Just about to purchase the D100 when ......

Phil Flash · Sep 30, 2003

...while I'd love the better JPGs that Fuji allegedly gives you out of the camera, one huge unanticipated bonus of the D100 has been its battery.

I feel like I could go on vacation with the D100 for a week and not worry about the battery. You can't kill this thing!

Sure, you can recharge AAs and find CR123s everywhere, but the Nikon battery is such an elegant solution and it's one less thing to worry about.

Nikon feels great in the hands, too.

As you know, I say "Trust the 'kon" because I believe Nikon is the best at backing up its products with good software (Capture 4.0 coming soon). What's the Fuji software like?

You might also read Thom Hogan's comparison at http://www.bythom.com . He's written extensive documentation for both cameras.

--
Phil Flash
SF, CA USA
'Trust the 'kon!'

Stuff I own in my profile.

Clubpick · Sep 30, 2003

As a former sales person at a 'Pro' shop I'll tell you something... The sales people get a bonus for selling any Fuji products. The managers and DM's also receive a bonus when if their store sells more Fuji products than the other stores in their area... This guy knows you're new to this and is trying to make a buck off you! Listen to your gut; go with the first instinct which was the D100...

Elis Vener said:
Antonio Giaccio said:

After several months of research, I had decided to get the Nikon
D100 (I already own a Nikon N80, 1 Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm IF-ED
lens, 1 Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D lens, 1 Tamron 28-300mm lens and the
Nikon SB-28 speedlight). I visited a very reputable /
knowledgeable camera shop in the area and was just about to pick up
my new D100 (ordered last week) when the sales rep suggested the
Fuji S2 Pro. > --
Antonio G.

Click to expand...

may be the sales clerk & stores gets bigger commission (AKA
"Spliff") from Fuji than from Nikon? or perhaps Fuji has a sales
incentive drive on? it is possible! Fuji is rumored to be bringing
out the successor to the S2 very shortly so they might be
offeringthese incventives to getthe old stock out of the door.

Just something to think about.

--
Ellis Vener
'One experiment is worth a thousand expert opinions'- Capt. Alan
Bean, Astronaut

--
'See it, capture it, own it'
http://www.clubpick.com
[email protected]

Ed Nazarko · Sep 30, 2003

...there are a number of places in big cities who will rent for a day; some will let you rent for a half-day if you sweet talk them. I live in the NYC area and there are probably 20 places you can go.

If you're dealing with a good friendly camera shop, and they trust that you're not going to put wear and tear on their gear and then go buy online, many of them will let you take the camera out into the parking lot, into the store next door, etc, if you leave a bag of camera gear with them, or your wallet, or something equivalently important. And if you're checking ergonomics, half hour to 45 minutes will often tell you if you like it or don't like it.

Bao nguyen said:
Ed Nazarko wrote:
e. I rented an S2 and a D100 for a day each, shot

bao nguyen said:

with both, many of the same subjects etc., as much as I could, and
I ended up with a D100, mostly for how it felt in my hands, and for
how familiar it felt to me (I've shot with F100s for awhile.)

Click to expand...

--
Ed

Make pictures, don't take them - it leaves more for others.

http://www.onemountainphoto.com

tony field · Sep 30, 2003

The S2 pro definitely is better out of the camera than the D100. You can conveniently use film-type TTL flash with the S2 but not the D100. The battery life on the D100 is superb (I get 1150 shots per charge vs. 375 on the S2 ). These are small items that may convince you to go to either camera.

Otherwise, I think the real differentiation is in the following "critical" extra features for specialized use:

1. the S2 has a built-in voice memo system. You can record a voice message with the picture - for example, shoot a speed skating event and record the name/country of each competitor. Shoot a folk-festival with many performances - record the names etc. To get this feature on the D100, you must purchase the $350 (CDN) extra battery pack.

2. the D100 can shoot at ISO 3200 or 6400. This Fuji is limited to 1600. The quality at the high ISO's are completely useable and even more so when noise reduction software is used. This can be used for low-light photography (ISO 6400, F2.8 1/60 sec) situations such as theatre and dance.

