Digital Cameras - FUJIFILM FinePix 3800 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Idolmind86 · 05-21-2003, 10:25 AM

I'm in the market for a digital camera, in the $300-400 range. I've been shopping around and think I want to get the FinePix 3800. It seems to have a good feature to cost ratio. Anybody had experience with this (esp. horror stories)? Also, if you might know of another camera in the same range that you think is better I would be interested to hear.
I've played around with it, and read reviews online, but they are always vague, and I often question the intelligence of the users that leave the really bad reviews...

longjohns · 05-21-2003, 10:41 AM

look for reviews specifically relating to time between shots. i don't know about the 3800, but my a303 is slow. i hope to improve it by putting in a faster xd card

sixate · 05-21-2003, 11:45 AM

I have the Finepix 2800 and I'm happy with it. I almost bought the one you're looking at. Here's a review of the camera. They have a bunch of sample pics they took with the camera. Look near the bottom and look for the photo gallery link.

Cynthetiq · 05-21-2003, 12:36 PM

Consumer Reports just listed recently the Olympus and the Nikons as their best rated. The Fujis were considered as well.

I though defer to the comparometer as you can then take camera side by side comparisons of the digital pictures.

Not only do you want to have good features balanced with cost, but check out the colors as all cameras are not created equally.

I personally have 2 Olympus 2020Z cameras. One for me and one for the wife, though I carry both of them when we travel. My friends either have Olympus or Nikon as they seem to have the best lenses.

If you are just going to take pictures of some simple scenery, birthdays, friendly gatherings, the like, then buy what fits your budget balanced with your needed features. If you are looking for something a bit more prosumer/higher end... look for the quality of the picture that is taken.

Idolmind86 · 05-21-2003, 01:35 PM

Well, I'm a photographer, and this will be the first time I'm venturing into the digital realm (with cameras). I have a nice camera, with nice lenses that I will still use for professional quality pictures. I just wanted this for pictures that are on the fly, and for vacations/outings, and for the coolness factor.
I've been reading reviews all day and the biggest problem seems to be that people say it doesn't meter well in low light.
I don't know many cameras that do.
Others complain about a shutter delay, but from what I understand that's the autofocus, and if you hold the shutter halfway down it will meter/focus, and you can take a shot on the fly by just depressing it the rest of the way.
Most of the complaints I've seen about this seem to be from people who expected something magical, or didn't read the instructions.
I think this price with a 6x optical zoom and a resonable mega-pixel count is pretty solid. And thanks to everyone for the input.

Cynthetiq · 05-21-2003, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Idolmind86
Well, I'm a photographer, and this will be the first time I'm venturing into the digital realm (with cameras). I have a nice camera, with nice lenses that I will still use for professional quality pictures. I just wanted this for pictures that are on the fly, and for vacations/outings, and for the coolness factor.
I've been reading reviews all day and the biggest problem seems to be that people say it doesn't meter well in low light.
I don't know many cameras that do.
Others complain about a shutter delay, but from what I understand that's the autofocus, and if you hold the shutter halfway down it will meter/focus, and you can take a shot on the fly by just depressing it the rest of the way.
Most of the complaints I've seen about this seem to be from people who expected something magical, or didn't read the instructions.
I think this price with a 6x optical zoom and a resonable mega-pixel count is pretty solid. And thanks to everyone for the input.

the delay is the CCD charging up and then the shutter opening, it's about 2 seconds on some cameras. I've gotten very good at timing it to open at just the right moment for my action shots. Sometimes I'm a bit off, but once I'm warmed up it's easy.

splck · 05-22-2003, 01:23 PM

A buddy of mine bought a finepix 3800 about a month ago. He's happy with it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

05-21-2003, 10:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
Idolmind86 Upright	Digital Cameras - FUJIFILM FinePix 3800 I'm in the market for a digital camera, in the $300-400 range. I've been shopping around and think I want to get the FinePix 3800. It seems to have a good feature to cost ratio. Anybody had experience with this (esp. horror stories)? Also, if you might know of another camera in the same range that you think is better I would be interested to hear. I've played around with it, and read reviews online, but they are always vague, and I often question the intelligence of the users that leave the really bad reviews...

05-21-2003, 12:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Consumer Reports just listed recently the Olympus and the Nikons as their best rated. The Fujis were considered as well. I though defer to the comparometer as you can then take camera side by side comparisons of the digital pictures. Not only do you want to have good features balanced with cost, but check out the colors as all cameras are not created equally. I personally have 2 Olympus 2020Z cameras. One for me and one for the wife, though I carry both of them when we travel. My friends either have Olympus or Nikon as they seem to have the best lenses. If you are just going to take pictures of some simple scenery, birthdays, friendly gatherings, the like, then buy what fits your budget balanced with your needed features. If you are looking for something a bit more prosumer/higher end... look for the quality of the picture that is taken. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION! Last edited by Cynthetiq; 05-21-2003 at 12:39 PM..

05-22-2003, 01:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	A buddy of mine bought a finepix 3800 about a month ago. He's happy with it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. __________________ nice line eh?

05-21-2003, 10:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
longjohns Insane	look for reviews specifically relating to time between shots. i don't know about the 3800, but my a303 is slow. i hope to improve it by putting in a faster xd card

05-21-2003, 11:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
sixate Registered User Location: Somewhere in Ohio	I have the Finepix 2800 and I'm happy with it. I almost bought the one you're looking at. Here's a review of the camera. They have a bunch of sample pics they took with the camera. Look near the bottom and look for the photo gallery link.

05-21-2003, 01:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Idolmind86 Upright	Well, I'm a photographer, and this will be the first time I'm venturing into the digital realm (with cameras). I have a nice camera, with nice lenses that I will still use for professional quality pictures. I just wanted this for pictures that are on the fly, and for vacations/outings, and for the coolness factor. I've been reading reviews all day and the biggest problem seems to be that people say it doesn't meter well in low light. I don't know many cameras that do. Others complain about a shutter delay, but from what I understand that's the autofocus, and if you hold the shutter halfway down it will meter/focus, and you can take a shot on the fly by just depressing it the rest of the way. Most of the complaints I've seen about this seem to be from people who expected something magical, or didn't read the instructions. I think this price with a 6x optical zoom and a resonable mega-pixel count is pretty solid. And thanks to everyone for the input.