Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro review

According provided by Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro camera many thanks to Philip Chulanov.

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro review

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro review

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro is an old SLR camera with Nikon F mount and an unusual sensor with a non-standard pixel arrangement. The sensor has only 6.17 MP, but the camera, due to their unusual location, interpolates them up to 12.1 MP, creating images with a maximum size of 4256 X 2848 (for example Nikon D300s creates snapshots with a maximum size of 4288 by 2848 pixels).

In total, Fujifilm released 4 digital SLR cameras:

  1. Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro - January 2000, based on Nikon F60 (aka Nikon N60) ISO 320-1600 range, 3.07 MP SuperCCD (creates 6 MP images).
  2. Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro - January 2002, based on Nikon F80 (aka Nikon N80), based on this base and Nikon D100. Range ISO 100-1600, 6 MP Fujifilm SuperCCD III (third-generation matrix), creates pictures at 12 MP.
  3. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro - February 2004, based on Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, has a SuperCCD SR II matrix, 6.17 MP S-pixel + 6.17 MP R-pixel (creates images at 12 MP). There was also a modification - Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro UVIR for shooting in infrared and ultraviolet spectra.
  4. And there is no fourth model, because they don’t like the number 4 in the east. Truth, Nikon D4 and Canon EOS-1 D Mark IV do not care about prejudice :)
  5. Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro - presented in September 2006, built on the basis of Nikon D200. ISO range 100-3200, the matrix is ​​almost the same as in  S3 Pro - SuperCCD SR II with 6.17 MP S-pixel and 6.17 MP R-pixel (captures images at 12 MP). There was also a modification - Fujifilm FinePix IS Pro for shooting in infrared and ultraviolet spectra.
Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

I want to note right away that cameras Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro and Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro have a completely different matrix construction principle than Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro и Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro, because of the first two models you should not expect a fabulous result that is inherent in the legendary models S3 Pro и S5 Pro. Camera arrays S1 Pro and S2 Pro have just an unusual arrangement of pixels, similar to the structure of bee honeycombs, and S3 Proo and S5 ProIn addition, they use two types of photodiodes, which allows them to get a large dynamic range and a certain gain at high ISO.

However, if the S2 Pro guesses correctly white balance, it turns out a pretty nice picture, in some ways really resembling film photos. TO white balance you’ll have to get used to it, sometimes it often drives the picture into an eerie green hue, although this effect can be passed off as an artistic idea.

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

The top of the camera is practically no different from Nikon D100, because they are both made on the basis of the same building. I believe that in D100 The most awkward controls of any Nikon camera, the same goes for the S2 Pro. For example, ISO is changed using the main command dial - you need to rotate it to the ISO mark, set the desired value on the screen by rotating the wheel under your right thumb, and be sure to return the dial to one of the modes MORE Potherwise the camera will not shoot. This is damn inconvenient. For ISO, only 100, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600 can be selected.

Custom functions are set in exactly the same way using the CSM label. Shooting modes (standard, burst, timer, multiple exposure) are selected using the switch, which is blocked by a special button.

The camera menu is very short, with a small set of additional functions, while it does not support the Russian language.

The camera has two monochrome displays, which allow quick access to some basic functions. Dealing with the buttons that are near the monochrome display on the side of the main display is very simple. The color display is small, only 1.8 inches diagonally, at 117.000 dots, more suitable for setting up the menu and for checking bar chartsrather than viewing captured photos.

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro

The camera uses two slots for two different memory cards - SmartMedia (up to 128 MB) and CF. It's a pity, but S2 Pro only supports memory cards CF In the first versions, up to 2 GB, the camera does not even see my 4 GB card. It’s also bad that the pictures themselves are written to the memory card very slowly (this does not depend on the speed of the card itself).

The S2 Pro can shoot at a maximum speed of 2 frames per second, with 7 frames in RAF and 8 frames in TIFF or JPEG F (maximum quality) buffered. After shooting a series of frames in TiFF or RAF format, the camera can go into a stupor for a few minutes. RAF files weigh 13 MB, TIFF files 36 MB each. I was a little upset that the camera could not shoot in RAW + JPEG mode.

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, memory card slot

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, memory card slot

The camera body is unusual, it is much larger than modern SLR cameras (which by default do not have a built-in battery handle). The camera looks very plump, everything else, S2 Pro has as many as two power sockets and runs on 4 batteries or AA-size batteries, two more CR123A batteries are used to operate the built-in flash, and the camera can also be powered from the C-5VH (S) AC adapter using the DC IN connector.

