Pro and cons of S5Pro

joeman · 22nd March 2007

Hi,

I am thinking of moving up the value chain in photography as I am been roped into my company recreational committee to shoot some events.

I am happy with my D200 for majority of my shoots especialy in travel photography but I have been reading good reviews of the Fuji S5Pro especially it low noise in low lights, D range and WB. This may be good for me when I need to shoot in low light with or without flash.

But I am wondering what other disadvantages are out there in this Fuji market.

Key Consideration I also put before I upgrade or buy

1. Good equipment to go with the body, esp lens and flash. I believed Fuji is compatible with almost all Nikon lenses and flash. Not sure about 3rd party lens meant for Nikon. Anyone can comment ? I have Tokina 10-17mm Fish eyes lens for my Nikon D200 Body. Not sure if it will work with the Fuji S5Pro.

2. Strong technical support from vendor. Never try Fuji service before and I cannot comment. Someone want to share ?

wind30 · 22nd March 2007

lets put it this way,

one of the technician told me they CANNOT do pixel mapping for the s3pro (very old camera) as they did not get the technology from Japan.....

in the end, they REPLACE the whole sensor FOC.

100marks for effort, 0 marks for competencies.

yowch · 22nd March 2007

But you got a new sensor, rather than some fake data from pixel re-mapping...

That said, mechanically, anything that works on a Nikon will work on the Fuji. And you get Fuji colours, especially good when printed on Fuji paper. Don't bother viewing on screen, Fuji's images has a certain softness when viewed on screen as compared to most other brands, just print it to see the Fuji effect. Very film-like and very addictive.

joeman · 23rd March 2007

wonder if there is any place I can loan a fuji set to bring out for field tests and see the difference...

Incastasman · 23rd March 2007

Originally Posted by joeman

wonder if there is any place I can loan a fuji set to bring out for field tests and see the difference...

i believe u can rent.. been using S3pro for awhile..so far, i love it..sold my D200 aft i got it for less than 2 month.

John Teoh · 23rd March 2007

Originally Posted by Incastasman

i believe u can rent.. been using S3pro for awhile..so far, i love it..sold me D200 aft i got it for less than 2 month.

So will you go for S5pro???

sk318c · 24th March 2007

Originally Posted by wind30

lets put it this way,

one of the technician told me they CANNOT do pixel mapping for the s3pro (very old camera) as they did not get the technology from Japan.....

in the end, they REPLACE the whole sensor FOC.

100marks for effort, 0 marks for competencies.

Saw you made this comment few times. Quite pity the Fuji guy.
Perhaps there are no available equipments and softwares here for them?
You rated them 0 competences? Then how they managed to save so many cameras throughout their history?

So you rather they charge you (maybe) $105 to "patch" your old CCD? Or they replace a new CCD worth around $900 (was told) free of charge?

Threadstarter:
One of the disadvantages of Fuji DSLR is that they don't have their own lines of lens and flash.
You should be able to try the lens compatibility at the dealers'.
I personally have many good experiences with their technical team. They have managed to save all mine, and my clients' faulty cameras. Even gave helpful advises and goodwill services.
They do charge for CCD cleaning during wty period (reasonable, but a bit ex).
They hotlines are sometimes difficuit to get thru (I guess due to they have very limited manpower - 2xTech, 2xCounterStaff ?)
The location of their service centre is quite bad with the huge circle line constructions going on.

wind30 · 24th March 2007

Originally Posted by sk318c

Saw you made this comment few times. Quite pity the Fuji guy.
Perhaps there are no available equipments and softwares here for them?
You rated them 0 competences? Then how they managed to save so many cameras throughout their history?

So you rather they charge you (maybe) $105 to "patch" your old CCD? Or they replace a new CCD worth around $900 (was told) free of charge?

I was just posting mine experience for the TS.

I also said they had a 100 marks for effort and the 0 marks is a "figure of speech".

The fact that they cannot do pixel mapping for s3pro was a shock to me.

