FUJIFILM FinePix S3100 Digital Camera

I've gone through several digital cameras in the past several years and I always come back to this one as my favorite to use. The image quality and color are fantastic. I've read the negative reviews on this model and would suggest that many of them are user error or failure to read the instruction manual. Short battery life is not a problem if you use Ni-Mh rechargeables or at least Alkalines. The fact that this camera takes AA batteries is a plus since no matter where you go, if your battery dies you can always find alkaline AA batteries and you are back in business. I've had no problem focusing as others have stated. The most common problem I've seen is trying to zoom in the full 6x and focus on an object closer than 6-10 feet away. That's too close. That's what the macro mode is for.

The 6x optical zoom is great, but you must have a tripod for low light situations (as with all cameras). The pop-up flash gives the added benefit of saving battery life when not in use since the camera doesn't waste energy charging the flash circuitry when it's not needed. Most point and shoot cameras always charge the flash circuit even when you are shooting in bright light.

I've taken pictures of cars going by on the freeway at 300 feet away with no motion blur of the vehicles even at full optical zoom!

I've used this camera for everything from eBay to portraits to sporting events and I haven't found one I like better than this! You can't beat Fuji color!

I've just sold my 5.1 Megapixel Sony (much more expensive) on eBay and kept the Fuji S3100. I've had a Canon, a Kodak, a Casio, and a Sony and the one I've still got is my FujiFilm S3100.

By the way, I repair cameras for a living so I see a wide variety of digitals out there. This is reliable, feature packed, yet easy to use even for the novice.

When I find a better camera, I'll trade this one in - Maybe I should say "if" I ever find a better one...