Fujifilm FinePix S1500 Digital Camera Reviews

[Matty]

I have just ordered this digital camera: tinyurl.com/2f2qmn6 and I think it is reasonably good for the price, what I am asking is does anybody own one and if so what is it like to use, I am keen to know about taking photos in the dark which my current camera... well... doesn't do, do you need to mount it on something or does it produce a good quality image when held in your hands?

I also am keen to know about the focus time, is it fast? because I don't want to miss a shot of a moving bus because of it taking time to focus which I find a lot of cameras actually do.

[busman3]

I dont own the type of camera you have however I hope that the following information regarding digital media will be of help, you make the comment that you want to know how to focus on a moving vehcile as far as I know taking a still of a moving vehicle at night would be very difficult, I use two methodes for night work :


STILL
Using a digiatl camera set to either sports or night / dusk I place the camera on a tripod or any suitable surface : a wall, the pavement , a bus etc etc.

Remember if you are desperate then you can use a lamp post i will hold the camera still against the post using the camera side , the camerea needs a flat side without curves or anything sticking out.

The photo below was taken at 2 seconds - I let the camera decide, a tripod was used
s116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/TRAMMANN/?action=view¤t=COMPACTCAMERA2623.jpg

The shot below was an experimental shot I just liked the scene so I tried it

s116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/TRAMMANN/?action=view¤t=COMPACTCAMERA2426.jpg


VIDEO Most camera's allow you to use video mode, I will use this at night if there is a moving subject :

s116.photobucket.com/albums/o24/TRAMMANN/?action=view¤t=video002-1.flv


LIGHTING
For all of the above to work you need some form of lighting , street lighting is the most comon form .

If you have a subject that is still and you have a camera that has a bulb option (this allows the camera lens to be open at your will) you set it to B open the lens and then (safety allowing) cover the subject with a spot light - this method is used in mines and I have used it in extream cases . It does work but you can only use it if it is ok for you to light the still subject . I dont have any examples unfortunatley but I have used it with a bus against a railway station - it was the first time the bus had been out I was told by the "experts " that it wasnt worth trying - strangley they bought copies my prints .


A NOTE ON TRIPODS
My tripod cost around £40 as I need one that is reasonable transportable its not very large but will allow me to use it in both portrait and landscape mods which is very usefull. I now buy tripods which are the old fashioned screew type I find the clip type while quick to get set up tend to disintegrate after a short while.

Hope the above notes are of use to you

[Matty]

Thanks for the info Busman3

I was having problems with my Olympus X-42 Camera in the slightest of darkness and rain, and it was stopping me from getting photos when there was no wall etc to rest it on & I was wanting to upgrade to something with a higher zoom on it and was better at taking photo's in low light conditions while been held in my hand & I found this camera on Amazon and it was just ideal.

[busman3]

How did you get on

[Matty]

I have been using it for a while now & i am really impressed, good photo quality & good manual functions.