Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Digital Camera Review

Model Design / Appearance (9.0)
The Fujifillm FinePix S5 Pro looks just like a Nikon D200. The only thing missing on the S5 is the little red triangle on the grip, just under the shutter release. The S5 and D200 look bigger and more solid than entry-level DSLRs, and with an external battery pack/vertical grip, they look just as macho as a Nikon D2X or D2Hs. Without the grips, they're still chunky-looking, though much easier to carry for a few hours than the big machines. The S5's fit and finish are very good. Combined with its size and lack of decoration, the S5's craftsmanship gives the camera an impressive, professional look.

Size / Portability (7.25)
The S5 is 5.8 x 2.9 x 4.4 inches, which is on the large end for mid-range DSLRs. It looks small next to the top-of-the-line Nikon and Canon offerings, but it's still big. The size appears to have more to do with durability than capabilities – there are cameras that incorporate dust reduction and image stabilization in smaller but more delicate packages. The seals to prevent dust and dirt creeping in are impressive and support the idea that the S5 is built to last.

Handling Ability (9.0)
Our greatest enthusiasm for the Nikon D200 was for its handling, and the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro duplicates that camera's shape. It has the same complement of buttons and dials and allows the same easy access to the basic functions of pro-level DSLRs. Its various options are easy to find, and users we have seen with the cameras seem just as comfortable as we are, regardless of their hand’s size and upper body strength.

Still, it's odd that the S5's big feature – dynamic range adjustment – adjusts via a menu, and the user can't see how it's set while shooting. The same goes for the film emulation mode. We're not sold on it as a feature at all, but Fujifilm sells it pretty hard. Why can't the user see it and even control it, without digging in a menu? The only plausible reason we can find is an economic one – Fujifilm couldn't affordably deviate that far from the D200 layout.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (9.25)
The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro's dials and buttons fall under the user's fingers comfortably. The front and rear dials are a very quick and intuitive interface for setting exposure, as well as more obscure parameters. The ISO, Quality and White Balance buttons on top of the left dial are quick and easy to use. The bracket button at the upper left is unusually convenient. These are all Nikon D200 features that Fujifilm has wisely preserved.

Fujifilm went its own way with the buttons to the left of the LCD, however. The bottom button calls up the S5's unique playback-only face recognition system. A boon to people who shoot groups of people, the system zooms in on faces in an image, so the shooter can check for closed eyes and unflattering expressions. Wedding photographers will love it. If Fujifilm can add “obscene gesture recognition” to their next update, they'll sew up the market for photographers who shoot groups of high school students.

Fujifilm split the menus between the Menu/OK and the INFO/Setup buttons. In general, the Menu button calls up image options, while the Setup button handles interface and shooting options. Another way to look at the split is that Fujifilm's unique technologies are under the Menu button, and Nikon's hot stuff is under Setup.

Menu (6.5)
Like the Nikon D200 menus, the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro's are longer than Mr. Snuffleupagus's trunk. They're painfully long, mainly because the cameras can be customized so many ways, some of which are a little obscure. Users will choke on either menu implementation, but the S5 suffers in comparison to the D200 on this score.

Fujifilm's text and gradient backgrounds are less readable and uglier than Nikon comparatively sedate system. Both use tabbed interfaces, but Nikon's tabs are labeled with recognizable icons, while Fujifilm unaccountably chose to simply number its tabs. The numbering system is no help in finding particular options. We didn't notice any Nikon feature that Fujifilm left off, though some are named a little differently.

We'll start with the features brought up with the Menu button:

The Setup menus are longer:

The Playback menu is absolutely puny in comparison:

Ease of Use (5.5)
The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro maintains the Nikon D200's primary interfaces – its buttons, dials, LCDs and viewfinder. All these features are laid out intuitively, and Fujifilm's tweaks make sense, given the S5's distinctive features. For regular shooting, the S5 will be easy and comfortable for DSLR shooters of any stripe. The menus are a disaster, though. Important features are buried in a collection of lists that aren’t labeled well. The S5 does however, include a help menu with brief explanations of various modes and settings.