features it offers. The video makers will enjoy the quality of the images they record.
Great camera, moreso when compared with others in its price range. A wonderful gift.
On: 2004-12-26
This is my 3rd digital camera, previous 2 were Canons.
After 2 days of ownership here is my observations of the Fuji S5100;
Pluss; great finish and shape, easy to hold, feels great in your hands, secure and solid, 10x zoom is great, aux. filter holder is a nice touch and should be kept on with a skylight filter to keep out dust (except when using flash in macro mode, it causes shadows.) Layout is ok, but could have been even better, I think zoom control would have better placed around shutter as a rocker switch, and the on/off switch placed on back. its a bit more difficult to fumble for W & T switch on back of camera, during use.
Minuss; (and they are very disappointing;) In dim light view finder and LCD panel are incredibly dim almost useless (even with the light switch and finder brightness adjustment set at max in the settings menu), unless you shoot in daylight only you will not enjoy this camera. AA alkaline battery life is extremely short, in 2 days 3 sets. Software included is minimal at best, almost useless, I still havent found and easy way to download pics from card in camera to PC, I finally gave up and bought a xD card to USB adapter (about $24), which I recommend getting (it is easy this way). Instruction book is poorly written, jumping all over the place, it reminds me of the National Electrical Code, it will take a bit of time to get familar with the functions and youll probably need to keep the book handy for reference.
And one more disappointment when trying to register this product online the Fuji web sight kept telling me my phone number was invalid, after trying it ten times or more in several formats I gave up. I think I know my own phone number Fuji.
(does anyone actually try this stuff before they turn it loose on customers?)
On: 2004-12-26
I just got the S5100 for christmas. I work as a sports reporter and had been using an olympus stylus 3.2 megapixel camera to take photos to accompany my articles. The stylus, while an excellent point and shoot camera for vacations and snapshots, just wasnt cutting it for professional looking pics. The S5100 on the other hand, has been everything I was looking for in a surprisingly affordable price.
The controls are fairly intuitive, Im the kind of person who jumps right in with a gadget instead of pouring over the instruction manual first, and there were very few things that I couldnt figure out how to do just by working with the camera itself.
The video and sound quality is absolutely amazing. If you get a 512mb xd card, you can record movies with sound well over seven minutes long at a 640x480 display, and much longer if you cut the display size.
What I really love about this product is the ability to continuously shoot. Basically, you set the camera to continuous shoot and press the button, the camera will keep taking shots (just under 2 per second) for up to 40 exposures, perfect for my line of work.
Also, its extremely lightweight. At just under 12 oz, the batteries are the heaviest part of the camera (4 AA).
The flash works perfectly, providing ample illumination even at full 10x zoom.
You can take video while zoomed in, something else my stylus cant do. I love being able to zoom in on something far away (again, sporting events) and capture the movement. My old camera would only record videos with the zoom pulled all the way back.
Now for the Cons:
-Its a hog for memory on your computer. A full length video of over 7 minutes comes near half a gig of memory on my laptop (i know, obvious, a 512 mb card = half a gig no matter what media you put on it, so this is something every camera will do). Just making sure that people are aware that if theyre planning on making a series of longer movies or taking a giant amount of pictures, as with any camera, it would be a good idea to invest in a burner.
-Youre going to need add ons. The price of this camera alone is amazingly fair for what it can do. I would highly recommend buying a larger xd memory card to accompany it though. Depending on your needs, anywhere between 128 and 512 megs should be fine. You just cant utilize everything this camera is capable of doing with only 16 megs of space. Also, Id consider picking up the case and possibly a battery recharger so you dont end up spending a chunk of money every so often on one time use batteries, but thats up to you.
In Conclusion:
I would highly recommend one of the finepix cameras, and though I didnt pick it out as it was a gift, and I had no previous loyalty to fuji, Im a believer now. The s5100 appears to be middle of the road for their non pro series of finepix, you can go higher or lower based on your needs, but this camera really can do it all.
