Fujifilm FinePix S2980 Digital Camera (14MP, 18x Optical Zoom) 3 inch LCD Screen

I did the easy step from a point and shoot to this bridge camera as I could not afford an SLR but I wanted to try and get the hang of using settings on a camera instead of automatic.I have now had this for a few months now and, once i stuck in a decent SD card, (32GB), and a bunch of AA batteries, (rechargeable as this needs four at a time), and away I went, snapping happily away in the manual setting of the camera.It has a lot of settings, many options, some I have tried, others I have not.The view finder is nice and easy to get my eye near, although it could have been better with a little bit of a rubber surround so that my face wasn't constantly pressing on the screen. It's not a problem but the thoughts there.It can even do videos, which many can these days, although the video setting are pretty basic but you do get a cracking bit of footage from video and brilliant photos from the stills setting.It gives out some brilliant colours, even giving you the options of black and white and other options, with each one giving as good a result as many other cameras out there.The zoom is fantastic, being able to zoom in so close that you can see the hairs in the birds nostrils as it flies high over head.So, if you're after the a good price camera that is a step up to the SLR world then this is worth thinking about.

Bought this camera for my wife who wanted to upgrade her Fuji Finepix compact AX250 which she had been completely satisfied with.The S2980 was the perfect replacement as the features were very easy to adjust to, being very similar to the AX250 but much more user friendly.The camera produced perfect shots from first use, including excellent sunset exposures as well as being able to deal with high contrast shots in bright Florida sunshine.The facility to change from live view to eye level viewfinder is a real bonus.The video setting and the ability of the camera to maintain a sharp image when following fast moving subjects is faultless.I would highly recommend this camera.

I have updated this review on the strength (!) of the other one star reviews this camera has been given. There seems to be little doubt that you have a good chance of buying a defective camera. Like other reviewers, it is impossible to understate the aggro that results in a camera breaking down when you are on holiday. Subsequently I have tried to get this fixed but it was too expensive to do so, considering that there is no long-term guarantee that the problem will not recur......Bought this about 18 months ago to replace a similar one. It's a fine camera, but after a few months the lens stopped moving and I got it fixed under the guarantee. And a few months ago, a few days into my big summer hols., it happened again. To say that I wasn't pleased would be an understatement! Buyer beware. The problem seems to arise when the camera is switched on with the lens cover on.

Wanted inexpensive bridge camera with viewfinder. This had mixed reviews. My experience(early days)is promising. Everything works. Like the electronic viewfinder, very good in bright light when LCD screen difficult to see. For well under £100 it is good value for amateur like me. Start manual useful but 145 page full manual on the disc daunting, ended up printing off all 145 sheets to read and consult. When done this gives a very good understandable manual.Also not as bulky as some bridge cameras I have seen. All in all very satisfied,for the price.

A few months ago I set out to buy my first proper digital camera. I'd had SLRs in the past - Canon, Minolta, my good old Praktica! - and I used to develop my own B&W photos. But, with a budget of around £100, less that I'd paid for my most modest SLR, I wasn't thinking much above a slightly sophisticated point and shoot. What a surprise it was to see this little gem at the silly price of £107. Even less now.If you're looking for your first digital camera then I don't think you'll find anything better than this. Yes, it points and shoots in SR mode (Scene Recognition) but it also has manual, shutter and aperture priority and the little gift of a Panoramic mode. The results are in and it's great. I've shot about 500 photos now and I'm staggered by the results. It also feels like a good, solid SLR and there's even a viewfinder for days when it's too sunny to see the screen, or for those of us who just prefer to use a viewfinder.If you haven't had a camera since the SLR age, then get this one. There really is nothing to fear!My only reason for not giving five stars is that the flash is too harsh in most situations. Putting a small piece of tissue over it helps diffuse the light a little. But in every other respects the results (compared to my old SLR cameras) are remarkable. AND you can take movies with it! The results are fine for home movies but there's a lot of hiss and the focusing can be erratic. Use it for the kids, though, and it's fine.There's a Quick Start manual, enough to take you through the basics but the rest of it you have to download. It's clear, though, simple and logical and describes all the features you'll soon find yourself experimenting with.Go on, treat yourself. At under £100 (at the time of writing) you'll be glad you did.