The old good S5Pro - TBT

So sad Fuji didn't develop the SuperCCD any further, I do really miss the beautiful colors out of that camera, perfect tool for female portraits

Fuji S5Pro - Nikkor 300AF-ED - 1/250 - f5.6 - ISO 320

If Fuji would:

1. Make it mirrorless
2. Replace the mechanical shutter with the electronic shutter from the X-T1
3. Provide an auto-ISO mode
4. Increase the size of the buffer

That's all it would take to get me to move back the S5 Pro. Everything else could be left alone including the sensor. I have an X-T1 but the lens selection is wholly inadequate, waiting impatiently for the Canon smart adapter.

Sure there are a dozen small changes that I'd like but the above is all I need to get my check.

And yes, I want the S5 sensor, not the ones from the X cameras.

Giovanni_1968 wrote:

So sad Fuji didn't develop the SuperCCD any further, I do really miss the beautiful colors out of that camera, perfect tool for female portraits.

Agree. The S5 was also unique for its ability to recover highlights for great SOOC results even in contrasty sunlight.

S5 Pro SOOC JPEG

If 400% DR recovery wasn't enough in JPEG then even more could be pulled from RAW.

S5 Pro RAW processed to taste by LR

Lovely, vibrant CCD colors without the limited highlight dynamic range problems of CCD sensors. Brilliant for it's time then, and useful even today.

fPrime

Lovely, vibrant CCD colors without the limited highlight dynamic range problems of CCD sensors. Brilliant for it's time then, and useful even today.

fPrime

Nice to see I am not the only one who covets his/her S5.  Lots of innovation and improvement over the years but the greatest number of prints in my office by percentage (admittedly changing) were taken by the S5.

13x19 prints hold up well detail-wise even when looking close-up.  Currently I think the X-series cams are doing a fairly good job w/color.  However it is nice to use all those gorgeous Nikkor lenses on the S5.  Do I sound like an old fuddy-duddy hearkening for the old days?

Looking back 10 years ago at my Utah images the S5 w/polarizer was able to bring out the richness of the rocks that can be reproduced today but still is sufficient.  However 10 years of wear and tear on the body appreciates a smaller kit.

The reds and oranges pop from the ancient camera.

Bob

BobsYourUncle wrote:

Lovely, vibrant CCD colors without the limited highlight dynamic range problems of CCD sensors. Brilliant for it's time then, and useful even today.

fPrime

Nice to see I am not the only one who covets his/her S5. Lots of innovation and improvement over the years but the greatest number of prints in my office by percentage (admittedly changing) were taken by the S5.

13x19 prints hold up well detail-wise even when looking close-up. Currently I think the X-series cams are doing a fairly good job w/color. However it is nice to use all those gorgeous Nikkor lenses on the S5. Do I sound like an old fuddy-duddy hearkening for the old days?

Looking back 10 years ago at my Utah images the S5 w/polarizer was able to bring out the richness of the rocks that can be reproduced today but still is sufficient. However 10 years of wear and tear on the body appreciates a smaller kit.

The reds and oranges pop from the ancient camera.

Look at the thick, rich blues in that sky. Today's CMOS cameras seem to struggle in scenes like this as their skies generally appear thin, to me at least, in comparison.  I don't think it's just the polarizer here, either.  It's that ancient CFA over an old school CCD giving us the color pop.

fPrime

"nice to use all those gorgeous Nikkor lenses on the S5"

The huge disappointment with the X series cameras is the lack of close focusing zooms and long focal length macros.  Having just moved from Olympus to Fuji X-T1 to get a much better handling camera, I really miss the FF equivalent 1:2 pro grade zooms vs the pathetic close focusing of the Fiji equivalents.

Hence I've considered returning  to the the S5:

• Nikon 70-200 f/4 with 1.4TC
• Sigma macros: 180 f/3.5, 300 f/4 
• Tamron 150-600 G2 with 1.4TC though I doubt whether the S5 AF sensor is up to dealing with the setup

Giovanni_1968 wrote:

So sad Fuji didn't develop the SuperCCD any further

Yup.

I have the D750 as my main camera now and it is so good it truly blows almost everything away that made the S5 worthy.

Obviously the 24MP will outperform the 6/12MP for resolution and the low-noise/high-ISO performance is great.

But the one thing I do miss about SuperCCD is the ability to maintain detail in the highlights, true HDR. I have to compensate by under-exposing, almost all the time and then pull up the shadows in PP. Which is okay to do as it holds the details and tolerates the process without introducing too much noise. But too often there are still small blown out highlights despite my best efforts. The malleability of SuperCCD was astounding in that respect.

I haven't done very much portraiture with the D750 to have a strong opinion, but it does lack something about the colour in flesh tones, but it is only slight and perhaps is more 'truthful'. I'm not sure the high-res detail is complimentary for some subject either - too much detail!!

