It is time for my decision D100 or S2. And your advice is?

[Shel Parker114783]

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have shown the S2 to

outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the D100 or S2 this week.

Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--
SHP

 

[Bill C]

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have
shown the S2 to
outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the
D100 or S2 this week.
Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would
appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--

Good morning .....

here's a couple links to message threads that will give you some of the info you are looking for:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=3415042

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=3279028

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1020&message=3206083

Will keep you reading for a few hours!
Good luck,
Regards,
Bill

 

[Peter Leyenaar]

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have
shown the S2 to
outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the
D100 or S2 this week.
Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would
appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--
SHP

I have had the Fujifilm S2 for some time now, shot over 2000 images, took it all over Europe and it has performed flawlessly,it has given me tack sharp images with beautifull color, it is an awsome camera, it certainly has made ma a better and more enthusiasitic photographer.
I can't spraek for the D100 which I am shure is also a fine camera
Best of luck
Peter
--
Peter Leyenaar
Decisive Moment Photography

 

[Rif]

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have
shown the S2 to
outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the
D100 or S2 this week.
Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would
appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--
SHP

--

My 2cents: First off, I wouldn't trade my S2 for anything on the market right now, the more I use it...the more I like it!

My only complaint would be there is not a 2nd button on the S2 for when taking pics with the camera oriented vertically. No big deal to me, because neither does the D100, however you can purchase the optional bottom grip which allows for more battery power and vertical orientation. But than again, I get well over 500 shots on 1set of 1800Nimh.

To each his own.

-Rif
http://www.pbase.com/markgardner/s2
Fuji S2 Pro, Nikkor 50mm f1.8, Nikkor 24-85 f2.8-4, SB-28

 

[pskaytes]

This has been discussed to death here, so if you search the forum for d100 I'm sure you'll find the relevant info.

But here's a summary of the differences (at least these are what made the decision for me):

sharpness: S2 better out of the camera, d100 equal after photoshop
color: some people prefer S2, some say Nikon more neutral.
tone: S2 def. superior skin tone
noise: S2 better at high iso's
isos: S2 has better range for me
exposure: each camera has it's own quirks that you'll have to get used to
flash: need DX flash for d100, S2 uses any nikon speedlight
batteries: S2 can run on AAs, D100 needs proprietary battery
vertical shutter release: none on S2, optional on d100
pc connection: firewire or usb on S2, USB on D100
cost: d100 cheaper out of box.

protection: LCD protector foggy on s2, clear on d100 (may be a workaround for that)

Paul

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have
shown the S2 to
outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the
D100 or S2 this week.
Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would
appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--
SHP

 

[herbet50979]

http://www.pbase.com/image/3701815

sharpness: S2 better out of the camera, d100 equal after photoshop
color: some people prefer S2, some say Nikon more neutral.
tone: S2 def. superior skin tone
noise: S2 better at high iso's
isos: S2 has better range for me

 

[Phil Flash]

The rumored firmware update may fix the jpg softness issues that some report, and may improve other areas of performance.

The results of the firmware upgrade should be known within a few weeks.

I'm waiting for full frame and a solution to sensor dust before I take the DSLR plunge.

 

[Thom Hogan]

tone: S2 def. superior skin tone

But not neutral in color.

isos: S2 has better range for me

But if you need TTL flash at ISO 800, the S2 falls down.

batteries: S2 can run on AAs, D100 needs proprietary battery

D100 can use AAs in MB-D100 accessory.

protection: LCD protector foggy on s2, clear on d100 (may be a
workaround for that)

Hoodman has products that work on both that are better than either manufacturer supplies.

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide
author, Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D100
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1x
http://www.bythom.com

 

[pskaytes]

thanks for the input....I indicated that these were the things I used to make my decision, so some clarification:

tone: S2 def. superior skin tone

But not neutral in color.

no, true, that's why I said superior. I indicated that these were my priorities, and skin tones just look better to me. Not that they're more neutral, just better. Maybe others will see that as a deficit. Back in my film days I shot Fujichrome rather than Ektachrome because I liked the colors, same thing.

isos: S2 has better range for me

But if you need TTL flash at ISO 800, the S2 falls down.

