S6000fd without a tripod

[bucketofroses]

I'm a little spoiled. So far, all my digital cameras have had OIS. I'm looking at the Finepix s6000fd and noticing that everything I see is positive, with the exception of its lack of image stabilization. I really dislike using my tripod if I don't have to. Just personal preference. Plus, a lot of my shots are taken on trips, where I just don't have time to set one up whenever I see a good shot. In the past, I have rarely had a problem with a blurry shot this way-- but then, I've always had the stabilizer. Does anyone else use the s6000fd handheld? Does it ruin the image quality?

Oh, and nowhere near my home carries the camera for me to try test shots for myself *grumble* . . .

[tim11]

S6000fd without tripod?
Taken at full zoom:
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=184856&postcount=54
I'm not saying everyone can do that, but again it's not impossible either. How steady are you? Turn IS off and find out.

[StefH]

IS only can help in a very smal bandwith. If you do not shoot often in low light conditions you will never miss IS. With s6000 you can use the higher ISOs a bit more, than on other compacts, due to it's Super-CCD. If you really need low-low-light-performance without flash, no IS will help you. You'll need a DSLR and a fast lens. I've had no problems so far using full zoom.

[tim11]

Another great feature from S6000 is its clean image at higher ISO. With most cameras, at ISO 400 and over image quality suffers considerably. With the Labrador shot I can safety boost ISO to 200 and get shutter 1/150sec for sharper image; or even ISO400 for 1/300sec. And I would still have a clean image.

[bucketofroses]

Sadly, i can't just check with my old camera; it was stolen by the lovely folks at TSA. But I'm sure my friendly neighborhood Best Buy has got something comparable. Good idea! Thanks!

And thanks for the pics and advice. That makes me feel a lot better about purchasing the camera!

[bucketofroses]

Oh, tim11?
I noticed that you have the camera I lost-- the Lumix FZ20. How is this one in relation to that? I realize it's bigger and a lot newer and such, but just in general with photo quality, ease, etc. . . . I was really happy with my Panasonic, but I decided to try and fix the qualms I had instead of just replacing it.

[tim11]

Sorry that I haven't seen your last post. You should have sent me a private message.

I don't think my answer will surprise you. FZ20 is fast and great to use in good light and its colours seem more vibrant than paler Fuji's one. FZ20 purple fringe is minimal amongst cameras in its class. Unfortunately, I don't always have the luxury of good light. For example, at the zoo... bright day outside but under the shade of the trees even ISO200 is not enough. And as you know FZ20 ISO400 is rubbish.
Since I bought Fuji F30 I feel like a defector.... :) and I pointed out S6000fd to a friend who was looking at Rebel XTi. It's his camera that I used in the test photos.

Summing up:
- S6000fd has no IS (but since it's not impossible to use without; as Iproven). - Big size (but big doesn't mean bad).
- Manual rings that I like.
- Better and larger EVF.
- Easy to access menu and controls.
- Clean image even at high ISO.
- RAW.
- Slow burst speed (the only thing I hate about Fuji.

I'm now biased to S6000fd since it's more versatile and usable in all light. I will put up with the purple fringes.