F10 vs mju 800

[seria]

Hi,

I'm currently looking at buying a Finepix F10 or a Olympus mju 800.

From the pictures i've seen, they seem to be pretty much equal in outdoor photos. The mju 800 has sharper images, but fairly noisy, while the F10 has smoother images, but loses a bit of detail.

They both suffer from chromatic aberrations (particullary the F10) but I can remove it in photoshop fairly easily.

Which camera would be better for low light shots? I haven't been able to find any pictures from the mju 800 other then the one on the front page of this website. Only it's using a different ISO setting from the F10, so it makes it difficult to compare them.

Which would be the better camera to get? I would prefer the camera that has the highest picture quality, as I can work around other issues (like confusing menus, ect). I'm not too fussed about manual controls past ISO control, as I doubt i'll ever use them :)

They both cost the same amount where I live.

Thanks

[sjseto]

Which camera would be better for low light shots? I haven't been able to find any pictures from the mju 800 other then the one on the front page of this website. Only it's using a different ISO setting from the F10, so it makes it difficult to compare them.
Have you seen this review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/stylus800.html) of the Mju 800 (a.k.a. Stylus 800) at Steve's Digicams? He also just posted his review (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/fuji_f10.html) of the F10 today. It's the only site that I know of that has reviews of both cameras, so you should be able to do a good comparison.

Which would be the better camera to get? I would prefer the camera that has the highest picture quality, as I can work around other issues (like confusing menus, ect). I'm not too fussed about manual controls past ISO control, as I doubt i'll ever use them :)
I personally prefer the F10, although I might be a bit biased because it's the one that I own. The Stylus 800 has more manual control (over aperture and shutter speed) and, apparently, a more powerful flash. But to my eye the F10 produces more pleasing images, especially at ISO 400 and above. So to answer your question about which is better in low light, it depends partly on whether or not you want to use your flash.

I hope you'll let us know which one you end up buying.

[seria]

After looking at the F10 review at Steve's Digicams (Nice timing :)) and comparing the pictures, I decided to go with the F10, mainly because I thought it had better picture quality. The mju 800 was too noisy for my liking.

The other reason was that I didn't like how the mju 800 dropped to 4mp when at the higher ISOs. I prefer not using flash, so only getting 4mp pictures in low light didn't appeal to me.

Thanks for the help :)

[ZCarroll]

for durability and manual controls the oly sounds good but for picture quality the f10 seems to be best... there are other cameras that like the oly do reduced quality high iso pictures, I can't figure out why the 800 was presented as special in that regards (although I guess it can even go higher than iso 1600 which is certainly impressive), really there's only the f10 for a compact high iso that you can choose and high quality images... don't know about the oly, but I was super impressed with the color of the fuji, I got beautiful natural light shots with it, I'm sure you will be very happy with your choice! I worry that some people may have chosen the oly 800 from what they read here not realizing all the details, but hopefully not, I'm sure it's great for what it is.

[cvicisso]

I'm looking for a 'pocketable/backup' camera to carry around with me everywhere. My Canon S2 IS is my 'main' camera. The two cameras mentioned in this thread seem pretty awesome - I had no idea that pocket digicams could work in such low light! However... my 'prime directive' for all future cameras (unless it lays golden eggs or something) is that it HAS to use AA batteries and SD cards (that's just me - I'm not suggesting that either way is better). Both of these cameras fail those tests. Soooo...

What's the closest camera to these two (small and low-light-friendly) that also takes AA batteries and SD cards?

I was planning on buying the Pentax Optio 43WR (discontinued) - but it appears that it was so popular that I can't even find them on ebay! I love the fact that it was sort of 'ruggedized' and water-resistant - as I live and work in close proximity to sand and water. But I have no idea how it fared in low-light situations.

Anyway - thanks in advance!

[seria]

However... my 'prime directive' for all future cameras (unless it lays golden eggs or something) is that it HAS to use AA batteries and SD cards (that's just me - I'm not suggesting that either way is better). Both of these cameras fail those tests. Soooo...

