Anyone for Fujimugs?

[Bilbo]

Does anyone here visit fujimugs.com? It's an informal photo competition for anyone with a Fuji camera - most people are S602 owners but there are a few S2's there also.

I think it's great - especially for a learner like me - it really makes you think about the photograph you're taking.

Bilbo

[Bilbo]

Ooops! Lots of views of the thread but no responses... have I made some kind of newbie error? Do we S2 owners not talk about "the others"?!

Please don't throw me off - I've only just joined! I'll have to join the 602'ers - they'll make me strip down my camera ...


:D

[Wichita Wayne]

This forum has over 1200 members and lots of visitors. I won't be able to visit the site till this weekend so I won't probably respond till then. And NO, you have not done anything taboo. By the way I have a Fuji Mug that I drink coffee from now and then.

[jknights]

Theo,
How could you get rid of such a nice camera as the 6900. ;-)

I used it as my 2nd backup camera. Great little machine got me out of a hole when I was in Seychelles and teh S2 refused to work because of battery problems.

Fuji cameras rock.
I 'll take a look at Fujimugs.com

[Wichita Wayne]

My wife really likes the 4900. We also have an older 2900 that still sees a lot of use. Believe it or not when we go traveling she mainly uses the 4900, a Holga, and a Nikon FM-10 (made by Cosina) with an old Vivatar 20mm lens on it. This is a woman that has the choice of Hasselblads, top of the line Nikons, and the S2 Pro. She takes great pictures with all three. She is not too happy at the moment though. the 20mm Vivitar lens got a big scratch while they were in Colorado last month, and we cannot find another at the $20 price we paid on eBay for it 2 years ago. My son-in-law will take a chance on a cheap lens anytime. He also got a really good price on an older Samyang (same as the Phoenix) 500mm reflex lens that takes great pictures. Low price does not always translate into low quality. And a cheap lens that fills a hole in yur camera bag is much better than leaving that hole empth and missing shots. Heck, if we use zoom lenses that do not preform like a prime lens then we might as well try a few cheap prime lenses. They might even produce better quality pictures than the high dollar zooms that are on our wish list. Maybe I will start posting some pictures with this lens on the lens test forum.

[smunky]

Wayne:
When I travel I also pack the Holga, and all my Lomo cameras :)
I think they are so much fun to use, I feel sad leaving them at home.
Also sometimes in the studio i push aside the hasselblads for my old cranky rollei.
The rollei just has a little more feeling.

[Wichita Wayne]

I bought it in a pawn shop and it was great. Since it was all sealed up I used it in the Sahara when I was in Egypt with no trouble at all. It was just barely wide enough to get a picture of the entire pyramid at Giza but for the most part worked fine. I dissapeared when my wife took it to a pottery convention in Denver. I looked into getting a Lomo but they are too expensive. When I need a quick camera I usually take my digital Fuji 2900.

[Scubagrapher]

I've been lurking here since deciding on the S2. I've hesitated to register and post, because I haven't actually saved enough pennies to get the S2 yet.

It also appears that I may be the subject of some friendly discrimination since all I own at this time is the 602. :p

My Fuji Mug is under my name, Duane Miles on the site. I used a shot of me scuba diving, figuring the more of my face that's covered, the less I degrade the site! :D

But seriously...I have a digital camcorder with a housing, and I very much enjoy underwater video. Although I believe my 602 would be adequate for UW photography, it's obvious that the makers of housings don't agree. I'm convinced there is never going to be a housing for the 602.

I already know about the "plastic bag" housings made by Ewa Marine for the 602. I have one of these for my 35mm film camera, and at any depth they are a waste of time.

So, there is the crux of my financial dilemma. I am looking for a deal on an S2 and a housing. Wouldn't mind buying either or both used, just not going to buy either until I get the money put away. So until that day, I hope I'm not flogged to badly for coming around to this fine site. Hopefully it won't be to long until I am able to be a true member! ;)

[sandman]

Duane, as long as it's fuji i don't think shawn will ban you .
i had the 602 nice little camera , but that was the trouble it was little , too big to slip in your pocket ,but not big enough to feel like a real SLR camera . had it for about 6 months untill i bought my S2 , i would still have it but my neighbour wanted a digital cam , so i sold it to him .
I've got the S7000 on order , it looks exactly like the 602 , but now i've got my S2 it will act as a backup nicely.

