Electronics Store: Fujifilm FinePix 3800 3MP Digital Camera w/ 6x Optical Zoom

Average Rating:

Some of the bad reviews touch on problems with this camera, but you're not going to find a perfect, or even a professional grade camera with these features in it's price range. None of the problems are fatal flaws, in my opinion.

The worst flaw is that neither the LCD screen or the EVF are bright enough when the light is very low. There are other digital cameras that do this better, but if you're going to be doing a lot of low-light shooting, and you want your framing and focus to be right every time, don't get a digital camera. Get a 35mm film camera.

If you're just taking snapshots at an indoor event, this can be annoying, but you can always reframe things when you edit the digital pictures. Let's face it. You're not going to have a perfect picture every time no matter what camera you use, so you're going to be doing some editting anyway.

There were a couple of other issues brought up in some of the reviews I read. For example, in anything but bright sunlight, when you have the zoom fully extended to 6x, you're not going to be able to hold the camera steady enough. That would be true with any camera, digital or film. The longer the zoom, the more your minute shaking will affect the final result.

Also, each time you erase the memory card, the numbering on the filenames starts over again at 1. If there is an option to change this (as I had in the Fujifilm 1300 I replaced), I have not found it yet. That means when you store your originals you'll either have to change the filenames, or store them in seperate folders.

As for battery life, the first 200 pictures I took were inside shots, many using flash. Because I wear glasses, I find it easier to use the big LCD. I was able to take almost 200 pictures before the original batteries started to die. Still, I pop 4 AA alkaline batteries into my pocket when I take the camera with me.

The 16MB card is too small. It's inclusion is similar to the half-full ink cartridge included with new printers, or the 10 test strips included with a blood glucosse meter. Your first purchase after deciding to keep the camera should be a 128MB card. A 128MB card will hold 90-100 pictures at the finest resolution.

The camera fits perfectly in my average sized hand, but it may not fit in your hand. Of course if you have very big or very small or oddly shaped hands, you already know to check it out by holding it in your hand at a local store. The weight is quite low, and it's balanced fairly well. For most people there won't be any ergonomic issues.

Three people I work with also purchased digital cameras in the same price range as the Fujifilm 3800 about the same time I did. As we compared notes, and passed our cameras around, the other three wished they would have considered the Fujifilm 3800. And while a couple of those other cameras had some neat features mine didn't, I was still satisfied with my choice.

Is it a professional camera? No. Is it a perfect camera? No. Is it a great value? At the time of my purchase, and even now at the time of this review, yes it is. I have no regrets about choosing the Fujifilm 3800.

The bad: the viewfinder is tough to use in low-light (but it's not THAT bad), that's all, that's only downer

The Good: it's easy to use, different modes for different users, shutter speed is quick (you won't miss the action), image quality is excellent (I don't know what people are complaining about here - I've printed 8x10s that look fantastic!), 6x zoom.

In my opinion, it's a great choice. Every camera has it's problems. There's no perfect one out there unless you're going to spend 4 figures. So, for the rest of us, I think this is a great camera.