Picture Quality / Size Options
Fujifilm CCDs have their photosites arranged in a honeycomb fashion, an arrangement that justifies up-sampling their images in-camera, for the company, at least. We are skeptical. In any event, the S5 offers files in three pixel dimensions: 4,256 x 2,848; 3,024 x 2016 and 2,304 x 1,536. The middle size is the sensor's native resolution. RAW files are recorded at native resolution, but JPEGs can be recorded at either of two compression settings, and any of the resolutions. The RAW files are gigantic – a whopping 17 of them fit on a 512 MB Compact Flash card.
Picture Effects Mode
This may be an odd spot to write up a camera's marquee feature, but there you go. The FinePix S5 uses a sensor with two photosites for each pixel: a regular-sized site with normal sensitivity, and a small, lower-sensitivity site right beside. The S5 can use data from the small sites (the data are called R pixels) when the regular data (from the S pixels) are overexposed. Fujifilm claimed that the S3 achieved a 300 percent increase in dynamic range, and the company claims 400 percent for the S5. Our tests on the S3 were persuasive, so we look forward to testing the S5.
The function, which Fujiflm calls D-Range, is available in steps labeled by percentage. The steps are: 130, 170, 230, 300 and 400.
The S5 also offers what Fujifilm calls film simulation modes, which vary contrast, saturation, and according to Fujifilm, particularly the rolloff from pale skin tone into pure highlight. Fujifilm likens the settings to the company's esteemed color negative and transparency films. Again, we look forward to testing these in a controlled setting.
The S5 also offers individual controls for contrast, saturation and sharpness. Each offers 5 steps of variation. Saturation adds a black-and-white setting.
