It is unusual to find a compact camera in this price range that has Dual Image Stabilization, Face Detection, Aperture/Shutter Priority, and a three inch 230,000 pixel LCD, but the Fuji Finepix F60fd has all that. And with fourteen Scene Presets, five Autofocus modes, shutters speeds from 8 to 1/2000 seconds, ISOs from 100 to 6400, and two 30 fps video modes, it will be the rare situtation that it can’t capture images.

Its Fujinon 3X 8-24mm f2.8-5.1 lens, while modest in zoom range (35-105mm 35 equivalent), is quality glass with very low distortion across the entire zoom range. It focuses to 17.7 inches in normal mode and 2.75 in macro. Mated with Fuji’s own 12 megapixel (effective) SuperCCD HR VII image sensor, it produces sharp, contrasty images with good color balance and little, if any, digital artifacting at lower ISOs. Noise is well controlled and unlike most small sensor point-n-shoots, images are very good up to ISO 800. However, above that noise increases and resolution falls dramatically to the point of uselessness, and should only be considered for emergencies.

So, if you’re looking for an inexpensive, well built digital camera that delivers good image quality even at higher ISOs, and is small enough to carry all the time, but not so small that it’s uncomfortable to operate, then the Fuji Finepix F60fd should be considered.