Fiji S5, first few days

[padey]

I've had my Fuji S5 for a few days now. A couple of negatives for me in assessing this camera. Firstly my familiar workflow C1pro and/or CS3 is yet to support the S5 RAW files. Secondly I prefer to make my mind up once I see the photos in print. Mostly because noise characteristics in print are very different to pixel peeping a file at 100%.

A couple of positives, having owned a D200 an S3, the body+sensor combo hits my sweet spot, so the S5 is a dream come true. I'm not really going to know how the 14bit RAW files are until i can open them in CS3. CS2/3 really pulls heaps of data out of the R-pixels, more then the Fuji clunky RAW converter and more then the 8-bit jpeg out of the camera.

The speed is fast when compared to the S3, but normal when compared to the D200. kind of what you expect since it's a D200 body.

ISO3200 file qualities looks like what my D200 looked like at ISO1600. The visible noise in the image is less concerning then compared to the image sharpness often sacrificed at high ISO when in print. With the D200, a ISO1600 image looked like it'd been through a potato masher, 5D less mashed. ATM i'd put the S5 in the 5D category, but it's hard to compare because the noise quality is completely different to Canon noise. The S5 has more chroma noise when compared to the 5D, so it's more film like.

The face recognition actually works very well. I'm not sure if i'll use it, as it comes across as a bit of a gimmick, but it sure does work well.

I've got a couple of weddings on the weekend, so once i get them under my belt, i'll post a few images.

[Geoff]

A very interesting perspective and initial review Andrew. I look forward to a more revealing viewpoint after this coming week end. Thanks for sharing.

[shutterbug]

Hmmm interesting

Will be keeping a close eye on the S5.

Vince

[Kyle]

As said, keen to hear your thoughts, post rigorous test

[Killakoala]

Thanks Andrew.

[Yi-P]

That is very interesting, cant wait for the actual results

[padey]

Lets start with a few images
ISO3200. A bit mushy but more then comparable to a Nikon ISO1600 image.

For the full res image
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/pade/3200.jpg

The S5 has F1a, F1b, F1c and F2. F1 are the portrait dynamic range settings and F2 is used for landscapes. It's meant to represent Film modes, ie F1=Provia and F2=Velvia.

For weddings I like to use F1a for most of a wedding day. But I like to use F2 between the ceremony and the reception. Here is an F2 shot, resized, saturation untouched.

F2 mode


ISO1600 shots are great. This camera is the Nikon high ISO camera.


Re D200 V S5. I'll let Lynn, who has a D200 (i sold my one) do a few side-by-side images at our next wedding and we can draw some conclusions then.

[rooboy]

Has that 100% image had any noise reduction done, in-camera or in PP? It looks to have almost no colour noise (and coming from a D70 usser, that's a big deal ). Thanks for the review.

[Kyle]

That 1600 shot looks very clean

[padey]

Has that 100% image had any noise reduction done, in-camera or in PP? It looks to have almost no colour noise (and coming from a D70 usser, that's a big deal ). Thanks for the review.

In camera, set to standard. You actually can't turn the NR off in camera.

[Alpha_7]

Impressive stuff, man I'd like to have your toys.. I know they aren't toys for you, but tools for your beautiful work.. but .. so many toys.. I look forward to the Comparison between the D200 and S5.. (that said I might be depressed by the results.. just a little).

[Geoff]

Some great results there Andrew, along with your very capable hands, the S5 looks to be a stunning camera and the lack of noise is incredible. Great stuff mate!

[padey]

A few S5 B&Ws.







I really like this camera. For what I shoot, i can't find any glaring weaknesses.

[Grev]

The last one is amazing, the official technical reviews should be up soon then eh.

[shutterbug]

I want one...

Very nice Andrew, love the colour of the Luna Park pic

Those B&W is yummy.

Did you get it locally or overseas?

Cheers
Vince

[padey]

I want one...

Very nice Andrew, love the colour of the Luna Park pic

Those B&W is yummy.

Did you get it locally or overseas?

Cheers
Vince

I tried and tried to get one locally. I called Fuji Aus and anyone and everyone, but I couldn't get one. So I picked it up in HK. A friend was over there for CNY. So he grabbed it for me.

Hopefully Poon will have them soon, as i'd like another one, and some accessories.

[shutterbug]

Thanks Andrew

I was thinking about picking one up in winter.

[barry]

Some nice shots there Andrew.

[losfp]

Hi Andrew,

Apologies for hijacking your thread, but I have a few questions about the Fuji S5 that I'm keen to know about, and seeing as you're one of the few people on here who has actually bought/used one....

