FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- User Rating: 
Summary for FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- DOA
Notes on FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- I purchased this camera from employee discount for $900. When I got the camera it wouldn't work. After shooting one image, camera got locked up. shutter wouldn't come back down, nor switch off. I had to pull out the battery to reset. that's not the worst part, Returning back to fujifilm was so much hassle that I had call my AMEX to dispute the charges to get my full refund back. Never again will I buy fujifilm. unfortunately I work for the company ;(
FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- User Rating: Summary for FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- Fuji S5 Pro color
Notes on FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- I have had the S5 pro for a little over a year. I have seen side-by-side results compared with Nikon D200 and D300 and Canon 12.1's and the Olympus flagship. Shooting in RAW the Fuji is just as sharp as any 10 to 12 megapixel camera out there. I don't like the less sharp standard settings. But what makes the Fuji chip special is the color. It's dead on; rich, finely textured, true. The design which mimicks the rods and cones of the eye works. Period. All the SLR's that have come out in the last 1 or 2 years are amazing. But the Fuji S5 still holds its own on color reproduction which probably is expected since Fuji is of course a long time leader in film manufacturing.
FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- User Rating: Summary for FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- Was a very good low light camera
Notes on FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- I have owned the Nikon D70, D200 and currently still have the D80, D300 and Fuji S5. If low light photography is your cup of tea...then this is a very good camera. It beats the D70, D80 and D200 (anything over ISO 800 on these cameras are pretty much useless). However, since the D300 has arrived, (not to mention the D3), it is no longer my favorite low light camera. The D300 performs better in this area. It is also faster in fps and has a much bigger and clearer LCD screen. However, the S5 images at ISO 800 and above do give a grainy film like quality, which make the photos look quite good.
Dynamic range wise...i think the S5 is still better when set to 400%. If i had rated this camera back in Oct 2007, I would give it 5 stars. Since it is 2008 July, only 4 stars.
The good: High Dynamic Range, Very good low light capabilities, well built, incorporates Nikon excellent wireless flash system, auto-iso, film like grain/noise at higher iso
The bad: slow, very very bad menu (absolutely horrible!), LCD images of photo all look blurry...low resolution LCD screen?, can only use Fujifilm batteries...so your nikon ones won't be compatible!
FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- User Rating: Summary for FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- A Quality Camera
Notes on FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- I got exactly what I was expecting with camera and have to agree with the reviewer above. The camera renders skin wonderfully. In fact, with the exception of the D3, I wouldn't trade it for any other F-mount camera. I've really enjoyed shooting with it and I'll be disappointed if Fuji gets out of the DSLR market.
FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- User Rating: Summary for FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- In a word ...."WOW"!!
Notes on FujiFilm - FinePix S5 Pro DSLR Camera ...- This review is based on my real-world experience with the Fuji S5 Pro and not number crunching, or high-tech analyzing.
I've owned a Nikon D200 since they first appeared and absolutely enjoyed every minute of researching, learning, and shooting. I've been playing with SLR's and a few DSLR's since the mid 1980's. I've taken night classes in digital imaging and all the other related stuff so I'm somewhat familiar with photography. I've wanted to see what all the "5 stars," super reviews, etc. was going down with the Fuji S5 Pro. A neighbor of mine opted to for-go his purchase of a D300 and buy an S5 Pro....I told him "are you nuts!!" From 3 months of his S5 Pro he showed me a number of people, nature, and landscape shots. I asked how much PP he did to them and he assured me...."nothing, not a thing."
The portraits looked better than professional, the landscapes looked postcard ready, and the nature shots were stunning. Granted, every photographer does not use the same settings and techniques, and of course there are variables to everything you compare, but I couldn't figure how he shot such unrealistic, beautiful images right out of the camera. After much debate, I took the plunge and got one. I damned near became obsessed with learning as much as I could and practiced on almost everything I could. After about 2 months.....
NOW...IMO REAL WORLD REVIEW:
1. The dynamic range, color, low noise/high ISO and detail is really remarkable.
2. I like the familiar, solid D200 "feel" about the camera.
3. "Fast" (fps) is something one must determine based on applications;
Weddings, portraits, walkaround, etc.....yes, following child down a soccer field with finger held down on shutter release....no.
4. Big RAW files yes, but tolerable with a 4-8MB CF card. Transferring files to your PC needs a bit of patience even with a big PC.
5. Reputable company (Fujifilm), contender in the DSLR market, good product support...no brainer.
6. Good glass...a must.. cheap-out and the S5 Pro outputs garbage (I've tried this with a borrowed lens).
7. "Good photos come from good photography"...true to an extent, having and learning with the right gear to obtain "good photos"...more realistic.
My Summary: My goal is to achieve the best image quality from the camera
that I've spent my hard earned money as possible. Looking exclusively on buying the S5 Pro for "application" purposes can be very subjective (IMO). The Fuji S5 Pro works for me as my "all around" camera. Will I sell my D200? Do I now need 2 cameras?...Soon time will tell. Do I like what I see from the S5 Pro....absolutely!!!