I don't use TTL at all anymore. I've taken to shooting flash on

Aperture priority
slow sync
Manual on flash - SB24

Setting the flash power according to the distance indicated on the lens (or approximate by eye, and by using a Stofen Omni-Bounce or Lumiquest softbox, which cuts a stop and a half of output, giving me perfect, soft fill flash.

Using this, I photographed a wedding this weekend (never do them, hate it, this was my present to the bride), and got perfect exposures, esp. the really difficult ones like the bride throwing the bouquet, where the white dress was so small in the field of view of the dark banquet hall that it would have been blown out by any flash metering method.

this also allows me to get rid of the SC-17 which is expensive and unreliable and just use a cheapo flash sync cord

OK, so I do use TTL occassionally, like outdoors where I'm just really filling in on a scene that's easy for any metering method to meter, but that's rare.

batteries: S2 can run on AAs, D100 needs proprietary battery

D100 can use AAs in MB-D100 accessory.

making the camera too big and bulky, and I never use the vertical shutter release (just curl my hand around)

protection: LCD protector foggy on s2, clear on d100 (may be a
workaround for that)

Hoodman has products that work on both that are better than either
manufacturer supplies.

that would be the workaround I was referring to

Paul

--
Thom Hogan
author, Nikon Field Guide
author, Nikon Flash Guide
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D100
author, Complete Guide to the Nikon D1, D1h, & D1x
http://www.bythom.com

 

[pskaytes]

that is a very sharp image, no doubt....we don't know what the setting were, or more importantly, how it would have looked out of an S2. That would be a real comparison. On its own, the image doesn't tell us very much.

Also, one image does not a conclusion make....through several months now, the consensus on this board and on the Nikon board seems to be that as a whole, the Fuji outperforms the d100 out of the camera, but through Photoshop, in the end, the cameras are equally sharp.

Paul

sharpness: S2 better out of the camera, d100 equal after photoshop
color: some people prefer S2, some say Nikon more neutral.
tone: S2 def. superior skin tone
noise: S2 better at high iso's
isos: S2 has better range for me

 

[Joe Passante]

At least the release on the Nikon Europe site says nothing about it.

The rumored firmware update may fix the jpg softness issues that
some report, and may improve other areas of performance.

The results of the firmware upgrade should be known within a few
weeks.

I'm waiting for full frame and a solution to sensor dust before I
take the DSLR plunge.

 

[herbet50979]

I don't think there's any consensus in the Nikon forum, especialy in favour of the S2. both cameras can deliver good images and nice skin tones, the S2 more orangy than what I like. so to say that the S2 is better on skin tones than the D100 is just plain bs.

BTW, no photoshop on the image, no curves, no USM. beautiful colours and sharp pictures out of the camera.

Also, one image does not a conclusion make....through several
months now, the consensus on this board and on the Nikon board
seems to be that as a whole, the Fuji outperforms the d100 out of
the camera, but through Photoshop, in the end, the cameras are
equally sharp.

Paul

sharpness: S2 better out of the camera, d100 equal after photoshop
color: some people prefer S2, some say Nikon more neutral.
tone: S2 def. superior skin tone
noise: S2 better at high iso's
isos: S2 has better range for me

 

[pskaytes]

I will still say (and post some more thought so that this isn't completely a rehash post) that a single image from a single camera does not an evaluation make., especially not knowing the lens, and camera settings...the consensus, as I read it on the Nikon forum, is that hard in-camera sharpening is artifactual when the photo is taken with a sharp lens. So if this photo was taken with a soft lens, then hard sharpened in-camera, the photo would appear sharp and artifact free. Conversely, my reading of the Nikon forum (and Phil's review) is that photos subjected to normal sharpening with sharp lenses appear soft. My point is that one photo, with no tech data, does not allow us to draw any conclusions as to how sharp the camera really is.