Azure · 24th March 2007

Fujifilm Singapore has too small a market for cameras to have a major scale service centre like the N and C folks. How many (or few) Sxx Pro owners do you think there really are here? Very few. And Fuji is seemingly more inclined to divert their resources to supporting their medical and lab businesses, digital cameras being a far smaller sliver of the pie.

But they do care about serving their customers, especially if you don't go and make an excessive nuisance of yourself. All my encounters with Fuji Sg has been overwhelming good. When I sent in my S3 Pros for the VR lens fix, they gladly took it in, shipped it to Japan for me. The local office did not have the setup to do the fix. The same thing when I had some weird problems on my spare S3 earlier, it flew off the Japan. And when they heard I needed both bodies for an overseas shoot, they rushed my spare back for me. That was the level of service experience I had with Fuji Sg.

I would not expect them to have a huge staffing. Nor does their global HQ, I guess, a business decision. If one isn't too happy with that, then by all means send Fuji HQ in Japan an unhappy note. Whining around forums won't get you anywhere. Alternatively, you can always go buy other equipment/tools.

photobum · 24th March 2007

Originally Posted by sk318c

Threadstarter:
One of the disadvantages of Fuji DSLR is that they don't have their own lines of lens and flash.

Why bother with Fuji lenses and flash when you get good Nikon optics and very advanced flash system.

By the way, Fuji does make lenses. Their Fujinon lenses are used widely in the broadcast and movie industry and are much more advance than Nikon lenses.

photobum · 24th March 2007

Originally Posted by yowch

Don't bother viewing on screen, Fuji's images has a certain softness when viewed on screen as compared to most other brands, just print it to see the Fuji effect. Very film-like and very addictive.

True. At first when I use the S2 Pro, I though my images are not sharp. Once I have them print on Fuji paper, they look good. Very film-like indeed.

If you used to be a film-shooter, you will know that film is not as sharp as digital.

Incastasman · 24th March 2007

Originally Posted by John Teoh

So will you go for S5pro???

hmmm

no..i wont cos im use to using S3pro.. v-grip is very useful..
result??? great!!

joeman · 24th March 2007

I guess there is a rebel inside of me to try something more better than Nikon as my editorial firends says Nikon built great camera bodies but it CCD are manufactured from Sony.

I bought the AP mag from border yesterday and have a look at the review which many of us may or may not have notice but as a summary of it...this is what I gather from the verdict test.

Pro - Wide dynamic range; Excellent AF

Cons - LCD sceen too bright; Poor blue sky colour; slow software

Cheesecake · 24th March 2007

Originally Posted by joeman

Poor blue sky colour;

now now, that's new to me.

nightwolf75 · 25th March 2007

Originally Posted by joeman

I guess there is a rebel inside of me to try something more better than Nikon as my editorial firends says Nikon built great camera bodies but it CCD are manufactured from Sony.

I bought the AP mag from border yesterday and have a look at the review which many of us may or may not have notice but as a summary of it...this is what I gather from the verdict test.

Pro - Wide dynamic range; Excellent AF

Cons - LCD sceen too bright; Poor blue sky colour; slow software

which issue is dat? i'm looking at the cover of this mth's AP (unless there's another) online now, and they din mention anything abt a s5pro review on it.

just took this out of my window in F2 mode (default settings all 0), with 18-70 kits lens, straight fm cam. resized for photobucket.

sure looks blue enuf for me...

Azure · 25th March 2007

Originally Posted by joeman

Cons - .....Poor blue sky colour.....

Now this is just as new to me.

(maybe that is why I never trust such reviews)

This is fresh from my S5 Pro. Judge with your own eyes. No filters, no adjustment whatsoever.

joeman · 26th March 2007

Photo beautiful....I am not lying

...look at AP Mag 17 Mar 2007....they did comment that the cons are the poor blue sky...

look like we need some clarification from them...

anyone got shots from wedding or events...I am more keen in these shots as I am ask to shoot event now and then...my D200 do give me a bit of under exposure which I have to correct in PS but I wondering how the S5 Pro perform...

