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Fuji S2 or not??

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Jason Panesar

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Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
 
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
The best I can tell you is I got a bum one out of the box basically. Bought it yesterday at noon, this monring it was dead. It obviously has some electronics problem in the base, if you lightly press below the LCD screen an ERR message comes on, but the batteries are fresh and the door for the card isn't open.

Just my luck I guess. I'm knocking the S2 in general though, I really don't know enough about it for that, except that it shot mighty clean 800 and 1600 ISO images ( the few I took) !

On a brighter note, the focus tracking should help with aircraft shooting I would think. The image quality is superb, can't say I had time to get used to the metering system, can't help there.

David
 
David Grabowski said:
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
The best I can tell you is I got a bum one out of the box
basically. Bought it yesterday at noon, this monring it was dead.
It obviously has some electronics problem in the base, if you
lightly press below the LCD screen an ERR message comes on, but the
batteries are fresh and the door for the card isn't open.

Just my luck I guess. I'm knocking the S2 in general though, I
really don't know enough about it for that, except that it shot
mighty clean 800 and 1600 ISO images ( the few I took) !

On a brighter note, the focus tracking should help with aircraft
shooting I would think. The image quality is superb, can't say I
had time to get used to the metering system, can't help there.

David
Click to expand...
--I have now had my S2 for three months. I had my S1 for a year. I am delighted with my S2 and consider it very good value indeed for the cost. May I suggest you not let people who have had problems put you off. These would happen no matter which camera you eventually bought. If you would like to see some of my shots, send me your e mail address and I will send you just a few taken with my S2. On another matter I am a lapsed 'limey' who is now living in Vancouver. I hope to come back to London this year for a few days but I can believe just how expensive hotel rooms are. I can not find any accomodation for less than 100 pounds per night. All I want is a room and a comfortable bed not buy the hotel!. What ever has happened to London to make it this expensive.
Very sincerely,

Leon Woolf
leon
 
I love my S2, I'm pretty sure you'd love one too if you end up buying it.

The CR123 battery issue is a red herring - the camera performs just fine with only AA batteries in it. I use the CR123 as well when I'm shooting professionally since I think the autofocus system benefits a bit from having the extra "umph" (but, this isn't something that's been verified) and since overall battery life is improved when both sets are installed. (And when I'm shooting a wedding or something it's nice to be able to shoot 800 photos or so without a battery change)

The dust issue - yeah, it's a problem. My S2 is currently @ Fuji getting cleaned. But this is after 6 months and many thousands of shots, so that's not too bad really. It is possible to clean the sensor yourself, and not too scary - but mine got really dirty somehow and I decided it was time to have it professionally cleaned. I suspect that all of the cameras (except maybe the sigma) would have similar problems eventually, and the S2 seems easier than most to clean.

I'm confident that I'll get at least 2 years of productive use out of the S2 - even after seeing the 14n/1Ds announcements I feel great about the quality I'm getting from the S2.
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com
 
Akahanada said:
Your camera is probably on the recall list for this particular
problem. Check the Fuji web site for more information.
Click to expand...
Thanks but the camera is only out of the box little more than 24 hours and I have a 10 day return policy . In this case I think the dealer can handle the problem ! They are expecting a new lot in on Tuesday, this one was the last one in the store, in fact it was on hold but the person who ordered it never showed up so I got it.

If push comes to shove I'll send it to Fuji , but these guys are pretty good, I think they will swap this out on Tuesday.

David
 
I can't necessarily speak to doing shots whily flying, but I have had both the D100 and S2, and have posted my opinions many times. Here's a thread for ya:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=4062306

The battery situation is a non-issue. If you do go with the S2, pickup a couple of sets of Maha NiMh AAs (1800 or 2000 mAH) and you'll get around 500 or more pics per charge. You can get these at:

http://www.thomasdistributing.com

For the CR123s, you can get these in bulk for $13 for a set of 10. I get over 1,100 pics per set of these. This site is:

http://www.botachtactical.com/toscr123a3vo.html

Good luck,

Teski
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
 
Cheers for the help guys. I just have few more pounds to save up and I'll be the proud owner of an S2.

Thanks again.

Jason.
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
 
You're quite welcome, and we'll be looking forward to seeing ya around.

Cheers.

Teski
Jason Panesar said:
Thanks again.

Jason.
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi

the S2PRo is a very good digicam. I have owned several digicams before the S2 and this is by far the best of them.

I have got some S2 galleries if you like to see.;

see several 30 sec exposures and working in 22 degrees below zero.
http://www.motljus.com/motgallery.asp?GalleryIdNr=32

autumnphotos.
http://www.motljus.com/motgallery.asp?GalleryIdNr=24

Regards
Johan
http://www.motljus.com
Jason Panesar said:
Hi,

I am interested in taking photo's of aircraft both on the ground
and flying. I have been looking at the Fuji S2 as my choice of
dslr, but was wondering after reading this forum, are there any big
issues with this camera?

I read about the CR123A battery thing that's not liiked, but I can
get them fairly cheap in the UK, so how many shots are you normally
getting on a new set?

Also Is the dust/sensor cleaning thing really a big problem?

I don't expect any product to be perfect, and looking at the choice
of Canon D60, Fuji S2, Nikon D100 or Sigma SD9 the Fuji appeals the
most.

I would like a camera that would last me 2/3 years at least.

Any help appreciated

Jason.
Click to expand...
--
Regards
Johan
http://www.motljus.com
 
Cleaning has been turned into a mistical thing and many think it's akin to witchcraft.

I had my S2 for Six months and cleaned it once. Mostly dust can be removed by a blower (no contact with the CCD).

A special swab can be used to remove dust should the first method fail. This is an easier procedure than on the Nikon D??? camera's as there is more room around the CCD in which to work.

--
Alex
LWS photographic (UK)
 
I asked my local dealer (over the weekend) about the availability of S2s here in Minneapolis. He said that they were out of them and had a waiting list - that Fuji had a "problem with the power supply" and he didn't know how soon that the next (good) batch would arrive in the USA.

Ron Larsen, Minneapolis, MN
David Grabowski said:
Akahanada said:
Your camera is probably on the recall list for this particular
problem. Check the Fuji web site for more information.
Click to expand...
Thanks but the camera is only out of the box little more than 24
hours and I have a 10 day return policy . In this case I think the
dealer can handle the problem ! They are expecting a new lot in on
Tuesday, this one was the last one in the store, in fact it was on
hold but the person who ordered it never showed up so I got it.

If push comes to shove I'll send it to Fuji , but these guys are
pretty good, I think they will swap this out on Tuesday.

David
Click to expand...
--
Even I can take a beautiful picture, if I press the right button enough times.
 
RonLar said:
I asked my local dealer (over the weekend) about the availability
of S2s here in Minneapolis. He said that they were out of them and
had a waiting list - that Fuji had a "problem with the power
supply" and he didn't know how soon that the next (good) batch
would arrive in the USA.

Ron Larsen, Minneapolis, MN
Click to expand...
Well Ron, I may very well have one of those cameras with the bad power supply ! I called the dealer today, they are still expecting their shipment on Tuesday, I'll call them in the early afternoon tomorro and see whats up. These guys have a pretty tight Fuji connection since they have have one of the Fuji Pro centers there. i'm really hoping they come through, I'd hate to have to switch to Canon or something !
David
 
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