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Fujifilm S6500, S9500, S9600 and HS30 comparison

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kiwifotographer

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Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
 
When pixel peeping, S6500 always wins, at least in sharpness and detail. The color is quite good in new EXR cameras, though. Shame about the soft left side of this HS30 lens, or the focus field is curved on HS30.
kiwifotographer said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
Click to expand...
 
Glad you posted these. Not surprised, but still disappointed, that some prior models produce better IQ than the current. (Went straight from an S5200 to an HS20.)

To my eye, the sharpest image shown comes from the S9500 (especially apparent in printed words on box at lower left). But that's just MY eye.

Wish I could just go back to a 6500 or 9600, but I need more reach. And freedom from xD is, well, liberating.

P.S. Other improvements aside, IQ for the HS30 seems only on a par with the 20, which I had and returned.
kiwifotographer said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
Click to expand...
--
Tim
 
Tim39 said:
Glad you posted these. Not surprised, but still disappointed, that some prior models produce better IQ than the current. (Went straight from an S5200 to an HS20.)

To my eye, the sharpest image shown comes from the S9500 (especially apparent in printed words on box at lower left). But that's just MY eye.
Click to expand...
Prolly a decentered lens issue?
Tim39 said:
Wish I could just go back to a 6500 or 9600, but I need more reach. And freedom from xD is, well, liberating.

P.S. Other improvements aside, IQ for the HS30 seems only on a par with the 20, which I had and returned.
Click to expand...
Speed, DR, EVF/LCD and battery only.
Tim39 said:
Tim39 said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
Click to expand...
--
Tim
Click to expand...
--
-=[ Joms ]=-
 
jcmarfilph said:
Prolly a decentered lens issue?
Click to expand...
I rather think it's different field curvature and depth of field characteristics. As for pixel-peeping - HS30 has distinct reticulation pattern or pretty strong NR blur at pixel level. That's the pay for high-Mp Fuji type filter. Still performs not too bad as compared to old models at their level of resolution. It's no accident that premium models like X10 and X-S1 sport lower resolution sensor.

--
Everyone can do it - some do it well.
 
Michael Melb AU said:
jcmarfilph said:
Prolly a decentered lens issue?
Click to expand...
I rather think it's different field curvature and depth of field characteristics.
Click to expand...
If the box was inclined (right part pushed back) then it is a DOF issue because the back of it was in-focus and sharp.
Michael Melb AU said:
As for pixel-peeping - HS30 has distinct reticulation pattern or pretty strong NR blur at pixel level. That's the pay for high-Mp Fuji type filter. Still performs not too bad as compared to old models at their level of resolution. It's no accident that premium models like X10 and X-S1 sport lower resolution sensor.
Click to expand...
It can be improved by setting NR to low or shooting RAW.
Michael Melb AU said:
--
Everyone can do it - some do it well.
Click to expand...
--
-=[ Joms ]=-
 
If I had your skill with the HS30, I'd buy it and be done. But I don't, so I'm still waiting...looking...weighing.
jcmarfilph said:
Tim39 said:
Glad you posted these. Not surprised, but still disappointed, that some prior models produce better IQ than the current. (Went straight from an S5200 to an HS20.)

To my eye, the sharpest image shown comes from the S9500 (especially apparent in printed words on box at lower left). But that's just MY eye.
Click to expand...
Prolly a decentered lens issue?
jcmarfilph said:
Wish I could just go back to a 6500 or 9600, but I need more reach. And freedom from xD is, well, liberating.

P.S. Other improvements aside, IQ for the HS30 seems only on a par with the 20, which I had and returned.
Click to expand...
Speed, DR, EVF/LCD and battery only.
Click to expand...
To be sure!
jcmarfilph said:
jcmarfilph said:
jcmarfilph said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
Click to expand...
--
Tim
Click to expand...
--
-=[ Joms ]=-
Click to expand...
--
Tim
 
Tim39 said:
If I had your skill with the HS30, I'd buy it and be done. But I don't, so I'm still waiting...looking...weighing.
Click to expand...
I thought I don't have the skill? =D You sure have it with your HS20 so no need to get new skill for HS30.
Tim39 said:
jcmarfilph said:
Tim39 said:
Glad you posted these. Not surprised, but still disappointed, that some prior models produce better IQ than the current. (Went straight from an S5200 to an HS20.)

To my eye, the sharpest image shown comes from the S9500 (especially apparent in printed words on box at lower left). But that's just MY eye.
Click to expand...
Prolly a decentered lens issue?
Tim39 said:
Wish I could just go back to a 6500 or 9600, but I need more reach. And freedom from xD is, well, liberating.

P.S. Other improvements aside, IQ for the HS30 seems only on a par with the 20, which I had and returned.
Click to expand...
Speed, DR, EVF/LCD and battery only.
Click to expand...
To be sure!
Tim39 said:
Tim39 said:
Tim39 said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
Click to expand...
--
Tim
Click to expand...
--
-=[ Joms ]=-
Click to expand...
--
Tim
Click to expand...
--
-=[ Joms ]=-
 
I don't really see much difference.

At the same time, I don't see the point of pixelpeeping the downscaled ISO100 images. Any camera does realistic ISO100 snapshot when downscaled to 1600x1200, does it not ?

