F31fd - Buy now or wait for PC Show?

[alvin01]

Hi All

I'm really tempted by the current $499 promotion for the F31fd (still on at MS Color - just called to confirm) but I have the following questions:-

1. Should I take the plunge now or wait for the PC Show on 31 May to see if a better deal is offered?
2. Is the xd card a serious drawback in terms of usability, price and future availability?
3. I've read in some of the threads here that movies shot with the F31fd can turn out noisy (soundwise) due to the constant changing of the aperture. Is this a consistent problem or an isolated one due to significant changes in lighting conditions on some movie shots?
4. The promotion asks for a trade in camera. Is this a gimmick or does MS Color really insist on it? I'm thinking why bother if I give them a half broken camera that they would need to dispose of anyway.

The camera is intended for family shots at home and on holidays, with a bit of movies here and there. I actually toyed with the idea of getting the F31fd last December at the IT Fair but decided against it as its lauch price of $699 was above my budget. I went for the Nikon L6 instead and have regretted ever since. The Nikon L6 has turned out worse than the Canon A70 it was meant to replace. The missus has been complaining about how poor photos of junior have turned out, especially indoor and in low light conditions.

So I think I may have to write off the L6 as a bad mistake and turn my thoughts to the F31fd. I do look forward to any advice/comments.

Cheers

Alvin

[pker88]

me wonder $499 is the tradein price?

if am u i will wait
Pcshow is around the corner too

[Cherrier]

I thought PC show is only all about Freebies... I don't think price will drop too much. If MS color still offers you freebies at 499, why not The promotion is supposed to be over, but I still get it with them

But again, if you have things you REALLY want and must shoot btw now and the pc show date, might as well get it! If no hurry, can always go and shop around the PC show, never know if u get a better deal or MORE freebies?

[genegoh]

I just bought a few days ago from South East Asia Computer at Funan for $499 with 2GB xD card and a spare battery. Also comes with tripod and camera case.

No trade-in required.

[alvin01]

Many thanks for the various replies.

Any comments on xd cards and the apparently noisy movie mode?

Regards

Alvin

[kiwi2]

Hi Alvin

Generally most compact cams these days use sD cards. CF is hardly heard of, and xD is is not as common as sD. They are also pricier. But if the shops are giving you 2GB for free, I don't see why u should worry about it. About the only thing I don't like about xD is that it is slower, even with high speed xD cards. Not a great disadvantage though.

As for movies, I have no issue with noise, based on the few times I used that mode. But a big disadvantage is that you can't zoom while you are recording.

If you are planning to use the camera for family and holidays, then I would ask you consider other brands with wider angle, slimmer bodies, more functions etc. The only 2 strengths I feel about the F31fd are the less noise at high ISOs and good battery life.

I did some prints recently and I was surprised that most images used at high ISOs (not Fuji F31fd) -- although they appear noisy on your computer monitor (if you zoom in sufficiently, otherwise, not so bad), when u print out, they are not as noticeable.

[alvin01]

Many thanks for your views, kiwi2.

I have half a mind to wait until the PC Show as I'll be popping by get other things. But what I hate most is the crowd at these events and you hardly get any service when trying stuff out.

Cheers

Alvin

[blueayz]

If I saw the promo correctly, the Fuji photo developing shop at Compasspoint B1 also has a promo for the f31D. But its $299 after $200 trade in of any camera brand. Not sure about freebies though.

Probably other Fuji shops also has the same promo.

[Hya]

Originally Posted by blueayz If I saw the promo correctly, the Fuji photo developing shop at Compasspoint B1 also has a promo for the f31D. But its $299 after $200 trade in of any camera brand. Not sure about freebies though. Probably other Fuji shops also has the same promo.

did u see this?

[FilterFunk]

whoa. is it true? 299? if yes i go down tomorrow to buy one..

[Zenten]

Originally Posted by FilterFunk whoa. is it true? 299? if yes i go down tomorrow to buy one..

$200 off retail price of $699 =$499

See the small print ............

[cpuer]

For indoor and low light shots, F31fd is a godsend. For outdoor, F31fd is average, just like most of the camera out there. F31fd and F30(the older sibling of F31fd) both gotten "Highly Recommended" in their respective reviews by dpreview.com. It's a rare achievement for point & shoots.

Since you were bitten once, this time round you better do more research b4 committing another new camera. Good luck in your search.

[kiwi2]

Originally Posted by alvin01 Many thanks for your views, kiwi2. I have half a mind to wait until the PC Show as I'll be popping by get other things. But what I hate most is the crowd at these events and you hardly get any service when trying stuff out. Cheers Alvin

U're welcome.