And with regard to skin tone, I've been very clear that I'm expressing a personal preference. As are you, so we're both happy.

take care,
Paul

BTW, no photoshop on the image, no curves, no USM. beautiful
colours and sharp pictures out of the camera.

Also, one image does not a conclusion make....through several
months now, the consensus on this board and on the Nikon board
seems to be that as a whole, the Fuji outperforms the d100 out of
the camera, but through Photoshop, in the end, the cameras are
equally sharp.

Paul

sharpness: S2 better out of the camera, d100 equal after photoshop
color: some people prefer S2, some say Nikon more neutral.
tone: S2 def. superior skin tone
noise: S2 better at high iso's
isos: S2 has better range for me

 

[herbet50979]

pskaytes wrote:

if this photo was taken with a soft lens, then hard sharpened in-camera, the photo would appear sharp and artifact free.

We could go on for days but I rather not. have fun.

 

[Joe Passante]

Judging from all the angry posts on the Nikon SLR forum concerning a firmware upgrade I for one am very glad I didn't choose the D100.

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have
shown the S2 to
outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the
D100 or S2 this week.
Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would
appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--
SHP

 

[pskaytes]

with respect to you subject header...

yes, it is. That's why I've been referring to the consensus of opinion, and not a single image.

Paul
over and out

pskaytes wrote:
if this photo was taken with a soft lens, then hard sharpened
in-camera, the photo would appear sharp and artifact free.

We could go on for days but I rather not. have fun.

 

[Derrel87035]

I think the S2 makes a mighty fine JPEG right off the CF card or Microdrive. The navigation system for making changes to image capture parameters is simpler and faster on the S2 than on the D100. The S2 offers VERY good higher-ISO performance. Especially when shooting RAW files. RAW Fuji S2 files re-sized downward about 50 percent and saved around 9 quality (on the older 10-point scale in Photoshop) make for fabulous 1-meg JPEGs.

One of the S2's strengths I think is its ability to make a much larger JPEG than the D100--around a 4.3 meg file at 4256 pixels on the long axis. These JPEGs can be re-sized downward for some very lovely jpegs or to make awesome prints. This is all done in-camera at the 12 Megapixel size. The D100 does not shoot as large a JPEG as the S2 does. Nobody can dispute that. I personally think the S2's larger inkjet PRINTS are slightly sharper than D100 or D60 prints.

The S2,according to Phil's tests, is currently the king of resolution for cameras actually tested. Phil Askey doesn't empahasize that fact, but instead uses very carefully chosen words and IMHO skirts around this aspect of the S2. Read his review carefully,and you see that the S2 is the CURRENT resolution leader. Using RAW files, the S2 has a slight edge over all competitors,according to my reading of Phil's tests. And indeed, the S2's RAW files DO make some very incredible pictures. If however you shoot in JPEG FINE, as many people do in the real world,for various reasons, the S2 offers a very worthy image,right off the CF card.

As far as flash goes, the S2 does not use Nikon's DX TTL flash system, and for flash exposures at 100,160,200,or 400 ASA/ISO it is generally accepted that the pop-up flash on the S2 works better than the D100's does. Also, most people seem to feel that the S2 does "better overall" on flash exposures,in a wide variety of modes and situations,and with many more flash units, than the D100 does. Frankly, Nikon's DX flash system is not all that perfect in reality, and the number and variety of units that used DX or that have a DX capable module is nowhere near as great as with the older, F-5 sytle TTL Multi-Segment TTL flash metering used in the S2. The S2 offers a higher sync speed and a lower minimum ASA than the D100, but it's no D1-series body, and if you want high-speed action capture,ultra-fast shutter response, a big buffer,and really awesome autofocus, you'd better consider a D1-series (D1h or D1x) body. Keep this in mind--niether the D100 or S2 are really,truly,totally professional cameras for high-speed,ultra-demanding use. But they are affordable,light,small,and do deliver good images. If you need hi-speed flash synch, look long and hard at a D1-series body.

