Fujifilm FinePix HS25EXR Digital Camera

I am attracted by the greater "latitude" of Fujiflm cameras. The hs20exr had major issues so I delayed buying. Reviews were excellent by professional or near pro photographers on the hs25exr, so in mid June I took the plunge and purchased a used one.So far I am thrilled with this camera. My training is in scientific and medical photography. I am accustomed to shooting everything manual, particularly because I like natural lighting situations that tend to befuddle a camera's auto function. Digital is nice for the instant feedback and exposure adjustment if necessary. The hs25exr does great in manual mode, bringing up well-saturated colors.I have been experimenting with EXR mode, however, the "auto everything" function of this camera. So far so good. I'd call these photos largely passable. My only quibble is that the camera errs on overexposing, particularly faces. They print out OK, only less saturated colors than I like. Possibly there is a way to adjust this that I have not yet discovered.Yes, the camera takes some time to process some images, particularly night shots. However, they do look like night shots. The multiple shots combined into one image works very well; just hold the camera as steady as possible while it shoots. I haven't yet tried the multiple exposure mode for fast action shots, but then that isn't my typical type of photography.I took the camera with me from the Northwest to Houston for a visit with one of my sons and his family. EXR mode performed well under many varied conditions from full sun to a night time parade, indoors and outdoors, backlit scenes and sidelit, even from the jet's window. When I wanted total say in the photograph, I switched to manual mode.I even experimented with the tiltable back screen for hip-level kid shots or overhead crowd shots. Very convenient, though I remain an SLR fan and prefer the camera up to my face. I mostly use the viewfinder.I like the 24mm to 700mm zoom lens 135 equivalent. These are pretty much the extremes that I prefer. Autofocus failed at times. I know to focus on a high contrast area to help out the machinery in the camera, so a retry brought the scene accurately into focus. I tend to be a deliberate shooter, so this wasn't a problem for me. Could be frustrating if one shoots hard and fast.This camera has met my needs so far. Having shied away from Auto mode, I have been won over for all but the most important photographs. I was asked to shoot some business portraits for a home page. In manual mode with a strong flash on the hotshoe, aimed at the ceiling with a white card taped to the back of the flash, a couple of exposure checks and we did the deed. Quick and easy and the folks liked the photos.I don't need a very high end camera at this point, but I do need good quality. I recommend this camera for both point-and-shoot and more exacting work.

About Fujifilm cameras Finepix HS25EXR and Finepix HS30EXRFinally i have received a Fujifilm camera from Amazon. The delivery was super fast. Although both cameras Fujifilm Finepix HS25 EXR and Fujifil Finepix HS30 EXR are almost similar, I purchased the first one not because I wanted to spare $100, but because I liked its batteries: standard 2AA rechargeable Ni-Mh.I chose between Fujifilm Finepix and Canon Power Shot SX40HS or Nikon Coolpix P510, Fujifilm even the other two cameras have a longer optical zoom: Canon 40, Nikon 41,7 and Fuji 30, because:- Fuji has external flesh, and Nikon hasn't.- Fuji works with standard batteries and Canon and Nikon do not.- Fuji has a wider diapason of shutter speed and aperture.- Fuji has a larger sensor which gives a better dynamic range, and against Canon, has more pixels.- Fuji camera is a more versatile than Canon or Nikon. It has a lot of features, more than you will need.- Fuji uses a new sensor called EXR which is said to work better than other sensors, although I cannot confirm this.- Fuji has manual zoom ring, instead of electric zoom, which is more convenient, more professional like and gives longer battery life.- Fuji has a 58 mm thread so you can add filters or a teleconverter, the others do not have.- Fuji gives you the possibility to shoot in 3D. I made a test and received a perfect 3D picture. No other camera does this. I was amazed.I can not compare image quality of cameras because I do not have Canon and Nikon cameras, but I do not expect any conspicuous difference.For all these, I think that the Fujifilm Finepix HS25EXR, or HS30EXR are today the best bridge SRL-like cameras in the market. Their prices are reasonable.What I do not like to these Fuji cameras:- Awful instruction booklet, HS25EXR dos not have at all. Its booklet is in the CD.- Fujifilm does not have an exposure live view. So you can not see on the LCD what the final picture will look like (how light or dark it will be) before you actually take the shot.- The image stabilization is not too good, although I do not know how good is in Canon or Nikon cameras especially at lower speeds or in high zooms when it is needed more.