Let’s face it; a point-and-shoot digital camera can only do so much. On the other hand, a DSLR camera that produces professional quality pictures can be prohibitively expensive. This is where the FinePix S series comes in. In particular, the Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12.2MP Digital Camera with 18x wide angle optical dual image stabilized and 3-inch LCD screen bridges the gap between a compact camera and an SLR.
Features of the Fujifilm FinePix S1800
This 12-megapixel digital camera is compact and lightweight and comes with powerful Fujinon long-zoom lenses. Its wide angle lens starts at 28mm and extends to 504mm at 18x zoom. In addition to its extra large 3-inch LCD screen, it also comes with an electronic viewfinder that comes in handy when taking pictures under bright sunlight.
The FinePix S1800 has dual image stabilization provided by a CCD sensor and high ISO sensitivity. This means that blurring effects due to hand-shake and subject movement are reduced. The resulting pictures are extremely sharp and clear even at long zoom setting or low lighting conditions.
The digital camera does all the hard work for you using its automatic Scene Recognition mode (SR Auto). It can automatically adjust camera settings according to the scenery type and shooting conditions. Image results are optimized so you can take good pictures with hardly any effort. This new S model can even capture HD videos ad HD stills that you can playback on an HD ready television.
Even fast action shots are easy to take with the new Tracking Auto Focus that allows you to capture your subject in perfect focus. It Face Detection and Automatic Red Eye Removal system now has a Smile & Shoot Mode and a Blink Detection warning.
With the Panorama mode, you can take a continuous shot of a landscape or a big group of friends. Scene modes include Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sport, Fireworks, Beach, Sunset, Snow, Flower, Party and Text. Using the Natural Light with Flash Mode, the camera will take two shots in rapid succession. One shot uses a flash and one uses natural light. You simply compare the two and choose the image that you like best.
The FinePix S1800 is intelligent enough to take the most amazing pictures, but more advanced users can use the Manual Mode with extensive focus and metering options.
A very convenient and useful feature of the S1800 is the Auto Picture Rotation. You’ll always be able to view your photos the right way in playback, whether they were taken in portrait or landscape mode because the image will automatically rotate on the screen.
Things You’ll Like About the FinePix S1800
There are many things that you will like about the Fujifilm FinePix S1800. It’s larger than a compact digital camera but significantly smaller than a DSLR. All the same, it’s light and easy to carry around. The camera controls and settings are well placed and easy to locate, so you can quickly switch between the different shooting modes.
The electronic viewfinder is something experienced photographers always look for in a camera. It’s useful whenever you want to take pictures outdoors where bright sunlight may interfere with the LCD display. A viewfinder is also helpful in framing your shots. The Dual Image Stabilization produces sharp images and is one of the camera’s best features.
It may not seem like much, but it’s great that this camera takes AA batteries. That makes it easier to replace old batteries with fresh ones.
It’s easy to take good pictures with the S1800, as even full Auto Mode takes great shots. The 18x zoom lens is fantastic and produces quality pictures, although there is a slight reduction of clarity at full zoom. It also has features that are very useful, such as facial recognition and burst mode, where several shots are taken in rapid succession. Burst mode is important when taking pictures of action-filled events such as sports.
Zoom bracketing, where several pictures are taken at varying focal lengths, is also a great feature that lets you pick the best possible image. All in all, the S1800 produces good pictures and is easy and fun to use.
The Weak Points
Perhaps the biggest weakness of the Fujifilm FinePix S1800 is the shutter lag. It takes too long to focus, so you could end up missing your action shots. In addition, there are occasions where shots taken in dim light come out fuzzy. And although the LCD screen is big, the image is grainy especially under dim lighting conditions. The blink and smile detection does not work perfectly all the time.
Recommendation
Most consumers agree that the Fujifilm FinePix S1800 is a great camera. At less than $160, the camera is a steal. The software is easy to follow and the camera is easy to operate. Experienced users of digital cameras lament the fact that it does not produce a RAW format. On the other hand, the majority of users who opt for the S1800 are happy enough to simply point and shoot, knowing that their shots will come out great.
The Fuji FinePix S1800 is a perfect blend of a compact digital camera and a DSLR. For the price of a point-and-shoot camera, you get features normally found only in more expensive DSLR cameras. Available at Amazon, this camera will get you started towards owning and appreciating a DSLR someday.
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