Surely the fact that all cameras can be entered and win pushes everyone to achieve more, the standard continues to improve, I think, because of the input from all kinds of camera, and all the levels of input. I think that Fuji do very well from the deal as many who are contemplating buying a new camera look at this site and see the quality that is there. Good marketing relations are good marketing relations no matter how they are come by and I think Fuji have played a 'blinder'!!!

With all due respect Angie I don't agree... its not a level playing field, you would not expect me to enter my modest car into a race against a Ferrari, it would be ridiculous.

Its simply unfair for Fuji owners entering a so called & note MYFINEPIX competition to find themselves up against pros, semi pros & non Fuji SLR Cameras.

Where I do agree with you is that lots of people contemplating buying a Fuji do visit this site to see how good they are,  what are they to think of Fuji Cameras when its main competition is handing out prizes to Nikon & Cannon owners, do ye not think they would turn on their heel and buy one of those cameras instead.

It would be like me recommending one of my competitors cus he's a nice guy - business is business, handing your competitors customers prizes is frankly slapping your own loyal customers down - not a good marketing practise at all.

Hi Chas... If you read my comments you will see that I stated Non Fuji SLR cameras

But what was it taken with Laurie?

Peter - it has never been a level playing field. Even in the days of MyFuji there were folk who had a very simple point and shoot and there were those who had a Fuji DSLR. There were folk who had just started taking photos and there were pros and semi pros. BUT - and this to my mind was what was so wonderful, that there were winners from the point and shoots, from the beginners, from the professionals and from the DSLRs. So amazing that a P&S can beat a pro with a DSLR - and that is still true and that is so unique and to my mind quite wonderful. When it becomes a level playing field it will be less stimulating, another Photographer of the Year Competition!!!

The only camera phone image with people in it is from a shot of Yankee baseball stadium so the people are but a tiny element of the image so it was not suited.  If anyone wants me to process one of their portraits with the grunge effect I would be happy to do it.  It is really easy and doesn't take more than a few minutes.  The one in this thread was my first and only attempt at doing it and I only did it today for the first time.

What's all this about "progressing" to a DSLR? I would suggest that the x100 is capable of a better technical shot than most DSLRs with a "kit" lens fitted! I have progressed from an SLR to a far better compact - whether that's the reflex bit or the digital bit is open to argument in both cases!

George, you beat me to it!

Why is it, that for some reason, a DSLR user is looked upon as somewhat advanced?

Hi Peter,

If you read my comments you will see that I stated Non Fuji SLR cameras

 

 

I did notice and that is why i mentioned the lenses. They could be used on a Nikon even though they were not made by Nikon.

I did say it might have more to do with the person behind the image, or camera. I suspected some digital processing had been used but did not comment for the usual reason. Thanks Laurie for your observation.

Come on Jan, why a DSLR, why not? Some of us can not use bridge cameras.

Some of us can not use bridge cameras.

 Why is that Chas? Is there some operational function I have missed here -  I'd have thought if you can get your hands and fingers round a DSLR, a bridge should be relatively easier, to say nothing of lighter? Some compacts are no doubt too physically small if you have stiff fingers, or whatever - but I don't see the drawback in a bridge?

Thanks, Laurie. Is an EVF harder to see with than an optical one? They seemed better to me than the rather poor optical ones you get on compacts and some bridges, but my only eye trouble is short sightedness. I have to say the x10 optical viewfinder is a great improvement for actually seeing through, and you can see in bright sunlight - more than you can on an LCD!

I shoot with my wee s100.

Its comfortable to me, I know what it can do(mostly) and I feel, well, for want of a better word 'safe' using it.

I dont want an slr with all the lenses and bits and bobs, apart from anything else its far too fiddly whilst the Fuji bridges do the job.

Then again I have never been one to think its all about the camera, I have seen some excellent images taken with a mobile phone in the past, and  a long while past a great gallery all taken with pinhole cameras, to me its not what you have so to speak, but more how you use it..

Giattos ( http://www.giottos.com/SP.htm ) makes very good ones but still I prefer the viewfinder over the LCD screen even with the anti-glare protectors.  I have live view on my D700 and have used it once when I first got it and not once since and I got it in November 2008.  I only chimp shots to check the histogram so the LCD is fine for that.