Hope you get your S2 , i suspect an undersea housing will cost almost as much though. look on EBAY you might see something there.

Brian

[Scubagrapher]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the response. yes I plan on getting the S2 first, and spend time getting to know it as I save for the housing. You are correct, housings are expensive. Ikelite makes one that has a "street price" of around $1100. I found a forum on housings, and it has received mixed reviews.

I hope I am allowed to continue to post here as I expect to have an S2 in the next 30 days or so. I've admired your work along with the work of others posted here. Just some phenomenal photos. Glad to hear you had a 602. Many folks are telling me that getting a DSLR is not a smart move until I get better with my 602. They may have a valid point, but as I said I'm looking for something I can take underwater. I do plan on keeping my 602 as a backup.

I am going to get a DSLR, and I decided on the S2 due in part to the posts here. Sure the D300 has an attractive price, and the Nikon D100 has some good things about it at a couple hundred dollars less. But the S2 just seems a better fit for me, and worth the extra money.

[GaryB]

Many folks are telling me that getting a DSLR is not a smart move until I get better with my 602.

I think that you will find that people here are rather more constructive than that. In my view this is the worst sort of snobbery!

Gary (Still on the learning curve!)

[sandman]

Duane if you got an eye for a good photo it does'nt matter if you've got a old box brownie or the latest $???? camera ,it's not the camera it's who's behind it that counts .

Digitally everyones had to start afresh ,some are very good and have mastered Photoshop to become even better , most of the rest of us have learned by our mistakes , but i bet one thing , ALL of us have taken as many duff shots as good ones.

Buy your S2 the very fact it gives you more control over your shots will make you a better photographer. keep your 602 as backup ,and for when you don't feel like taking the S2 .i wish i still kept mine . but as i speak the S7000 has been delivered , so i'll try it out this weekend ,on the surface it looks and feels the same as the 602.

Have fun Duane , post some shots , you'll get lots of friendly advice here , and as long as you take criticism (if their is any ) in the spirit it was given , you'll love this forum like we all do .

Brian

[Scubagrapher]

Thanks again for the encouraging replies! I have read a lot about the 7000. The reviews I've seen show phenomenal resolution for a prosumer (for lack of a better label) camera. And believe me, I take criticism in the spirit that I give it. Someone taking the time to lend me the benefit of their experience and knowledge etc in an effort to make my work better. Always appreciated!

[Linda G]

I have a coworker who wanted to upgrade to the 7000 but decided not to after reading, and not finding conflicting info, that it only goes to f8. Any comments?

Linda

[sandman]

Only just got it Linda ,so i have'nt given it a real test yet , but it does only go to F8 in A, S. and M , modes but it goes up to F16 in program, the main problem so far is the RAW files are different to the S2's ,so the EX won't convert them , you just have to use the LE and convert to tiffs. also the ISO is only 200,400 800. and their is more noise than on the S2. But i'll test it throughly and post some pics .


Brian

[Linda G]

Theo,

It's Saturday (YIPPEEE!!!) so I'll wait til Monday to talk to him. I'm not sure of the designation, but he has the camera pregeneration to this one....maybe the same as you are talking about. He is a former wedding photographer and has given up film but not ready to invest in all the lenses, flashes, etc for digital so wants a good carry-around camera that can do lots.

Thanks for the insight and Sandman, looking forward to the test results.

[Sleeping Bear]

Originally posted by sandman
[B]Duane if you got an eye for a good photo it does'nt matter if you've got a old box brownie or the latest $???? camera ,it's not the camera it's who's behind it that counts .

]

I had an old Brownie Box camera, it was my first camera. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas many moons ago. I wish I still had it, I made some good shots with that contraption and it was fun to use.

[sandman]

Ron my dad gave me his old brownie when i was about 12, it was to keep me out of trouble ,(some hope) but it did give me a kickstart into my lifelong hobby , he's been dead for many years but i still think about him when i do some landscapes .They were his favorites both on film and canvas ,he used to paint as well .

Brian

[Sleeping Bear]

Brian,

I was also about twelve when my grandmother gave me mine and have lost track of it over the years. The camera, not my grandmother. :)