Full Review

Ok, let me start off by saying that I am a camera person who likes to stay behind the scenes and take the wonderful pics of my friends and family. Not necessarily the one in front with the witty enthusiasm for having my picture took.

So I have had three digi cams in the past 6 years. My first was a 3mg very expensive camera that lasted for 4 years of great shots.

Two year ago I decided I needed to upgrade and I did to a compact 4mg that just gave me some really good shots but all in all was slow still.

Then about February I decided that a new camera was indeed another investment I was willing to partake since I was on my last child and I really enjoyed scrap booking. I wanted something that got my other children in midstream of action whether it is baseball or rolling down a grassy knoll. I wanted that stop action in a camera without blurriness. I wanted to be able to be up close without being someone's face. I wanted something better.

Well I started looking around and pricing cameras. Little did I know that April of 2007 I would stumble upon the camera of all cameras. Granted I am not a rich person by any means so a $500 or $1000 digi cam was not even feasible for little me. But I walked into the neighborhood Wally World and just started looking at the selection. I saw big ones, little ones and it actually made my head hurt. So for months, I have saved to buy something. I got on Epinions to get people's take on their camera selections. But April still had not arrived. So I waited and dealt with my poor little Samsung, hoping for the right one to appear.

Then with my pregnancy and kids’ school and practice, I took a breather. Then again, I saw a friend who a really cool camera and was like, now that's a camera. I don't even think it's the same camera but it does look similar.

I got it back in my head that I really needed a new camera, so I trotted back to Wally World and like magic it was there. Staring at me, beckoning me to pick it up and take pictures. How could I refuse such a request?

I did and I thought to myself, how Fuji did this. Make this camera look so attractive and fun and take these awesome pictures. I played with the different setting for about 20 minutes. I ended up putting it back on the shelf and walked away because I wanted to make sure I was getting the best of the best. I check Kodak, Samsung and Cannon.

So after much research, which a month ago there wasn't really any. I out of sheer want and need decided I want this camera and this is what I am going to get.

The first time I used it on my own; I snapped pictures like a mad woman. Taking pictures of bookcases, my cat, my living room just to start understanding the clicking and settings and what did what and which one to use. I went outside, the Landscape setting is awesome. I took 8 pictures of my garden and back yard. Was I bored yet, nope.

So on Saturday when the boys had a game, my oldest hit a ball, mid stream I got the hit and a second later him running. My other I would have to wait and then take. Not this one. It was so awesome.

That same day we went to a friend's house for a cookout and they have a hill and again, I was snapping like a nut!! I got them in mid roll, arms flailing and emotions of laughter. My friend was avoiding me because I know I was annoying, but I couldn't help it. I took pictures of her daughter eating her mashed up baby meal and getting movement in midstream.

Then that Monday my youngest went to the zoo. This was awesome, the animals come up to you and you can feed them while on a bus ride. I got the teachers in mid feeding of animals, the buffalo's tongue in mid lick. It was awesome.

Ok I know your probably thinking, this woman is a nut. No, I just haven't been fascinated with a camera in so long that I can't stop being happy about it.

It has an auto shoot mode. I honestly have used it once or twice but I like picking and choosing my setting.

For those who want the dynamics or schematics. It is a 7.1 megapix with a 10x zoom. It has a huge screen for looking at your pictures which I love!! You can take movies if you want; I haven't even used it yet, still thrilled to take pics. It has a function where you can take a picture, and it will take with and without a flash. So if you’re not sure, this really is a cool function. It has a setting that will let you decide for snow, beach, landscape, text, portrait, fireworks, museum since flash can't be used a lot of the time, sport, night, sunset, flower, party, natural light, picture stabilization which is the best when you got jumpy busy kids. There is manual mode, shutter priority and aperture priority. It comes with batteries, neck strap and lens cover and the flash pops up when needed. You just push it back down when you are done.

I am just a regular mom turned photographer! I am so glad that I decide on this particular camera, I haven't been disappointed the only thing is now I am going to have to get more SD or XD cards because I am a picture taking fool and I took more then a 100 photos of the zoo trip. It takes no time after you realize what your holding is the "golden ticket" camera.

All I can say is have fun and happy snapping.