1) I know you can use any F-Mount lenses. Any problems you've noticed? Easy to use older manual lenses? Or pretty much just the same as using a Nikon DSLR in this regard

2) How about the Nikon flashes - completely compatible with i-TTL? Can the Fuji pop-up flash act as a wireless master like the D200?

3) Can you use all D200 accessories like the battery grip, batteries, remote cables etc?

4) Apart from the continuous shooting speed which I know about (5fps vs 3fps), is there anything else that the D200 does better than the S5?

thanks in advance for any answers you can provide

[Alpha_7]

I *thought* the batteries where different so you had to use their battery type, and not the D200. But I could be wrong.

[padey]

Hi Andrew,

Apologies for hijacking your thread, but I have a few questions about the Fuji S5 that I'm keen to know about, and seeing as you're one of the few people on here who has actually bought/used one....

1) I know you can use any F-Mount lenses. Any problems you've noticed? Easy to use older manual lenses? Or pretty much just the same as using a Nikon DSLR in this regard

Same as D200. No difference that i can see

2) How about the Nikon flashes - completely compatible with i-TTL? Can the Fuji pop-up flash act as a wireless master like the D200?

Same as D200.

3) Can you use all D200 accessories like the battery grip, batteries, remote cables etc?

Craig is right. You can only use the fuji battery, or AAs with the MB-D200 grip.

4) Apart from the continuous shooting speed which I know about (5fps vs 3fps), is there anything else that the D200 does better than the S5?

thanks in advance for any answers you can provide

They way I shoot, I can't think of any area that the D200 is better, but many where the D200 is worse.

[losfp]

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated

Now to decide whether to risk approaching The Financial Controller about getting YET more gear.. Would be brilliant for low-light wildlife shooting in Alaska in July......

[padey]

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated

Now to decide whether to risk approaching The Financial Controller about getting YET more gear.. Would be brilliant for low-light wildlife shooting in Alaska in July......

Your welcome to check out my S5. You're only a few minutes away.

[Kyle]

[quote="padeyThey way I shoot, I can't think of any area that the D200 is better, but many where the D200 is worse.[/quote]

Andrew,

When you get a chance to, do you think you might be able to list a few reasons explaining your comment here? I'd be very interested to see how the S5 works better for you

Thanks

[Alpha_7]

Kyle I don't want to put words in Andrew's mouth but my guess would be.. as he's a pro wedding photographer, the FPS drop doesn't matter.. what does is Noise (particular low light portraits), Dynamic Range and appealing colour reproduction particularly in skin tones. The Fuji sensor apparent does all these things better then the sensor in the D200.

[padey]

You'll have to forgive me for being brief, as i'm high as a kite on pain relief after having this done a couple of days ago. http://www.myhand.com.au/wrist_scapholu ... _tears.pdf

1) What craig said.
2) Take a look this shot. It's not a very good photo, but see the background, there is very little clipping. With a D200, this background would have been mostly clipped.
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/pade/dr.jpg

Or another example. These images were quite nice, the only issue with the D200 is the amount of clipping. S5 and D200 images reduced 4 stops shows how much clipping in the D200.

Now considering I'm mostly taking photos of people in white dresses standing next to people in black suits, I need as much DR as possible.

Let me put it another way, if the D200 had clean ISO 1600 images and went to ISO3200, had much improved DR and had the creamy files, i'd get a few.

[Geoff]

Andrew - I hope the recovery of your hand/wrist is fast and as pain free as possible.

[rooboy]

You'll have to forgive me for being brief, as i'm high as a kite on pain relief after having this done a couple of days ago. http://www.myhand.com.au/wrist_scapholu ... _tears.pdf

Ow. Hope it gets better soon. Enjoy the pain killers

Do you notice much difference in resolution between 10MP & 6+6MP?

The S5 is looking like a great upgrade from the D70 later in the year

[losfp]

Great examples, Padey.

Do you normally manually set the DR depending on the conditions? Or does the S5 Pro have an "auto-DR" function, like auto-ISO?

I think the ultimate solution would be to sell my D70s kit, and get a Fuji S5 to complement my D200.. One for sports, and one for just about everything else. Assuming the viewfinder, battery life, screen, AF and general ergonomics are identical, the fps speed is the only area where the S5 really loses out for most things.

Now to get buy-in from Mrs Losfp. I'm sure she wouldn't mind getting her D70s upgraded to a D200

[padey]

cheers gents. My hand feels like it's been run over.