Confused between Fuji 6000 / 9100 and Canon S3

Hi All, I am really fascinated by this camera, but need some advice and support from you all, Im not pro, I dont want a point and shot Toy either, would be taking most of the pics in outdoor under good lighting conditions, will be needing a wide angle (like to travel in the himalayan mountain range), Iam seriously contemplating between fuji 6000 / fuji 9100 and Canon S3, if you were me which one will you buy and why?

As nice as the Fujis are, I don't think they have IS, correct? That feature, and the fact that I like Canon lenses, would put me in the Canon camp. Plus the Canon does 'stitch-assist' for panoramic photos. I've never used it, since I haven't been anywhere lately where I have a panorama.

I think 4-5 MP is plenty for most shooters, so 6 or 9 MP is just gravy.

The Fuji S9100 has IS but it is more of an ISO boost to create a faster shutter speed minimizing shake --it's not optical like the Canon S3 but it has some benefits. The Fuji S6000 has no IS at all. If your interest is landscape photography, you should perhaps be concerned more with the wide angle capability of the lens than IS.

A few millimeters of difference at wide angle are much more significant than at telephoto. 95% of my landscape photos are between 24mm and 36mm so the wide portion of the lens is more important to me. The Fuji S9100 is the only one of the three that has a 28mm wide angle capability so it would be my choice. However, it is a large camera with many features a novice could find daunting. The S9100 has the largest sensor of your group and a large sensor means less noise at higher ISO's allowing faster shutter speeds. Both Fuji's have another advantage for photographers shooting in remote places: they use readily available AA batteries! Looking for a reliable electrical outlet to charge proprietary rechargeable batteries in the Himalayas could be a hassle. AA's are sold everywhere.

If size is a concern, I would still look for a lens with a 28mm capability and try to use the lowest ISO possible to minimize noise associated with small sensors.

I would use my DSLR but, considering your choices, I'd opt for the S9100.

Increasing ISO with the attendant increase in 'noise' as an excuse to increase the shutter speed can be done with any manual-capable camera! Just ignore the metering system and boost the shutter speed! So that method is so much 'smoke and mirrors'.

The widest setting of the Canon S3 lens is 36mm (EFF) ---which admittedly is not much of a wide-angle. 24mm or 28mm would be a significant boost in the wide-angle. But (unless you are a purist)* the stitch-assist factor in the Powershots would probably be the equivalent of a super-wide angle lens, maybe 18-22mm.

All of the Canon Powershot A-series use AA batteries; I also feel that that format is quite handy.

* Some distortion of the view, although any wide-angle lens does distort anyway.

Noise is a problem in using high ISO's, especially with cameras that use small sensors. Shooting at the highest ISO the sensor can handle and at the highest shutter speed will yield sharper pictures (if depth of field is not an issue) but these have to usually be manually set and may not suit all situations. As stated it is "an excuse" that can be had in any camera with manual settings but the Fuji S9100 does this automatically without manually adjusting the exposure settings. It is not as effective as an optical or sensor based system but does have its usefullness in certain situations.

I would argue that stitch-assist is not a replacement for a good wide angle lens. It works well for a super-wide panorama but requires planning that many subjects don't allow enough time for. Requiring two exposures moves the sharpest and most distortion free area of the lens away from the center of the final photograph. The final dimension is also non-standard for photo prints or standard screens. I rarely ever use it. A true wide angle lens is indispensable for serious landscape photography.

There is a camera that may have been overlooked: the Olympus SP-550. It has IS (sensor shift), a 28-504mm f2.8 zoom, and uses AA batteries. It is also smaller than the Fuji S9100.

One suggestion would be to hold all these cameras and see how the controls suit your style of shooting. Consider the weight and feel of the camera because I find a "comfortable" camera is always with me when I need it, unlike one of my DSLRs that seems to either be in the hotel safe or in the trunk when a great photo presents itself. My DSLRs take fantastic pictures but I've taken many more with my small Canon G5 simply because it's always with me (and I really wish the G5 had a 28mm lens!).

If you are going to be shooting in bright conditions, them you won't miss IS because the camera (at least the Fuji's) will use a high shutter speed no matter how low the ISO is, So Blur is not an Issue here. I personally have a S6000, My previews camera was a S5200 and both are excellent cameras for outdoors as for indoors. I had got the chance to use the the Canon S3 and the Panasonic TZ3, both great cameras too, but i find their images a bit soft compared to the Fuji's. I find Fuji's photos to be more sharp and colors more realistic, besides, the S6000 and the S9100 have bigger Sensor what means better pictures. In terms of ISO performance the Fuji's S6000 will beat any camera in it's price range, this means better pictures indoors and in Night scene (but no matter what camera you use, it's always better to use a tripod). The idea of stitch assist i really don't like because it's almost impossible to get a perfect picture this way. I would better get an extra wide angle Lens. The only complain i got for the S6000 (applies to S9100 too) is the Size, because this i can't give my camera all the use i wish (for that i have the little F20), so in term of Size Panasonic TZ3 is First and Canon S3 is Second. Canon S3 will beat other cameras in terms of options (in camera adjustment) and zoom (12X).

If you ask me about the S9100 against the S6000, i will tell you the better things of it are the hotshoe, the tilt LCD, more resolution, dual card slot, more options buttons and Better view Finder, so it is a little closer to SRL. The S6000 has a newer Sensor that gives better ISO performance and has the new face detection feature.

Now the Olympus SP-550UZ looks like the camera that has all features, 18x zoom, wide angle, high ISO and IS (for extra $150 if comparing to S6000 or S3), but i have seem many bad reviews to this camera (except in amazon) so it's better to give it a try before buying.

Tried an Olympus SP-550UZ for a few weeks and couldn't get results as satisfactory as with my elderly Olympus C-740UZ. Didn't notice any benefits from Olympus version of IS, but very seldom had poor results hand-holding the old C0740UZ at longer focal lengths anyway...and that has nothing in the way of IS. So I'm not bothered by Fuji's similar approach to IS, just wish the S6000fd could accept CF as well as xD cards like the S9100 for more accessible/cheaper memory.
I don't really need a hot shoe, flip LCD or more resolution (3.2MB has been adequate for years) and I have been stitching quite nicely thank you with free software, but the extra bucks for S9100 dual memory cards seem worthwhile.

Rog
(Robapatt)

PS: Should have added having also used a Canon S3 IS for a few weeks and it was also unable to produce anything better than my old C-740UZ. I did like a few of the color enhancement tricks, but had little use for them. And it does use cheap, easy-to-find SD memory cards. Was finally moved to return it when the front of the lens loosened and began to peel off. I had seen this in a demo camera at Wal-Marts earlier, but assumed mishandling was the cause.

Rog
(Robapatt)

Something not mentioned here is that only one of these cameras can be accurately called a "bridge" camera. That is, a camera that fits between the plethora of consumer digitals and the true DSLR. Only the Fuji S9100 falls into the bridge category and for a reason not previously mentioned: the hands-on operation of the camera. The S9100 has a mechanical zoom (true zoom, not a step-zoom) that is controlled by turning a ring on the lens --not a flipper on the camera body. This enables picture composition very similar to a DSLR and feels more natural to those of us familiar with film SLR's.

The technical specifications are important to a point but a camera should not limit your photographic capabilities by being non-intuitive. Size is also important considering that larger sensors require larger and heavier optics so most of the cameras capable of producing the finest photographs are necessarily larger than the point-and-shoot variety. This means that there are places where venturing with a large camera is less than wise if you don't want it stolen. I always carry a small pocketable camera for those questionable areas where the best place for a DSLR is a secure trunk or hotel safe.

If you can instantly place a camera to your eye, position yourself for the best composition, quickly adjust settings to suit conditions, and press the shutter at the moment you feel is right, then you may have the perfect camera for you. It has to feel right, it has to be intuitive, it should not limit your creativity, and it should produce images that meet your needs.

I'm an old SLR photographer so only the Fuji S9100 will work for me (as would the Sony R1 if it was still available). For a second (smaller) camera, I have a Canon G5 but would consider the Canon SD800 since it is the only small digital with both an optical viewfinder and 28mm wide angle lens. That would work for me but you should go to a camera store and see which of the three feels best to you; all three are capable cameras.

Thanks very much, Dana, for your input. I agree 101% with your comments and advice...and have ordered a Fuji S6000fd which, with the $50 Fuji rebate, more than pays for a spare 512 or two xD memory card.

If I made a mistake, I'll be happy to admit it in this forum...well. sort of happy. And if this digicam works out as I hope, you'll hear about that, too.

Thanks again,

Rog
(Robapatt)

Have tried all cams mentioned and then purchased the Fuji 9100. I work as a self-employed pro and have for many years and the 9100 feels and performs just the way an SLR should but without worrying about dust. Pro or no, you will be pleased with the Fuji.

Personally I would go with the Fuji6000fd, the sensor size on the 6000 and the 9100 is the same as I understand it (I could be wrong), if that is the case the pixels on the 6000 would be larger and actually provide better quality image. In any case check out the comparison page 12 on this site of the Fuji 6000 vs the Canon S3 and you will be amazed at the superior performance of the Fuji. I was always a Canon man with 35mm but...

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms6000fd/

I purchased the s6000 before the 9100 existed. My major concern was speed of recording the image and time before the next shot. There is no anti shake, but it hasn't been a problem. and i really like the SLR like zoom and focus . The zoom button on the S3IS is in a bad place as is the similiar Sony. Am very pleased with the purchase.

I have a fuji 6000fd. I hadnt used it since my family reunion. When I put batteries in it it will not power on. It will work with AC adapter. Any suggestions!?