Yesterday's Top of the Line...
S1 Pro by FujiFilm
By Matt Ribkoff
16 March 2007
When FujiFilm introduced the S1 Pro in 2000, photographers were taken aback by it's (then) massive 6.1 Mega-pixel Super-CCD. And even though we have moved beyond that in terms of sheer image size, it still has quite a bit to offer mid to pro level photographers.
I was introduced to the S1 by my father, who bought it for use in advertisements. At the time he was taking photographs of kiteboarders flying by, floating in the water below. My first impressions of it were as someone who wasn't much of a photographer; it looked, mounted with a Tamron 300mm zoom, 'professional.' This initial assesment served me well, I wasn't disappointed with the quality when I first used it.
First, people notice the size of the thing, as they pick it up. It's relatively large, the body being based on the Nikon F60, about 6 inches tall, 5 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. Despite the imposing size, it doesn't feel 'bulky', more 'solid.' The right hand grip feels just right in my hands, which are admittedly, slightly larger than most. The camera is constructed of rather sturdy high impact plastic, though you still won't want to drop it.
In use, the ergonomics of the system are rather obvious, at least, by their absence. You just don't notice it, which really shows the attention to detail that went into the camera. The only downside that comes to mind is the weight of the thing. Combined with a large(er) lens, it can weigh down even the sturdiest of necks on a long day shooting.
On the other side, the on camera firmware performs admirably. All the standard dSLR on camera function are to be found, and they all work splendidly. You can make as many fine adjustments as you wish, playing with the way it captures the image. Even adjusting the internal algorithms relating to everything from sharpness to color temperature. Unfortunately, FujiFilm did not decide to include the RAW image format, limiting users to Jpeg, and Tiff files. The body, since it is based on the Nikon F60, is compatible with Nikon F-mount lenses, which is a boon to anyone who has invested in Nikkor lenses over the years. One area the S1 excels in is the capturing of color, in particular, skin tones. I was amazed by the natural saturation and amount of color gradation I saw in the images.
Overall, I have been very satisfied with the performance I have seen out of the FujiFilm S1 pro. Even today, most people won't be able to tell it's age.
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