Fujifilm FinePix 2650 or something else?

[MSM0603]

Hello one and all!

I am looking for an inexpensive digital camera with optical zoom. I see that the Fujifilm FinePix 2650 with a 32M xD card is for sale at Circuit City. Researched it on the web with mixed reviews averaging about 2/3 PRO and 1/3 CON. Anyone have any experience with this one (or a better idea)? Thanks.

[Enya]

Well, I would suggest before you go and buy a camera go here and check the reviews, etc. It also lets you select the options you are interested in and give selection of cameras to choose from: http://www.dpreview.com

Then go to http://www.cnet.com and check for prices for the cameras you liked.

[ArtShapiro]

I purchased the earlier 2600 model for my wife three or four months ago; I don't know the differences between that and the 2650.

That being said, it is a nice little camera. She's only used it as a point and shoot, not worrying about anything manual or otherwise fancy. The pictures have generally been quite attractive and vivid, with reasonable color accuracy. It seems easy to use, and the sliding lens cover is a nice feature - less awkward than the popoff cover on my own Olympus C-700.

Given the decent photos that have resulted from the 2600, I don't have anything bad to say about the product.

Art

[jetdriven]

I own a finepix 2600Z. I dont think there is a difference in the finepix 2600Z and 2650. Its more of a marketing ploy to prevent you from pricematching them.

Great camera. Suitable for framing pictures up to 5x7.

sometimes the automatic setting gets the color wrong. your indoor pictures sometimes have a blue or red tint. this is easily adjusted however with the white-balance manual settings. Another annoyance is it takes about 2 seconds to write the photo to the card, so no super fast action sequences.

Overall I recommed it. The next level of performance is a 3+ MP camera and you're going to go over 400$ there. you can get this camera for 200$.

yuo get 2AA NiMh batteries, a charger, and a 16MB card. nice extras in this price range.

[Enya]

Pentax Option 330GS is also of a great value and quality for good price also.