On the whole, I find the S2 to be a slightly better all-around camera for normal use. However, even though I have shot many thousands of images on the S2, I found that I needed the high ISO very often - as a result, my choice was for the D100.

tony

R. Bond · Sep 30, 2003

Antonio Giaccio said:
After several months of research, I had decided to get the Nikon
D100 (I already own a Nikon N80, 1 Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm IF-ED
lens, 1 Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D lens, 1 Tamron 28-300mm lens and the
Nikon SB-28 speedlight). I visited a very reputable /
knowledgeable camera shop in the area and was just about to pick up
my new D100 (ordered last week) when the sales rep suggested the
Fuji S2 Pro. For the price of the Nikon D100 with Nikon SB-80DX
speedlight he can get me (new in-store special) the Fuji S2 Pro +
1GB microdrive + 4 rechargeable batteries (NiMH) with charger + 10
CD-Rs. He said that the S2 Pro provides better pics (color,
detail, skin tones) out of camera than the D100. I felt confused
and told him I would need a few days to think this through. I
handled both cameras (both models were in stock) and I like the
look and feel of both cameras. Any suggestions? Do you agree with
the statement made by the sales rep? What should I do? HELP!
--
Antonio G.

--
http://www.pbase.com/rebond

bimmerman · Sep 30, 2003

If you plan to do more studio work and maximum enlargements are required, the low noise and higher resolution as well as the interpolated 12MP could come in very useful indeed. The irritating dual power system would be much less of an issue.

The D100 would make the better field camera without the dual battery issue i suppose. But some field reports seem to indicate that the D100 has flash underexposure problems which does not exist on the S2Pro.

Good luck!

bimmerman said:
Antonio Giaccio said:

After several months of research, I had decided to get the Nikon
D100 (I already own a Nikon N80, 1 Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm IF-ED
lens, 1 Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D lens, 1 Tamron 28-300mm lens and the
Nikon SB-28 speedlight). I visited a very reputable /
knowledgeable camera shop in the area and was just about to pick up
my new D100 (ordered last week) when the sales rep suggested the
Fuji S2 Pro. For the price of the Nikon D100 with Nikon SB-80DX
speedlight he can get me (new in-store special) the Fuji S2 Pro +
1GB microdrive + 4 rechargeable batteries (NiMH) with charger + 10
CD-Rs. He said that the S2 Pro provides better pics (color,
detail, skin tones) out of camera than the D100. I felt confused
and told him I would need a few days to think this through. I
handled both cameras (both models were in stock) and I like the
look and feel of both cameras. Any suggestions? Do you agree with
the statement made by the sales rep? What should I do? HELP!
--
Antonio G.

Click to expand...

NNS · Sep 30, 2003

Antonio Giaccio said:
After several months of research, I had decided to get the Nikon
D100 (I already own a Nikon N80, 1 Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm IF-ED
lens, 1 Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D lens, 1 Tamron 28-300mm lens and the
Nikon SB-28 speedlight). I visited a very reputable /
knowledgeable camera shop in the area and was just about to pick up
my new D100 (ordered last week) when the sales rep suggested the
Fuji S2 Pro. For the price of the Nikon D100 with Nikon SB-80DX
speedlight he can get me (new in-store special) the Fuji S2 Pro +
1GB microdrive + 4 rechargeable batteries (NiMH) with charger + 10
CD-Rs. He said that the S2 Pro provides better pics (color,
detail, skin tones) out of camera than the D100. I felt confused
and told him I would need a few days to think this through. I
handled both cameras (both models were in stock) and I like the
look and feel of both cameras. Any suggestions? Do you agree with
the statement made by the sales rep? What should I do? HELP!
--
Antonio G.

win39 · Sep 30, 2003

I am not sure how it is a good deal to get a $1999 camera and no flash instead of a $1699 camera and $300 flash.

By the way there is a new lower official price for the D100 tomorrow.

