Looking at a digital camera.

[XabbaRus]

Looking to get a new digital camera and it is coming down to Fuji S5600 or Olympus SP500.

Now they are very similar except the Olympus has .9 million extra pixels.

The Fuji has SLR Optical Zoom. What does that mean as it isn't a digital SLR camera. Is it because the Fuji the lens doesn't extend when it is turned on like the Olympus but the zoom mechanism is inside the body not part of it.

Help as I am torn between these two.

[Kresge]

Not sure what your criteria were, but my Canon PowerShot S410 Elph has been wonderful. What I love is that it is very compact yet takes great pictures. The only item I have found to complain about is that there is no battery meter, which seems odd. They may have fixed this problem by now.

[Sir Big Jugs]

Get the Canon EOS 350D/Canon EOS Rebel XT!

[lesrae]

I'm no expert but my understanding is that SLR (Single Lens Reflex) means that your viewfinder looks through the same lens that takes the picture, not a separate one. As it's the main picture taking lens that does the zooming then you'll see the true zoomed image through the viewfinder (on a non - SLR like my Fuji A607 you don''t).

Both cameras are like this so far as I can see, so I'd say it's just a 'feature' that Fuji list and Canon don't

http://www2.fujifilm.co.uk/digital/cameras/s5600/?lpage=/digital/cameras/range.php

http://www.olympus.co.uk/consumer/29_SP-500_UltraZoom.htm

[XabbaRus]

I thought that. Cheers

I am split down the middle with these two...Fuji is slightly more expensive but Olympus are good too.

[tycho102]

@XabbaRus

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

is a pretty good link. Offers quite a bit of information, and some sample JPG's.

I'll also tell you that the camera body is about 40% of the camera's worth. It's your lenses that cost a pretty penny. A good camera with poor lenses is worse off than a poor camera with outstanding lenses. Not all SLR lenses are interchangable, so you also need to be looking at popularity. It's an unfortunate side-effect, but that's the deal if you want to save money and get a functional camera. You may find that your lenses are expensive, not because they are high-quality, but because no one is buying them.

With all that said, the Canon EOS-350 (Digital Rebel XT) is a respectable camera. You can find a lot of good quality lenses for $300-500, with a smattering of usable lenses for $100-200. You can also find the $1500-2000 lenses. You can also slap a battery pack on the bottom, so when your battery cover gets ripped off, you can still use the camera without tape. And if your battery pack's cover gets ripped off, you can very easily find a replacement battery pack. :rotfl:

With your Olympus and Fiji, you'd have to hunt around. Nikon is also fairly popular, so you can find a varied selection of Nikon SLR lenses.

Me personally?

I have a Rebel XT. I've also got about $1500 worth in lenses. I've only used my telephoto lens a little bit, and it was a "cheapo". My wide is a good lens, but I don't use it as much; I usually take several photos, instead of fishing it out of my backpack. My macro and near-zoom (5x) I have used extensively, and they cost the most, as well.

[XabbaRus]

Those cameras I am looking at aren't SLR in terms of changeable lenses. I can't afford one of those...

Thing is they are almost the same in price and pretty much the same in features.

The Fuji is 5.1 versus 6.0 megapixels for the Olympus. The Olympus one can also be fitted with adaptors so you can take wide angle pictures or increase the optical zoom a bit more but I am not so sure if I am bothered by that.

Fuji have their fancy CCD which they claim is uber good but I know what marketing is like.

What I do like about the Fuji is the quick startup time and the fact that the lense doesn't have to pop out of the body like others it is enclosed.

The Olympus is you usual moving lensebody type one.

Here are some links

http://www.fotosense.co.uk/shop_details.asp?productID=1279

http://www.fotosense.co.uk/Olympus_SP500_Ultra_Zoom_Digital_Camera.asp?produc tID=1272&tabID=

[Perilscope]

Fuji have their fancy CCD which they claim is uber good but I know what marketing is like.

Well actually sometimes marketing does not lie. Fuji is renowned for their excellent image processing, but lags in the rest. However, Olympus is known to yield very good overall products, but only a few models and occasionally too.

Personally, I think both cameras are old and have major handicaps.
One major handicap, they do not have an image stabilizer. A great feature that once you try it, you only swear by it.
If you want to see an example of an image stabilizer, ask, I will film or take a picture of something with and without the image stabilizer, you will understand for sure. Long range zooms need this feature, point.

If you can wait, collect and add a bit more money and go get a Canon Powershot S2 IS.

If I do not make a mistake, the prices of the "Canon S2 IS" should go down by about 40% in the next 3 to 4 months, after summer. However, silent on this scoop eh!:roll:

Here guys, go see this website, they are very good too!
Fuji
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5200/S52A.HTM
Olympus
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SP500/SP5A.HTM

Usually if they do not have a FULL review of your model, it pretty much means it is not worth it, and I agree all the time with them. Therefore, it is a hint for your choice, XabbaRus.

My choice for you based on the price, The Fuji
My real choice for you, for only a bit more money: Canon Powershot S2 IS
Good Luck! :up:

[retired1212]

If size is important for you then go for Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH series.

Go for Panasonic FZ-20 or FZ-30 or Cannon S2 IS if you want a lot of manual controls and size doesn't matter. Fuji S9000 is a good camera but I never tried it personally.

I own Olympus E-500 and I am satisfied (lense 50mm micro, 14-54, 50-200). Didn't like Digital Rebel as it has no SWIF dust cleaner. Risky to change the lense with you are on the road.

[XabbaRus]

Cheers guys

I only have about £200 to play around with and it looks like the fuji is coming out on top.

[The Avon Lady]

Go for Panasonic FZ-20 or FZ-30.
My husband just got the FZ27 model, the latest. I think I'll take some time to study one of these cameras inside out. Try my hand at more than point and shoot.

[XabbaRus]

On the basis of budget and the reviews I went for the Fuji S5600

Very happy with it. does all I need and the pictures are good. Thanks for the links....

Only thing it lacks is anti-shake but that is no big deal.

I can fit 55mm filters to it though :)