I am do travel a lot and so I will use this camera for a lot for a mixture of all these...

Azure · 26th March 2007

Most dSLRs can give you blue sky colors. It is a question of WHAT kind of blue sky colors one likes.

As for magazine/website reviews, I tend to take most of them with a big bowl of salt. Hence my point that I do not trust them. My preference has always been to try out the real McCoy before I decide or make a statement about it. The sensor in the S5 Pro is supposedly the same sensor as that in the S3 Pro. And samples of the latter's images are plentiful in this forum.

Granted that a lot of people use filters and/or PS their photos nowadays. But there are still quite a few who do not. And those are the one's whose pictures will give you a good gauge on the point in question - blue skies.

Hope this helps.

PS - you can find a lot of blue (Singapore) skies if you do a little search on my nick and narrow the returns to the Photo Galleries only. There is also one thread on Vietnamese skies.

joeman · 26th March 2007

Azure

Can I verify with you the picture u attached. I noted that the flat on the left hand side seems "flat". It doesnt have the 3 Dimension. Is my eyes playing tricks ?

[/quote]

yowch · 27th March 2007

That building is really rather flat, coupled with the wide angle effect, it looks REALLY flat, but this is real.

Blue is different to different people. Canon's blue skies looks plastic to me, and I will not accept Canon skies as what I like.

Skin colour of Asians are not as sensitive due to the yellow-brown on our skin, but to the whites, Fuji's sensor seems to be designed to give the best skin tones out of camera. Not being racist, but shooting a very dark Indian or African using any camera will get correct skin tone, it is the pale-faces that needs more care. Try Koreans and Japanese, they like Fuji colour!

Good lens and flash from nikon and Nikon compatibles, back compatibility to most Nikon lenses, strong body of the D200 and Fuji's sensor to give great colours, what else can we ask for... yes, we can ask for more money to spend on the S5pro. anyhting that works on the Nikon D200 WILL work on the Fuji S5pro, no doubts. This is the same as the S2pro and the F80/D100.

22nd March 2007	#1
joeman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 79	Pro and cons of S5Pro Hi, I am thinking of moving up the value chain in photography as I am been roped into my company recreational committee to shoot some events. I am happy with my D200 for majority of my shoots especialy in travel photography but I have been reading good reviews of the Fuji S5Pro especially it low noise in low lights, D range and WB. This may be good for me when I need to shoot in low light with or without flash. But I am wondering what other disadvantages are out there in this Fuji market. Key Consideration I also put before I upgrade or buy 1. Good equipment to go with the body, esp lens and flash. I believed Fuji is compatible with almost all Nikon lenses and flash. Not sure about 3rd party lens meant for Nikon. Anyone can comment ? I have Tokina 10-17mm Fish eyes lens for my Nikon D200 Body. Not sure if it will work with the Fuji S5Pro. 2. Strong technical support from vendor. Never try Fuji service before and I cannot comment. Someone want to share ?

22nd March 2007	#2
wind30 Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 2,929	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro lets put it this way, one of the technician told me they CANNOT do pixel mapping for the s3pro (very old camera) as they did not get the technology from Japan..... in the end, they REPLACE the whole sensor FOC. 100marks for effort, 0 marks for competencies.

22nd March 2007	#3
yowch Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore, Redhill Posts: 1,063	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro But you got a new sensor, rather than some fake data from pixel re-mapping... That said, mechanically, anything that works on a Nikon will work on the Fuji. And you get Fuji colours, especially good when printed on Fuji paper. Don't bother viewing on screen, Fuji's images has a certain softness when viewed on screen as compared to most other brands, just print it to see the Fuji effect. Very film-like and very addictive.

23rd March 2007	#4
joeman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 79	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro wonder if there is any place I can loan a fuji set to bring out for field tests and see the difference...

