S2 Pro Settings / Advice

Golfcaddy · Jan 17, 2004

I am new to the digita photography world and after studying reviews for months I finally decided upon the S2 pro over Canon's 10D (which I already had compatible lenses for having owned a Canon film SLR for many years).

I purchased the following lenses for the Fuji

Nikon 18-35 F3.5-4.5 IF ED

Nikon 35-70 F2.8 D

The 18-35 has gone back to Nikon for checking as it will only give what I would class as sharp images at the 35mm end of it's focal length. If Nikon can't improve this lense I was considering possibly changing this lense for a Tamron 17-35 or a Sigma 15-30 both of which seem to have mixed reviews? Any advice would be more than welcome.

The 35-75 well that is just bliss, push/pull zoom took some getting used to but the quality of this lens far outways it's erginomics.

My main purpose for this post was to ask advise on the camera settings.

With being new to digital, I am not looking to post process my pictures to begin with, but in time as my knowledge increases I will go down this avenue with RAW format.

For out of the camera pictures I am looking for advise on the following

6Mp or 12Mp

Colour Std, Org or Off
Tone " , " or "
Shapening " , " or "

Sorry for the long winded post,

Gavin.

David Grabowski · Jan 17, 2004

Golfcaddy said:
I am new to the digita photography world and after studying reviews
for months I finally decided upon the S2 pro over Canon's 10D
(which I already had compatible lenses for having owned a Canon
film SLR for many years).

I purchased the following lenses for the Fuji

Nikon 18-35 F3.5-4.5 IF ED

Nikon 35-70 F2.8 D

The 18-35 has gone back to Nikon for checking as it will only give
what I would class as sharp images at the 35mm end of it's focal
length. If Nikon can't improve this lense I was considering
possibly changing this lense for a Tamron 17-35 or a Sigma 15-30
both of which seem to have mixed reviews? Any advice would be more
than welcome.

The 35-75 well that is just bliss, push/pull zoom took some getting
used to but the quality of this lens far outways it's erginomics.

My main purpose for this post was to ask advise on the camera
settings.

With being new to digital, I am not looking to post process my
pictures to begin with, but in time as my knowledge increases I
will go down this avenue with RAW format.

For out of the camera pictures I am looking for advise on the
following

6Mp or 12Mp

Colour Std, Org or Off
Tone " , " or "
Shapening " , " or "

Sorry for the long winded post,

Gavin.

Depends on your subject matter and lighting. For all people photos I use 6MP and ORG ORG STD, this gives the best skin rendition for me. If the light is really flash you might try upping the contrast to STD as well, but personally I'd jsut as soon post process that in.

For scenic shooting I may use 6MP or 12MP, but pretty much STD STD STD, since you want to not post process you could even sharpen in HARD, though I'd rather use USM in PS personally. Many here feel that if to shoot 12MP, use ORG for sharpening and post process your sharpness in with USM later, it makes for nicer image quality. I'm not a fan of oversharpening in camera because it's kind of finalized, if you wrecked the image with too much sharpening, it's wrecked period. With a flat shot, soft if you will , you have control over how sharp you want to get. In this regard I don't find the STD setting to overdue sharpening on my particular S2 with the lenses I use and can predictably expect to need about 60%USM to get the images where I like them to be in print ( screen viewing is an whole other matter again)..

I returned the 18-35 and bought the Sigma 15-30. The Sigma is sharp all the way through but works best IMO with a custom WB set to it, I keep a custom WB off my studio lighting accomplished via Kodak Gray card for the Sigma lens ( Custom II) which loses the yellow/green cast it can produce on it's own in auto WB. You will get this with digital anyway, not all lenses are color accurate in the same way. I've found Tamron and Nikon to balance lens color similarly. I very much like the Tamron line for a third party lens maker FWIW. Also, the 15-30 is a large piece for a wide angle lens, it's kind of a Rube Golberg design , but it really is sharp ( two strikes against it and two strikes for it, so it's even: color a little off neutral, large glass for the focal length with the goofy design, but it's very sharp and interfaces well with the S2).

David

David Grabowski · Jan 17, 2004

David Grabowski said:
me. If the light is really flash you might try upping the contrast
in.

This should read, really flat, not flash !!!!

Bill C · Jan 17, 2004

Gavin - Good choice of cameras! David already gave you good advice ... I had the same questions (I think everyone did), so here's what I did ...