RecalcitrantRon · Oct 1, 2003

By suggesting the S2, he prolonged your decision just long enough for Nikon to drop the D100 price $200, effective 10/1. Thank him for that.

By suggesting the S2, it seems obvious that he was trying to maximize his commission on a more expensive item as he probably knew the D100 was coming down in price. Smack him for that.

As for which camera, can't help you there. Buy the one YOU like best!

--
Happy Snappin'!

Ron
----------------------------------------------------
http://www.pbase.com/recalcitrantron
pbase supporter
Coolpix 45K

Jonathan F. · Oct 1, 2003

The D100 is a great field camera, amongst the 6mp DSLRs (S2, 10D, etc.), but from what I've seen the Fuji S2 seems to make an excellent studio and wedding camera. The only thing that bothers me about the S2 is the lack of a vertical shutter release. That bugs.

Oh, I'm a D100 user and love it. I shoot a lot of event photography and I've gotten my camera pretty dialed in, getting near perfect exposures on my shots. Yes the D100 tends to underexpose, but it does it in a good way to preserve detail. Believe me it helps, because shots I thought were blown out, still held detail when I view them in Photoshop, so believe me, as long as you expose or meter in terms of how the D100 works, the underexposure is more a blessing than an issue, which can be adjusted to accordingly. Remember it's the photographer that makes the shot!

Antonio Giaccio said:
After several months of research, I had decided to get the Nikon
D100 (I already own a Nikon N80, 1 Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm IF-ED
lens, 1 Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D lens, 1 Tamron 28-300mm lens and the
Nikon SB-28 speedlight). I visited a very reputable /
knowledgeable camera shop in the area and was just about to pick up
my new D100 (ordered last week) when the sales rep suggested the
Fuji S2 Pro. For the price of the Nikon D100 with Nikon SB-80DX
speedlight he can get me (new in-store special) the Fuji S2 Pro +
1GB microdrive + 4 rechargeable batteries (NiMH) with charger + 10
CD-Rs. He said that the S2 Pro provides better pics (color,
detail, skin tones) out of camera than the D100. I felt confused
and told him I would need a few days to think this through. I
handled both cameras (both models were in stock) and I like the
look and feel of both cameras. Any suggestions? Do you agree with
the statement made by the sales rep? What should I do? HELP!
--
Antonio G.

--
------------------------------

My new site is almost done...

inhousephoto inc. digital • photography • media
http://www.inhousephoto.com

JohanP · Oct 1, 2003

Hi

why I swapped... the battery solution and I really missed the vertical release button...

reduced photo quality? no, not at all.. better colors and much better raw-conversion software have resulted in a better solution overall.

Go for the D100 (or wait for D200)

Best regards
Johan

Antonio Giaccio said:
After several months of research, I had decided to get the Nikon
D100 (I already own a Nikon N80, 1 Nikon AF-S VR 24-120mm IF-ED
lens, 1 Nikon AF 50mm f1.4D lens, 1 Tamron 28-300mm lens and the
Nikon SB-28 speedlight). I visited a very reputable /
knowledgeable camera shop in the area and was just about to pick up
my new D100 (ordered last week) when the sales rep suggested the
Fuji S2 Pro. For the price of the Nikon D100 with Nikon SB-80DX
speedlight he can get me (new in-store special) the Fuji S2 Pro +
1GB microdrive + 4 rechargeable batteries (NiMH) with charger + 10
CD-Rs. He said that the S2 Pro provides better pics (color,
detail, skin tones) out of camera than the D100. I felt confused
and told him I would need a few days to think this through. I
handled both cameras (both models were in stock) and I like the
look and feel of both cameras. Any suggestions? Do you agree with
the statement made by the sales rep? What should I do? HELP!
--
Antonio G.

--
Regards
Johan
http://www.motljus.com

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Just about to purchase the D100 when ......

Phil Flash

Senior Member

Clubpick

Well-known member

Ed Nazarko

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tony field

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R. Bond

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bimmerman

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NNS

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win39

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RecalcitrantRon

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Jonathan F.

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JohanP

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