Yeah.. I never want to visit the shows anymore. Honestly, the savings aren't a lot. In fact, if you are not careful, they may even sell their stuffs slightly more expensive than what you can get from the regularly frequented shops. Even if you do save a bit, 1-2 month after that, prices will still drop. Digital stuffs are like dat.

IMHO, there's nothing great about buying cams during PC shows. At best, they give you stuffs you don't need. The mad crowd, inconvenient location (to me) -- usually Expo, just put me off.

PC shows here are a joke. My friend in Indonesia tells me at their side during such shows, they can fenuinely get 20-30% off the regular prices. So people buy and feel good. I should also think that during PC shows, you want to see the latest gadgets and get offers you can't on normal days. Ours is usually nothing more than just all the shops coming together.

Anyway, make a careful decision and enjoy the cam.

[cpuer]

No need must buy in the PC Show, but during PC Show, the shops outside of the show are also joining the fun by giving some discounts or freebies, so it's still a good and opportune time to buy during show time.

[sabian]

Alvin

if mscolour is giving the same freebies as the last PC show in March at the same price, suggest u get it if u going for a holiday b4 the june pc show or if u wanna wait and not in a hurry, then wait. you have nothing to lose by waiting, it's only 14 days...

FYI, i have 1 f31fd, 2 f30 and 1 f20. (My wife, myself, my bro and my parents).

I used to have the ixus 400 abt 4 yrs back, was always pissed off at the night shots, it just cannot do without flash in low light and bump up the ISO, the pic get noiser and battery life was pathetic.

1 yr ago, i got the Canon IS 3 ?(x12 zoom), loved it until the low light situations. sold it after 2 months.

and along came F30. thought reviews were too good to be true until i tried my friend's and that was it. on par day time shots with most of the P&S, pwned the low light situation, battery life was phenomenal and they do not charge a premium like Canon/sony. only thing was xD but heck, it is not a consumable item and the 2gb is free...

what are you waiting for?

as for the zoom during filming...all, if not most P&S cannot zoom when filming. And if u wanna zoom. during filming, think only Canon USM allows u to zoom silently...

[alvin01]

Originally Posted by cpuer Since you were bitten once, this time round you better do more research b4 committing another new camera. Good luck in your search.

Yup, really made a mistake with the L6. Was waiting for reviews on the L5 (original target) to appear on dcresource but Jeff Keller kept putting it back. In the end, I couldn't wait as I needed a new camera for a holiday trip. Decision was based more on my brother-in-law's experience with his Coolpix 5300 - thought I couldn't go too far wrong with a Nikon.

This time I've spent more time on research. Read a lot of reviews on the F31fd - favourable ones in the majority but there were a couple of dissenting voices - and viewed the sample shots as well. So vibes are pretty good with this one.

[alvin01]

Originally Posted by sabian what are you waiting for? as for the zoom during filming...all, if not most P&S cannot zoom when filming. And if u wanna zoom. during filming, think only Canon USM allows u to zoom silently...

Yeah, I might just pop by MS Color and get it before the PC Show.

On the movie mode, I wasn't referring to zooming during video capture - I'm okay with no zooming although the L6 does allow limited digital zoom in video mode. I was referring to noise arising from aperture adjustments - I thought I read this in another thread in this forum (unless I have misinterpreted the comment).

[cpuer]

those eeeekkkeeek sound irked me a little initially. But after a while it grow on you . It reminds me of my old Canon film EOS

[cpuer]

Originally Posted by alvin01 Yeah, I might just pop by MS Color and get it before the PC Show. On the movie mode, I wasn't referring to zooming during video capture - I'm okay with no zooming although the L6 does allow limited digital zoom in video mode. I was referring to noise arising from aperture adjustments - I thought I read this in another thread in this forum (unless I have misinterpreted the comment).

First of all, we must accept the fact that there is no perfect camera at affordable price around, not yet at least. F31fd has its fair share of short comings, but if you can overlook them, it will be a very pleasant camera to use.

[alvin01]

Originally Posted by cpuer those eeeekkkeeek sound irked me a little initially. But after a while it grow on you . It reminds me of my old Canon film EOS

Does the sound get recorded in the movie soundtrack? I'm less concerned if the mic doesn't pick it up. One problem I had on the L6 in movie mode was a similar noise being picked up in the movie soundtrack if the continuous focus option was on. A bit annoying to hear that sound when you playback the movie.