I ran thru MANY of my own tests .... varying the settings for color, tone, sharpening .... I ran thru a series of tests shooting at the various JPG settings, and also RAW....then to complicate it even more, I ran thru another series of tests with various custom White Balance settings.. These tests were productive - if nothing else, I learned more about the camera, and how to quickly change settings.

A lot of variables go into the settings you use, and what your personal preferences are (skin tone for example)...there really is not a 'right' or 'wrong' as most things can be fixed/adjusted in post processing. As a result of the tests.....

If I'm shooting 'snapshots' I use the fine JPG setting.... High, STD, STD .... I find that in many cases this gives me the color 'pop' and right amount of sharpening ...For people shots, if I use JPG, I may drop the color to STD, or even ORG, however, more and more, for people (especially portraits), I'll set color to STD and shoot in RAW. I'll also shoot in RAW when the lighting is in doubt (I use PhotoShop CS for the conversion - quite a bit of flexibility in adjusting white balance).... So, I suggest you run your own series of tests (lenses also make a big difference) - learn the camera, and have fun!
Have a nice day.
Bill

GodSpeaks · Jan 17, 2004

Hi, I have the Sigma 15-30 and I just love it. I love wide angle lanses anyway, and this was the only affordable lens that could give me a field of view greater than a 24mm.

As for the 6 MP vs 12 MP question. Here is my thinking (I assume you are shooting JPG):

The S2, in camera, generates a 12 MP image ALWAYS, and then downsamples to lower resolutions, if that is what you have chosen for output. That being the case, why save in anything other than 12 MP, unless space on your CF/MD is a major concern. Personally, I would rather do my downsizing later in Photoshop, or whatever package you use.

As I only shoot RAW, the ORG, STD, HIGH etc settings have no meaning, as I use custom settings in the EX converter.

Declan
--
One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
I can feel an angel sliding up to me

Golfcaddy · Jan 18, 2004

Golfcaddy said:
I am new to the digita photography world and after studying reviews
for months I finally decided upon the S2 pro over Canon's 10D
(which I already had compatible lenses for having owned a Canon
film SLR for many years).

I purchased the following lenses for the Fuji

Nikon 18-35 F3.5-4.5 IF ED

Nikon 35-70 F2.8 D

The 18-35 has gone back to Nikon for checking as it will only give
what I would class as sharp images at the 35mm end of it's focal
length. If Nikon can't improve this lense I was considering
possibly changing this lense for a Tamron 17-35 or a Sigma 15-30
both of which seem to have mixed reviews? Any advice would be more
than welcome.

The 35-75 well that is just bliss, push/pull zoom took some getting
used to but the quality of this lens far outways it's erginomics.

My main purpose for this post was to ask advise on the camera
settings.

With being new to digital, I am not looking to post process my
pictures to begin with, but in time as my knowledge increases I
will go down this avenue with RAW format.

For out of the camera pictures I am looking for advise on the
following

6Mp or 12Mp

Colour Std, Org or Off
Tone " , " or "
Shapening " , " or "

Sorry for the long winded post,

Gavin.

Thankyou for your time taken to reply, I think from them I need to possibly look at recording images in RAW format to start realising the true potential from this camera.

I hasten to add that the results from this camera still cease to amaze me, but my first impressions are that it requires top quality lenses to partner the S2 Pro.

I am visiting the United States in May and maybe I will take the plunge and purchase the Nikon 17-35 F2.8 AFS.

Thanks again,

Gavin

Paulo Abreu · Jan 18, 2004

Hi,

Golfcaddy said:
I am visiting the United States in May and maybe I will take the
plunge and purchase the Nikon 17-35 F2.8 AFS.

I own the Nikon 18-35 and it gives me sharp images at any focal length - maybe its not the hotest lens in planet but I think that your copy had some sort of problem. Several reviewers have reported this lens "as sharp as 17-35 at medium apertures in digital" - in film things might be diferent sice you would have to deal with the worst (cropped in S2) part of the lens.

But my post wasn´t because of this - What I wanted to say is that IF I was going to USA on May, I would take a look at the new Nikon AFS 17-55 f2.8 ... seems niiiiiice ...

Regards,

--
Paulo Abreu,

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.mcscenter.net/~psergio/index.php

Paulo Abreu · Jan 18, 2004

Paulo Abreu said:
Golfcaddy said:

I am visiting the United States in May and maybe I will take the
plunge and purchase the Nikon 17-35 F2.8 AFS.

