Thinking of getting a S2pro...need advise

whitecastle · 3rd September 2004

Finally thinking of falling into the digital trap... Have decided on the S2pro but not sure about the customer service though. Any one has any experience on this matter?

Thanks a million!
Currently in the Nikon Bin

yowch · 3rd September 2004

Fuji guys seems nice to talk to, I have contacted them from 2 years ago until now, from S602 to S2pro, and mostly for technical questions only (not repairs).

As for the S2pro, new ones are extremely rare now, better grab while you can...

eawtan · 3rd September 2004

Was at TCW a few hours ago, they have one on display by the window...

Anyway, I'm very happy with my S2 w/ MB16 mod.

Originally Posted by whitecastle

Finally thinking of falling into the digital trap... Have decided on the S2pro but not sure about the customer service though. Any one has any experience on this matter?

Thanks a million!
Currently in the Nikon Bin

kajun_liu · 4th September 2004

great camera!!

silver.wolf · 4th September 2004

Probably u want to wait for the arrival of S3Pro

yowch · 4th September 2004

For one, I gave up waiting...

now I'm happily shooting with a 2nd hand S2pro. Actually, the rumour pricing of the S3pro seems exorbitantly high at $3500 to $4000. I am pretty hopeful that the 4th gen SCCD SR II will deliver, but my wallet is not too forgiving.

kerpalz · 4th September 2004

if ur pocket cannot tahan... then get a s2pro.... i`m still shooting with a s2pro for my company.... but personally i just brought a Canon 10D...
color wise... Fuji is indeed the underdog... the color is superb.... features too...but the speed wise and the lack of vertical grip turns me off...

if u are going into digtal "era"... s2pro is Highly recommended... at least by me...hahhaa

Flyingpig · 4th September 2004

What is the price for S2Pro now? Now still can find it mah?

arttl · 5th September 2004

You can check with CP. Think the new ones are selling at $2.6k or somewhere there. I've got mine at about $3k+, which is about 1 year old now.

Great camera!

Thought the build can be greatly improved. Of cos at this price, we can't expect a bulid like D2H.

But it seems to me that my MB-16 can't work on my S2!

Think there're some technical prob which I've yet to varify with Fuji. And yes, the guys are very helpful!

(Just try not to go there too often...

)

Btw, you guys have any idea the shutter count can hit?? Whose's got the highest shutter count now?? Mine is about 7000+. Just to check ard before it starts giving me problem... :

Kit · 5th September 2004

Originally Posted by arttl

You can check with CP. Think the new ones are selling at $2.6k or somewhere there. I've got mine at about $3k+, which is about 1 year old now.

Great camera! Thought the build can be greatly improved. Of cos at this price, we can't expect a bulid like D2H.

But it seems to me that my MB-16 can't work on my S2! Think there're some technical prob which I've yet to varify with Fuji. And yes, the guys are very helpful! (Just try not to go there too often... )

Btw, you guys have any idea the shutter count can hit?? Whose's got the highest shutter count now?? Mine is about 7000+. Just to check ard before it starts giving me problem... :

3K? I got one more than a year ago for 2.7k.

Fuji doesn't claim that the MB-16 can work with the S2 so I think there's not much people in Fuji can help you with. The MB-16 does require some mod to be fitted onto the S2.

yowch · 5th September 2004

I have heard of 100,000 plus with know mechanical or CCD problems.

You may try http://www.theswampbbs.com/forums/index.php for S2pro info.

MB16 needs some DIY, you can search yahoo for MB16 and S2pro for info.

If you do give up on the MB16, do contact me, I am interested to play with the DIY part

Personally, I have calculated that unless you intend to shoot more than 15,000 shots on the S2pro, the MB16 is not exactly a good idea financially.

eawtan · 5th September 2004

What the problem with your MB16??
When I first mod the MB16, I was having problems with the battery contact portion, it would get unreliable and lose contact sometimes. After a bit of re-fitting (and sanding), it has been fixed and now my MB16 is extremly reliable, even after constant removal (for CCD cleaning).

