This message is actually meant for the folks that run this great web site: Where is the review of Fuji's MX-700 digital camera? PC Magazine's Top Pick. Don't know what to buy and looked at some of the very lenthy and incredibly detailed reviews. Do camera manufactors have to advertise here to get reviewed? Well keep up the good work, but get on the ball! Let me know the answers at Bobbylove1@Aol.com. Thanks.

-- Bob Love (Bobbylove1@aol.com), August 20, 1998

Answers

"Even as I write this", we're in discussions with Fuji. You're right in part: Mfrs do have to "sponsor" a product, in particular be willing to pick up the bandwidth fees for the gigabytes of downloads this site generates. Fuji so far hasn't signed up, perhaps due in part to multiple changes in product management right around when the MX-700 was released. I'm hopeful of getting them onboard soon though: It's now in the hands of their senior marketing guy, and I think the MX-700 sounds like a super product - There's certainly plenty of interest in it here. (FWIW, I've personally always had excellent experiences with Fuji products - they're a real quality company.)

Wish us luck with the marketing gods at Fuji!

-- Dave Etchells (web@imaging-resource.com), August 20, 1998.

I was finally able to take a look at the Fuji MX-700 in a local store. Of course, thats not enough to test the camera properly, but I finally got my hands on one. It was easy to use and seemed to take good pics, at least as shown by the lcd. My bigest complaint was the size...it was so small and narrow that it was difficult to hold on to. I could see a lot of thumbs showing up in future pics. I would like to here from anyone who owns one...any more comments?

-- Joe Grabinski (toonbot@hotmail.com), August 20, 1998.

I own a MX-700, and, being a rather big guy, also have very big hands. I can keep the MX-700 in my hand and you wouldn't see it, my palm is the size of the camera itself. Even so, I have never hand any "fingers in front of lens" errors. The reason is that the camera has a good rubber "grip" on the front, the flash has an edge sticking out (which avoids that you cover the flash by accident).

The way I hold it is by putting my thumb on the back where the little "knobs" are sticking out (just left of the function selection dail). My middle and ring finger hook behind the rubber grip on the front, and my "pointing finger" is on the trigger. The weight of the camera rests on the inside of my thumb.

This works if you use your right eye to look through the viewfinder. When I need to use the LCD, I just hold the camera with my left hand on the bottom. The right hand is on the top and right side.

The nice thing about the fuji is that you can always feel where your fingers are. The shape is easily recognised.

I use this camera only in fine mode. I put the quick-select to resolution. This means that with 1 button I can toggle between 1280x1024, and 640x480. This meant that I needed a larger memory card. Get at least 8 MB, and if possible 16 MB. 8 MB gives you around 11/12 1280x1024 in fine mode, or 47 640x480 in fine mode. I would like a 32 MB for 40 images in highest resolution, but that's for Christmas.

I keep a page on accessories for the MX-700 at:

http://www.magix.com.sg/users/sandersg/

Gert

-- Gert Sanders (gert.sanders@alcatel.com.sg), August 21, 1998.