Film Reviews

Kodak Max Zoom 800 film is an improvement over the 400 film. There is no about it. We bought our first rolls fifteen months ago for a trip to upstate New York. The weather wasn't particularly bright. We took alot of photos. When we returned and had them developed, I was very impressed. It did strike me though, that green colors come through particularly vividly. Some other colors don't seem quite as sharp on this film. However, overall its an improvement over the old 400 film and its a bargain and the price here on Amazon and elsewhere.

I've used this film since in both personal and professional situations. I've always been satisfied with the results. I think Kodak has a great product here.

Mark

this is very good film. it is good for action, and produces great picutres. i think that this is one of the best types of film there is. i also like the 400 speed film. it all depends on how good of picture taker you are. i personally like both of them, but some people have prefrences.

When Polaroid introduced the SX-70 in 1972, its self-processing "integral" film represented a major backwards step for instant color-print materials. The need for the dyes to migrate through a titanium dioxide layer before reaching the receptor sheet caused a significant loss of sharpness, as well as a creamy "bloom" in areas of fine detail against a light background (eg, bare branches against the sky).

Polaroid has not been able to make an integral film that matches the overall quality of their peel-apart materials. The latter have detail and a vivid edge sharpness the integral films will probably never achieve. But the current Platinum film is unquestionably the best of its type.

Color rendition is noticeably improved. Platinum film can tolerate direct comparison with the Macbeth color chart without suffering acute embarrasment. The tonal scale has been lengthened without a loss of saturation. (The 150-speed Time-Zero material has a noticeably shorter scale, often producing excessively contrasty prints.) Sharpness is better than any previous integral film (including the 150-speed), and the "bloom" is lower than ever.

Nevertheless, Polaroid's integral materials do not match the overall quality of modern color-negative films. The latter have multiple layers and complex chemical interactions among the layers that allow both a wide tonal scale and high saturation. It's unlikely Polaroid films will ever be able to perform these chemical feats, so the gap between conventional and instant-picture quality will continue to widen.

On the other hand, Polacolor (both peel-apart and integral) has a quality rarely seen in negative films -- it looks almost three-dimensional. There's depth -- an almost-palpable "roundness" -- you don't get from Kodacolor or Fujicolor. The latter look flat by comparison.

A note about processing... Although Polaroid integral films give good results over a wide temperature range, the highest saturation and cleanest colors occur in the high 70s or low 80s. (I discovered this when I threw several developing prints on top of a warm amplifier in a cool room. The pattern of the amplifier's vent holes appeared in the print, with the areas over the holes noticeably more vivid.) A warm Spring or not-too-hot Summer day gives the brightest colors.

If you haven't taken Polaroid pictures in a long time, try the Platinum film. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

The Polaroid Spectra Platinum is the best Instant Film I've ever used.

I use this film for my Polaroid Colorshot USB Digital Printer. What I see on the screen is what I get on the film. It is the most perfect transfer of digital imaging I have ever seen.

Printing digitally on this film has it's advantages. No need to worry about running out of ink. The film is instant. The film is resistant to water because of it's built-in protective coating of plastic. The image reproduces very quickly. Whereas a ink jet printer would take minutes...

I also use the film for my Polaroid Spectra 1200si which I love as well. The photo is just as sharp as on regular film. The color is perfectly balanced and the image quality is extremely sharp.

This is a great film by the great company Polaroid for either instant traditional of instant digital photography. I would recommend it to anyone on the planet.

This camera seems to have it all for a sub-200 model! Although I am not a novice digital photographer, I am not a professional -- nor do I want to be. I wanted a camera that would take nice pictures of friends, family and the occasional scenery shot that could be printed out or uploaded. The Fujifilm 1.3 does this well, and prints very nice photos at photo size (I do 4x6, 5x7).

The selling points (besides the price) are as follows: 1) its very small -- making it easy to take with you in a pocket, 2) it works on both my Mac OS X and Win 98/ME PC via USB -- essentially plug-n-play, 3) it takes great daylight pictures, 4) it doesn't eat batteries if you don't use the display mode -- ie: operating it like a normal camera using a viewfinder. I have not filled up the 8 MB card that came with the camera yet, although I haven't tried very hard (maybe a max of 20 photos on fine resolution in a sitting). Because I download to a laptop, I don't really need to spend additional money for a bigger card. I've also dropped it a few times, without affecting performance, so its a pretty sturdy little camera.