Its excellent for a wide field of consumers. Those who are brand new to digital photography will find it easy to learn, the centering and automatic tools will make taking snapshots a breeze. The more experienced users will enjoy the bevy of advanced features it offers. The video makers will enjoy the quality of the images they record.
Great camera, moreso when compared with others in its price range. A wonderful gift.
On: 2004-12-20
After doing a bit of research, looking for a sub-$500 camera that would perform most of what I could do with my extensive 35mm SLR outfit, I decided on the S5100 & Im happy with my purchase. Its much easier to take along than a larger camera, so youre more liable to have it when you come across those unexpected shots.
Battery life is fine, and the fact that it takes standard AA size batteries vs a specialized lithium or rechargable battery pack was another factor in my choice of this camera. Although the standard alkalines included w/ the camera were sucked dry the first day I had it, I picked up 2 sets of 2500mAh NiMH rechargables & they perform great.
I printed my first 8x10 the other day & it turned out great - ended up framing it & hanging it in our guest room. At 4mp Normal Mode, the detail is incredible. I highly recommend getting a large capacity xD card, though (at least 128mb.) The 16mb card included with the camera is a joke, holding only 8 pictures at maximum resolution (4mp Fine Mode.)
I know theres better cameras out there (I still drool over the $1000 & up digital SLRs), but for the price, this camera will keep you busy & happy for quite a while.
On: 2004-12-19
After doing a bit of research, looking for a sub-$500 camera that would perform most of what I could do with my extensive 35mm SLR outfit, I decided on the S5100 & Im happy with my purchase. Its much easier to take along than a larger camera, so youre more liable to have it when you come across those unexpected shots.
Battery life is fine, and the fact that it takes standard AA size batteries vs a specialized lithium or rechargable battery pack was another factor in my choice of this camera. Although the standard alkalines included w/ the camera were sucked dry the first day I had it, I picked up 2 sets of 2500mAh NiMH rechargables & they perform great.
I printed my first 8x10 the other day & it turned out great - ended up framing it & hanging it in our guest room. At 4mp Normal Mode, the detail is incredible. I highly recommend getting a large capacity xD card, though (at least 128mb.) The 16mb card included with the camera is a joke, holding only 8 pictures at maximum resolution (4mp Fine Mode.)
I know theres better cameras out there (I still drool over the $1000 & up digital SLRs), but for the price, this camera will keep you busy & happy for quite a while.
On: 2004-12-13
I bought this camera a few weeks ago and am very pleased with it. When I was looking at digital cameras I wanted a nice optical zoom and wanted something a little bigger than all the tiny ones that are out. It is shaped nicely and fits well in my hand.
I havent got a chance to play with all the different settings but the basics work very well. The battery life seems decent to me, but I would reccomend recharables to save money in the long run.
I have two 128 MB memory cards which hold about 130 pictures each at its highest resolution, which is enough for me. It comes with a 16 MB one, but I havent touched it.
I do wish it had an optical view finder instead of a digital one.. it can be hard to see in a bright area, but it isnt impossible to use. Also, some kind of image stabilizer would have been a nice add on but it isnt too hard to get a clear shot while zoomed in all the way.
Overall, it is a very nice camera and I would recommend it.
On: 2004-11-30
This is my 2nd digital camera, and it replaced my Olympus 4000, which was excellent, but I wanted more zoom, an electronic viewfinder, and longer shutter times. The 5100 has certainly delivered, with a couply of relatively small compromises. The Olympus 4000 menus and controls are a tough act to follow. However, it seems that Olympus and Fuji share some technology, icons, and ideas.
The physical handling of the 5100 is excellent, with a very secure-feeling, molded grip for your right hand. I found all the control buttons well-placed and easy to manipulate.
When you sort through all the cameras out there, looking for 10x optical zoom, extended grip, and the ability to use AA batteries, the list quickly narrows! I use sets of 2500 mAh nickel-metal AA batteries, and an inexpensive charger.