No camera is perfect....The S2's battery needs put a lot of people off. The lack of a vertical release is also a sore spot. If you need to use a battery-hungry lens like the 80-400VR as I do, the need for 123A lithiums becomes a pain in the butt. The S2 also has no factory-made AA-cell external pack, but the D100 does. Battery life on the S2 is excellent,it really is. And the D100 has a most capable "pack" in a one-battery system that's pretty sweet.

I don't have a non-disclosure agreement with Nikon, the way some forum members do. I do not work for Nikon in some roundabout way or write professionally about Nikon equipment, nor do I host a website devoted mainly to Nikon equipment. I don't receive items from Nikon for testing and for writing reports about.I'm not crossing forums either, trying to dissuade you from buying a Fuji,nor am I trying to refute positive comments about Fuji, the way some forum members are doing. I own Nikon and have shot it for over 20 years. To me, the S2 is a Fuji-modified Nikon, and frankly I felt the S2 was a very slightly superior camera than the D100. So I bought one,with my own money. You could do good work with either camera. I just think the S2 has a slight edge in several areas like flash and in-camera JPEG, as well as absolute resolution. I do prefer working with Nikon's NEF files, and Nikon Capture is a better way of processing RAW files than EX Converter, but there's always some bad with the good.
--
Happy Shooting!
Derrel

 

[Phil Flash]

Do you think Nikon -- with its reputation -- would officially cop to releasing a camera with poor JPG sharpening? I doubt it. More like they are trying to cover their behinds, and one-up the S2.

 

[Boris]

I have used Nikon's for years and trust the brand. Reviewss have
shown the S2 to
outperform the D100 in some major respects. I will buy either the
D100 or S2 this week.
Now that both camera have been in use for some time, I would
appreciate input on why the S2 is the better choice.
--
SHP

Sparker

You should purchase the D100 for sure, since the D100 forum is much more entertaining

I bought the S2.... the main reason was the sb25 flash compatibility TTL w/s2. And I also was curious about the 12mp chip and lastly the S2 includes a ac adapter and the Raw converter software. But I would have had no qualm about buying the D100 if it included the above. Uh and also when I was buying the D100 was in short supply.
Boris
http://www.fotki.com/

 

[Wes Wilson]

IMHO...Although both cameras are built on the same original platform, they are not designed for the same use.

The D100 is slightly faster at sports photography and is perhaps better for general photographic situations. It may be the better camera for an amateur, if you are familiar with Photoshop. Most users like it's battery life (although many S2 users have found that being able to buy AA's and keep shooting is a lifesaver when your battery power does run down).

The S2 has better image quality without spending hours in front of a computer screen. It's designed to get the most resolution and accurate skin tones for professional photographers who shoot people/portraits and demand quality over convenience. It definitely produces better large wall portraits due to it's higher resolution, and is only slightly behind the D100 in speed and convenience. It also has a firewire connection, a sync terminal, ISO 100 setting, and better high ISO image quality. The S2 is a better studio and wedding camera in the hands of a pro. A lot of professional studios that have resisted going digital because of image quality have converted to the S2.

Personally, I researched both at length, bought one of each as they were available, then sold my D100 and bought another S2 as a back-up. As a professional studio owner, the D100 just didn't fit the type of shooting or give me the quality of image that the S2 does. I have my D1x for sports and my S2's for portrait/wedding work. I really have no use for the D100, and it was just collecting dust in my camera bag.

Wes

PS...Don't let the exposure argument decide which camera is best for you. Both cameras have to be used and learned. Both can take good exposures once you learn what you're doing.