Fujifilm announces Fuji S5 Pro Finepix

Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro press info. The long-awaited successor to Fuji S3 is here! As expected, it is not a s4 but a Fuji S5 Pro.

Sample images indicate the Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro looks almost identical to the Nikon D200.

Pre - Photokina rumors about a new Fuji Finepix S 4 or 5 digital slr camera have been circulating for quite some time and expectations of major performance improvements have been high.



The new Fuji S5 Pro
What you notice directly is the new body - essentially a Nikon D200 with:

separate battery grip, probably compatible with D200

robust metal based body

probably weather sealed like the D200

probably same flash performance

probably same AF performance



If the exterior looks new, specifications of the Fuji Finepix S5 Pro dslr indicate it will be quite similar to the S3 Pro on the inside. It will have the same sensor megapixel count as the S3 Pro, 6 + 6. Although Fuji states that the Super CCD SR Pro is redesigned, the amount of photosites is the same and many who have expected an increase will be disapointed.

With the RP -Real Photo- Processor Pro, Fuji S5 Pro digital SLR may deliver some increase in Dynamics but probably more in better noise performance.

The Dynamic Range settings are through simple choice:

100% (normal)

130%

170%

230%

300%

400% (max)

Now that the news is out, the specifications make you wonder a bit what Fujifilm has been up to since the Finepix S3 pro. Even if the new Super SR Pro delivers magnitudes of beter image quality, the pixelcount confirms that Fuji S Pro cameras are niche products and are not out to compete for major market shares..

** UPDATE - Latest news - the S5 Pro get a bigger buffer. **

Even if the SR sensor delivers resolution equivalent to 8 - 10 megapixels, attracting new users will be difficult unless it is very agressively priced.

Highlights of the Fuji S5 Pro are:
6 + 6 Super CCD SR sensor
RP -Real Photo- Processor Pro
tethered shooting
11 point AF
dual file saving
i-ttl flash with sync at 1/250
1/3 step adjustment increments
Li-ion rechargeable battery

The Fuji S5 Pro has a 2.5 inch lcd screen with 30 second live preview in bw and color.

So what is missing?
Nothing is said about speed, an issue that most S3 Pro users are anxious to know about. This is strange since the incorporation into the D200 body would suggest a makeover on the inside too. The fact that it still uses CF storage may point to the opposite.

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Personally, I feel that the omission of any statement about processing and writing speed may be a message, meaning the S5 Pro might be... a bit faster... but not much. 3 fps has been suggested.

Instead of resolution increase or speed, it seems the Finepix S5 Pro has a couple of features that few might want: live-preview, but it is not continous and without a flipout screen what´s the point... A barcode based annotation function... Password protection of custom functions... Face Detection Technology for post image verification...

quote:
"At the push of a button, the FinePix S5 Pro’s Face Detection Technology detects up to ten faces in a scene immediately after each image is captured. Photographers can zoom in and confirm facial detail, whether eyes are open or closed, focus and exposure on the FinePix S5 Pro’s LCD monitor."

The Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro is not yet ready and has a planned introduction for early 2007. That is about 6 months from now...

The Fuji film Finepix S5 Pro may come with a anticlimax on sensors stats but this also strengthens the rumors about multiple bodies with layered markets. Meaning there is probably a more advanced Fuji Pro digital SLR camera in the works that has a higher pixel density.

Also - let´s not forget that Fuji have done sensor decisions late in development before and the chances of the Fuji S5 Pro getting a new sensor are not altogether out of the picture.


Fuji Finepix S5 Pro specifications:

Nikon F-mount compatibility with all Nikkor AF-D/G and the latest AF-S optics

RAW+JPEG (4,256 x 2,848 pixels, 3,024 x 2,016 pixels, 2,304 x 1,536 pixels) dual-save mode

MAC and PC supported tethered shooting mode via USB 2.0 port and optional HyperUtility software

Robust, lightweight magnesium-alloy body

Durable shutter unit stands up to approximately 100,000 releases

Adoption of high-precision i-TTL flash control

11-point AF sensor for consistent, fast and precise focusing. This is an improvement from the FinePix S3 Pro’s 5-point AF sensor

Supports 1/3, ½, and 1 stop lens aperture control

Shutter speed 30 sec. to 1/8000 sec., maximum flash sync speed of 1/250 sec

Remark function enables addition of comments to an image file by connecting a special bar code reader to the camera body.

3 levels of custom Function Locking with password protection

2.5 inch LCD with 235,000 pixels with 100% frame coverage featuring color or monochromatic 30 seconds, live view function to check the focusing

Li-ion rechargeable battery

Compact Flash (CF) Card (Type I/II) and Microdrive compatible

** UPDATE - Latest news - the S5 Pro get a bigger buffer. **

Optional Accessories
LAN Adapter for wireless, high-speed image transfer.
Ac power.

Fuji products mentioned are trademarked by Fuji Photo Film. Nikon D200 is Nikon Corp trademark.

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