Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro

I have used the S1 in my studio for the last 21/2 years. I have found the camera to be easy to use and very dependable. I have just decided that I will never go back to film so my medium format cameras are now listed on Ebay. My camera sees alot of hard use (2-3 sessions a day...just enough time to empty the microdrives. I am very pleased with the color this camera puts out. I have used a Nikon D1 (one of the first models out) and there is a major color issue going on with that camera. I have also owned a Olypus E10 but that camera was really for personal use (it was so slow loading images I finally sold it after a year). My only issues with the S1 is the image quality when making enlargements over 20x24 (we print from a Kodak large format ink jet). I have seen a print made from the new S2 and I have put one on order to replace the S1. Over all a great camera without sending someone in major debt.

Light weight - easy to carry all day Color is good without much adjustment in Photoshop Battery life is very good - the dual batteries don't bother me too much

Slowwwww to load to Microdrive using Tiff mode Even slower to preview using Tiff mode 125 sync - come on now... Camera body seems kind of cheap compared to the Nikon D1-but I'm not willing to spend an additionsl 2,000 for the feel of my old F4 No PC connection - stupid, stupid, stupid - had to buy the little Mickey Mouse adaptor for the hot shoe

Nikon D1 Olympus E10 Bronica MF Mamiya MF Nikon F4

Great camera...no problems

Two of my customers, who shoot Waterford crystal, own these beauties; and one loaned their to me for the 2002 Indy 500. The S1 Pro's color rendition is superb, whether for a place setting of Wedgwood china and Waterford cut glass stemware, or for the bright red Marlboro Penske colors on Helio Castroneves' car. http://www.discpad.artistfolios.com Key to making the S1 Pro work so well is to disable any extra in-camera processing, and then manually apply corrections to the camera file dump in Photoshop. Typically I found these Unsharp Mask values to yield flawless images (on a Barco prepress monitor!) when using these values: Amount = 120 Radius = 0.8 Threshold = 1 Shooting an IRL auto race is tricky at best, because the cars can be moving over 230 MPH and then you have to "shift gears" and grab pit action and accident scene details... All while maintaining your composure. The S1 Pro performed flawlessly in all respects, allowing me to "zoom, point and shoot" to "get the shot" without worrying about the camera settings. ...And, when comparing the images in the Media Center from far more experienced "experts" shooting D1H, D1X, and various Canon digital cameras, the Fuji made them look like the amateurs! :)

Image accuracy with both sharpness and color accuracy, even with difficult crystal, jewelry, and race car shots. Also, the $1009 Brooklyn price point makes this camera an irresistable value for any Nikon owner!

Default image capture settings: Take a few minutes and shoot a batch of images to test out what works best for your own preferences, techniques, and most importantly your own Photoshop skills; Cannot use built-in SpeedLight with external power (battery pack or 120VAC adapter). However, this is not an issue when using NiMH AA cells, as one can fill a MicroDrive on a charged set.

Everything from a Kodak DC4800 to a PaseOne H20

N/A

Like everyone else here it seems, I was really impressed by the photo quality of the Fuji CCD. The color saturation, excellent skin tones, and sharpness are superb. The "interpolated" 6.1 MP resolution (from what is a 3.3 MP CCD) is outstanding; 13x19 prints at both resolutions are virtually indistinguishable, so I always shoot the higher size. Others have commented on flash compatibility, but from what I've seen people are getting it wrong: you need to "go retro" with this camera. Like the Nikon D1, it seems the Fuji folks had a little trouble getting flash exposure right. But at least the S1 is consistent: I just add a little + compensation and things work fine. I have an SB-28 which I use with this camera, but as reported, 3D Matrix Metering does not work. However, the camera does regular TTL with just about anything from the SB-16 onwards, so I bought a cheap SB-20 and get great results. I have used it with good results for sports photography, but with one caveat: it's practically useless for multiple-frame sequences (far too slow at 1.5 fps), and the only way to get AF-C (continuous-servo AF) is to use the "Sports" program, which means sacrificng all control over aperture and shutter speed. I tend to use this camera with my 500/f4.5 lens and a D1 with an 80-200/f2.8 at sports events. If I'm shooting all the way across the field it's generally one frame at a time anyway, and I use the fast-firing D1 for close-in shots. Great combination.

- Picture Quality - Compatibility with many Nikon flash units (doesn't require "DX" models) - Excellent low-light performance (shoots @ ISO 320 as if ISO 50 film, ISO 1600 like ISO 400 film)

- Eats batteries! (But maybe just because I use it so much) - Poor control for high-speed shooters - Single, AF-sensor

Nikon D1, N70, F100, F5

"Impossible" to find Fuji AC adapter, had to buy aftermarket brand which works fine

The S1 is a great camera that will do 99% of all jobs given to it. It was the first dslr cam in my studio, and now 2 years later, and after 50.000 shots, it is still going strong. Even after 2 years it can still give the newcomers something to think about. I highly recomanded model. If you can find a used model on ebay or elsewhere, this will almost do it as a D1X,- for under half the price

Skintone, skintone and skintone Eas of use, great 6mp look-a-like, two cardslots, multiexposure (only one), not a havy cam, price

autofocus and metering, no vertical grip and shutter, not 100% compatible with Nokor lenses

Nikon 990, D1, D1X, Olympus E10, Canon D30

I just received my camera this evening. I took it out of the box, loaded the batteries, 1G microdrive and set off for downtown to take pictures. I am going to read the manual tomorrow. I grade ease of use by how quickly I can assemble and operate a piece of equipment. I own two Nikon N70s along with several lenses and flashes. I had no trouble using the camera. Maybe I have good vision, but the viewfinder looked fine to me. I returned from my night picture taking run and immediately processed beautiful pictures! I will begin looking for human and daylight subjects tomorrow. My reason for purchasing this camera is because I want to start cutting out the middle man -- photo lab -- on a lot of projects and get clients their photos back much faster. We have only one good, reasonably priced photo lab and they know it. They treat us photogs as if they know we don''t have anywhere else to go. So far, I am suggesting that this is a good camera.

*Easy to set up and use. *Good quality

I haven''t found any yet.

I don''t have any digital cameras similar to the S1. Before, I was using a Sony DSC-S50 and an Olympus 3040Z.

I haven''t had to use it yet.