Or am I missing the way to get the originals ?
 
kiwifotographer said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned.
Click to expand...
No need if this is the IQ you are after.



-=[ Joms ]=-
 
kiwifotographer said:
dpr://galleries/3064585085/albums/various-fujifilm-comparison

Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned. Well, here's a comparison of the S6500, S9500, S9600 and the HS30. I've had all these cameras, and at one point had all of these together, so could shoot the comparison shots. Now I am holding on to S6500 and HS30, but I consider the S6500 to be still the best!

All the shots were taken in the same conditions, at the same time, on tripod. S6500 shot is 6mp, the S9500 and S9600 are 9mp and the HS30 was shot at M size. All auto settings.

First up is S6500, followed by S9500, S9600 and finally HS30. So, please feel free to pixel peep and advise which do you think is the best?
Click to expand...
The S6500 is the clear winner but there were problems with all of the photos, some minor, some more serious. But first, I noticed that the color of the white flowers was much whiter in the S6500 photo, where the others were more ivory colored, so which camera delivered the most accurate color? Also, for comparing resolution, it would have been better if your profile setting allowed us to see the original photos. The largest gallery views cut the resolution to less than 2mp, making it harder to see differences unless they're pretty extreme. The "original" view also allows us to see all of the available EXIF data vs. DPR's gallery views that strip out a lot of it when they produce the smaller views.

What I noticed is that the left side of the HS30 photo is very blurry, leading me to think that it has a sensor/lens alignment problem. The lower right corner of the S6000/6500 photo is much more out of focus than the HS30's photo, so the S6000's lens may slightly out of alignment as well, but in the rest of the frame, the S6000 does better than all of the other cameras, so it could be a focus issue. By the time you move up in the frame to the middle and top of the right edge of the photos, the S6000 is doing pretty well, equal to the HS30 and better than the S9000 and S9100. I've found that some P&S cameras don't always nail the focus, so if you take 10 photos, 2 to 8 might be noticeably more out of focus than the best shots, so I usually take 3 to 5 photos from each camera when I compare them, choosing the best photos from each. CD AF has the potential to get near perfect focus 99% of the time, but that would tremendously slow down the AF times, so really fast AF may not always be better.
 
It's well known that the S6500 had good IQ, it's the rest of the camera that's a nightmare. The EVF is probably the worst I've even seen on any camera and if I remember rightly you needed to use two hands just to change the EV compensation.

As Rachotilko said, you can't tell from this type of shot, even a phone camera would look good.

Paul.
 
PAUL TILL said:
It's well known that the S6500 had good IQ, it's the rest of the camera that's a nightmare.
Click to expand...
That's a bit unfair, all the controls fall nicely for either my forefinger or thumb on my right hand, with the one exception being the af mode which falls nicely to the thumb of my left hand. I only have to use both hands to change af area, even that can be done while looking through the evf. Ergonomics are probably better IMHO than my canon/pentax/samsung dslr or my panasonic m4/3.

Now if by the rest of the camera you mean operational speed then yes I agree it's a slow old chugger with a limited feature set, probably steam powered in comparison to today's tech.
PAUL TILL said:
.. The EVF is probably the worst I've even seen on any camera and if I remember rightly you needed to use two hands just to change the EV compensation.
Click to expand...
Nope forefinger and thumb on the right hand can be done easily with an eye to the evf.. However have to agree with you about the evf.

--
Walt

http://picasaweb.google.com/waltdall
 
Trevor G said:
jcmarfilph said:
kiwifotographer said:
Under the recent thread "'how do you want Fuji to respond to Pany FZ200", I remarked that Fujifilm could very well go back to their old models as far as IQ is concerned.
Click to expand...
No need if this is the IQ you are after.
Click to expand...
Ho ho - an FX200 is not an FZ200.

Not even close...
Click to expand...
Wrong filename but correct in exif.
Trevor G said:
--
Cheers ;-)

Trevor G

Silkypix tutorials at: http://photo.computerwyse.com
Click to expand...
--
-=[ Joms ]=-
 
Walt_A said:
PAUL TILL said:
It's well known that the S6500 had good IQ, it's the rest of the camera that's a nightmare.
Click to expand...
That's a bit unfair, all the controls fall nicely for either my forefinger or thumb on my right hand, with the one exception being the af mode which falls nicely to the thumb of my left hand. I only have to use both hands to change af area, even that can be done while looking through the evf. Ergonomics are probably better IMHO than my canon/pentax/samsung dslr or my panasonic m4/3.

Now if by the rest of the camera you mean operational speed then yes I agree it's a slow old chugger with a limited feature set, probably steam powered in comparison to today's tech.
Walt_A said:
.. The EVF is probably the worst I've even seen on any camera and if I remember rightly you needed to use two hands just to change the EV compensation.
Click to expand...
Nope forefinger and thumb on the right hand can be done easily with an eye to the evf.. However have to agree with you about the evf.

--
Walt

http://picasaweb.google.com/waltdall
Click to expand...
I agree, the S6000 ergonomics is not that bad, the only thing I miss is the Auto ISO function in P mode, or ability to set max ISO in Auto mode. But, this camera has the best on-board flash performance I have ever seen, great coverage even at wide angle (no vignetting) and perfect exposure control when dealing with shiny reflective surfaces which throw off most other camera flashes.
 
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