| Likes |
|
- Dynamic range is unique, and great (pending testing)
- ISO 3200 setting from the company that really knows how to handle noise
- D200 body is durable and ergonomically great
- Nikon's great autofocus
|
| Dislikes |
|
- Slow operation and write speeds
- Low resolution for a $1999 DSLR
- Clumsy menu structure
|
Conclusion
The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro depends on its image quality – if it's not great, the camera doesn't compete. That makes it difficult to reach a solid conclusion in a first impression because we can only guess about image quality. Our educated guess is that the quality will be strong enough to make the camera competitive, but that's based on Fujifilm's history, not on anything we experienced while handling the camera.
That said, it is great that the S5 is based on Nikon's D200. The S2 and S3 were based on a much less capable, much more consumer-level Nikon film camera. They sorely needed better autofocus and such amenities as 1/3-EV steps on their ISO scale. The S2 had a terrible battery configuration – requiring both AA's and CR-123's -- and when the S3 replaced that, it felt as though Fujifilm had at least stopped being self-destructive – like the friend who stopped bringing his pet ferret on blind dates. Using the D200 platform, and keeping it so much intact, Fujifilm's newest S Pro camera has become much more compelling. They've done so much so well, that we have to figure that the speed problem just can't be fixed cheaply enough yet. If it could, Fujifilm would have done it.
