Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro review

According provided by camera Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro huge thanks “1st official photo flea market in Dnepropetrovsk"

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm has been producing its Fujifilm FinePix DSLR cameras for a little over 10 years, this review shows the very first of them - the Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro. For all the time, only 6 different CZK models were produced:

  1. Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro - January 2000, based on the film Nikon F60 (aka Nikon N60), uses the first generation SuperCCD matrix. Matrices for the Fujifilm FinePix 4700 Zoom and 4900 Zoom compacts were manufactured using the same technology.
  2. Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro - January 2002, based on the film Nikon F80 (aka Nikon N80), SuperCCD III (the matrix third generation) Fujifilm F601 Zoom, S602 Zoom, and M603 compact matrices were manufactured using the same technology.
  3. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro - February 2004, based on Fujifilm FinePix S2 ProSuperCCD SR II matrix (second generation SR matrix)
  4. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro UVIR - August 2006, upgraded Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro for shooting in IR (Infra Red) and UV (Ultra Violet) spectra.
  5. Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro - September 2006, made on the basis of the Central Control Commission Nikon D200, a slightly upgraded SuperCCD SR II matrix (similar to the one installed on the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro). The production of this model was stopped at the end of 2009.
  6. Fujifilm FinePix IS Pro - June 2007, upgraded Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro for shooting in IR (Infra Red) and UV (Ultra Violet) spectra. The production of this model was stopped in mid-2010.
Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

The top of the S1 Pro is a copy of the Nikon F60 film camera, known in America as the Nikon N60. From Nikon F60, the camera inherited mechanical components, including a large full-length mirror.

Please note: although the Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro uses a Nikon F mount, it does not support lenses. Nikon AF-S and Nikon AF-I. With such lenses, there will be no auto focus. For autofocus, use only old non-motorized lenses. Nikon AF. Also, S1 Pro does not support working with lenses that have a stabilizer Nikon VR.

Also S1 Pro inherited from Nikon F60 lack of a rheostat of a diaphragm, but because with this camera manual optics will only work in manual metering mode.

During shooting, the camera makes a funny noise, the characteristic sound gives the feeling that the camera rewinds the film after each shutter release :).

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

S1 Pro uses the old but interesting first generation SUPER CCD matrix. The S1 Pro matrix has an unusual pixel arrangement, similar to the structure of a honeycomb. You can find interesting information about generations of this technology in the review. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro.

Only 1 MP are located on the S3.07 Pro sensor, but the camera, due to their unusual location, can interpolate up to 6.1 MP, creating pictures with a maximum size of 3040 X 2016 (6.128.640 pixels). For 2000, 3 MP was a completely normal resolution, for example, Nikon D1, 1999 release, had only 2.6 MP. One-year-old Canon D30 also had 3 MP. And the interpolated 6 megapixels obtained with the S1 Pro were simply a huge indicator.

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro with INDUSTAR-61L / Z 2,8 / 50 lens

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro with lens INDUSTAR-61L / Z 2,8 / 50

Unfortunately, the ISO range that the S1 Pro uses is very, very poor. Only ISO settings are 320, 400, 800 and 1600. The noise level at high ISO is poor, but still, at ISO 1600 you can even get something digestible. It is also unpleasant that the camera has a rather low dynamic range, which affects the photographs with the wildest overexposures. And I am also uncomfortable with the lack of RAW format, with which I could at least slightly 'stretch' the photo.

Instead of RAW, the camera uses the format TIFF two types: TIFF-RGB and TIFF-YC. With maximum quality, TIFF-RGB files weigh by 17.5 MB (!), and in the TIFF-YC format, 11 MB each. TIFF-RGB file written to SanDisk Extreme III 1GB memory card 14 secondsand TIFF-YC is 9 seconds. The huge recording time on a memory card is only half the trouble. After clicking on the view button, you need to wait 27 secondsbefore the camera shows the picture taken with the highest quality in TIFF-RGB format! Steel nerves are needed to shoot on the S1 Pro.

You can configure the camera to manually control the recording of a snapshot (Preview-> Manual REC function). In this case, the camera will immediately show the received photo and offer to save or delete it. In the JPEG format, the camera "thinks" many times faster and does not cause any special inconveniences in work.

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

The maximum burst speed is only 1.5 frames per second. Fujifilm FinePix has always had problems with the rate of fire. IN frame buffer at any settings fits 6 shots... Continuous shooting (while holding down the shutter button) is only available when shooting mode is set to 'Sports' using the main mode dial.

S1 Pro uses a focus system Advanced AM200with only one focus point. This same focusing module was used in earlier quasi full-format digital SLR cameras  co-produced by Nikon and Fujifilm. The focusing accuracy, in comparison with modern cameras, is noticeably worse, but not so much as to consider its work unsatisfactory.