24th March 2007	#9
Azure Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ClubSNAP community Posts: 2,783	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro Fujifilm Singapore has too small a market for cameras to have a major scale service centre like the N and C folks. How many (or few) Sxx Pro owners do you think there really are here? Very few. And Fuji is seemingly more inclined to divert their resources to supporting their medical and lab businesses, digital cameras being a far smaller sliver of the pie. But they do care about serving their customers, especially if you don't go and make an excessive nuisance of yourself. All my encounters with Fuji Sg has been overwhelming good. When I sent in my S3 Pros for the VR lens fix, they gladly took it in, shipped it to Japan for me. The local office did not have the setup to do the fix. The same thing when I had some weird problems on my spare S3 earlier, it flew off the Japan. And when they heard I needed both bodies for an overseas shoot, they rushed my spare back for me. That was the level of service experience I had with Fuji Sg. I would not expect them to have a huge staffing. Nor does their global HQ, I guess, a business decision. If one isn't too happy with that, then by all means send Fuji HQ in Japan an unhappy note. Whining around forums won't get you anywhere. Alternatively, you can always go buy other equipment/tools.

24th March 2007	#13
joeman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 79	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro I guess there is a rebel inside of me to try something more better than Nikon as my editorial firends says Nikon built great camera bodies but it CCD are manufactured from Sony. I bought the AP mag from border yesterday and have a look at the review which many of us may or may not have notice but as a summary of it...this is what I gather from the verdict test. Pro - Wide dynamic range; Excellent AF Cons - LCD sceen too bright; Poor blue sky colour; slow software

26th March 2007	#17
joeman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 79	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro Photo beautiful....I am not lying ...look at AP Mag 17 Mar 2007....they did comment that the cons are the poor blue sky... look like we need some clarification from them... anyone got shots from wedding or events...I am more keen in these shots as I am ask to shoot event now and then...my D200 do give me a bit of under exposure which I have to correct in PS but I wondering how the S5 Pro perform... I am do travel a lot and so I will use this camera for a lot for a mixture of all these...

26th March 2007	#18
Azure Deregistered Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: ClubSNAP community Posts: 2,783	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro Most dSLRs can give you blue sky colors. It is a question of WHAT kind of blue sky colors one likes. As for magazine/website reviews, I tend to take most of them with a big bowl of salt. Hence my point that I do not trust them. My preference has always been to try out the real McCoy before I decide or make a statement about it. The sensor in the S5 Pro is supposedly the same sensor as that in the S3 Pro. And samples of the latter's images are plentiful in this forum. Granted that a lot of people use filters and/or PS their photos nowadays. But there are still quite a few who do not. And those are the one's whose pictures will give you a good gauge on the point in question - blue skies. Hope this helps. PS - you can find a lot of blue (Singapore) skies if you do a little search on my nick and narrow the returns to the Photo Galleries only. There is also one thread on Vietnamese skies.

26th March 2007	#19
joeman Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 79	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro Azure Can I verify with you the picture u attached. I noted that the flat on the left hand side seems "flat". It doesnt have the 3 Dimension. Is my eyes playing tricks ? [/quote]

27th March 2007	#20
yowch Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore, Redhill Posts: 1,063	Re: Pro and cons of S5Pro That building is really rather flat, coupled with the wide angle effect, it looks REALLY flat, but this is real. Blue is different to different people. Canon's blue skies looks plastic to me, and I will not accept Canon skies as what I like. Skin colour of Asians are not as sensitive due to the yellow-brown on our skin, but to the whites, Fuji's sensor seems to be designed to give the best skin tones out of camera. Not being racist, but shooting a very dark Indian or African using any camera will get correct skin tone, it is the pale-faces that needs more care. Try Koreans and Japanese, they like Fuji colour! Good lens and flash from nikon and Nikon compatibles, back compatibility to most Nikon lenses, strong body of the D200 and Fuji's sensor to give great colours, what else can we ask for... yes, we can ask for more money to spend on the S5pro. anyhting that works on the Nikon D200 WILL work on the Fuji S5pro, no doubts. This is the same as the S2pro and the F80/D100.