Fujifilm Finepix S700 7.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom

Fujifilm Finepix S700 7.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom Features:

• 7.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
• 2.5-inch LCD screen; 10x optical zoom, 48x Total zoom
• Movie mode at 30fps with sound in Motion JPEG (.AVI) format
• Picture Stabilization mode; Mode Dial for ease of use
• Compatible with SD and xD media cards

Customer Reviews:

• good except in low light: My daughter got this so she could take pictures at a concert - it takes wonderful pictures until it's dark out.
  Other than that, no complaints!
• Disappointed: I have had this camera for more than 6 months and I keep trying to like it but it definately falls short of my expections. It is easy to use. I like the AA batteries. I use energizer re-chargeable and it's much more convenient than proprietary batteries such as HP. The movies are great with a silent zoom. I bought the camera for the 10x zoom and I really have been happy with the lens quality especially for the price. Here is what I am unhappy with - I believe it is the camera software. The colors are not realistic - sky colors being too turquoise. When taking closeups of high contrast subjects there are choppy outlines (i.e. red rose white background). I believe it's the anti-aliasing algorithms that really stink.I would never blow the pictures up. What am I comparing it to? I have had a number of HP cameras (R927 & R817) which have great realistic colors and do excellent closeups. I was trying to replace the R817 which had 5x Pentax optical zoom, a rarity on point and shoot cameras and unfortunately is no longer made (my kid dropped it). I also have a Canon Rebel XTI which I cannot fairly compare this to as it costs $600. Anyhow I bought the Fuji for the zoom. If they'd fix the software I'd love it. The size, the feel, the user interface are all great.
• Better than the Finepix 2650: I bought this camera less than 6 mos ago as an upgrade from the Finepix 2650 and while it was superior to it, I'm already in the market for another one.
  
  As other reviews tell, this camera shoots absolutely GORGEOUS outdoor photos in good light, but indoors it's worthless... the images turn out so grainy even all the Paint Shopping - in the world don't make them look good.
  
  The zoom is nice as well and lets me capture birds high up in the trees in my yard, but my primary reason to buy it was to take pictures @ the Flaming Lips New Year's show -- and while it managed some reaaally nice pictures -- I still had to take HUNDREDS to get the good ones and I would prefer to find something else that would allow me to focus on quality and not quantity.
  
  Another advantage over my 2650 is the superior quality of the videos it shoots. The 2650 vids don't even have sound, but not only does this camera shoot sound videos: the sound isn't completely overwhelmed in noisey situations. I was able to capture a video of a guy proposing to his girl on stage at the concert and then contact them later and offer them the video... they replied back that they will be using it at their wedding reception.
  
  So... it's a good camera, but it's not as impressive as they made it look 6 mos ago (I mean, look how much the price has already gone down in that time).
  
  I'm ready to get serious with my photography and this camera just isn't going to keep up.
• EXCELLENT CAMERA: THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST PRODUCT I HAVE EVER USED IN SUCH PRICE. EASY TO
  OPERATE,WIDE FEATURES AND PICTURE QUALITY NO LESS THAN SLR CAMERAS.GOOD
  FOR BEGINERS AND PROFESSIONALS.DIGITAL AND OPTICAL ZOOMS WORKS LIKE
  MIRACLE.CLOSE UP FILTERS WORKS WELL BUT OTHER FILTERS LIKE CPL,UV DOES
  NOT MAKE MUCH IMPACT-MEANS NOT REQUIRED. OVERALL IT IS FINE DEAL & POSSESSION. INTERNAL MEMORAY IS VERY LOW AND XD CARDS MUCH NEEDED.
• Gives my neck a rest: This is a great little compact camera. I use a Canon 5D DSLR for work, and carrying it around all day wears down on your neck and back. So I wanted a nice little high quality camera to carry around and take pics of my kids without killing myself. The quality is very good at low ISOs, and the zoom range is quite satisfying. The camera is made and feels like a baby DSLR. For general family pics, travel, and fun pics it is a very good match. Now if you are extremely critical, which at work I am, you might be disappointed in the sharpness and detail at the long end of the zoom. But this camera really shouldn't be used for prints over 8x10. Otherwise you start to see some softness and Chromatic abbrasions. But at 8x10 and under and for the itty bitty size it is a winner.