Fujifilm FinePix S5100

-10x optical zoom
-Attractive body
-Versatility of modes allow users to develop skills
-30 fps movie mode with two resolutions
-Additional lens options
-Comfortable right hand grip

-No manual focus ring
-Illogical button size and placement
-Viewfinder above the LCD doesn’t allow comfortable nose room
-Too much noise in the images
-Small LCD screen by today’s standards

Conclusion
The Fujifilm FinePix S5100 is a worthy compliment to the S5000, adding more effective megapixels to its conventional 1/2.7-inch CCD. The 4.23 total and 4 effective megapixels can create great pictures up to 11 x 17 inches, which is larger than what the average shooter will print. The SLR-shaped FinePix S5100 has a 37-370mm 10x optical zoom lens. The best aspect about this camera is its versatility; with plenty of automatic and manual functions, beginning users can advance on the S5100. The S5100 has a professional façade. Formed in a lightweight medium-sized black body, the camera aims to bridge the gap between the novice point-and-shoot camera and oversized SLRs. This setup provides a great medium for photographers to continually challenge their skills and get creative without having to upgrade to a different camera every six months. The major complaint that I had was that some of the controls were difficult to find or tedious to operate; however, once I was familiar with the setup, the FinePix S5100 wasn’t terribly bothersome. But the noise levels in the images produced by the camera were far too high. Regardless of the camera’s resolution and color rendering capabilities, excess noise destroys images shot at IS0 100 or beyond. The retail price is still high at $399.99, but with the declining prices of digital cameras this year, this camera can now be found for just under $300. For that price, this 4 megapixel SLR-styled camera would be a worthy investment for the right shooter.