I'll be more than glad to help you solve your MB16 issue(s)

Originally Posted by arttl

But it seems to me that my MB-16 can't work on my S2! Think there're some technical prob which I've yet to varify with Fuji. And yes, the guys are very helpful! (Just try not to go there too often... )

arttl · 5th September 2004

Yah.. I also encountered the same prob. I've my MB16 sand, "modified" to fit in. Just like what you've mentioned, the contact point might be lose or whaterever and suddenly, the whole camera 'black out'!

I really love the grip with a MB-16 but just that this prob keeps happening and I got so pissed off.

What did you do huh? I did everything alreadie leh. (Modifiying the MB16) Same goes when I insert the CR123. Damme...is it something wrong with the battery compartment?

Help!!

Clown · 6th September 2004

stuff some aluminum foil in between the contacts. =)

eawtan · 6th September 2004

I looked at the bottom area of the s2, looking for parts of the MB16 that are still "higher" than the other portions and sand these areas more. I also put some gaffer on the MB16 portion that goes into the cr123 compartment so that it presses nicely on the contact in the s2. After that my MB16 is 100% reliable!!

Originally Posted by arttl

Yah.. I also encountered the same prob. I've my MB16 sand, "modified" to fit in. Just like what you've mentioned, the contact point might be lose or whaterever and suddenly, the whole camera 'black out'!

I really love the grip with a MB-16 but just that this prob keeps happening and I got so pissed off. What did you do huh? I did everything alreadie leh. (Modifiying the MB16) Same goes when I insert the CR123. Damme...is it something wrong with the battery compartment?

Help!!

arttl · 7th September 2004

Hey guys!

Thanks for all the advice!! My problem has been solved... FINALLy...

Now the MB-16 works (101%!)

Am now a happy user... Keke....

eawtan · 8th September 2004

So which method did u use to achieve the 101% ???

Originally Posted by arttl

Hey guys!

Thanks for all the advice!! My problem has been solved... FINALLy... Now the MB-16 works (101%!)

Am now a happy user... Keke....

yowch · 8th September 2004

Originally Posted by arttl

Now the MB-16 works (101%!)

Oh dear, does it now mean that the MB-16 draws power from the camera or that it self charges under the sun??!?!

eawtan · 5th October 2004

After many months of reliable service, I found out that if I put a heavy lens combination (180 2.8 + 2x + wimberly flash bracket + sb28 + sc17) and mount the s2&mb16 on a tripod, I will lose battery connection. However, hand-holding is no problem - suspect that there is too much weight between the mb16, s2 and tripod mount, causing the mb16 to tilt/bend enough to cause an open circuit. Anyone else encounter this?

Originally Posted by eawtan

I looked at the bottom area of the s2, looking for parts of the MB16 that are still "higher" than the other portions and sand these areas more. I also put some gaffer on the MB16 portion that goes into the cr123 compartment so that it presses nicely on the contact in the s2. After that my MB16 is 100% reliable!!

jOhO · 5th October 2004

i'm using an s2/mb16 combi also. used gaffer tape to make the stems leading into the contacts thicker to prevent movement within the compartment. i dun have problems with camera black outs so i guess the contacts stay conntected. but i only use it hand held.

when i need a tripod i will not use the mb16 becos it wobbles too much.

as for recommendation, well, it's common knowledge that the cam is slower than it's competition. apparently slower af, more shutter lag, slow write times (apparently microdrive is faster than CF on this cam - ask clown, i never use microdrives b4), and the photo cannot be reviewed on the CCD until it's fully written on the card (but in postview mode, it'll flash on the screen a couple of seconds b4 disappearing, then u gotta wait for full write then u can press play and review the photo again).

so... all that said, wat's s2 got going for it? the colours!!! and the noise!!! (or the lack thereof) i shoot at iso800 with confidence, altho of course, if u can always go as low as u can.

of course there are debates that the d100 with custom curves can get similar colours to the s2 (if u wanted to) but then i dun wanna get into that becos i never use d100 much, so wouldn't know.

