12 replies to this topic

[photovan]

If you haven't been keeping up with the Fuji S5 rumours, well it's official now.
Well officially released on the dpreview site.

S5 pro is in a d200 body, although we have to wait to Feb 2007.

Same pixel count as the S3 6+6MP, but they apparantley have tweeked the low pass filter and the processing engine to combat moire and noise issues. Fuji has always been known for their great colour direct from camera, and high dynamic range of their CCDs. Of course the proof will be in the shooting, but it is encouraging.

Edited by photovan, 25 September 2006 - 02:28 AM.

[Lionfish43]

Fuji S5

Exciting news. At least from the pictures that are available it looks like the exact same body as the D200

Edited by Lionfish43, 25 September 2006 - 05:04 AM.

[james]

Looks like Thom Hogan was right AGAIN.

Thanks for posting guys. Yes, the S5 pro is a boon to D200 shooters if it will fit directly into D200 housings. The high dynamic range of the Fuji SuperCCD SR is something that I have wanting to try underwater for some time.

Based on reaction on DPreview, it looks like people are disappointed that it's only 6 megapixels. Fuji hasn't introduced a sensor with output greater than 6 megapixels since the S2pro, which I first used underwater in 2003. However, the resolution of the 6 megapixel images is akin to a 9 megapixel bayer filter-sensor (I can vouch for this).

The hope is that Fuji will upscale the sensor befor the camera's introduction in Spring 2007. If they don't, they'll be facing some serious competition as the big 2 will both have probably announced new Pro cameras by that time. My hope is that Fuji has inked an agreement w/ Nikon to continue using their bodies and will also announce a camera based on the D2x platform.

Cheers
James

[pmooney]

My hope is that Fuji has inked an agreement w/ Nikon to continue using their bodies and will also announce a camera based on the D2x platform.

here we go again

[Lionfish43]

My hope is that Fuji has inked an agreement w/ Nikon to continue using their bodies and will also announce a camera based on the D2x platform.

Cheers
James

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Nikon to license their Pro bodies but who knows. Just the fact that Fuji will be using the D200 body is exciting and a little suprising.

The D200 body isn't so shabby. I recently sold my D2H - same pro body as the D2X - because I just wasn't using it much after getting the D200. It looks like this is going to really add value for those of us who have gone the D200 route.

[herbko]

Yes. It would be very interesting to see some sunball shots from one of these.

[Viz'art]

Well I guess I should take the opportunity to introduce the Fuji S5 housing from Aquatica

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[giftie]

If it has the same sluggish write speed as the other Fuji's do [all those masked pixels in the sensor also get written to the RAF file although they have no information whatsoever, it is just transferring meaningless data, good thinking really] and I bet this will continue since they will want to keep compatibiliy with the existent RAF format. Wonder if the price is going to be much lower than the D200 because that is the only way the camera is going to sell otherwise it will be the next Fuji lemon.
Sad, very sad, Fuji used to have excellent large-format panorama cameras and razor sharp lenses, pulled out from that market, no digital versions are foreseen (the Xpan was a Fuji camera rebadged Hasselblad for the European and US market), managed to get an early start with the S1, got the S2 pretty much right, came up with a lemon called S3, tried to get rid of the most of the stock of S3s by removing the IR sensor filter [also called the S3 UVIR a la lifepixel] and pumping the price in the process and finally the forthcoming lowres Fuji version of the D200. Well done Fuji, way to go.

[photovan]

While it is still only on display in a glass case, Michael from the Luminous Landscape site has had a look at some prints made from S5 files at Photokina 2006, and has posted a short videoblog of his impressions. He seems underwhelmed, particularly by sharpness, so it seems no improvements over the S3 in that regard. You can watch it here .

[jackson46]

The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro is a 6-megapixels digital SLR camera that delivers 12-megapixels images. This is due to each photosite's dual sensors which serve different purposes - one is for general exposure and the other is for highlight. This is the reason why S5 Pro has very excellent dynamic range. It is considered to perform well in portraits because the tonal rendition or skin-toned reproduction is topnotched. While it is curiously similar in build and functionalities to Nikon D200, the internal composition or mechanism between the two is not the same. S5 utilizes a SuperCCD SR Pro imaging chip that is regarded to deliver improvements in noise, dynamic range, and skin color over its predecessor, the S3 Pro. A visit to this site, http://www.smartrati...al_cameras/1028 , where a compilation of expert reviews about the camera is aggregated would be helpful.

Edited by jackson46, 05 July 2007 - 10:37 PM.

[photovan]

Just wondering if how many wetpixelodians are using the S5 pro.

[Scuba_SI]

not me, i've bought 3 D200's. I picked up an S5 and took a few shots but the buffer is way too slow. Like using an old Point and Shoot on tif.

[LChan]

i have one.

it is ok. the dynamic range is great for topside stuff.
underwater i am so used to my d200, i keep getting my controls screwed up. Besides, the three color histogram on the d200 is so much better than the S5. I hate having to scroll thru.