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I recently got a "little" Fuji Finepix HS10 point and shoot digital camera with Full HD video. I got it to take with me to Rob's Welcome home ceremony at Fort Benning in GA which was last week. I didn't feel like dealing with bringing my big camera and gear with me to GA this trip and I also wanted to have video this time.

I've never actually had a point and shoot digital before so this was a new thing for me. While it is nowhere near as good as my Nikon DSLR's it is quite a decent little camera. At first of course I was not happy because I am so used to the superb quality of my DSLR's. I had to keep reminding myself that it is nothing like those and that I needed to have different expectations. The control freak in me was very happy that it has full manual control. The RAW files though seem pretty poor so I've chosen to only shoot JPG's with it. The low-light performance is so-so as expected for such a camera although it isn't too bad considering. I did manage some decent images at ISO 800 and some usable images at ISO 1000. I have to say the video is pretty cool. I think I will have some fun with that in the coming weeks, if I have time.

I did video Rob's formation at the welcome home ceremony and it turned out as well as any other "home movie". I was holding the camera high above my head and of course I was a wee bit shaky with anticipation as well as trying to hold back tears of Joy.

This is one of the first "good" shots I took with the camera. I think it came out rather nicely. The DOF is not as easy to control even at the "wide open" setting if you are shooting at the wider angles there seems to be little difference from say shooting at an f/8 or at f/2.8 which is the widest aperture when shooting at wide angles. That does change though when you shoot macro or at the longer telephoto lengths which is up to an equivalent of 700mm. The DOF does become more evident and the background does go more out of focus with better separation when shooting those conditions. Again I have to remind myself not to expect the same kind of performance as a good DSLR with good glass. It is after all still a point and shoot camera.

While it will never replace the DSLR, I do like this little camera and tend to take it with me everywhere I go when I don't feel like dragging the big ones in my heavy back-packs. It's light and fits right inside a small bag. Bottom line, I'm very glad I got it...Thanks Mark!!!

Fujifilm FinePix HS10 HS11
1/100 second
F/5.6
ISO 400
14 mm

Before I forget I blogged a little about the experience of welcoming Rob home here if anyone is interested in reading about it.

Here is a little video of the ceremony...I apologize for the quality. I was holding the camera high above my head and I was a bit shaky with anticipation while trying not to cry.

Welcome Home 3ID! from Laurie Jackson on Vimeo.