Click to expand...

I own the Nikon 18-35 and it gives me sharp images at any focal
length - maybe its not the hotest lens in planet but I think that
your copy had some sort of problem. Several reviewers have reported
this lens "as sharp as 17-35 at medium apertures in digital" - in
film things might be diferent sice you would have to deal with the
worst (cropped in S2) part of the lens.

But my post wasn´t because of this - What I wanted to say is that
IF I was going to USA on May, I would take a look at the new Nikon
AFS 17-55 f2.8 ... seems niiiiiice ...

Regards,

--
Paulo Abreu,

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.mcscenter.net/~psergio/index.php

--
Paulo Abreu,

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.mcscenter.net/~psergio/index.php

Keith Aitken · Jan 18, 2004

Good decision !

RAW produces very excitng colour but make sure that you
have enuff computer for the HUGE files

I'll add my vote for the 18-35. It creates images as sharp as my
50mm and 85mm and is a nice balance between weight / cost and
image quality. . .

Good luck,
Keith

mark west · Apr 21, 2004

Golfcaddy said:
I am new to the digita photography world and after studying reviews
for months I finally decided upon the S2 pro over Canon's 10D
(which I already had compatible lenses for having owned a Canon
film SLR for many years).

I purchased the following lenses for the Fuji

Nikon 18-35 F3.5-4.5 IF ED

Nikon 35-70 F2.8 D

The 18-35 has gone back to Nikon for checking as it will only give
what I would class as sharp images at the 35mm end of it's focal
length. If Nikon can't improve this lense I was considering
possibly changing this lense for a Tamron 17-35 or a Sigma 15-30
both of which seem to have mixed reviews? Any advice would be more
than welcome.

The 35-75 well that is just bliss, push/pull zoom took some getting
used to but the quality of this lens far outways it's erginomics.

My main purpose for this post was to ask advise on the camera
settings.

With being new to digital, I am not looking to post process my
pictures to begin with, but in time as my knowledge increases I
will go down this avenue with RAW format.

For out of the camera pictures I am looking for advise on the
following

6Mp or 12Mp

Colour Std, Org or Off
Tone " , " or "
Shapening " , " or "

Sorry for the long winded post,

Gavin.

hi i have a sigma 17 35 which is a great sharp lens no problems, i use the lens almost every day takes great pics.

whiteOrangedesign · Apr 21, 2004

Get the Sigma 15-30. I shot with the 18-35 this past weekend...

While the result was great there was some color separtation at the edges of the frame. The Sigma 15-30 however is tack sharp. I love it. I had it before on my SD9 and the package just arrived yesterday for the S2. I can't say enough about the Sigma EX line of lenses. Inexpensive and great quality.

Golfcaddy said:
I am new to the digita photography world and after studying reviews
for months I finally decided upon the S2 pro over Canon's 10D
(which I already had compatible lenses for having owned a Canon
film SLR for many years).

I purchased the following lenses for the Fuji

Nikon 18-35 F3.5-4.5 IF ED

Nikon 35-70 F2.8 D

The 18-35 has gone back to Nikon for checking as it will only give
what I would class as sharp images at the 35mm end of it's focal
length. If Nikon can't improve this lense I was considering
possibly changing this lense for a Tamron 17-35 or a Sigma 15-30
both of which seem to have mixed reviews? Any advice would be more
than welcome.

The 35-75 well that is just bliss, push/pull zoom took some getting
used to but the quality of this lens far outways it's erginomics.

My main purpose for this post was to ask advise on the camera
settings.

With being new to digital, I am not looking to post process my
pictures to begin with, but in time as my knowledge increases I
will go down this avenue with RAW format.

For out of the camera pictures I am looking for advise on the
following

6Mp or 12Mp

Colour Std, Org or Off
Tone " , " or "
Shapening " , " or "

Sorry for the long winded post,

Gavin.

Search

S2 Pro Settings / Advice

Golfcaddy

New member

David Grabowski

Veteran Member

David Grabowski

Veteran Member

Bill C

Senior Member

GodSpeaks

Forum Pro

Golfcaddy

New member

Paulo Abreu

Veteran Member

Paulo Abreu

Veteran Member

Keith Aitken

Veteran Member

mark west

Well-known member

whiteOrangedesign

Senior Member

Similar threads

Keyboard shortcuts