3rd September 2004	#1
whitecastle Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: East Posts: 280	Thinking of getting a S2pro...need advise Finally thinking of falling into the digital trap... Have decided on the S2pro but not sure about the customer service though. Any one has any experience on this matter? Thanks a million! Currently in the Nikon Bin

4th September 2004	#5
silver.wolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Little India Posts: 1,884	Probably u want to wait for the arrival of S3Pro __________________ Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field. Portfolio \| Gallery \| Blog

4th September 2004	#8
Flyingpig Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: SG Posts: 732	What is the price for S2Pro now? Now still can find it mah? __________________ My Website

3rd September 2004	#2
yowch Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore, Redhill Posts: 1,063	Fuji guys seems nice to talk to, I have contacted them from 2 years ago until now, from S602 to S2pro, and mostly for technical questions only (not repairs). As for the S2pro, new ones are extremely rare now, better grab while you can...

4th September 2004	#4
kajun_liu Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tanjungpinang, Bintan island Posts: 345	great camera!!

4th September 2004	#6
yowch Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore, Redhill Posts: 1,063	For one, I gave up waiting... now I'm happily shooting with a 2nd hand S2pro. Actually, the rumour pricing of the S3pro seems exorbitantly high at $3500 to $4000. I am pretty hopeful that the 4th gen SCCD SR II will deliver, but my wallet is not too forgiving.

4th September 2004	#7
kerpalz Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TheDaysMovie.com Posts: 1,902	if ur pocket cannot tahan... then get a s2pro.... i`m still shooting with a s2pro for my company.... but personally i just brought a Canon 10D... color wise... Fuji is indeed the underdog... the color is superb.... features too...but the speed wise and the lack of vertical grip turns me off... if u are going into digtal "era"... s2pro is Highly recommended... at least by me...hahhaa

5th September 2004	#9
arttl Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Planet PJ Posts: 1,352	You can check with CP. Think the new ones are selling at $2.6k or somewhere there. I've got mine at about $3k+, which is about 1 year old now. Great camera! Thought the build can be greatly improved. Of cos at this price, we can't expect a bulid like D2H. But it seems to me that my MB-16 can't work on my S2! Think there're some technical prob which I've yet to varify with Fuji. And yes, the guys are very helpful! (Just try not to go there too often... ) Btw, you guys have any idea the shutter count can hit?? Whose's got the highest shutter count now?? Mine is about 7000+. Just to check ard before it starts giving me problem... :

6th September 2004	#14
Clown Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 3,112	stuff some aluminum foil in between the contacts. =)

7th September 2004	#16
arttl Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Planet PJ Posts: 1,352	Hey guys! Thanks for all the advice!! My problem has been solved... FINALLy... Now the MB-16 works (101%!) Am now a happy user... Keke....

5th October 2004	#20
jOhO Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 6,465	i'm using an s2/mb16 combi also. used gaffer tape to make the stems leading into the contacts thicker to prevent movement within the compartment. i dun have problems with camera black outs so i guess the contacts stay conntected. but i only use it hand held. when i need a tripod i will not use the mb16 becos it wobbles too much. as for recommendation, well, it's common knowledge that the cam is slower than it's competition. apparently slower af, more shutter lag, slow write times (apparently microdrive is faster than CF on this cam - ask clown, i never use microdrives b4), and the photo cannot be reviewed on the CCD until it's fully written on the card (but in postview mode, it'll flash on the screen a couple of seconds b4 disappearing, then u gotta wait for full write then u can press play and review the photo again). so... all that said, wat's s2 got going for it? the colours!!! and the noise!!! (or the lack thereof) i shoot at iso800 with confidence, altho of course, if u can always go as low as u can. of course there are debates that the d100 with custom curves can get similar colours to the s2 (if u wanted to) but then i dun wanna get into that becos i never use d100 much, so wouldn't know.