Fuji 'Pro' range - anyone?
Fuji 'Pro' range - anyone?
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Discussion

CarMac

Original Poster:

669 posts

244 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
Has anyone got any experience of the Fuji Pro range of cameras?

Will be in the market for a new camera later in the year and, as all my lenses and current kit are Nikon, I've been reading up on the D300.

But, as my lenses will also fit the Fuji Pro series, that could be another option for me to look into.

My old college tutor used the Fuji Pro range when he was a full time 'tog and I've used some of the older bodies briefly at college. Other than that, the only experience I have with Fuji was my old S5000. I do love the colours the Fuji cameras produce.

Anyone?

Elderly

3,740 posts

268 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
I have had an S5Pro for 9 months. For ME I much prefered it to the D200 (same body), much better high ISO performance, much much better Dynamic Range, much 'nicer' OOC JPEGS.
It does have its downsides; the RAW files are HUGE and it's not as 'sharp' as a true 12 Meg camera.

If I were buying a DXSLR now I would go for the Nikon D300 and put up with its relatively poor
dynamic range compared to the Fuji.

V6GTO

11,579 posts

272 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
Hi CarMac,
A friend of mine uses Fuji bodies, you can check some of his work here http://phocus-on.co.uk/forum/ , his name there is JayBee. A quick example here http://phocus-on.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&amp...

He is having big problems with Nikon at the moment (a duff D200 that they will/can not fix), so I don't know if you'd get impartial advice from him at present, but his images speak for themselves.

Martin.

ROADRUNNER3

480 posts

252 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
Save your money and buy a secondhand S2 Pro - this is a phenomenal body which I still use, often in preference to my D200 (much more dynamic colours, better range).

www.fluidimages.co.uk

mgv8dave

826 posts

243 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
i use to have a fuji 6x17 which was a great camera
one of the best ever if you knew what you were doing with it .

CarMac

Original Poster:

669 posts

244 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the info, peeps. Keep it coming! biggrin

Simpo Two

92,990 posts

295 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
I looked at the S3 but concluded it was a flawed diamond. With the D200 I find I can address the DR issue to my satisfaction by shooting RAW and processing carefully. The D300 has 'active D-Lighting' which seems to do much the same in-camera - though I suspect this is only to JPG; the info will be tagged to the RAW file and will only be used if you process with Capture NX (I suspect).

On balance I'm very pleased with the D200 and have no plans to change as yet.

NB: I'd be wary of posts that say 'This photo was taken with a (insert camera name here) - isn't it great!'. Unless two cameras are being compared side by side and the images processed identically, probably most of the 'greatness' is down to the processing IMHO.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 10th January 12:56

V6GTO

11,579 posts

272 months

Thursday 10th January 2008
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
NB: I'd be wary of posts that say 'This photo was taken with a (insert camera name here) - isn't it great!'. Unless two cameras are being compared side by side and the images processed identically, probably most of the 'greatness' is down to the processing IMHO.
Have to agree, but at least it shows that great images can be had from said camera.

Edited by V6GTO on Thursday 10th January 14:47

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Friday 11th January 2008
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I looked at the S3 but concluded it was a flawed diamond. With the D200 I find I can address the DR issue to my satisfaction by shooting RAW and processing carefully. The D300 has 'active D-Lighting' which seems to do much the same in-camera - though I suspect this is only to JPG; the info will be tagged to the RAW file and will only be used if you process with Capture NX (I suspect).
D-lighting when turned on as a shooting mode modifies the exposure slightly to maximise shadow recovery for the processing - as you say if you don't use NX perhaps it doesn't then utilise this but the exposure is then slightly out. It's also available outside of shooting as a post process both on camera or in NX, but that obviously can't twiddle the exposure. I vaguely recall the D300 being described as having a higher dynamic range than previous Nikons, but to be honest I can't remember for sure and no idea how it stacks up to the Fujis. Certainly not something I'd worry about though as they capture great pictures.


Ledaig

1,810 posts

292 months

Friday 11th January 2008
quotequote all
I'v had an S2 and an S3, they both put out superb images, with the S3 being far better (as you say great colours + DR).

The handling of the S3 was also an improvement, however for my type of photography (mainly aircraft and motorsport), if was still too slow.

I sold the S3 and purchased a D200 with which I am very happy in terms of images, build quality, speed etc.

If multi-shot speed is not high on your list of requirments then a Fuji could be worth a look. I have not had a chance to try either the S5 or the D300 so couldn't comment on either.

Just as a counter to the Nikon repair issue though - Fuji Problem

As with most things though, you generally only hear about the bad times wink

CarMac

Original Poster:

669 posts

244 months

Friday 11th January 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the comments. Multi-shot speed is one of the reasons I want to upgrade anyway so that points me more to the D300 again. smile

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Friday 11th January 2008
quotequote all
CarMac said:
Thanks for the comments. Multi-shot speed is one of the reasons I want to upgrade anyway so that points me more to the D300 again. smile
I don't think you'll regret it. I'm really enjoying mine.

CarMac

Original Poster:

669 posts

244 months

Friday 11th January 2008
quotequote all
Better pull my finger out and sell the house then! laughlaugh

DanH

12,287 posts

290 months

Saturday 12th January 2008
quotequote all
CarMac said:
Better pull my finger out and sell the house then! laughlaugh
The rate it's dropping in price, I'm not sure the delay will do any harm. I got 100 quid off when I got mine at Jessops which was as cheap as I found it here. Since then though, it just keeps dropping!

Now if only the d3 would do that....