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Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Digital Camera Review

by Patrick Singleton
Published on May 01, 2007

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Intro	Testing / Performance
Components	Design / Layout
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Image Parameters	Connectivity / Extras
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The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro is Fujifilm's latest attempt at the perfect camera for wedding photographers. It has a new version of the company's extended-range SR sensor, with new adjustments that are meant specifically to handle facial highlights and white clothing (wedding dresses). The S5’s strong dynamic range and pleasing color are its unique selling points which are essentially a Fujifilm sensor and image process rig dropped into an otherwise unchanged Nikon D200. The S5 inherits the D200's excellent construction, shooting interface, TTL flash system and autofocus, but, unfortunately, not its burst speed. Speed has been a sore point of Fujifilm DSLRs, and apparently, it will continue to be.

Front (8.0)
The front of the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro has the same functional features as the Nikon D200. The rubber-coated handgrip is comfortable, allowing plenty of relief between the user's fingers and Nikon's fat new optics. There's a function button on the lens mount at about the 9 o'clock position, and a depth-of-field preview much lower, at about 7 o’clock. A large, chrome reflector that resembles a headlight sits between the grip and the viewfinder hump, casting light for focus assist, the self-timer, and red-eye reduction, when the pop-up flash is in use. The autofocus mode lever is on the lower right side of the lens mount, and the lens release is above that. On the right shoulder, there's a standard Nikon 10-pin connector for a remote control, GPS, and barcode readers. The pop-up flash is integrated into the viewfinder hump. We could have lifted all of the above from our D200 review – it's all the same.

The differences between the D200 and the S5 are cosmetic. The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro lacks Nikon's little red chevron under the shutter release and it says “Fujifim” rather than “Nikon” on the viewfinder hump. Fujifilm also put its Super CCD SR logo on the lens mount, low on the right.

Back (8.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro has the same arrangement of buttons and controls as the D200 on its back; Fujifilm swapped a couple of controls around to suit the S5's unusual technologies, but the core features are unchanged. The Bracket and Delete buttons are large, and they are on the upper-left shoulder of the camera. The buttons along the left side of the LCD are from top to bottom: Playback, Menu/OK, Display/Back, Setup and Face Recognition. The viewfinder is pretty big, with a soft rubber eyecup. The diopter control is a small dial to the right of the eyecup. The exposure/focus lock button is to the right of that, and a ring around it sets the meter pattern. A button to activate autofocus is next, and the rear control dial is at far right. The FinePix S5 has Nikon's very comfortable dish-shaped 4-way controller to the right of the LCD. A locking ring surrounds the controller. A lever below that sets the autofocus pattern, and a bigger lever below that opens the media card door. The right side of the camera is contoured for a comfortable grip and is covered with patches of nonslip rubber.

Side by side, the backs of the S5 and the D200 don't look much different. The S5 has a button for face detection – which works only in playback – and maintains Fujifilm's OK/Back nomenclature for menu options.

Left Side (8.0)
Nikon put large rubber covers over the AV jack, the USB port and the external power socket on the D200. The covers are durable and seal the ports well against dirt and moisture. Fujifilm did not mess with them; they are identical on the S5. The stainless steel strap lug is high on the left side and won't get in the way.

Right Side (8.0)
Nikon designed a large media card door for the camera. It provides a good seal and seems relatively robust. This is yet another aspect of the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro that is identical to the D200. The lack of redesign is good for users because it maintains all the virtues of the Nikon design, but it means that Fujifilm had to leave out a slot for xD media cards, a format the company collaborated in developing.

Top (9.25)
The dial on the left side of the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro's cap has three buttons that control ISO, White Balance and Quality. A ring below the buttons sets the “burst” mode and self-timer. The viewfinder hump includes a pop-up flash and a Nikon-compatible hot shoe. The S5 has a monochrome LCD to the right of the hump. It's from the D200 and displays the same shooting information, including exposure, white balance, exposure modes, flash and ambient exposure compensation, quality, GPS or Barcode connection, burst mode, battery status and the shot counter. It's a full display, but it's readable and logically laid out. Two buttons, one to set the exposure mode and the other to set exposure, sit between the display and the shutter release, which is on the top of the grip. The power switch, which also turns on a backlight for the monochrome LCD, is a ring surrounding the shutter release.
The dial on the left side of the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro's cap has three buttons that control ISO, White Balance and Quality. A ring below the buttons sets the “burst” mode and self-timer. The viewfinder hump includes a pop-up flash and a Nikon-compatible hot shoe. The S5 has a monochrome LCD to the right of the hump. It's from the D200 and displays the same shooting information, including exposure, white balance, exposure modes, flash and ambient exposure compensation, quality, GPS or Barcode connection, burst mode, battery status and the shot counter. It's a full display, but it's readable and logically laid out. Two buttons, one to set the exposure mode and the other to set exposure, sit between the display and the shutter release, which is on the top of the grip. The power switch, which also turns on a backlight for the monochrome LCD, is a ring surrounding the shutter release.

Bottom (8.0)
The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro has excellent provisions for use on a tripod – the mount is on the lens axis, and the area is surrounded by a big patch of rubber that will keep the camera from slipping on some surfaces and won't scratch or scuff as badly as the hard plastic that usually makes up camera bottoms. The battery compartment door is under the grip, and closes with a nice, big latch that seems durable. In every respect, the S5's nether regions look like the D200's. We'll note here as well as in the battery section that Fujifilm and Nikon batteries are not interchangeable – a real disappointment for anyone contemplating using the cameras together.

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