Responsible for exposure 6 segment sensor. Minimum excerpt shutter - 1/2000 s, and excerpt Flash sync is only 1/125 s. The camera is designed to use old flashes. Modern Nikon SpeedLight flashes will not work with the S1 Pro at all, and an 'ERR' error will be displayed on the upper monochrome display when such a flash is installed.

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Minimum excerpt 1/2000 s and a minimum ISO 320 create inconvenience when using high-aperture optics in bright light. So, on a sunny day, I had to close the aperture to f / 4 or more to 'fit' into the limits of the minimum excerpts and ISO. Fans shooting at F / 2.8 and below will be extremely difficult to do without a neutral ND filter.

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

For operation, the S1 Pro uses three different types of batteries: 4 X AA, 2 X CR123A, 1 X CR2025. AA batteries (or NiMH batteries) power the camera electronics (main display, information line backlight in JVI). CR123A batteries are responsible for the operation of mechanical components (mirror, shutter, flash, focusing motor). If you do not install both types of batteries, the camera will not shoot. The CR2025 coin-cell battery is used to store temporary data in the ROM (date, time, menu settings). I think the implementation of the food system is absolutely stupid. In addition, the battery charge level is not always displayed correctly. Often the camera takes a picture, reports that the battery is low and does not record the picture on the memory card (although the 'REC' inscription blinks).

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

S1 Pro uses a 2-inch 200.000-dot color display and two monochrome displays to quickly configure basic camera settings. You can get used to controlling the camera very quickly. In my opinion, the controls in the S1 Pro are better than those of the S2 Pro.

Near the camera mount are micro-USB 1.0 connectors, an input for external power supply DC IN 5V and video output. The camera uses two types of memory cards: SmartMedia (up to 64 MB) and Compact Flash (Type I / II). My S1 Pro worked fine only with 1, 2 or 4 GB memory cards. It was not possible to record on memory cards with a capacity of 16 or 32 GB.

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro weighs 880 grams, working with it is no more difficult than any other Nikon Central Controllers. The small optical viewfinder, which covers only 90% of the image vertically and 93% horizontally, is a little in the way.

The menu of the camera is very small, it is easy to understand. Unfortunately, the menu is only available in Japanese and English. Of the additional functions, I can only select the countdown timer, the function multiple exposures in two pictures.

Some features of the camera:

  • The built-in flash always works in automatic D-TTL mode and cannot be used in any other.
  • The S1 Pro has an auto focus assist lamp. The upper additional monochrome display is not illuminated. The LCD on the back of the camera, located above the main display, is illuminated in orange.
  • The camera does not have an auto ISO function.
  • To perform a quick reset, you need to hold down the '+/-' (compensation exposure) and 'Aperture'.
  • To raise the mirror to clean the sensor, hold down the 'AE-L' and 'Timer' buttons while turning on the camera, then press the shutter button to raise the mirror :). Usually the sensor cleaning function is in the menu of modern cameras.
  • It is possible to view bar charts captured image and enlarging the image in a given area.
Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1: 4,5 f = 4cm T lens

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro with lens Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1: 4,5 f = 4cm T

Shooting with such old cameras is always quite interesting. After each shot on the old technique, you begin to value your modern technique differently, even if not the TOP one. It is worth paying tribute to Fujifilm, which back in 2000 was able to create such a camera, albeit in some places a curve, but still fulfilling its main task.

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro and Sony ILCE-7

If the camera managed to guess white balance, then the color in the photo is quite pleasant. Actually, in addition to good color rendering, and then, not in all cases, there is nothing good in image quality :).

Source files can download from this link (76 photos in '.TIF' format, 567 MB). Shooting was made using a lens Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor (MKIII) и protective filter Marumi 52mm MC-UV Made in Japan. Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro is an APS-C type crop camera with crop factor Kf = 1.5 (analog Nikon DX).

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro with Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor (MKIII)

Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro with lens Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor (MKIII)

I think that from a practical point of view it is much more expedient to purchase instead of S1 Pro or S2 Pro Nikon D100, D70, D70s or Nikon D50. If don't know which camera and lens to choose, then my article will help with this - Which Nikon amateur DSLR camera and lens to choose?

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.


Results

Nowadays, Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro has several very serious drawbacks:

  • lack of full RAW format
  • very slow recording and reading TIFF photos
  • inconvenient set of a minimum ISO value of 320 units and a minimum excerpts, equal to only 1/2000 s, which makes it difficult to use high-aperture optics on open diaphragms.
  • the need to use two different types of batteries for the camera to function
  • the camera does not support lenses with a built-in focus motor (AF-S, AF-I type and analogues from third-party manufacturers)

From the positive sides, I can highlight only a small cost and a nice, unobtrusive color in the photos. Of course if to try, then with the old S1 Pro you can always squeeze good shots :).

