Fuji S2, S3 or S5 PRO?? Assistance Needed!

Mark Carr wrote:

Hi LaFonte,

Well, I would have to disagree with your post. Yes, the "S" cams are old, but old does not necessarily mean out of date or inadequate. There are lots of old things that still work perfectly well, just look at lenses for example. In spite of all the technological advances over the last 20+ years some of Nikon's old AI/AIS lenses still perform as well or better than their successors. The 105mm 2.5 AIS, 55mm 3.5 AI, 75-150mm 3.5 E AIS, 200mm f4 AIS, 50mm 1.8 AIS, (just to name a few), are all stellar lenses even by today's standards. There's no doubt that there have been improvements to digital SLR's since the "S' cams appeared, but if your shooting style doesn't depend on those advancements I wonder if the newer cams offer any more than a 5-8 year old "S" cam. I still see lots of threads of people using newer Nikon bodies asking for guidance in how to produce Fuji colors with their D700/800, etc. So, in spite of all the improvements the newer cams are still lacking in many respects. The improvements in RAW processing software also helps mitigate some of the shortcomings so often associated with Fuji cams, RPP comes to mind.

I have never shot with anything other than a Fuji DSLR so I can't speak from experience, but I'm inclined to think that for most shooters the "S" cams are still all one needs. How many need to print 20" x 30" prints? How many regularly photograph fast action sports? Probably not many. Unbridled consumerism has coerced many into thinking that they have to have the newest model.

I'd like to see somebody with both a Nikon D700/800 and Fuji S5 post similar pictures taken in both jpeg and RAW formats.

Kind regards,

Mark

It is not that cameras are inadequate, I understood the OP wants S as a single hobby camera and that would drive him probably mad, but now I see he want this as one of the cameras - basically just "another" toy to play with - in which case I think he is overthinking this. he should really spend more time thinking what primary camera he is going to get and get the S3 or S5 just as passing when he gets the opportunity.

The S5 ($400) body is still selling a bit more expensive than D200 body ($300) which only tells there is still some life in those S's. But sometimes it pays to visit local camera store or even big box store as the low price Nikon DSLRs are discounted pretty heavily and you can get D3100 cheaper than S5. As a hobby DSLR I would recommend the D3100 far more than S5. Skin tones or not (nobody can stop you making good skin tones on Nikon)