The only issue I have with the camera is that there is a learning curve for most of the features that may cause you to lose good photo opportunities at first. You have to read the manual to know how the display works, and how to set the camera for different sorts of lighting schemes. I blurred a few photos because I didn't realize the macro switch had turned on while it was in my bag, and didn't discover this until later when I downloaded them. I haven't quite mastered the various flash settings and took a low-light, indoor shot from about 8 feet away that isn't great. If I were to put some time in learning the display functions, rather that setting it on "auto" and using the viewfinder all the time, I might become quicker at changing the settings for different lighting situations. As it is now, the camera is fine for my uses, and I can usually brighten the "mistakes" in Photoshop.

I've had this camera for close to 2 and a half years. It has put up with all my abuse, rain, rocks and snow.

I have no idea what the settings do. I keep everything on auto and come out with great pictures, just point and shoot. It's a great entry-level camera. I have rechargable batteries and they last a lot longer than disposables.

I'm in the process of picking out a new digital camera. I'm looking for more megapixels and an optical zoom. I absolutely love that there is almost no delay from when you press the button to when the picture is snapped. I'm worried that I won't be able to find a fancier camera that takes the picture right away.

This camera is so easy to use and practical. I would recommend it to anyone who isn't interested in optical zoom or more megapixels.

This is a great consumer grade camera. I have 2 SLRs, and 2 Nikon/Olympus One Shot cameras and for quick snaps, and sending pictures online - i'm hooked.

The 1.3MPix will fill a 1024x768 screen with sharp graphics. So far this camera's color accuracy amazes me. It is pocket sized, simple to use, and the price is tuff to beat. Most of my shooting is outdoors and it works well in a variety of lighting conditions - i usually shoot people with the flash.

The finepix PC software is basic. If you don't like it just plug in the Camera's USB port, and open the USB Device in Windows Explorer and use what ever you want. Buy rechargable batteries, you can maybe get 60 or so snaps with disposable's included.

In my opinion the next logical upgrade above this camera would be an optical zoom, and 2-3 MPix.

This camera was my second digital camera The reason I bought the Fuji 2800 was its small size and it's rather extraordinary 6X optical zoom. I have taken both cameras with me on trips and have found that they perfectly compliment each other. The Fuji is available for those quick shots and can be used as a point and shoot
The Fuji 2800 is a great camera that is simple to operate and has the ability to take a picture that will print out sharply at 8 x 10. It has a very good autofocus and the 6X zoom will let you get in close. The flash has 6 different modes and there is also a white balance feature. You can choose from a variety of resolutions but I normally keep it on the highest 2 megapixel setting (with a 64 mb card I can shoot about 80 pictures).
On the down side, the view finder is poor in low light conditions; the autofocus still works ok, you just can't compose your shot with the view finder. Action shots are also a bit tricky due to the electronic viewfinders quirk of freezing the view during autofocusing.
Other than that, this is an extemely competent camera that takes great pictures, is simple to use, and offers great features at an affordible price.

This is my first digicam and I spent a great deal of time researching this camera along with others. I was looking for a camera...I finally settled on the Fuji 2800Z. To date, I am extremely please with my purchase, as I have found this camera to be an excellent value for the money.

Some of the positives of this camera include, a killer 6x Optical Zoom, Sharp and Crisp Pictures, extremely easy to use menu system, 60 second video with audio, and it can double as a webcam. This camera is pretty much a point and shoot camera so if you are looking for a digital camera that has a wide selection of manual settings, look elsewhere as this camera is not for you. You do, however, have control over the white balance, exposure, and flash settings. Other than that, the rest is automatic.

As I mentioned, this is a great little camera, however it is not without a few "flaws". As well noted, this camera has trouble in low light situations, specifically the EVF and LCD. In the few weeks that I have had the camera and the several hundred pictures that I have taken, I have only run into 1 situation where the EVF and LCD were useless. This issue can be worked around and should not be a sticking point for those looking to purchase this camera. I personally like using the EVF as, unlike an optical viewfinder, it shows you "exactly" what is being photographed without distortion. Finally, if you decide to pick up this camera, make sure that you get some rechargeable batteries and a 128mb Smart Media card. You will be set.

In summary, if you are looking for a simple to use, point and shoot camera, with a great zoom, sharp pictures, and a few additional nice features, get this camera. You will be hard pressed to find a better camera for the money!

