Fuji S5

[Kevin]

Did you all see the announcement of the new Fuji S5? It looks like they've made some improvements.

I got to shoot with an S2 last year for a couple of months. It produced some beautiful files!! Wonder if Sandi's eyeballing this one? ;)

[imageswest]

Wonder if Sandi's eyeballing this one? ;)

I was wondering the same thing... popcorn;

It should be a huge improvement over the S3 now that they are using a pro-quality body to house their sensor. too bad it's still only 6 MP, though... ///

[Roel]

As a former S1, S2, and S3 owner, I am happy to see the S5 announcement. The D200 is an excellent body for the price. 6+6 MP doesn't bother me - I'd rather have added DR and quality pixels. Fuji has squarely targeted portrait/wedding photographers with the S5 and its success will depend on:

1) Pricing - how much of a premium over the 10MP D200 will it have?

2) Performance - it is slightly faster at 1.5 FPS and has a larger buffer than the S3 - question is, how fast can it write data to the CF card? On my previous S3, I would shoot 3 RAW files and the camera would "lock up" for 30-40 seconds. I just hope the S5 isn't plagued with that issue.

Also, Fuji changed from AA cells (too bad, I liked them) to a Lithium Ion battery - is it a new battery or the EN-EL3e's from NIkon?

Cheers
Roël

[Rudi]

All good points, Roel. My question is - is it good enough to compete with the EOS 5D at nearly 13MP, full frame, 3fps, large (and very transparent) buffer, etc, etc. Not in my mind...

I do have a Fuji F30 P&S, so I know how good Fuji are with their sensors, but I don't think they have enough here... unless you already have Nikkor lenses... and even then, are the Nikon offerings really that much worse than the S5? I don't think so!

[Kevin]

To me it seems that the bulk of Fuji users are wedding photographers. Having had the pleasure of using the S2 for a couple of months I can only think the S5's files will be even better. As for speed, I don't think the Fuji can compete with Canon or Nikon in that area. But the DR is supposedly better on the Fuji than any other current camera. And the skin tones you're able to produce even in jpg are great. In the right environment, it would be a fabulous camera.

[Rudi]

I have no doubt that it is a fabulous camera! I am just saying that it is a pretty narrow feature set with too few pixels (in this day and age), and I cannot see many people going that way UNLESS they already have the right lenses and accessories. And even if they do, some might choose to go the Nikon route, because the S5 will not be THAT much better at what it does well, and quite a bit worse on the things that it doesn't do well. Does that make sense?

I could be wrong, though... :)

[Kevin]

I agree with what you're saying. On a feature-set basis, I doubt the Fuji will draw throngs of shooters. The business will come from repeat customers or those who are referred to it by current Fuji users. I feel its strength is in the quality of the file it produces and I'd probably disagree in that I feel it does do that very well. Of course I haven't had my 5D long enough to judge the difference in files though. ;)

[Jonathan]

Seems Fuji's sensors always blow me away. Having a new camera out with such neat Dynamic range capabilities is always fun! Should be interesting as to how it handles noise as well. Still seems to be a specialized camera though.

[Rudi]

I have to say that I'm impressed with my little Fuji F30 P&S, so I believe that the S5 will provide an impressive file out-of-camera! I just have trouble believing that it would be so good, so much better than my 5D that I would want to buy a whole slew of new lenses. :)

If I get the chance to play with one, I will. I will even happily swallow my words if the S5 is that much better! But I won't sell my 5D. :D

BTW, if the camera is so much better, we should be seeing some very impressive files online soon. If you guys come across any of those, please let me know, I'd love to see them!

[davespix]

I have seen some files and have to say the reds are fantastic. I love studio shooting and see some unreal shots from this camera, just what I see. The 5d is in my sites but so is the fugi, hmm 1000 less makes me wonder.

[stilllearning]

If they drop to a 1000 I would buy one to have it on hand. It would go well with my D200's and D2H.:biggrin: ................. bouncy;
jumping;