Fuji FinePix3800 Digital Camera (Fuji-FP3800)

Fujifilm FinePix 3800

FinePix3800 Digital Camera (Fuji-FP3800) Review, by Richard Baguley January 6, 2003

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• Reviewed by: kenjewl

  Strengths: Takes very good quality pix of well lit, non-moving objects.

  Weaknesses: Very difficult to capture moving objects. Does not work well in dimly lit areas.

  Overall: I have had my 3800 for about three years now, and it has ceased to work. I contacted Fuji America about this and was told to send it to them and they would see what they could do. I did not. I have read in other reviews that this camera has an inherant life span of about 2 yrs. Then for unknown reasons it dies. It did work decently when operable, however. I would be reluctant about purchasing another Fuji camera again.

• Reviewed by: andyfischer

  Strengths: 6X zoom, uses AA batteries, easy point and shoot

  Weaknesses: It is hard for me to find the screen to change the pixel count, every time I do it I have to scratch my head. It is quite simple though, I just forget because it is at a different place than others.

  Overall: We have taken literally 1000's of pictures with camera. I would have rated it the highest but I have too little experience with other digital cameras. My two teenage girls went to Europe this summer for a month with relatives and took the camera. With a 256MB xD card they never needed to change it. The battery life is good but you need batteries if you plan to shoot a lot.I have only used the automatic settings on the camera and find they produce fine photos. I blow up to 8 by 10 and it is very good. Like a film camera nice diffuse light (eg a cloudy day) will produce the best result.Ease of operation. Several people have used this camera successfully. The benefit of the 6x can not be overstated. It's like having a 228mm lens (remember those 10 inch things on a SLR?) It's great for sports and getting close when you aren't.I do a lot of editing and I plan to move up to a Fuji E550 so I can blow up even greatly cropped images. I will pay about $50 more over the Olympus C60 which also uses xD but I am sold on the quality of my 3800

• Reviewed by: cs1709

  Strengths: Takes excellent pictures when it works

  Weaknesses: Slow shutter speed

  Overall: I received this camera as a christmas gift in 2002 and it has been a big headache. The first one that I had lasted a few months then one day I turned it on and it made a noise like it was zooming in and out and that was all it would do. The store replaced the first camera, but the second one didn't last much longer. The switch is loose and when I try to turn the camera on it either doesn't do anything or it does the same thing that the first one did. To top it all off the store won't replace it, they said they will TRY to fix it. I would not recommend buying this camera and I doubt that I will ever buy another Fuji camera.

• Reviewed by: kgag50

  Strengths: 6x optical zoom,large LCD screen,price

  Weaknesses: Terrible in low light situations

  Overall: Researched for a month before deciding on this camera and could'nt find anything in this price range with the combination of the 6x optical zoom and the 1.8 LCD. Paid $288.00 at 6th ave electronics.I was trying to take a picture of my dog at night in a room with three lamps on and was unable to see anything in the EVF. I called Fuji and was told I am limited by a 100 iso which makes it almost impossible to see anything thru the viewfinder so I'm always guessing where my subject is but in spite of that the pictures always come out great. Just make sure the flash is on. Takes beautiful pics in a sunny room or outdoors. While my daughter was visiting the other night I tried out the movie mode while she was attempting to play the piano. It was one of those Kodak moments and again even though there were three lamps and a piano lamp on right in front of her the playback was very dark. That was very disappointing. All and all I've had great fun with my Fuji and love looking at the memories on my pc. Guess I'll be buying some more lamps...

• Reviewed by: computermanman

  Strengths: The looks, the weight, the xd card capacity, and the zoom!

  Weaknesses: Even after repeated readings of the manual it is quite hard to take low light pictures, and moving objects. Shuttler speed is so slow you can push the button then walk around and capture yourself.

  Overall: I am in the computer field, and after a lot of research on the internet, and visiting stores to physically try several cameras I chose this one. The 6X optical zoom was the main selling point. I purchased this camera when it was still $399 about 10 months ago. I was pleased with the zoom, look, feel, and quality of pictures. I have impressed friends and family with pictures taken that printed from my printer in 8X10 size that were photo lab quality. I have the 16mb xd card, a 64mb card (that came as an free bonus upon purchase), and I purchase an 128mb card too! After a few months I stopped taking the 3m pictures, and started taking 1 to 2 m shots. The quality is excellent on all of them, and the majority of pictures you are not going to print and 1meg shots look great on your computer. My complaints are that even if you use the sports shot, or play with the speed in manual mode, you have to improvise more than a no fingered man at a piano playing contest. Low light conditions for this camera are places that are not considered low light to anyone except maybe a blind person. Anywhere indoors that isn't lit by anything less than a flood light, you will have problems. You can take excellent night shots by guessing where your subject is, or by using a tripod in the nightshot mode. If I had it to do all over again, I would not buy this camera (not for $399). I am satisfied (since I already have it), and have learned how to adjust to the quirks that I have mentioned.