Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Opinion: Superb camera. Slow but sure.

Opinion: After 4 years with s3 i can't find any better digital slr in todays market. I investigate also in full frame both from nikon and canon but no one can keep up with s3 in DR and color.Amazing DR that even digital backs can't match, almost 13,8 stop of DR!! Skin color anbitable!!

Opinion: Have been using the S3 for approx 12 months, taking around 2000-3000 pictures a week. Although the camera has limitations, the quality on JPEG is excellent. RAW suffers a little but JPEGs are really good. I have not idea about the shutter life expectancy but so far seems to be going fine around the 91,000 clicks. As far as I can tell the S3 produces better results in "product" photos than my Nikon D200. The D2Xs is definately better but not by that far...and if you consider the price difference....S3 is ahead

Opinion: Having worked extensively with Fuji digital gear since the MX700 in 1999/2000 I eventually got myself an S3 Pro (after a 602 then S2).

The camera is fantastic at taking shots, the colours are amazing, esp with a poloriser attached and it works well with all the Nikon glass Ive used on it plus the SB800 flash.

The only downside is the speed.

Every way you look at it, its for low speed stuff. The buffer is tiny, the file sizes are huge and saving to CF is a joke.

However when you know the limits and use the camera in the way intended it is amazing the output you get with VERY little post.

Opinion: Had this camera for well over a year and a half, my previous camera was the S2 pro. I use it every week and so far its not broken (touch wood). I mainly use it for architectual work and night club photography.

With Night Club photography, the S3 is amazing, picks up brilliant vivid colours if used in the simulation mode #2. I use all the ISO's and can't really fault them, the noise reduction is V good. its verticle shutter (one of the main reasons I bought this) also helps as your not elbowing everyone!! I fing the focus to be quicker than the S2.

My architecture work, I find myself crawling all over the place, I knock the camera about (not on purpose may I add!!) and it takes it. When I first picked the camera up it felt cheaply made, but you soon get used to it and it proves to be alot sturdier.

I managed to pick the body up from fuji's refurbished stor for £529.99 with a 6 month warranty which was very good.

Opinion: Had the S3Pro for a while but sold it as it did not meet my expectations and I need my cameras for professional work.

This camera is regarded by some as an ideal camera for the wedding and portrait pro (which is me to the letter) but there was no match as far as I'm concerned.

Opinion: I'm lovin it!!!
I picking up the S3pro after using for ever CANON...., but i don't understand nothing until i get the fuji in my hand....
The image are so sharp and 3D like my old film.
The skin tones are superb and the flash sb 800 work very very good with this camera...
I'm very very satisfied...
The AF is sincerly and quite fine...

Opinion: After getting fed up with the Nikon D50 and the fact that the colours and image look didn't quite do it for me, I migrated towards the Nikon F80 and used it with the best film available: Fujifilm. I thought I would do better to scan my films and spend the extra cash than going back to the 'digital' look.
After serious thought and careful consideration of every alternative, I went for the S3 Pro as the price was just right for such a special camera. I could have gone for the D80 for the same price but that would have led me in the same place I started in with the D50.
Well, to put it simple: I am absolutely stunned! The look of the S3 Pro images are very very similar to my favourite Fuji 35mm films. The construction of the camera is not quite a 5, more like 4.75 because I think the connector part of the camera might have been better insulated. Also, the vertical shutter misses at least a command dial. Apart from this two, I love everything about the S3 Pro's construction. It feels remarcably good in one's hand and, no matter how you wanna hold it, it feels rightly balanced every time. This helps in keeping the camera stable at low shutter speeds.
Feature-wise, it is a 4.75 as well: wish it had AIS/AI metering capability. Other than that I can't think of one extra feature I would have liked on the S3 Pro. Don't use flash so I-TTL is meaningless to me.
Image quality is excellent. 5'er all the way. I love the Velvia/Provia simulations and also the wide dynamic range this jewel has. I find it very easy to use as it is quite similar to the F80. I only had to check the manual on a few things.
For the cash I payed for it (~1000$), I really think there is none like it that can compare to what this baby can do.
I am not interested in speed so the known issues this camera has with speed are of no bother to me. It is perfectly adapted to my style of snapping.

Opinion: I just bought this camera after a lot of waiting for the right price. All I can say is, if image quality is your thing this is the camera for you. Even though not terribly fast, this camera is not as slow as the reviews make you believe not only that, in fact the seasoned photographer who is not frantically trigger happy will find it's performance with a good fast CF card, very usable. The only thing is, having a Minolta 7D and handling this one, construction wise feels a bit less solid. The AF illuminator works extremely well in my opinion. They may say this is not your sports or action camera, but I have taken these kind of pictures with cameras way slower and I am confident that it is very possible to take good action shots with it, at least if you are a seasoned photographer. A serious choice to consider, given it's current price. AF on his camera is faster than AF on my 7D (at the long end of long lenses).