| Likes |
|
- UV and IR capabilities
- Live preview
- Both Firewire and USB2
- Extended dynamic range
|
| Dislikes |
|
- No exposure meter (for IR or UV)
- No autofocus (in IR or UV)
- Live preview limited to 30 seconds
- Slow operation
|
Conclusion
The S3 UVIR is a potent and complex tool for technical photographers, with a steep learning curve. Fujifilm doesn't offer training in the UVIR's use. Company representatives say that the real experts on the S3 UVIR aren't at Fujifilm: they're users who have experimented with the camera, and come up with repeatable procedures. Some early-adopters in the technical field are making extra money training new users.
Buying the camera body alone isn't the only expense, though. The camera only works in combination with special narrowband filters that cost hundreds of dollars each. A user could spend as much on distinctly different filters as on the camera body. Given the level of interest in this camera, we expect that Fujifilm will continue to serve this niche market, either with another production run of S3 UVIR's or with an S5 UVIR.
