I am looking to buy a new digital camera. I want something sort of between a high end pro camera and a point and shout camera. I currently own a Fuji finepix 2800 zoom which is great as a simple point and shoot camera for taking pics on holidays etc.. I was looking at either the Fuji 602 pro (I like the Fuji I currently have) or the Minolta Dimage 7hi. I then saw an announcement for the Fuji s7000. My dilemma is, do I wait until October for the s7000 or buy one of the other cameras? If one of the other cameras, then which one? If anyone here as experience of either camera please let me know your opinion on them. If anyone as another suggestion for a different camera in a similar price range also please let me know. I would love to buy a Fuji s2 pro but my budget will not stretch that far.

Dimage7hi is simply EXCELLENT. Manual focus, manual exposure (time and aperture) and a really GREAT jpg compression algorithm (low garbaging...)

Sabre - with the current cameras, I'd go for the Minolta over the Fuji. The Dimage 7_ series has better resolution (the Fuji has a larger stated maximum resolution, but it's an interpolated image - even if it is a diff kind of interpolation), greater ISO range, wider zoom, closer normal focus distance (although the Fuji's have a much closer macro focus distance) and a bulb-mode for timed exposures (which I believe the Fuji doesn't have). S7000 looks like a very nice camera. Was reading about it on Tuesday when they announced it. With a suggested price of $800, 6.3-megapixel array, better lens coverage and more options it looks to be one of the better higher end non-DSLRs that'll be out. And at about the cost of the 7hi too I think, like the EOS 10D, it's going to shake up the consumer digital camera price market. Wow ... 6.3MP for Suggest $800 - wonder what street price will be? -=>Donald

Wow! those both sound like great cameras. I bought a Kodak DX4330 3.1 Mega Pixels EasyShare...and I love it! Um? Well...happy hunting and let me know which one you choose! Thanks. Jinx

I would suggest waiting. I've done the bought now and regret later thing. It does not feel good. However in the computer feild it's always going to be that anyway... Bsteph

B - Well yea, you only got a 17 minute life-cycle on most computer gear. Just enough time to pay for it and get it to your car. Just noticed I didn't say what BSteph said ... I'd probably wait the 2-3 months for one it. Even if you end up getting the Dimage or S602, there prices will probably drop just before/when the S7000 comes out. Might save a couple hundred (and that's enough of a savings for a 1G CF or Microdrive). :) Also, heard something interesting today. Sigma is reducing the price of their SD9 D-SLR to $999. Looks like they finally realized their product is not mature enough to play in the same price field as the Canon EOS D60/10D, Nikon D100 and Fuji Finepix S2 Pro. But with only a 100 - 400 ISO range, they'd have to drop it a couple hundred more before I'd get one. -=>Donald

Ive bought a fuji s304...on tuesday itll b here ^^ This will be my first digital camera...i think for the beginning its ok...but i`m looking for a sigma SD9...all what i had readed about this camera was exellent

Please let me know when you start posting your new photos!!! Jinx