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Oleg

 

 

Comments: 47, on the topic: Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro review

  • Lef

    For the first time I see so many batteries in one xD device

  • Denis

    Yes, the old Nikon D1 compared to her is simply the top of perfection :)
    Purely as a historical exhibit, a really interesting camera that shows how far camera building has stepped forward.

  • a lion

    In the examples - the photo with the chains is reversed)

    • Grandfather Fedor

      ... and you get the grand prize !!

  • Skai

    Yes, despite the small DD the colors look good, although the recording time on the typhus card is…. you can remember the polaroid :-)

  • Madness scif

    crickets smelled)))

  • sergey

    and what is the difference between rabbi and typhoid (16bit)? what is the difference in what format to write numbers, thanks for the article

    • Denis

      RAW stretches better and weighs less, TIFF is huge, but the image quality is not much better than JPEG.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      the main difference: most RAW files carry information about the subpixels of the matrix, usually these are subpixels of the Bayer pattern. TIFF - only channel information for the “finished” pixel obtained after debayering. In terms of exposure adjustments, TIFF is not flexible at all, and RAW is almost rubbery. As Denis pointed out, TIFF is not particularly better for processing than JPEG. The advantage of TIFF is that it does not lose data when saved multiple times.

      • sergey

        Thank you for the quality and clear explanation.

  • Grandfather Fedor

    I am constantly amazed at how the hardware is improving.
    My dad from 1972 was engaged in photography until, somewhere, 1996. Now when I show and tell him something, he says that what I do is babble in comparison with the technological process.
    It seems that this Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro is almost hopelessly outdated, but the photographer of that time did not even dare to dream of such a camera.

  • Grandfather Fedor

    in the original photos interpolated 6 MP and not real 3. If you find fault, you can see the noise at the minimum possible ISO 320. Could this be due to interpolation? and there is no excerpt in EXIF. It was interesting to see some evening photo excerpts.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The camera does not write the exposure value in EXIF. Noise on older cameras can indeed be found at the lowest ISO settings. 3 or 6 MP - not much difference.

  • anonym

    You wrote correctly that instead of this camera, take the D50 ray, it will be better in all respects

  • Victor

    Arkady, as always, thanks for the article.
    Interesting aperture values ​​in the examples, in hundredths. Is this some kind of software that reads an analogue covered hole?)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Sometimes the values ​​of the F number are written in EXIF ​​not as a decimal fraction, but in the ratio of the focal to aperture, which can cause “non-standard” values ​​when converting to a normal form. Not every software is able to display them correctly. There may be another reason.

  • anonym

    Thank you, wonderful review! I shot at the time on F-60, I know the mechanical part of this miracle. It was powered by just these 123 batteries, and even despite the motor, it was quite tenacious. It turns out that the F-60 was simply attached with a synchronized digital counter with its autonomous power supply, cool. YES, AF is pretty simple there. But he worked confidently on screwdriver lenses and did not cause problems. Support for AF-S in those years was not relevant, there were only 3 AF-S lenses and all of them were expensive reportage. And the report was filmed, because few editors had funds for such a camera. Therefore, focusing for a subject or studio portrait without AF-S was quite suitable. Does the camera set up an internal sharpe at least? The picture is very nice, but re-sharpening the camera spoils the matter.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It is possible to adjust the sharpness by choosing one of the parameters “STD”, “ORG”, “Hard”. All photos, except for 5 pieces, were taken with the parameter “STD” (standard)

  • Dmitriy

    Yes, this is still the camera that did not have any advantages over the film or any practically :) Even my Pentax 67 seems to be a very technological device :)
    An interesting review from the series “how it was” :)

  • Sergei

    Oh, cool ... Vyshgorod. My city ))

  • Grandfather Fedor

    And what is the difficulty of manufacturing an OVI with a 100% field of view?

    • Lynx

      the size?

      • anonym

        the difficulty is that if tomorrow you make a camera with a 100% viewfinder, an ISO 100500 worker, a speed of 1000 frames per second, then after tomorrow there will be Nothing for consumers to offer. Therefore, we have a D750 in an amateur case, and after half a year we get the same D750 called a D760 in a case similar to the D810 :)

        • Lynx

          I don’t think we get it.
          Now I don’t even dare to predict which fortel will throw Nikon again

    • Dmitry K

      Grandpa Fedor. Difficulty in fitting and installing pentaprism. In carcasses, where the JVI does not cover 100% of the frame, the EVI field itself is not necessarily in the center of the frame. It may not even be strictly horizontal. As a result, after you hover over the JVI along the horizon in the final frame, the horizon may be littered or additional details will appear not from all four sides little by little, but only from the bottom and to the right, for example.

