I love/hate my Fuji

Why hate? The two Fujis I have are not very sturdy and show signs of defect quite quickly. My S1 has a faulty flash and over-exposes the bottom third of the image almost every shot (some shots the curtain doesn't even bother coming up).

I upgraded to an S2, and this camera shows "ERR" on its display after I attempt to release the shutter more times than I would like. Putting in new batteries normally solves the issue but it's hardly an ideal way to tell the user the batteries are running low.

Also, the camera is falling apart, so far I've managed to break off two bits of plastic, a chunk of the mode-dial menu-ring and some piece inside the battery tray. I've handled dozens of Canikons and Olys and never came across such a weak body. It must be said that I see more faulty Fuji S2's on Ebay than any other one camera model. The quality control I guess wasn't up to standard at the time of assembly. Did the old Nikon film SLR it's based on also have a reputation for developing little defects?

Oh yeah, and what an idiotic place to put the ISO control!

Ah well...I love it really, because stick a good lens on it the camera takes rather nice photos:











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dholl

You really can't complain about 5 & 7 year old cameras. Not a fair commentary on those hardy cameras. You want new, buy new.
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Regards,

Tom

I also have both cameras, but have had the opposite experience. Mine are in mint condition and have given me very good service for their age. I also scanned ebay when buying my fujis and found many other parts cameras from other manufacturers. There were many canons with shutter problems. Many Nikons with dead pop up flash. Maybe I just got lucky, but I have no regrets and mine are defect free.

I disagree with this statement. When generally my experience with 5 or 7-year old cameras from other companies are more sturdy then it is worth making the comment.

I don't want new. I like the S2, and I think with good lenses it has great IQ. But it's not a well-built camera. Its competitors of that time (Oly E-300, Canon 20D, Nikon D70) hold up very well still, putting the Fuji in last place in terms of reliability and sturdiness.

In terms of IQ, only the Canon with good lenses can challenge the Fuji.

TomC601 said:

You really can't complain about 5 & 7 year old cameras. Not a fair commentary on those hardy cameras. You want new, buy new.
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Regards,

Tom

Click to expand...

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dholl

Happy to hear the opposite experience)

Mr Pixel said:

I also have both cameras, but have had the opposite experience. Mine are in mint condition and have given me very good service for their age. I also scanned ebay when buying my fujis and found many other parts cameras from other manufacturers. There were many canons with shutter problems. Many Nikons with dead pop up flash. Maybe I just got lucky, but I have no regrets and mine are defect free.

Click to expand...

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dholl

I don't think the build and workmanship of the camera is the problem. From what you've described (aside from the S1's flash issue), it sounds to me like the camera has gone through some rough treatment. Even tanks like the Canon 1Ds II or Nikon D2x will show battle scars if not handled with care.

I know many pros with 1-year old cameras that look like 10-year old cameras. Photo-journalists are notorious for rough treatment of their gear.

None of this is meant to be a personal criticism of how you handle your camera or an instruction on the "proper" way to handle a camera. There's no such thing. This IS meant to say that in all the years I've been reading about the S2, yours is the first post I've read that cites "poor workmanship." I have two S2 Pros, and both look and feel and work like new.

-- SteveG
'When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.'
— Found in a Chinese Fortune Cookie
http://www.stephenmichaelgarey.com

dholl said:

Its competitors of that time (Oly E-300, Canon 20D, Nikon D70) hold up very well still, putting the Fuji in last place in terms of reliability and sturdiness.

Click to expand...

These cameras listed were made later than the fujis.
E-300-- 2005
20D and D70---2004

The true competitors were canon D-60 and 10D, and olmpus E1 and E20 and Nikon D100.

The S2 was never intended to be a professional tank. Its a Plastic body, not magnesium alloy. Its only claim to fame when it was released was better skin tone than other Nikon DSLRs of the time.

Still a good camera considering its many shortcomings though. If you can live with a body that only flash syncs to 1/125, is not iTTL, has primitive exposure settings, primitive metering areas; is noisy above ISO 400; its still a pretty good cam. Ancient by today's tech standards though. Even the vastly superior S5 is starting to show its age.