Another great feature is the included lens tube adapter, lens cap, and cap-keeper. Just screw on a 55mm UV or skylight filter, and you can completely enclose and protect the lens assembly. At the fully wide position, you will see a small amount of vignetting (shadowing) at the corners if you have more than one filter screwed on.
I found the electronic viewfinder to be more helpful than an optical viewfinder, and still visible outdoors in sunlight. You can also read and manipulate the settings without taking your eye from the viewfinder.
I purchased a couple of 512 MB XD cards with the camera. You will really need the extra memory when you take movies. Movie mode, at a full 30 frames/sec, was surprisingly good, even if you cant change the zoom or focus once you start a movie. Startup, and writing pics and movies to the XD card is nice and fast.
The self-timer includes an extra 2-second setting, which is useful for activating the shutter without shaking the camera, such as for long exposures or telephoto shots on a tripod.
The adjustable white balance works quite well. The slickest way to make the most of this feature and to set exposures in manual, is to use a photographic gray card. The one I bought was 8x10 inches. I cut out a smaller rectangle, about 4x6 inches, that fits in my photo bag. One side is pure white, and the other is a special shade of gray. To set the white balance, place the card with the white side toward you, in the same light as the subject, zoom in on it, and activate the manual white balance function in the menu. This assures you of near perfect color no matter what the lighting is.
The manual exposure mode of the camera allows you to set the shutter and aperture quickly, and there is an exposure meter in the display that shows you how your settings compare with the automatic metering. The slick way to set exposure is to use the gray side of the gray card, place it in the same light as the subject, zoom in on it, and set your shutter and aperture until the exposure meter is centered. Once, done, you can just concentrate on zooming and framing to compose your shots, as long as the lighting is the same.
I tested the S5100 with a remote flash unit and a slave trigger adapter, which allow you to create professional, portrait-type lighting quite easily. Unlike my previous digital, the S5100s flash synch and metering seems to be compatible with this technique. You set your external flash to automatic, which is calibrated for a specific ISO film speed and aperture. Its easy to use the aperture priority mode in the S5100 to match these settings. Then using an inexpensive slave trigger device that clips onto the hot shoe of the external flash unit, you can place the external flash/trigger assembly on a mini tripod off to the side and up high, perhaps on a bookshelf, aimed at your subject. The S5100s pop-up flash illuminates the subject from the front, and the slave trigger fires the external flash at the same time, providing the main light from above and to the side.
The power saving function of the S5100 worked just fine as set from the factory. It blanks the LCD/viewfinder after 2 minutes, to save power, and will shut the camera off if you dont press any buttons after that.
A neat feature that is not apparent in the specifications is the ability to record a 30 second (or less) voice memo with each picture. You can record these any time after the pic is taken and stored on the card. When you play back a pic, you can hit a button to play back the corresponding voice memo, which is stored as a separate audio file. You can also hit another button to display all the technical exposure information for each pic, which is automatically stored in each pic file.
So far, I have just a couple of complaints. When playing back pics or movies to a TV using the included video cable, I have yet to find a way to rotate images taken in portrait orientation. Turning your head sideways to watch is not very comfortable! If you know a way to do this, please post it here! As mentioned in other reviews, the manual focus mode doesnt have a distance meter to help you: you have to carefully study the display while adjusting to judge the best focus. This is particularly hard to do in low light.
On: 2004-11-29
This is my 2nd digital camera, and it replaced my Olympus 4000, which was excellent, but I wanted more zoom, an electronic viewfinder, and longer shutter times. The 5100 has certainly delivered, with a couply of relatively small compromises. The Olympus 4000 menus and controls are a tough act to follow. However, it seems that Olympus and Fuji share some technology, icons, and ideas.
The physical handling of the 5100 is excellent, with a very secure-feeling, molded grip for your right hand. I found all the control buttons well-placed and easy to manipulate.
When you sort through all the cameras out there, looking for 10x optical zoom, extended grip, and the ability to use AA batteries, the list quickly narrows! I use sets of 2500 mAh nickel-metal AA batteries, and an inexpensive charger.
