[Photo-SIG] Fuji Finepix S5200

[Dave Lundy]

Nancy J. Christolear wrote:
>   I was looking at this camera.  It is a "mini-SLR".  Any idea what that 
> means.  Sells for less than $300.
> 
> -- 
> Nancy J. Christolear


 From what I've found, it simply means it looks, acts, and feels pretty 
much like an SLR, but doesn't have interchangeable lenses.  I've read a 
couple reviews and it looks pretty good, especially the ISO 800 
performance.  It doesn't have quite as wide angle coverage as some 
others (max. wide angle 38mm).  If you don't shoot in small rooms often, 
or do a lot of wide landscapes, that shouldn't be a problem.  Also, it 
lacks image stabilization, which is very helpful when using a long 
telephoto lens.  This camera compensates for that lack by offering 
higher ISO.  Also, the movie mode doesn't allow zooming while shooting, 
but neither do most other cameras, and it's only monophonic sound.  The 
Canon S2 & S3 IS are among the very few that do.  Finally, as someone 
else pointed out, xD cards tend to be considerably more expensive than 
SD or CF.  One advantage some Fuji digital cameras have over most others 
is somewhat better dynamic range because of using two different size 
image sensors - their Super CCD SR (Super Dynamic Range).  See 
<www.fujifilm.com/about/technology/super_ccd/index.html> for more info 
about their Super CCD SR.  This camera does not use the SR technology.
-- 
Dave Lundy   <http://www.dma.org/~lundyd/>