The camera has a USB 1.1 port (which is very slow), IEEE 1394, video out, and a PC sync connector. And also, you can record a voice tag for each captured image (up to 30 seconds long, the recording file weighs up to 300 kb, 8 khz, 64 kps, '.WAV' format).

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro with Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8D (MKII) lens

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro with lens Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8D (MKII)

S2 Pro uses a large full-length mirror, which he inherited from Nikon F80 (N80), other cameras use a smaller mirror (due to the reduced sensor format APS-C). I was surprised and pleased that the camera is very quiet and pleasantly clicks the shutter. Unfortunately, like Nikon D100, S2 Pro is cut in work with manual optics, as well as in short shutter speed - can only shoot up to 1/4000 sec. As with Nikon D100S2 Pro uses a focus system Multi-cam 900 5 focus points and 10-segment SPD sensor for measuring exposure.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 744 MB, 59 photos in .RAF format (RAW) Shot on Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8D (MKII), Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1: 3.5-4.5D и Helios-44 2/58.

Prices for modern Fuji cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

In comments Can I ask you a question on the topic and you will answer, and you can also express your opinion or describe your experience. Many little things for a photo can be found on AliExpress.


My experience

After Fujifilm FinePix S5 ProThe S2 Pro is already completely different. The camera is slow, inconvenient to operate, does not have my favorite function auto-iso... The native RAW processing program (Fuji Hyper-Utility) is very slow and on my Win 7, it crashes constantly. It is also strange and inconvenient that the level exposure can only be changed in half-stops, and excerpt synchronization is only 1/125 s.

But still, I want to note that on the S2 Pro you can get a nice picture, especially with a good lens :). I think that in our time it is better to take for the same money Nikon D80 and enjoy a lot of useful functions (FP mode, remote control of other flashes, normal display and control, honest 10 MP, memory cards up to 32 GB with an infinite series in JPEG mode, etc.). By the way, the Internet is full of rumors that for many S2 Pro models the matrix is ​​out of order.

Since you got to my S2 Pro review page, I advise you to look at the 'Legends go to battle'.

Results

Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro is a funny representative of the era of the first CZK. It attracts attention with the presence of an unusual sensor that can create an interesting picture. Nowadays S2 Pro is outdated.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 57, on the topic: Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro review

  • anonym

    I completely agree with Artyom. The color is the most "bold". Underexposed frames are easily stretched without noticeable noise (there are generally fewer of them compared to s3 and s5) and in general everything stretches very well, even in gpeg (it is very good in itself), although if you set the WB for these conditions right away, then there is almost no complain ...

  • Valdis

    There is a zest in the CZ Fuji that is not found in more advertised competitors - it is an amazing and unique color scheme for portrait and landscape photography. I had C2 pro, C3 pro, C5 pro. Today there is a mirrorless camera Fuji XE-1 + Fuji s2pro.

    • Archie

      And how is it compared to Fuji? Especially skinton?

  • Benjamin

    There is still such a moment. In terms of detail (sharpness, if you like) s2 makes s3 and even more so s5. Well, the color is really unique. Film on digital. S3 and S5 lost this by acquiring a larger DD. In general, my compliments to the “dinosaur”.

  • anonym

    What is the price of finepix s2pro

  • FED2

    Thanks for the review, about the departure of the matrices, there really are official data, a range of serial numbers that are at risk:

    The symptom is captured images that appear completely black, have a purplish cast or multi-colored distortions. The following list of serial numbers may be affected:

    Model Serial Number Range

    FinePix S2 Pro 31A127 ** ~ 31A143 **

    32A000 ** ~ 32A039 **

    33A000 ** ~ 33A007 **

    34A000 ** ~ 34A004 **

    Serial numbers are found on the bottom of the camera.

    and I personally liked the colors of this camera even more than those of the S3 pro! they have their own “warm flavor”, more subtly, reminiscent of Film, although there is no such mode in the menu. Fired up and bought this on ebee today, for $ 160.

    • Eugene

      This camera model just got into this series and after about 8 months the matrix went purple. So I got the first DSLR from a professional photographer of glossy magazines. After some time, I managed to use the matrix replacement program. But I had to send from Kyiv to Germany for this procedure. They offered to either replace the matrix for free, as well as the shutter in the complex for a fee, adjust it in detail, or ... dispose of it completely free of charge. Chose the first one. And even on the new matrix, as already noted here in the comments, there were quite a lot of hot pixels at slow shutter speeds and high ISO for the camera.
      Food, of course, caused problems on the road, and when one day I couldn’t take some important shots for me because of this problem, I bought a used d90. Unhurried portraits, if you set the white balance through a special white lens cap, look nicer on Fujik directly in JPGs.
      Also, being in the mountains away from civilization, using an amateur radio station in standby mode, I noticed a strange feature: the camera, when turned on, gave strong interference to the air.