Unfortunately the lenses I thought were good on my S5 show their weaknesses on the D750. It is now a costly exercise replacing them with more capable options.

So, yes, the SuperCCD was amazing, away ahead of its time, sadly maligned, misunderstood and under-rated by too many.

Apart from the progress that has been made with resolution, ISO and DR (and of course these things are important), IMHO SuperCCD hasn't been bettered even by X-Trans which also needs a bit more work to get it looking right.

Unfortunately the lenses I thought were good on my S5 show their weaknesses on the D750. It is now a costly exercise replacing them with more capable options.

Hi, Norman,

Haven't communicated with you for a long time.  The Nikkor 28-70/2.8 was great on the S5 but was doggish when I began upgrading Nikon bodies.  Inadequate glass to accommodate the resolution for larger sensors.  Still thinking about sending it to Nikon for repair just in case there is an issue

It has been a learning process with lenses and the bottom line is one needs quality glass for good imagery....and when you buy one great lens, the others are left behind or, as you say, replaced.

Bob

Yes, the S-CCD was a great sensor and, to be honest, I so much lusted an X-Trans camera because I wrongly wished they would have brought there some of the Ccd tech which, of course, didn't happen and was one of the main reasons of my disappointment with the X-Pro1.

DR wise I think the S5 could still play strong now, 10 years after I got mine, it was super sluggish but in a way it helped into the learning process being careful at all the parameters before hitting the shutter, old D glass was working wonders with that sensor and together they use to render amazing skin tones and looking back it sure lacks the crazy sharpness which modern sensor-lenses give but still very good.

When I switched to the D800 I had to really give in and learn it all again, the crazy resolution and sharpness show each and every little fault in technique and I love the final result but still something is missing compared to the warmth of the S5 not to mention that even tho DR with the Nikon is no joke with the S5 I never ever had to correct big mistakes in PP nor to learn and under/over expose, I think I should take it for a ride some day...

Fuji S5Pro - Nikkor AF50/1.4D

This photograph was taken what would now be recalled as a very soft setup between lens and sensor but to me it looks pleasant and not "soft" at all, I think I might be stressing the sharpness bit too much with my actual gear and it might so much probably be the manufacturer's main weapon nowadays, all about sharpness and detail...

Having said that, I find that there is absolutely no aspect of image quality, including straight-out-of-camera JEPGs, that isn't matched or bettered by my current X-Pro2.

So much for nostalgia (at least for me).

Cheers,

Marco

Shot with the 24F2.8D and processed to taste in Lightroom.

If I absolutely have to shoot in mid-day sun and don't want to blow any colors, then the S5 Pro is my weapon of choice. Well, that and a compact Nissin i40 flash to provide a little fill light.

fPrime

Outstanding candid portraiture!

How did out sneak up on kidlet with a camera the size of an x-ray machine?

fPrime wrote:

Shot with the 24F2.8D and processed to taste in Lightroom.

If I absolutely have to shoot in mid-day sun and don't want to blow any colors, then the S5 Pro is my weapon of choice. Well, that and a compact Nissin i40 flash to provide a little fill light.

fPrime

PeterFXCassidy wrote:

Outstanding candid portraiture!

How did out sneak up on kidlet with a camera the size of an x-ray machine?

Thanks!  Let's just say she's used to her Dad snapping photos, haha.

fPrime

fPrime wrote:

Shot with the 24F2.8D and processed to taste in Lightroom.

If I absolutely have to shoot in mid-day sun and don't want to blow any colors, then the S5 Pro is my weapon of choice. Well, that and a compact Nissin i40 flash to provide a little fill light.

fPrime

fPrime wrote:

Shot with the 24F2.8D and processed to taste in Lightroom.

If I absolutely have to shoot in mid-day sun and don't want to blow any colors, then the S5 Pro is my weapon of choice. Well, that and a compact Nissin i40 flash to provide a little fill light.

fPrime

You are tempting me to unmothball that puppy and start shooting.

Bob

A couple from the MET.

I loves this camera. A Super CCD with updated specs and AF would be awesome but I am just glad they built the S5. It also feels great in hand.

TomC601 wrote:

How 'bout that. I took my once yearly trip back to the Fuji Forum and there's an S5 post. How've you been, Bob? Hope you are well. Life's good here in AZ. Starting to get hot. Don't remember the last time I shot my S5. It's been D800 for about 4 years now (maybe more). Took a while to get it tamed but wouldn't change it for the world now. Well, maybe the new Sony. Take care.

Well it was 100 yesterday where I live so I am well acquainted with heat but not as much as you are.

Will send you a PM.

Bob

NYC Easter Parade. The annual event is a photographer's playground. It is flooded with professional photographers chasing the ladies in their elaborate outfits.

Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8, original non-D.

Great looking lady plus very nice: