Thanks Joe. Your suggesting the Lumix LX2 may just have changed my life!
Seriously, the problem was my burning the shots from my Kodak in Nero as ''data' files instead of 'slide show' mode.
They now look great but I have that 60 wide screen 1080 I and the Lumix is calling me. Thanks again.

On further searching I am finding that an awful lot of cameras on the market have voice memo- more than I expected. My advice is to find a camera you like, then go to google.com and type in the camera's name plus the words Voice Memo. You should pop up plenty of reviews and press releases that will tell you if that camera has the feature.

Sorry, I totally messed up those two links in the middle. Here they are again:

Olympus SP510 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...  )

Panasonic Lumix FZ50 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...  )

Manual zoom can be a pain or it can be perfectly fine... all depends on the moment really as well as on the photographer. It seems Fuji decided to hand over a lot more control to the photographer on this particular model.

Thank you for your reply...I bought the Canon Powershot G7 10 megapixel 3 weeks ago.

Finepix S6000fd has great macro and your shots will come out great. Never had any problem with using the super macro. All my shots came out perfect. One of the things I loved best about this camera. It's a great feature.

The S9000 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...  ) is indeed a good upgrade, nice tiltable LCD among other things. Beware that the sensor supposedly didn't improve much yet the pixels went up, so this camera may be a bit noisier in high ISOs than the S6000 ( digitalcamera-hq.com/digita...  ). I'd still choose the S9000 personally.

I see no issues with using an xD picture card. I do realize that the speed is slower, but judging from my (short, in-store) experience with the FinePix S6000fd, the speed is GREATLY improved over my older model cameras (Canon G2, PowerShot S30, and lately the Canon S3 IS). I couldn't believe how quickly the camera took pictures, saved them and was ready to take another shot. Also, switching between record and playback modes was INCREDIBLY faster than the other cameras I mentioned. So I see no issue with the xD card with this camera.

Anyone else care to give some insight or recommend another camera that I should look at before I go for the S6000fd?

Also, I guess I should mention that I found the S6000fd plus a 1GB Type-H xD card for around $300 shipped after the $50 mail in rebate.

David, where did you find this camera plus 1GB card for $300? I can't find it below $300 just by itself.

Looks like Amazon raised their price... oh well.

Anyway, wanted to say that my wife & I tried out both the Fuji s6000 and the Canon S3 IS at Ritz camera yesterday, and we both thought the s6000 is significantly better, though Ritz wanted $500... yeah right.

A few reasons why we liked the s6000:
- the manual zoom is easier to control, i'm sure its also lighter on the batteries
- the s6000 face detection really does work, it was very easy to focus on someone's face if they are looking at you. When auto focusing, it also seems to search throughout the image to determine what to focus on (if no face is detected), and usually guessed right
- to focus with the S3, you have to press the set button, and then use the d-pad to move the green focus box to the area you want to focus on, which is going to be impossible if your subject is moving
- the S3 has a "manual" flash, so if the light is low, the display says "Raise flash!" and you have to physically lift up the flash, not horrible, but annoying.
- the S3 needs a klunky adapter to be able to attach a filter to it
- the S3's flip-out screen is about half the size of the s6000 and hard to use, while with the s6000's screen you can easily tell if the picture was in focus, etc.
- the S6000 feels sturdier, though its definitely a bit larger

I had a hands on look at all three of the main competitors at Huppins in Spokane (Great internet pricing) in November and pretty much came to the same conclusions with those above, especially the S3. The bigger LCD on the Fuji won that easy even if I did favor the swing out at first. LCDs fade out in most of the outdoor shots I take anyway.

Having already a nice investment in XD cards (2.75g) did not really make a difference with SDs being so cheap. Battery usage with easy to find AAs was a big factor. I travel with two chargers (wall and auto) and three sets of Nimhs anyway. My prior experiance with an Olympus C750 convinced me that family had it together on image quality - and this was three generations ago. That cam did convince me that speed was a big problem that had to be overcome before I would get another long lens which is the perfect set for me. All three of these newer models seemed to have that solved to varying degrees.

Ergonomically the Fuji was a hands down winner. It just plain felt good to my size hands. A very natural fit. Just don't wrap your right index finger over the AF assist illuminator. So far after about 300 shots I just plain love the Fuji. Of course I've had my share of long shots blurred possibly due to the lack of mechanical stabilization but I was already used to that and travel with a monopod and chest strap system. This and the lower Meg count are what I beleive is the cause of superficial reviews slighting this unit.

The manual focus and zoom are a prayer answered. Manual focus is aided by a center magnifying focus square. For an good in depth review check out

dcresource.com/reviews/fuji... 

Get to know you dealer well and ask about using the camera awhile. In other words buy it with the understanding that if you find something you really hate about it you can return it for a known restocking fee. I would rather by far pay 10 percent than get something I feel stuck with because I didn't check further. And if you wait, something better always comes up.

Your answer was very helpful. Could you give me any great reasons to choose the S9000? I have also seen some new Model S7000 that has been discontinued.

Do you think the S7000 would be a better bet between the 3 I'm considering?

Jane,

If you are planning to make huge prints, the S9000's 9MP resolution will be a big help. The ability to use external flashes might also come in handy if you get more adventurous with your shooting. Also the S9000's command dial is a wonderful addition, since it lets you adjust important settings without looking up from the EVF. Of course, if you're a beginner you probably won't be messing with those settings too much, at least at first.

The S7000 is significantly inferior to both the S6000 and S9000 in several ways: shorter zoom (6x to the 6000/9000's 10x), low resolution at higher ISO settings, and a much smaller LCD than the S6000. It was a very, very good camera in its time, but its time was several years ago.

One feature I forgot to mention regarding the S6000 is its hardware face detection, which does a wonderful job of isolating and focusing on a subject's face in real time.

As for buying online, I'd recommend the major retailers' sites (like Best Buy, Circuit City, and so on). For internet-only retailers, I highly recommend newegg.com, amazon.com, and camera-specific stores like bhphotovideo.com and adorama.com. If you buy from a site other than the ones I've listed, be sure to check resellerratings.com's store reviews before you buy--there are tons of very sketchy "gray market" retailers out there.

Good luck!

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.

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!).

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)

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.

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.

Probably should have noted earlier that Dana seems not to have read Fuji S6000fd specs very thoroughly. The S6000fd has the same ISO-boosting IS as the S9100 and also has a 28>300mm equivilent lens. After using mine for several months and being very happy with it in every way, I'd suggest Sriram might want to lug something a bit smaller and lighter up in those mountain hikes...the S6000fd is a big digicam. BTW, both of two Canon S3 digicams I sampled for several weeks disappointed when their front lens "pieces" began to come adrift with very careful use? And I just received my $50 Fuji rebate which nets my S6000 at just $258.

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!?

Thanks bukit97 for your reply. The folks at camera stores tell me to stay away from Kodak. Any other thoughts. I have looked at the Nikon Coolpix S10 and the Fuji FinePix S5200. Someone suggested the Canon A710 IS. We have many Grands and great Grands to photograph and travel to the UK every year.

Thank you Brenda P for the information. I think I want to stay small, as in pocket size. I have also looked at the Panasonic TZ1. I think I am going to wait and see the TZ2 and TZ3 for more mp.

Thanks Brenda P. I am still reading and talking to all the camera shops in the area. Still confused as it seems everyone has a different thought on which camera.

Thanks again Brenda P, this answer makes me feel better and gives me some direction in which to go.

RAW and SLR are two different things. All DSLR have RAW, some compact cameras too. The best in your price range is the Fuji S 6000/6500. It's an excellent camera. See rewiev on dpreview.com

The best way to go is Nimh Rechargeable Batteries because they are cheap and can be recharged hundreds of times. Be sure to get Batteries with at least 2500 mah, with a set of 4 of this you will get at least 250 photos from your S6000fd when using flash occasionally. I use Sony Brand, available at amazon. 4 Batteries with a charger will cost about 22.00 US dollars. You should also get an extra set of 4 batteries for back up. The set of 4, also Sony Brand, will cost about 11.00 US dollars.

Now, if you are concern about your rechargeable batteries getting discharged when not used, there is a new generation of Batteries called ENELOOP which are designed to hold their charge for long time. You even don't need to charge them before the first use. They are made by Sanyo, cost the same as Nimh and are getting very good reviews. This is the site where you can find more:

eneloopusa.com/home.html 

this camera is a rotation one; a very smooth ring around the barrel.

Both type H and type M xD cards are Flash memory cards. So if you are shopping for the cards, you probably will be looking for Type H or Type M xd card.

Both type H and type M are high capacity cards with Type H being more superior.
For speed recording, such as required in movie clips, you would go for type H because type H writes at a speed 2 to 3 times faster than type M.

So the best memory cards to use for Fuji S6000fd will be type H xD cards.

Hi Andrew, thanks for the recommendation! How do you think Fujifilm s600fd and s800fd would compare to the Panasonic Fz8?? I've heard that fuji's are better in low lighting. THank you for your help!

When I set it on AF it sounds like grinding something.