Latest news on Fuji S5 !!!

[JPS]

Found this, this morning on "another" site :) :

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/proPhotoProductS5.jsp

and this: http://www.tallyns.com/content/s3s5comparison.htm

...IMHO, it's far from beiing a "revolutionary" new camera :( !!! Very desapointing, as in fact, it's STILL a 6.xxx MP camera, as the S3 was a 12 MP one, but only if you accept that it had two times 6 MP mixed together... wich still isn't a "true" 12 MP !

I guess i'm NOT going to buy another Fuji soon again :( !!!

Cheers !
J-P.

[KeithM]

Fuji have been featuring their 'face recognition' and 'high ISO, low noise as an anti-shake feature' in their P&S's - and now it's in the S5.... also gets a Li-Ion battery - no more AA's ??

Seems to be one for the weddings.

Keith.

[easternherp]

From whats on teh USA site I don't think I will rush out and buy one. Doesn't seem that they have improved much on the S3 unless the write times are faster

[Wilm]

Even for me a S5 is no option. The resolution has not improved, ISO3200 is nothing else than a software-feature.

Whenever my Fujis are dead, I'll look for a Nikon too.

:cheers:
Wilm (disappointed)

[easternherp]

I don't think that Fuji will win many people over with this release. They obviously haven't been listening to what people want.

[JPS]

IMO, even not having bought the S3 after having "lost" my S2, i don't consider worth buying the S5 ! I'd much prefer finding a good cheap second hand S3, or even an S2 !

:(
J-P.

[easternherp]

I have found that if you don't use the HSV2 software to process the S3 files then you are really only getting an S2 image. If the S5 is the same then none of the other RAW converters will process the RAW file to its best.

[sandman]

I would'nt worry about the interpoled 12mp , the S3 gives as good a picture as the Genuine12mp D2X .
What interests me is the increased buffer, the Ion battery and the increased high ISO to 3200 (the f11 has the same and it's a great low light P&S) .
Also it looks like the D200 body .
As Keith's said this should really get wedding photographers interested .
But lets wait and see before we comdemn it sight unseen .
The price will be a great deciding factor .

Brian

[easternherp]

Doing mainly weddings the increased buffer looks good and the ISO 3200 but the rest of it isn't that impressive. Although as Brian said, better wait and see before judging.

[Gil]

It offers some advantages over the S3. I believe it's a little dissapointing but not a total disaster. I was hoping for some kind of compressed Raw files and a slightly more resolution. I could have liked a 14 megapixel.
Let's nut discard this camera until we see teh image results. It's all about image quality after all.

Gil

[KeithM]

.... I could have liked a 14 megapixel....

Gil

Ah that'll be the new Sigma SD14 (http://www.sigma-sd14.com/) then :D

Keith.
ps: sorry for posting a link to a cheesy tease advert :)

[Gil]

Gosh. What a powerfull opening to an advertisement. What kind of lens mount?

[Swampy]

Interesting shot, if from the SD14 though.
http://theswampbbs.com/simgasample.jpg

I'm liking this camera as well at 160mp. :)
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4265

[Gil]

I saw that. I almost had to take a cold shower after seeing that picture at the Sigma website.
Still. I am waiting to hear the rest of the S5 features. The long anticipated S5 has many good features, but fell short in some areas. Have the Fuji engineers not paid attention to the customers? What happened to the AA battery trademark? How about the added megapixel? My personal item to complaint...it does not mention anything about a compressed raw file. Like I really want to handle 25 megapixel images? Not a chance. That's why I like the D2X. The 10 megapixel compressed raw image is great and user friendly.
I hope they make some additional modifications. I don't doubt that the S5 will be an amazing camera. In fact, I am SURE the image quality will be superior to any Nikon. I don't know about any of you guys, but I certainly don't have any use for Jpegs and Raw files produced right out of the camera. I find produced Jpegs at the same time a Raw is produced is nonsense. I like to take every Raw file and balance it to then produce a batch of Jpegs for customer or web viewing.

I will now calm down and take a deep breath. I was so looking forward to the S5. Now, I find it doubtful that I consider the camera from the preliminary features.