  • Sergei

    Hello. I bought such a camera and ... .. I put a 2 GB card, I took pictures at home, and today I took out our event and decided to take them too and took 15 photos, it turned off, I turned it on and there were no photos, I connected it to my computer - it's empty ... Then he took 5 more photos, he shows that everything is there, turned off again, turned on and only two photos remained. Tell me what could be?

  • Sergei

    My name is Sergey; I accidentally did not fill out the field.

  • Ivan

    In whom s3 or s5 throw off whether caress on a post not about breaking a photo for a photo.

    • Ivan

      Vanb4ik@i.ua

    • LDS

      Who cares, you can dig into the RAW files of Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, S3 Pro and S5 Pro cameras. In order for the image viewing to be correct, I recommend using Fujifilm's proprietary Huper-Utility3 software and a high-quality calibrated monitor. Other converters and editors unambiguously distort the original colors of photographs, and you can make a wrong judgment about them. Here are the links:

      S2 Pro https://yadi.sk/d/60AY1OmfXWuG8g

      S3 Pro https://yadi.sk/d/hTliu7ZjM9JcGg

      S5 Pro https://yadi.sk/d/xVvxTlJtdzR_VA

      • Ruslan Bond

        cool, thanks) chose the camera)

  • Novel

    I would like to share my impressions of working with the Fujifilm S2 Pro camera. I bought the "prodvoika" less than a year ago. It should be said right away that besides her, I also have Canon 1Ds and Canon 1Ds mark III. Therefore, what a good color is right out of the box, I know firsthand. Nevertheless, Fuji's color reproduction is legendary, which is why I decided to buy the S2 Pro. What can I say. The camera is great.
    Liked:
    - comfortable grip, somewhat reminiscent of the ones from Canon;
    - Nice shutter sound;
    - simple and straightforward menu.
    Did not like:
    - camera definition of BB in automatic mode and other scene modes. Photos are constantly going into the green;
    - fast battery discharge;
    - the ability to work only with CF cards of small volume.
    Especially in the advantages of the camera, I did not mention Fuji's proprietary color rendition in order to dwell on this in more detail. As I said above, the definition of the BB in the camera does not work correctly. There is only one way out - to use the existing custom settings. After installing the BB manually, the picture was transformed beyond recognition. The color is clear, juicy, saturated. Further processing in the editor is often no longer required.
    I conducted a small comparative test between the Canon 1Ds mark III and Fujifilm S2 Pro to get an idea of ​​the individual features of the output images of such different cameras. You can download photos from the link below:
    https://yadi.sk/d/5x-X9CH6lpgBmQ

  • Novel

    I know that most users of the Fuji family of SLR cameras prefer a native editor for further post-processing of photos. At one time, I was faced with the fact that finding it was still a problem. Therefore, in order to save time for many fans of the brand color of Fuji for endless searches, I propose to go for download at the following link:
    https://yadi.sk/d/K01ppC403Oa54

  • Volodymyr

    Thanks for your review! I got this camera for 10 euros. A little "conjured" with a soldering iron and screwdrivers was able to revive. Right now I think it's better to buy a flash or CR123 batteries for the internal flash. If there are Chinese analogs of the flash for this camera, please tell me? All available Nikon flash units do not want to work with this model.

    • Eugene

      Nikon's latest D-TTL compatible flash is the SB-80. You can search for “D-TTL”, but you’re unlikely to find it.

  • Ruslan Bond

    They write so often about greens that it’s funny to read) In 2003-2004 I shot on film and clearly understood - Fuji is green, Akfa is red, Kodak is warmth, and Konica is something like real, perhaps blue) Professional version of Kodak - this is something different, cool...

    These are their famous tricks.

  • Ruslan Bond

    pysy - more often he filmed on a Kodak or Konica, which he printed in two professional centers of “Konica”. the picture of fire came out. I didn't like it in others.

    Now I understand under what lighting and under what conditions which brand of film is better to choose.
    it’s like with the Nikon D200 riddle, which I wrote about here a year ago.

    knowing his trick, you need to choose certain optics... and only then, for example, on a cold evening the colors will be fabulous.

    so here too, its greenery may be in place

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