  • anonym

    I asked a stupid question, so to speak of a philosophical nature, about all cameras they write the burst speed, they say 3,5 frames / sec, so the question is there is a difference in how many frames the camera will take with an exposure of 1 \ 16000 per second against 3 ″, say, or 1 \ 3 or am I thinking in the wrong direction, or is the camera's rate of fire measured wrong?

    • Alex

      This means the maximum possible speed of burst shooting. Naturally measured at short shutter speeds, because it makes sense to measure this parameter at shutter speeds of, say, 1 second. simply no.

      • anonym

        At a shutter speed of 1/20 second, the camera can physically take a maximum of 20 frames, at 1/60 a maximum of 60 frames, at 1/10 a maximum of 10 frames.

        • Alex

          The camera will not be able to physically make 20, 60, or 10 frames, if its characteristics say that the maximum possible speed of serial shooting is, for example, 3,5 frames per second. In all three cases, the speed will be exactly 3 fps.

        • Alex

          Just shutter speed is tightly related to the speed of shutter. But in addition to the shutter, there are also operations such as raising and lowering the mirror, reading the image from the matrix and writing it to the buffer, plus some transformations of this image before writing to the buffer are possible, depending on the camera settings, etc. These are all the parameters together that set the maximum burst speed limit. Well, in addition, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that the manufacturer for marketing purposes (for breeding the initial line from amateur, amateur from reporting, etc.) can artificially limit this speed (programmatically).

  • anonym

    Alex, you argue sensibly, but then the rate of fire is distorted in fact, because in sports I don’t think that they will shoot from 1/8000, because with such exposure in poor conditions, you have to push up to the maximum, and if you work at acceptable ones, you definitely will not use let's say the claimed 8 fps, but with a shutter speed of say 1 / 200-1 / 500, did someone measure the rate of fire of top cameras or compare their superiority in this parameter with amateur cameras?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The maximum burst speed (i.e., the number of frames per 1 second) is measured at shutter speeds no longer than 1/250 or 1/200 s. (Some such standard exists).

      For example, for the Nikon D3100 camera it is indicated:

      Frame advance rate: Up to 3 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)

  • Mikola

    camera vmіє pratsyuvati on one typeі battery AA
    zavdyaki the adapter lock CR123A) shutter, shoe menu, all praц

    photo prikrpiv

    • Oleg

      I wonder what you have replaced CR123A?

      • Denis

        not what, but why?)

  • BB

    It's a little unclear what prevented 100% coverage of the frame, because a “full-frame” mirror and the corresponding shaft from f60 are used, they saved on pentaprism, it turns out?

  • Oleg

    Thanks to Arkady for a good review! The camera was caught for very funny money, apparently the previous owner did not appreciate it! I'm very happy with the camera! The pictures have some kind of charm. Jpeg is simply gorgeous!

  • Oleg

    one more photo

  • Oleg

    more

  • Oleg

    ... like this

  • anonym

    Very good in still life. It’s a shame to take her to the street - 90 percent of the shots are defective.

  • Paul

    The camera is great, but I just can't transfer pictures from it to the computer. Usually I use a card reader and transfer photos one by one to the hard drive, or to another medium. But the computer only gives me the ability to copy one photo. When you try to copy the next one, the message ”such file already exists. Replace? " And two boxes “replace” and “cancel”. If I press replace, then the first photo I transferred is deleted. And if I click "cancel", then the next photo is not transferred. This problem occurs when copying photos from this camera only. It turns out that the computer thinks that all photos from this camera are the same and does not allow them to be copied (except for any one). Please tell me how to solve the problem?

    • Michael

      Transfer everything at once. In general, this means that files with the same name are created (why it is not clear). So renaming the first file will solve the problem of copying the second

      • Paul

        Thanks, I did it. I throw the entire folder, then delete the unnecessary. But just do a unique camera. Got faulty, in a disassembled state for a penny. Showed Error. It turned out, Mikrik on the cover of the card reader broke off. Inside the usual film camera from which even too lazy to remove the receiving reel for the film and the gear drum. Just instead of the film, they attached a matrix with an electronics block. when you press the shutter, all this stuff clicks and buzzes. The color is very interesting, like Pentax k10d, only more accurate, less embellished. The device is very original, I have never seen anything like it in my life. He is quite loyal to the batteries, he puts only CR123, finger-type it seems to him anyway what, at least five hryvnias. You must definitely get into the exposition, otherwise the overexposures are wild, the author of the article wrote correctly. But in general, if you don’t rush anywhere, you can take quite interesting pictures, which will not be embarrassing to show today.

  • Paul

    I don’t know if you can throw links here or not, but I’ll take a chance. Here is the video when I just got it
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hc4xURvpCM

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