Regards to all.

[Igor]

Any rumors on the price???

[Gil]

Rumor on price is just under $2,500. I am guessing $1,999 street price.

[pauly99]

I enjoyed seeing the wide ISO range and hopefully better
TTL capability as compared to the S2 (and increased sync speed)
but as a sports photographer, I would have liked to see a significant
bump up in FPS. It will be interesting to see some test shots to see
the real world difference (and increased dynamic range) between the
S2, S3, and S5.

[AzRich]

as for taking advantage of the high DR of the new fuji sensors:

I believe Bibble will handle the S3 files now. It's a new addition, but they're working on it.

[HoBoBum]

how can one like the D200 and not love the D200 with a Fuji sensor, um, I mean an S5 ?

[Linda G]

I don't need higher resolution, I need faster buffer and more fps but definitely the buffer!

Of course, if I didn't crop in camera so much, I'd need higher resolution. I just hate thinking of all the storage for the hugh mass of files!

[photoworks]

It's better to wait and see than judge without any experience.
As said before we have a very new Fuji sensor on a D200 body and that's what some of us prayed for sometime ago.
Maybe it's a super camera, maybe not. Time will tell ;)

:cheers:
Billy

[Steve Wynn]

6 megapixels is twice what I've ever needed for weddings and groups. I've done 160 people in one shot, sold as 24 x 36. Wedding photos have gone as big as 30 x 40 and look as good as the same from my Bronica 645. It's the exposure and the midrange dynamics that make the Fuji reputation. I like the D200 feel, the images are getting there closer to the Fuji but not quite there. Image recording time is not a problem with even the S2. After 30 years of weddings, teams and dance photos, I am critical of the images, very critical and the Fuji beats everything out there for "people photography" so far. If it didn't, I'd swith. I've got images from the Nikons and Canons stored and I'll stick with the Fuji sensor.

Steve

[Igor]

... a very new Fuji sensor...
Billy, did I miss something? Why new? Isn't it the same S3 sensor?

[photoworks]

Billy, did I miss something? Why new? Isn't it the same S3 sensor?


Ok it is me that :hitother: :hitother: :lol: :lol: .
Somewere there says this....Super CCD SR Pro with the companies new RP (Real Photo) Processor Pro
Maybe the new processor can make ..hm miracles :woot:

:cheers:
Billy

[Igor]

Lets hope so ;)

[S_Leeper]

It will be interestng to see iq, price & market response once it hits the street.

From a tech standpoint it appears to be another 1/2 step upgrade... from my perspective as an amatuer no compelling reason to consider upgrading, which I truly appreciate (I still love my S2).

I hope it does well enough for them to continue to stay in the dslr market.

[Bujo]

http://www.imaging-resource.com/

front page has some video clip

[Rockyw]

We still take all our formals with one of our two S2s. The S3 and the S2 look so much alike even we can't tell one image from the other. If the S5 has the same quality image and better I'm sold if the price is right. 2007 would be the 5th year for the S2s and they will get traded in for two S5s if the price is around $2500.00 for the S5. If it's a lot more than that I don't think I or anyone else will rush right out to buy one. I can't wait to read a few reveiws and see what comes from them. You think they will be more than 2500.00 ??

[KeithM]

Found this Fujifilm S5 (http://www.fujifilm.com/photokina2006/pdf/FienPix_S5Pro.pdf) link via another site... the usual 2 page brochure...

K.

[KeithM]

And there is this press release on Steve's Digicams (http://www.steves-digicams.com/pr/fuji_09252006_s5pro_pr.html)...

things that stood out to me...

no firewire, USB2 only
CF slot only - not SD or xD...
1, 1/2, 1/3 lens stop steps ( but what about shutter speed ??)
LAN connection
live preview in colour
new Pro sensor with redesigned low-pass filter
that face detection first seen on Fuji's P&Ss
no more AA batteries

A curious one is password protected settings.

