Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro SLR Review

Click to take a QuickTime tour of the S2 Pro

The FinePix S2 Pro employs Fujifilm's third generation 6.17 million pixel Super CCD and is capable of producing an image file with 4,256 x 2,848 (12.1 million) recorded pixels. The S2 Pro can store its high resolution images in compressed JPEG, uncompressed TIFF-RGB and Fuji's proprietary CCD Raw mode. Images can be stored on a wide variety of media via the dual card slots for SmartMedia and CompactFlash (Type I or II and Microdrive compatible.) To get that image data into your computer you can choose from the USB 1.1 or the fast IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface.

The FinePix S2 Pro is built on the popular Nikon N80 chassis and offers the same handling characteristics that photographers expect from an SLR camera. It has a Nikon F mount and accepts every AF Nikkor and most manual AI or AI-S Nikkor lenses. It offers a shutter speed range of 30 secs. to 1/4000 second with a continuous shooting rate of approximately 2 frames/second up to a maximum of seven frames. To cover any possible lighting situation the S2 Pro has a wide range of ISO equivalents ranging from 100 up to 1600.

The S2 Pro is fully featured with four shooting modes (single frame, continuous, preview and multiple exposure) and four exposure modes (multi programmed AE, shutter- priority AE, aperture-priority AE and manual exposure.) In addition, there are nine modes for white balance (auto, fine, shade, incandescent light, two custom settings and three for fluorescent light).

The FinePix S2 Pro can record images at four resolutions (4,256 x 2,848, 3,024 x 2,016, 2,304 x 1,536 and 1,440 x 960 pixels) and in three file formats (TIFF-RGB, CCD-Raw and JPEG). There are two compression modes (fine and normal) within the JPEG file format, and captured images can be viewed on the camera's 1.8-inch color TFT display. The voice annotation feature allows the attachment of 30-second voice notes to each photo, which enables you to easily keep track of important image data.

FinePix S2 Pro Features:

• 6.17-Megapixel Fujifilm Super CCD
• Compact and lightweight digital SLR camera
• Nikon F-mount lenses (with 1.5x focal multiplier)
• Program AE w/Shift, Shutter priority, Aperture priority and full Manual
• Auto Bracketing of exposure
• 3D Matrix, center-weighted or spot metering
• TTL auto white balance, presets and custom set
• Shutter speeds from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds plus Bulb
• Continuous drive at 2fps up to 7 frames
• 1.8-inch color TFT LCD
• Onscreen menus for Record, Play, Custom settings and Setup
• Review with thumbnails, histogram and zoom
• ISO sensitivity from 100 to 1600
• In-camera finished JPEG in two quality levels and sizes
• Uncompressed TIFF and CCD-raw formats
• SmartMedia and CompactFlash Type II storage, Microdrive compatible
• Selectable video output with NTSC or PAL format
• IEEE 1394 FireWire and USB 1.1 data interface
• Powered by standard AA type batteries

The S2 Pro package contains: FinePix S2 Camera Body, Shoulder Strap, 4 AA and 2 CR123 Batteries, AC Power Adapter, USB, FireWire and Video Cables, Eyepiece, Body and LCD Screen Caps, CD-ROM Application and Drive Software, USB Driver, FinePix Viewer, Video Impression, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Apple QuickTime 5.0, Raw File Converter LE, 16 Bit Raw File Converter Software, FinePix S2 Camera Shooting Software.

Physical Views

Compare the FinePix S2 Pro and the Nikon D100 SLRs.

FinePix S2 Pro Specifications