Hello everyone! Guess what?! My husband informs me that I can most likely have a new camera for my birthday! Isn't he wonderful? :) Okay, so, nevermind that my birthday is in November...I'm /already/ looking around with great enthusiasm. While I love my little compact Canon IXUS 500, it has a lot of limits. The auto-focus is infuriating at times, and I long for the ability to take pristine macros and generally improve my photography knowledge and skill.

Now, previously, I have always been a diehard fan of Canon cameras. I have been seriously considering the Canon Powershot Pro 1, as per Zacko's recommendation. We can clearly see from his gallery that the camera is pretty good at capturing a photographer's vision...the quality of the landscapes and macros is superb. But, interestingly enough, I have read mixed reviews. Plus I can't even find this camera at any shops I have investigated in Belgium (Brussels).

I'm not quite prepared for the financial expenditure of an SLR, so I extended my search to other non-Canon SLR-like cameras. And I came upon something quite interesting: the new Fujifilm FinePix S9000. The reviews seem pretty excellent so far, and the camera itself seems to have everything I could hope for. I even went to a shop and held it in my hands, and it felt so solid and comfortable. I even gave it a hug. I have a good feeling about this one, but...it's not a Canon! Do any of you own this camera, by any chance..or know someone who has? Do you have any thoughts, comments, or frantic warnings? Are there any other cameras around the same price range that I should probably investigate?

Thank you in advance for your replies. You folks are always so kind and helpful that I don't think it would feel right to purchase a new camera without consulting you first. :)

Stefanie

I don't know anything about this Fujifilm one and I would always steer someone into an entry level DSLR....hey why not ask Andreas to sell you his. If he is getting a new one...LOL I bet someone comes on and has some knowlege of the S9000

My friend has the S9000, and loves it; I would too recommend an entry level DSLR.

Of course going that route throws up the extra cost for glass that would be needed to cover the 28-300mm range of the S9000. There are always pros and cons, no mater your choice. The benefit of that is that SLR lenses will be of use long after the camera is obsolete, very much a disposable market now days where cameras are concerned.

The image quality from the 350D/Rebel XT, D50.D70s etc are superior because of the larger sensor/pixels.
Not really noticeable on web size images and smallish prints, on large prints though IMO the difference is more noticeable.
The thing that I have notices most from my friends images is purple fringing on brightly backlit scenes, this though is a problem with a fair percentage of digi cams to some degree.

That all said and done the S9000 is a very capable camera, as are most of the Fuji line.
The issues with image quality are inherent to all compacts not just the S9000

If you do get the S9000 though, I am sure you will not be disapointed.

Message edited on: 04/01/2006 19:01

It's too bad you aren't a Nikon fan. You could get yourself a D50 for a just a little more than the price of the Fuji. Of course, that's not exactly comparing apples to apples, but I had to give Nikon a plug. As for the fuji, it looks like a wonderful camera. I'd go as far as saying it was a feature filled plethora of happiness just waiting for your talent. I have no idea what that means. On a serious note, when and if you decide to get an entry level DSLR, you may want to skip getting the kit lenses they usually bundle with the camera, and get a pro grade lens instead. Yes, they are more expensive, but I think you'd be much happier with the results. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your replies thus far! In truth, I had the same inclination to look into the DSLRs as a generally better investment, but...a decent lens seems to cost about the same as the body of the camera itself! Even if I could afford that (+ memory card + tripod + carrying bag + extra battery, etc.), I would be terrified to actually go anywhere with that kind of expensive equipment.

Purple fringing seems to be fairly inevitable with most cameras. I'm getting better at compensating with Photoshop. --Is it not an issue at all with SLRs? (There seems to be a debate as to what causes the purple fringing to begin with.)

I'll keep reading and studying and comparing...and taking in everybody's advice. It's really invaluable and I can't thank you enough. I will definitely make a point to read up on the Nikon D50.... the Nikon Coolpix 8800 looks fairly interesting as well. It's such a blooming market!

Thank you again. :)

Message edited on: 04/02/2006 04:54