Interesting words - "the FinePix S5 Pro will house the two technologies in a fully digital and durable metal alloy body frame. This opens the door for Fujifilm’s digital imaging technologies to expand into other applications such as outdoor and high endurance commercial photography"

So all this time, have the S2 and S3 only ever been indoor cameras ??

Keith.

[Bilbo]

Knowing Fuji it will be about 12 months late being shipped anyway - and about 4 models behind the next £600 Nikon supercam!

Bob

[photoworks]

Knowing Fuji it will be about 12 months late being shipped anyway - and about 4 models behind the next £600 Nikon supercam!

Bob

I agree! :righton:
That means the D300/D400 with 14-16mp will be the perfect camera then ;)

:cheers:
Billy

[easternherp]

Wonder if there will be a new version of the Hyperutility come out too?

[phil]

Wonder if there will be a new version of the Hyperutility come out too?
The fuji site does say "New Hyper Utility Software gives precise control for editing images taken in CCD-RAW 14 bit format It will also enable the FinePix S5 Pro to be remotely controlled by PC"

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/presscentre/news/index.php?id=1310

[Igor]

I agree! :righton:
That means the D300/D400 with 14-16mp will be the perfect camera then ;)

:cheers:
Billy

I feel the D3H is becoming quite real by early 2007.
If Nikon (finally) learns how to deal with high ISO noise even 12mp would be fine for most users (me for one).
Probably Sony makes better sensors by then or other "sensor player" enters the scene... we'll see.

[Wichita Wayne]

6 megapixels is twice what I've ever needed for weddings and groups. I've done 160 people in one shot, sold as 24 x 36. Wedding photos have gone as big as 30 x 40 and look as good as the same from my Bronica 645. It's the exposure and the midrange dynamics that make the Fuji reputation. I like the D200 feel, the images are getting there closer to the Fuji but not quite there. Image recording time is not a problem with even the S2. After 30 years of weddings, teams and dance photos, I am critical of the images, very critical and the Fuji beats everything out there for "people photography" so far. If it didn't, I'd swith. I've got images from the Nikons and Canons stored and I'll stick with the Fuji sensor.

Steve

For what I do nothing beats the Fuji's and 6mp is pleanty.

[Steve Wynn]

For what I do nothing beats the Fuji's and 6mp is pleanty.

I'll agree with that Wayne. It's about the dynamic range, not just the pixels. I've had a couple of photos used on billboards and they looked great.

Steve

[easternherp]

One option that might be good for what I do is the face recognition focus. When shooting kids portraits I usually have the camera on a tripod and use a remote lead to take the picture. If I use auto focus then it doesn't alwys pick up where I need it. If I manually focus then the kid moves and they are out of focus. This function would let me use auto focus and it will get the faces sharp.

[rekhon]

the faace detection on the s5 works in post processing, that means you can see (actually zoom) on the preview of the photos after the shot, so you can see if someone got he's eyes closed. The preproces Face detection is available for compacts.

[easternherp]

Oh well you can't have it all. I don't think I will be upgrading when it comes out unless I suddenly come into some money.

[Rockyw]

(the face detection on the s5 works in post processing, that means you can see (actually zoom) on the preview of the photos after the shot, so you can see if someone got he's eyes closed.)

I'm not sure how and if this new face detection will work but you always could zoom in to see closed eyes. It will be interesting to see the first reviews when they come out to see what this and other new options add to the S5.

[stevebri]

Adding to what Wayne says... did you know that a full frame Canon 5D (12.? MP) Gets about 80 pics to a 1GB card, about the same as a Fuji chip.

Data is data, I still look at a pic on my wall, cropped square from an S2 file, it's 1 meter by 1 meter and looks like it was shot on a 500 series hassie.

A good photographer with an S2/3/5 will always beat a bad photographer with a 5D/1Dmk2...

Cannot wait to test the S5...and the Leica M8.. and the H3D....


S

[deMille]

Knowing Fuji it will be about 12 months late being shipped anyway - and about 4 models behind the next £600 Nikon supercam!

Bob


I just had a "late February" response from Fuji folks.

[Igor]

I just had a "late February" response from Fuji folks.
..what year??? ;)