FujiFilm FinePix S1 Pro Review
Review based on a production FinePix S1 Pro (Firmware v1.00)
Back on January 31st FujiFilm
announced the S1 Pro, people ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the specifications,
6.13 megapixels, accepts Nikon F-mount lenses, ISO from 320 to 1600 support
for CF Type II and SmartMedia with an estimated street price of just US$3,500.
A lot of time has passed since then, in that time we've
learned that the CCD in the S1 Pro is in fact 3.4 megapixels (3.07 million
effective) but because it's of the SuperCCD layout it produces a 6.13
megapixel output image (in the same way FujiFilm's 4700Z produces a 4.3
megapixel image from a 2.4 megapixel sensor). Also that the S1 Pro is
based on Nikon's F60 (known as the N60 in the US) with about another inch
added to the base to contain the batteries for the "digital portion"
of the camera and (we assume) digital processing electronics. It's also
become apparent that lens compatibility could be an issue, because the
camera is based on the F60 it doesn't support certain lenses (full list
of supported lenses is available further into this review).
Putting that behind us nobody can ignore the price, for
a Digital SLR with this much resolution just can't be ignored...
SuperCCD
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The major difference between a SuperCCD and standard
CCD is the orientation of the CCD pixels. In a SuperCCD they're
orientated in a diamond formation (or honeycomb as Fujifilm like
to call it), turning this into a square image requires processing
which generates a higher pixel count (because of the missing pixels
between odd rows).
The Fujifilm S1 Pro has a 3.4 megapixel SuperCCD
which outputs 3.07 million pixels which is processed to generate
a 6.13 megapixel image (3040 x 2016). This means that the cameras
internal systems are processing those diagonally orientated pixels
to generate the image... Debate still rages as to whether this is
a good thing or not.
The SuperCCD design does lend itself to higher
sensitivity thus the S1 Pro has a lowest sensitivity of ISO 320
(it was rumored that production cameras would be capable of ISO
160 however that doesn't appear to have come to fruition) and highest
of ISO 1600.
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Aug 5, 2003
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Fujifilm
have announced a reduction in their list price for the S1 Pro from $3,999
to "just under" $3,000 including a bundled 1GB Microdrive (worth
$499). "This is a tremendous cost break for photographers who want
a high-quality professional digital SLR camera,'' said Jennifer Davalos,
Marketing Manager, Commercial Markets Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.,
Inc. This limited time offer is good until April 15, 2001. | |
Our
good friends Dave and Mike over at Imaging Resource have had a busy few
days recently, first off is their "almost full review" of a
pre-production Canon D30. Then comes a review of Fujifilm's S1 Pro, a
comparison of the S1 Pro, D30 and Nikon's D1 and finally a full review
of Toshiba's PDR M70.. Just when I thought I was working hard ;) | |
And
$200 rebate off the following lenses: Tamron's SP AF14mm F/2.8 Aspherical
(IF) Rectilinear, SP AF20-40mm F2.7-3.5 Aspherical (IF) or SP AF28-105mm
F/2.8 LD Aspherical (IF) lenses. There will be a $100 rebate for the purchase
of the SP AF90mm F/2.8 1:1 macro lens. We'd actually heard of several
people receiving their pre-ordered S1 Pro's before this announcement but
this kind of puts an official slant on proceedings. | |
Steve
Sanders over at Steves-Digicams has just posted a first look at Fujifilm's
S1 Pro Digital SLR. So far he seems fairly happy with the camera and notes
"...had a fun day shooting sample photos and getting used to this
camera. The image quality is excellent, there's no fear of "interpolated"
resolution not living up to the claims -- it does!" | We're proud to bring you a world exclusive. The first full review of FujiFilm's S1 Pro digital SLR. The first affordable digital SLR to market certainly grabbed the headlines when it was announced, since then there's been no end of talk about digital SLR's. With high resolution output, quality processing algorithms and Nikon lens compatibility the S1 Pro certainly looks like an interesting package (especially considering its $3,500 street price). But how does it measure up?
We'll try to tell you.. In our 16 page, 10,000 word review with over 150 images in the review body and 50 photographs (including originals) in the associated samples galleries.
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