For the money this camera is an excellent value. My first digital was a FujiFilm FinePix A201, with only a 2.5 digital zoom and 2 mp, great for starters but I really didn't like any of the pictures taken with it. I guess the magic is in the zoom, because the 2800 takes crystal clear, super sharp pics that I thought were only possible with either a 35 mm or a ridiculously-overpriced camera with 3 times the megapixels. I like the 35 mm-style casing, it makes it look like a much more expensive camera, and of course FujiFilm's very simple to use menus. The interface with my computer is quick and painless and I had a beautiful shot, from shutter to printed copy, in less than 5 minutes. My only complaint so far has been the delayed shutter speed, not very good for taking pics of animals that don't stay still long, but I can live with this. Others complain about the viewfinder being too dim indoors, and this is also true, but like another review pointed out, the film is cheap while you experiment.

For beginners who want professional-looking prints, this is the camera to use.

I read a lot of reviews and also some background info on digital cameras. I bought this camera for the features and price. Actually, it is a little more complicated than I wanted because I'm not a techno junkie. It takes great pictures and is quite compact. I also bought the Kodak rechargeable batters and charger, a 32mb smartmedia card, and a case logic brand case. The software was easy to install except you have to search to find the Adobe photodelux pgm. I did have to get usb ports installed ... I thought that would be better than having to buy a card reader. The transfer from camera to pc is fast, but with the included software, you have to save each picture individually while the camera is running. Instead, I learned to do it via My Computer by selecting all, copying all files, and pasting to a folder of my choice. I would like to get a card reader, but I need to find a reliable one without problems. In summary, the Fujifilm 1400 is a great entry-level camera. We bought it over the 1300 because of the lens cover.

I've had this camera for over 2 years now and haven't had the need to upgrade it. It takes clear pictures and the 3x optical zoom comes in handy. Memory is a steal nowadays. With a 64mb card, I can take ~150 fine pictures. I print photos at around 4" X 6" and they turn out fine. Perhaps I'll upgrade to a camera with a movie mode and tv out capability, but for a beginner that just wants a simple point-and-shoot or someone new to digital photography, I'd recommend the Finepix 1400.

Well, I did alot of research from the Amazon web site to CNet.com to pricegrabber.com. I already knew what my budget was for a digital camera (around $300.00 +/-) I compared brands, features, prices, and customer reviews. I narrowed my choice down to two, this one and the Olympus 360. If I remember right the only difference between the two was that Olympus had a video out so you can see the pictures on your t.v. But the Fuji did'nt yet the Fuji was USB compatible and the Olympus was just serial. I decided to forgoe the t.v. and go straight for speed so that I can manipulate the pictures and e-mail or print them. I am glad I did. The quality for an average occasional picture taker like myself is exceptional!! At the highest resolution the crispness, clarity, and detail is near 35mm quality. I do recommend as others have, buying rechargable batteries, and a bigger Smart Media card. I love this camera and for someone who is just looking for a good digital camera that takes quality pictures for an average picture taker, this is the way to go!!

When I first bought this camera (2 years ago) I used the 'Auto' and
'Portrait' settings. I found myself taking average quality pictures
then proceeded with the manual setting and the whole perspective on
this camera changed, all I can say is WOW.

The camera consumes a lot of battery so make sure you are carrying
a fast charger and at least 3 sets (2 each) of fresh batteries.

I often have problems with the selector changing the picture mode
from auto to manual or portrait without me turning it. I often
lose shots while previewing them.

Would've I buy Fuji again ? Maybe, the competition is a lot
better than 2 years ago and unbelieveable prices ...

I reviewed the spec's on this and other cameras for about a month before making my decision. My biggest concern was support under NT 2000. None of the product info or reviews mentioned support for the NT OS, but it works like a champ. NT2000 usb drivers were even included in on the cdrom! I had the camera up and running in <5min and was transferring outstanding pictures to my NT2000 laptop in <10min. A brief reading of the manual unlocked all of the camera's secrets. The camera provides for control over both pixel count (640x480 to 2400x1800) and image quality (basic-normal-fine). With the included 16MB chip you get ~49 images at 1200x960 using normal quality -which look great! However, image count drops to 8 at highest settings. Definitely thinking about a 32 or 64 MB chip. Red-eye reduction flash is a little sketchy, still some residual effect. Only real disappointment is poor battery life when using alkaline batteries -REALLY BAD.. I barely was able to run the set up and have enough power for 4 or 5 flash pictures. Good thing they included 2 sets of Ni-MH batteries (80-230 shots depending on flash and LCD usage). My 'old' camera is a Nikon 35mm FM2 and although you could argue that it's comparing apples and oranges, I have no regrets over transitioning to this Fuji digital!

I did alot of research before buying this camera. I was looking for a camera that had three specific qualities. 1)Easy to use for the beginner. 2) Produce quality 8' x 10" photos. 3) Movie mode. This little Fuji fits the bill in all three categories and on top of that the price is very reasonable compared to other cameras and I definitely like its distinct, compact look. To me, it has an oldtime European look to it. This camera produces very high quality photos using its highest setting. I would prefer a stronger flash for indoor shots but for outdoor shots its perfect. The colors on outdoor shots are just amazing. This little camera only uses (2) AA batteries instead of the typical 4. The batteries do last surprisingly long. I was able to click off 36 high resolution shots with flash and LCD screen on and power lasted over an hour. The batteries that come with it are excellent at 1600 mah. I also picked up some rechargeable Monster Cable AA's from 800.com, they are 1800mah and are very long lasting. NOTE: I couldnt wait to for the batteries to charge when i got the camera so I used some duracells. I went through a 4 pack in 10 minutes. Only use these batteries in dire emergency situations. They are not meant to be used for digital camera no matter how much they claim to be. At first the controls on this camera seem complex, but once you actually get into using it you find out how logical the placement of the controls are. Just spend one hour with the manual and camera and you will be an expert on this camera. Also, you can hook this camera up to your TV and play the movie back and do a slide show of all the pictures. I did this for family members at a get together, took orders of who wanted which picture and then printed them out so they would have instant photos of only the ones they wanted. Big WOW factor there! I am sure there are better digital cameras out there, but if you are looking for the criteria that I listed and want get it at a great price this is the one.

As mentioned in other reviews, after about six months, the auto focus feature stopped working. At first, we thought the battery was low or we needed a new card. After purchasing a new battery & new card, still the auto focus will not work! Very frustrating! I feel like we've just thrown our money away & we're stuck with a useless camera.

y wife and I decided to get a digital camera...

Because I'm a techno-head Art Director, not just any camera would do and the price had to be right. Plus, it had to be loaded with enough features to justify the purchase. I really wanted at least a 4.0 mega pixel but after discussing it over with my wife, we figured a 2.0 would do exactly what we wanted:

1. Instant digital gratification.
2. Excellent for e-mail shots and iPhoto.
3. The possibility of printing higher res shots.

It takes great color shots right out of the box. Extremely intuitive. The optical zoom eliminates bitmapping (jaggies) when close-up. And the auto-focus mode is idiot proof. It has 5 flash modes for lots of shooting customization. Macro (close-up 3.9" to 2.6') and self-timer photography add to the host of features. White Balance (for light sources), Exposure Compensation and Movie (no sound video) mode round off this great little camera.

Check out the fujifilm.com sight for a great interactive preview. It's what really sold me. The purchase is up to you from there. The only other option in the same category was an Olympus, but the memory card was only 8mb, as was the Sony which only had its body-style going for it.

Good luck!

Fuji FinePix 2650 is my third digital camera. The first one was KB JamCam (that is sold for [$$$] today) and the second one was Kyocera KZ (that I bought for [$$$] or so). Although I had to pay slightly more this time, the improvement is obvious.

The pictures are crisp and sharp with colors that are smooth and bright. Unlike the previous cameras, I do not need to adjust the brightness or the contrast of each picture using photoshop software. They look beautiful as soon as I upload them into my computer (and even on the camera's LCD display). The flash does not "wash out" the faces; the pictures taken at night look fine, too. The camera has automatic detection of the lighting and also a manual mode that allows one to adjust the "weather" and other parameters. There are also several settings for the flash (on/off/auto/red-eye-remove/night-scene).

Fuji did a great job with power conservation. Two alkaline AA batteries (included) were sufficient to take about 150 pictures (including 50 shots with flash) and several short videos before the "battery low" icon appeared. The power saving features are better than they used to be even though the lens is moving constantly especially when the camera is turned off and on. This motion looks sexy and the sliding cover protecting lens is useful.

Aside from the power switch attached on spring, trigger and the switch between three modes stillpix/view/video, the camera is controlled by three buttons next to display - which I would call "display on/off/grid", "enter" and "escape" - and four arrow keys to browse the menus on the LCD display. The up/down arrow key is put on the same button which is also used to zoom in/out. FinePix 2650 can zoom up to 3 times optically (which is the case that keeps the maximal resolution) and the LCD display shows where the digital zoom - up to 2.5 times - takes over. FinePix 2650 has furthermore the 3-position trigger with the AF/AE lock that allows one to focus on the object which won't be in the center of the picture at the end.

The totally new feature of FinePix 2650 - compared to its predecessor 2600 - is its tiny and cute Fuji XD memory card. The default 16 MB card (included) can be replaced by cards with up to 128 MB (the biggest one costs about 70 dollars). I am afraid that it is such a big memory that the (alkaline) batteries would be gone before I could fill the memory. With 16 MB I can take about 45 pictures at my favorite 1280 x 960 resolution, about 30 pictures at the maximal resolution 1600 x 1200, or about 130 small 640 x 480 images.

The camera has the logo "designed for Windows XP" (which is my OS) and it works without any problems (I believe it also works with all older systems). FinePix 2650 immediately connects to the PC as a "removable disk FinePix E:" in my case. The package contains a manual as well as some extra new photoshop software. The camera can be also connected as a PC camera for videoconferencing.

Generally the videos from FinePix 2650 are sharper than those made with Logitech QuickCam, for example, however I am not satisfied with the behavior of videos in darker environments. The videos (and probably also the image from the "webcam 2650") are too dim and I found even QuickCam better in these situations. The camera also does not focus very well in the dark which makes the pictures a bit fuzzy especially if the flash is not used. There is a lot of space for improvement. However, night video is not the main reason why I bought this camera and therefore I can unequivocably recommend this camera.

I got this camera as a graduation gift (it was my first digital camera) last June. This is a good camera for beginners, if all you really do is pretty harmless point and click, but for anyone truly interested in photography, I wouldn't really suggest it.

The pros:
-good quality photos, especially for a 3.2.
-small, compact size and shape
-surprisingly durable (at least in the beginning). I took it out in the snow during the huge East Coast snowstorm and it performed very well. Lens froze a couple of times, but if you just breathe hot air onto it, it should start working again.
-runs on AA, so if the battery level runs low and you have extra AAs handy, you can still use the camera (versus Canon cameras where you have to use camera specific batteries)

The cons:
-HUGE, and I mean LONG delay between photos. 5 seconds may not seem like a long time, but when you're waiting for that perfect shot...and the camera misses it and you have to wait another 5 seconds for the flash to prepare itself again, the moment will already have been lost.
-The shutter cover is very flimsy.
-Movie mode includes no sound.
-Weak zoom.
-Drains alkaline AA power very quickly, so you'll have to buy rechargable Lithium Ion batteries (not that big of a deal though).
-uses xD (although these days the camera market is much more accepting of xDs and it's easier to find products that are created for them.). Cards can be quite expensive.
-Lastly, it's been slightly more than a year since I got this camera and it has completed died out on me. I haven't used this camera in about two months because I haven't been able to turn it on. I hold the power switch and nothing happens (it's definitely not the batteries).

Basically, if you're looking for a camera that will last and give you good quality photos, I wouldn't really buy this one. Look into the Canon PowerShot line, they're much more sturdy, record up to 3 minutes of video with sound, and are much better in general.

I really like this camera. I used it as often as possible and it was very light to carry around. I will say it takes practice to work all the modes. I took some night pictures and they weren't so great, but the other pictures I've taken are very sharp and very nice. I have used it also to talk with friends online on video and it worked very well. Does eat up regular batteries, but rechargable ones seem to last longer with the camera. If you use a high pixel mode, be aware there are fewer pictures. If you plan to take a lot of pictures and don't have access to a computer, get a bigger memory card. My only improvement would be sound on those movies! :-D

I bought this phone last fall before digital camera prices drastically fell. It was still around just $200, which was a wonderful deal. This is a very nice camera for $200. The pictures turn out beautiful. The camera is sturdy and appealing to the eye...it's size is great too. Flashes, options, battery life...it's all there. It is SO easy to learn how to use. I've had some trouble because some photo processing places (i.e. Rite Aid) cannot yet service xD. xD is also a bit costly, but it is actually wonderful...very small and effective. Overall, a wonderful camera, especially for a beginner or a student. If you want to edit your pictures well or anything, you'll need better software than what comes with the camera, but that could be found online for free. Great deal...highly reccommend!