Another great feature is the included lens tube adapter, lens cap, and cap-keeper. Just screw on a 55mm UV or skylight filter, and you can completely enclose and protect the lens assembly. At the fully wide position, you will see a small amount of vignetting (shadowing) at the corners if you have more than one filter screwed on.
I found the electronic viewfinder to be more helpful than an optical viewfinder, and still visible outdoors in sunlight. You can also read and manipulate the settings without taking your eye from the viewfinder.
I purchased a couple of 512 MB XD cards with the camera. You will really need the extra memory when you take movies. Movie mode, at a full 30 frames/sec, was surprisingly good, even if you cant change the zoom or focus once you start a movie. Startup, and writing pics and movies to the XD card is nice and fast.
The self-timer includes an extra 2-second setting, which is useful for activating the shutter without shaking the camera, such as for long exposures or telephoto shots on a tripod.
The adjustable white balance works quite well. The slickest way to make the most of this feature and to set exposures in manual, is to use a photographic gray card. The one I bought was 8x10 inches. I cut out a smaller rectangle, about 4x6 inches, that fits in my photo bag. One side is pure white, and the other is a special shade of gray. To set the white balance, place the card with the white side toward you, in the same light as the subject, zoom in on it, and activate the manual white balance function in the menu. This assures you of near perfect color no matter what the lighting is.
The manual exposure mode of the camera allows you to set the shutter and aperture quickly, and there is an exposure meter in the display that shows you how your settings compare with the automatic metering. The slick way to set exposure is to use the gray side of the gray card, place it in the same light as the subject, zoom in on it, and set your shutter and aperture until the exposure meter is centered. Once, done, you can just concentrate on zooming and framing to compose your shots, as long as the lighting is the same.
I tested the S5100 with a remote flash unit and a slave trigger adapter, which allow you to create professional, portrait-type lighting quite easily. Unlike my previous digital, the S5100s flash synch and metering seems to be compatible with this technique. You set your external flash to automatic, which is calibrated for a specific ISO film speed and aperture. Its easy to use the aperture priority mode in the S5100 to match these settings. Then using an inexpensive slave trigger device that clips onto the hot shoe of the external flash unit, you can place the external flash/trigger assembly on a mini tripod off to the side and up high, perhaps on a bookshelf, aimed at your subject. The S5100s pop-up flash illuminates the subject from the front, and the slave trigger fires the external flash at the same time, providing the main light from above and to the side.
The power saving function of the S5100 worked just fine as set from the factory. It blanks the LCD/viewfinder after 2 minutes, to save power, and will shut the camera off if you dont press any buttons after that.
A neat feature that is not apparent in the specifications is the ability to record a 30 second (or less) voice memo with each picture. You can record these any time after the pic is taken and stored on the card. When you play back a pic, you can hit a button to play back the corresponding voice memo, which is stored as a separate audio file. You can also hit another button to display all the technical exposure information for each pic, which is automatically stored in each pic file.
So far, I have just a couple of complaints. When playing back pics or movies to a TV using the included video cable, I have yet to find a way to rotate images taken in portrait orientation. Turning your head sideways to watch is not very comfortable! If you know a way to do this, please post it here! As mentioned in other reviews, the manual focus mode doesnt have a distance meter to help you: you have to carefully study the display while adjusting to judge the best focus. This is particularly hard to do in low light.
On: 2004-11-16
I have had this camera for a couple of months now and overall am very pleased with it. It is easy to use and a pleasure to use. It has excellent battery life when used with good NiCads AA rechargeable batteries (no proprietary battery). It is not a full sized SLR though it looks like one and it is not a pocket sized digital camera but the size fits nicely in between the two. It has a good grip and feel to it.
Pluses include: Fairly compact. 10X Zoom is great and moves fast. Good range flash. Auto focus works well except when in macro mode. Outside images look very good most of the time. Low light shooting is excellent as is the red eye reduction. Movie mode is also excellent 30fps 640 X 480and works well in low light. --though you cannot move zoom. Microphone pics up audio well. Movie mode rivals that of standard DV movie camcorder though you need large memory card of at least 256mb. Menu system is also excellent and easy to navigate. Sharp but small 1.5 inch LCD screen.