The F10 is supposed to get around 400-500 shots on a battery charge (rechargeable) , and you can buy spare batteries on ebay for $10 (AUD) each. So if you're worried that li batteries are too expensive, they are not too bad :)

What's the closest camera to these two (small and low-light-friendly) that also takes AA batteries and SD cards?

I can't really answer this question, as all the cameras I looked at had li-batteries. If its mainly a cost issue, I was able to get a F10, 1GB xD Memory, and 2 spare batteries for ~$570 (AUD), which is cheaper then I could buy the SD500 (other compact camera I was looking at, wasn't very good a low light images) for.

The F10 was the only compact camera I found that could do low light images without using a flash.

[JTL]

$570 (AUD), which is cheaper then I could buy the SD500 (other compact camera I was looking at, wasn't very good a low light images) for.

The F10 was the only compact camera I found that could do low light images without using a flash.Hold on one second. I think the Fuji F10 is one of the best P&S cameras that you can buy...but my SD500 takes GREAT low-light shots and I've posted a few in the past to prove it...here's a couple:

http://jtl.smugmug.com/photos/22560499-L.jpg

http://jtl.smugmug.com/photos/19903850-L.jpg

[seria]

Hold on one second. I think the Fuji F10 is one of the best P&S cameras that you can buy...but my SD500 takes GREAT low-light shots and I've posted a few in the past to prove it...here's a couple:

Those are some nice looking photos. What settings were you using? I tried out the SD500 for a few days and most of the pictures came out looking very noisy.

[ZCarroll]

yes, I'm impressed with those shots also -did you use a tripod? I had an sd500 for awhile myself and just got way too many blurry shots. I was trying all kinds of crazy things with it to try and 'trick' it into choosing higher shutter speeds and finally just got too frustrated with it and took it back -loved the feel, look, and UI of it though.

[JTL]

Those are some nice looking photos. What settings were you using? I tried out the SD500 for a few days and most of the pictures came out looking very noisy.
yes, I'm impressed with those shots also -did you use a tripod? I had an sd500 for awhile myself and just got way too many blurry shots. I was trying all kinds of crazy things with it to try and 'trick' it into choosing higher shutter speeds and finally just got too frustrated with it and took it back -loved the feel, look, and UI of it though.Thank you both very much for the compliments! I shoot a lot, so those are just typical every-day kind of shots. Both at ISO 50, hand held. Shot 1, I was leaning on a podium, shot two is just me. EXIF as follows (which appears identical for for both...):

Shot 1
[Image]
Make = Canon
Model = Canon PowerShot SD500
Orientation = top/left
[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/8"
F Number = F2.8
Exif Version = Version 2.2
Date Time Original = 2005-04-11 15:36:21
Date Time Digitized = 2005-04-11 15:36:21
Shutter Speed Value = 3 TV
Aperture Value = 2.97 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F2.8
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 7.7mm
Maker Note = 1232 Byte
User Comment =
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2304
Exif Image Height = 3072
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Scene Capture Type = Normal

Shot 2
[Image]
Make = Canon
Model = Canon PowerShot SD500
Orientation = top/left
[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/8"
F Number = F2.8
Exif Version = Version 2.2
Date Time Original = 2005-04-17 13:31:22
Date Time Digitized = 2005-04-17 13:31:22
Shutter Speed Value = 3 TV
Aperture Value = 2.97 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F2.8
Metering Mode = Pattern
Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
Focal Length = 7.7mm
Maker Note = 1232 Byte
User Comment =
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2304
Exif Image Height = 3072
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Scene Capture Type = Normal

I have gotten nothing but great shots. I really appreciate having a camera that I can carry every day that is this good (although, I am dying to try a Fuji F10 for a week or so...and the new SD550...if the rumor is true, sounds interesting...but, I am happy with what I have...but as everyone knows, new digital cameras can quickly become an obsession...:D ).

[sjseto]

After looking at the F10 review at Steve's Digicams (Nice timing :)) and comparing the pictures, I decided to go with the F10, mainly because I thought it had better picture quality. The mju 800 was too noisy for my liking...