It's the perfect size, but the lack of a zoom lense kills it. Also,the indoor photos have a redish tint and the quality of the photos fell far short of the Canon Elph 300. The only zoom on the camera is digital zoom -- just like cropping a photo on your computer.

The MP3 player software forces you to convert via a special process, but if you can get the music on to the camera then it's a great plus.

The instructions...very poorly written. English as taught in Seoul. I immediately bought extra batteries and a speed charger at Radio Shack. Have not regretted it. I've had it about two weeks. I love it. Never was big on cameras but being able to erase bad shots, edit good ones, email, print, take close ups from 6-8 inches. It is fun. Fits in my shirt pocket, sometimes I forget I have it with me. I am tempted to upgrade the memory but I have not reached its capacity yet. The picture quality is excellent. The video capability is a lot of fun too. It seems too tiny to do so much. Everyone who has seen it is impressed with it. I would buy it again.

were not included in package received as specified on web site ?

This was my first digital camera. I had mostly been using a 35mm SLR and occaisionally a compact 35mm previously. I thought it was a great deal, so I joined the digital photography era. I have been extremely satisfied with the camera. For the price, I did not expect it to compare with my SLR. Many of the pictures I have taken, however, are comparable. The quality of the images are truly amazing to me. The auto flash and focus function as well as any compact SLR I have had. Compared to other digital cameras I have been exposed to (family and friends) the camera is quick to boot up and respond to pushing the shutter. The software that comes with it is not perfect, but I found it very easy to use. I am still trying to get an AC adapter for it. I have been using rechargable batteries and they last a reasonable period of time. With a 64MB card, I have taken 177 high quality pictures and down loaded them through the USB cable in about 6 minutes. For those who don't want to spend much for compact 35mm equivalent that is easy to carry and use and can take great pictures, I think this is a good choice.
Since I wrote my original review 8 months ago, I have had a problem with the lens protector continueously shutting the camera down and had to send it for repair. This took over one month and the camera still tends to shut down if the lens protector is moved even slighly. Also, I have noticed that pictures taken in a low light setting (with flash, of course) are frequently out of focus. Pictures taken in bright light are very sharp. I have reduced my rating from 4 to 3 stars.

I found on receiving my camera that I could not download the software on my computer. The model was not one of the choices to choose from that I bought. Therefore, I did'nt use my camera for quit sometime. When the portable printers came out for digital I bought one and started to use my camera. Unfortunately, the color is not what I expected and it seems to have to much red in it. Sometimes I also get red eye even when the eye reduction is on. I haven't used it outdoors yet. Maybe I will get better picture quality then. I would like to try to reach a customer service department so that maybe I could find out what I'm doing wrong, but I haven't had any luck in doing that either. I suggest if you get a digital camera don't wait a long time to use it

The reviews were good, but the pictures are even better than advertised! This compact, handy little camera takes absolutely great shots for the amateur or first-time digitaller. I've used several Mavicas, and the 2400 is much better. Colors are rich and details are sharp. Quality is especially good in well lit situations: outdoors, or brightly lit rooms. The flash works okay, but is prone to red-eye, although the red-eye reduction works moderately well. Battery life is excellent. We spent a week at Disney World, took 130 shots, mostly with the LCD display on and many with flash, without having to change batteries (NiMH, 1600mAH, Rayovac). My 64MB smartcard will hold about 160 pictures at 2 megapixel with "normal" JPEG compression (half that at the camera's best resolution). Even the 8MB card that ships with the camera will hold a respectable 20 shots. The camera is surprisingly rugged - it's even survived a bounce off a hardwood floor administered by my 2yr old. My biggest complaints are that the LCD display is pretty much useless in the dark or in bright sunlight (the optical viewfinder works very well though), and the delay time between depressing the shutter button and when the picture is recorded is disconcertingly large, making it difficult to catch a moving target. The software loading was very easy, and transferring pictures to my iMac via USB is a snap. I was disappointed that the PhotoDeluxe software which shipped with the unit was only for Windows, but the viewer for the MAC isn't bad. Altogether an extremely good value.