Minuses include: Macro mode does not work well no matter what the setting, cannot use zoom during movie mode, comes with only 16mb XD memory card, software not great but if you have imaging software on your computer and Windows XP you do not need to install the Fuji software. There is no manual focus ring control you have to use buttons on back of camera. You can an only select between 1, 2 or 4 megapixels modes but can switch between them easily. Small but sharp and clear 1.5 inch LCD screen.
Overall I would recommend the Fuji s5100 for beginners to intermediate photographers. It has good auto (no need to touch) mode and good manual controls for intermediate and advanced users. It is not too big nor too small and fits in the hand nicely. The Fuji s5100 is easy to use, takes good pictures and movies and has a great and easy to use menu system. No proprietary battery system just plain old AAs. If you use rechargeables they last a long time.
On: 2004-11-15
Im an avid SLR fan and this is my first digital camera. I love its SLR like shape without being all that big. Ive been playing with the camera taking video, black and white pix and of course lots of color shots. My daughter plays soccer so Ive been taking action shots and they come out great. The video is crisp and clear. I love that I can play the video and pics through my VCR to my TV and also play with them on my computer.
The only negative is that the flash doesnt automatically pop-up when its needed, you get an icon displayed on the LCD or optical viewer telling you the light is too low. I love the optical viewers adjustments so I can see without my glasses. The LCD is small but good enough to give you a rough idea of how the pictures turned out. Viewing them on a computer or TV is the best way to see the true picture quality. The software that comes with the camera is marginal, I have other photo software that works better in editing and viewing the pictures. Also, since this camera uses AA batteries you will never be stuck with a dead battery and no way to recharge it. I did purchace the 256mb XD card and rechargeable batteries for this camera, shop around, prices really vary!!
On: 2004-11-14
Im an avid SLR fan and this is my first digital camera. I love its SLR like shape without being all that big. Ive been playing with the camera taking video, black and white pix and of course lots of color shots. My daughter plays soccer so Ive been taking action shots and they come out great. The video is crisp and clear. I love that I can play the video and pics through my VCR to my TV and also play with them on my computer.
The only negative is that the flash doesnt automatically pop-up when its needed, you get an icon displayed on the LCD or optical viewer telling you the light is too low. I love the optical viewers adjustments so I can see without my glasses. The LCD is small but good enough to give you a rough idea of how the pictures turned out. Viewing them on a computer or TV is the best way to see the true picture quality. The software that comes with the camera is marginal, I have other photo software that works better in editing and viewing the pictures. Also, since this camera uses AA batteries you will never be stuck with a dead battery and no way to recharge it. I did purchace the 256mb XD card and rechargeable batteries for this camera, shop around, prices really vary!!
On: 2004-10-25
After suffering with a pocket-sized digital camera that took great pictures at the cost of very short battery life, I bit the bullet and started shopping for a new model. I had already decided it had to use rechargeable AA batteries and it had to have an optical zoom of 8x or better.
In looking at the various models that met the criteria, most were in the $600+ range and quite bulky. The Fuji S5100 looked to be a bit smaller, and the price looked almost too good to be true. When I finally got to see one in person, I was very impressed. So much so, I bought it on the spot.
I spent an entire Saturday playing with all the features and shooting pictures at the dog park. I never used up the first set of AA NiMH batteries, even after reviewing and later downloading over 100 photos. Im still working on the same batteries days later.
I really have only two minor issues with this model. Unlike my old pocket camera, it lacks an optical viewfinder, which allows you to turn off the LCD for longer battery life, as well as track moving subjects accurately. More annoying is that some of the features require two fingers or two hands to activate.
Get at least a 256 Mb xD card, get a 4 AA charger that will work in the car or house, two sets of AA NiMH batteries and a LowePro small SLR case and you are good to go.
|
|