...Thanks for the help :)
You're welcome. I've really been enjoying mine, I hope you'll enjoy yours just as much.

Beautiful shots, JTL. I guess we should select our words a little more carefully next time :) The SD500 is obviously very capable in low light, with shutter speeds of up to 15 seconds, I believe? I will go out on a limb and say that seria meant that the F10 is one of the only compact cameras capable of hand-held images in low light without flash - that is, hand-held by the average person. To be able to take a shot at 1/8s, you are obviously more steady-handed than most of us :)

This is a shot taken with my F10, ISO 400, f/2.83, 1/51s - something a mere mortal like myself can achieve, and I still used a pillar for support, just in case.

[JTL]

You're welcome. I've really been enjoying mine, I hope you'll enjoy yours just as much.

Beautiful shots, JTL. I guess we should select our words a little more carefully next time :) The SD500 is obviously very capable in low light, with shutter speeds of up to 15 seconds, I believe? I will go out on a limb and say that seria meant that the F10 is one of the only compact cameras capable of hand-held images in low light without flash - that is, hand-held by the average person. To be able to take a shot at 1/8s, you are obviously more steady-handed than most of us :)

This is a shot taken with my F10, ISO 400, f/2.83, 1/51s - something a mere mortal like myself can achieve, and I still used a pillar for support, just in case.I keep getting stunned by the sheer quality of F10 shots...Fuji is clearly the leader in P&S CCD technology. IMO, the F10 is the only P&S that takes as good/better shots than the SD500 at lower ISO settings. I just get so mad that Fuji didn't put IS on the S9000...the perfect ultrazoom was sooooooooo close. Maybe next year! Meanwhile, I'll just be jealous of your virtually noise-free ISO 400 shots...and your more than acceptable ISO 1600 shots...:D

[seria]

I will go out on a limb and say that seria meant that the F10 is one of the only compact cameras capable of hand-held images in low light without flash - that is, hand-held by the average person. To be able to take a shot at 1/8s, you are obviously more steady-handed than most of us

Very nicely put. The F10 was the only camera that I managed to take a clear low light picture with :)

I had a peek through your F10 gallery and was very impressed by the pictures, especially the night time ones.

[cvicisso]

What's the closest camera to these two (small and low-light-friendly) that also takes AA batteries and SD cards?
So... nothing that meets these criteria then? :( How about just the smallest camera that uses AA and SD (forget about low-light)?

[sjseto]

So... nothing that meets these criteria then? :( How about just the smallest camera that uses AA and SD (forget about low-light)?
Canon PowerShot A520 (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=11125)
Kodak EasyShare C360 (http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=7076&pq-locale=en_US)
Konica Minolta Dimage E500 (http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise/main/kmpi/content/cam/cam_Product_Pages/DiMAGE_E500)
HP Photosmart M417 (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=storefronts&category=digital_cameras&subcat1=six_mp&catLevel=2&product_code=L2011A%23ABA)
HP Photosmart M517 (http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?storeName=storefronts&landing=storefronts&category=digital_cameras&subcat1=six_mp&catLevel=2&product_code=L1901A%23ABA)
Pentax Optio S45 (http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details/digital_camera--Optio_S45/reqID--6534359/subsection--optio)
Pentax Optio S55 (http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details/digital_camera--Optio_S55/reqID--6533556/subsection--optio)
Pentax Optio S60 (http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details/digital_camera--Optio60/reqID--6799452/subsection--optio)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS1 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=88140&catGroupId=24999&modelNo=DMC-LS1&surfModel=DMC-LS1&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ1 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=88141&catGroupId=24999&modelNo=DMC-LZ1&surfModel=DMC-LZ1&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=88142&catGroupId=24999&modelNo=DMC-LZ2&surfModel=DMC-LZ2&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702)

[sjseto]

Very nicely put. The F10 was the only camera that I managed to take a clear low light picture with :)

I had a peek through your F10 gallery and was very impressed by the pictures, especially the night time ones.
Thank you. Looking forward to seeing some of your F10 pics when you get the camera :)