The S2 was the poor mans choice for a pro camera image result of 2002. It's competition was a camera like the Canon 1D, to which many fealt the S2 did a better job, made a better file. But the 1D was a $5000- $6000 option and the S2 a $2000 option based off the Nikon N80 plastic body. The 1D of a purely professional build, 100% new digital camera, contrasted by the N80 fully hobbiest build qualities. Fuji bashed the S2 together out of that N80, some film transport parts still left inside ( we had a forum member at one point in time who dismantled one and found that tid bit out) !

The S1 was made from an even cheaper film body, N60 if I recall. But that camera started the decline in pricing for DSLRs with interchangeable lenses and gave fine 4 MP files. Up till the S1 you could easilly pay $8000-$10,000 for a DSLR of the time. Most settled for a prosumer fixed lens camera or just shot film up till this point. I'd say the Fuji S1 started the DSLR revolution we are in right now, it was the first affordable option or nearly affordable option.

The fact that the cameras you have even work is quite something considering the base stock they were made from. How many N80s or N60s are out there today in working order I wonder.

Incidentally, I didn't want to pay the $2499 they wanted for that S1 back then but was willing to pay for an Oly E10 on discount, $1100. That was my beginning into digital after having tried some point and shoots and the Sony 707 and returning them each one as I tried them. I still own the Oly, it takes fine pictures up to ISO 160!! You noise nuts out there, you want to see noise, real noise, look at the olys ISO 320 result. Some of my most cherrished photos on my walls came from medium format and then that transition time while I shot the Oly. I'm thinking of building a cherry case to display my Oly in, it's in pristene condition, was a good shooter and made money, my first digital option. Maybe I'll put a Mamiya TLR in there too and my wifes Pentax K1000.

One more incidental. Pentax is a good option, she uses all her old manual focus Pentax and third party Pentax mount lenses on her iST DS. She has one autofocus lens and is not partial to it for autofocusing, though image quality is great, the 16-45 Pentax F4.

David

I have a Nikon F60 (same as N60) and it still works fine, no broken bits, no defects.

Perhaps I've just been unlucky, in that both Fujis I've had have been a bit wonky. Those plastic bits just breaking off like that is something I've never experienced with any camera, guess the Quality Control at Fuji wasn't of the same high standards as at other manufacturers. This is just my opinion based on experiences with lots and lots of cameras.

The S2 at ISO 1600 is alright if printing small and after a little NR in post:



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dholl

Nice to see some appreciators of the S2. This was my first camera in going digital, and I think it is fantastic. Frankly, it's image quality is still quite competitive with the best of prosumer cameras, and it still has d-range that blows most Nikons out of the water. Build isn't wonderful, but not bad either. Main issue is the dual power situation with AAs and lithium. Mine recently reports dying batteries, even with fully charged in it. But the image quality greatly surpasses its contemporaries. I sold a D200 after A / B'ing it to the S2. The S5 is larger step up in build, functionality, and d-range, but the S2 produces a sharper file.

Mine is like new, well used but absolutely no broken or damaged parts.

I have to think you must be a "Primitive Pete" judging from the fact that both the S1 and S2 have failed. Some people could even break a Cannonball.
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' You don't have to have the best of everything to get the best out of what you do have'.

For the record, I've extensively used the following DSLR cameras, all purchased or borrowed used:

Olympus E-410, E-510, E-1, E-300, E-400, E-500, E-P1
Canon 1D M1, 10D, 20D, 40D, 300D, 350D, 400D
Nikon D40, D40X, D50, D80, D200, D1, D2X
Pentax K100D
Fuji S1, S2
Sigma SD10
Konica Minolta 5D
Panasonic GH1

Some arrived already with some slight issues, but they were known to me. The only cameras that developed problems while I had it myself, have been both the Fujis. I don't handle the cameras particularly delicately, but then my experience has proven that DSLR cameras are well-made and robust tools which can handle some 'manhandling'.

Except the overly-delicate Fujis.

This is my experience, this is why I started this thread. It is worth reporting. I didn't mind so much the S1 going bonkers, but when those bits of plastic started breaking off the S2...well, not exactly the best of impressions.

If it breaks down anymore during the next few months I will update the thread.

What is encouraging at least for neutral readers is that you who have replied here have had no such issues with your S2, so hopefully my experience is just an isolated case. I'm certainly not picking on Fuji, I have no brand-loyalty or -bashing tendencies at all. And I quite like its output (in good light, with good glass).

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dholl