#>> Fujifilm Finepix S100fs 11.1MP Digital Camera with 14.3x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom Reviews
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Fujifilm Finepix S100fs 11.1MP Digital Camera with 14.3x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom Features
- 11.1-megapixel Super CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
- 14.3x wide-angle optical zoom; Dual Image Stabilization
- 2.5-inch tiltable LCD
- Face Detection 2.0 with Automatic Red Eye Removal
- Stores images on xD or SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
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Customer Reviews
While all digital cameras have their strengths and weaknesses, some are heavier on strengths than others. Until very recently I found Canon cameras were always a safe bet; I’ve shot Canon almost exclusively for over 30 years. But the last couple of Canons I bought left me feeling some frustration and disappointment. Never thought I’d be saying it, but there it is.
Before purchasing the Fuji, I read many online professional and user reviews (including the ones here) and downloaded and viewed hundreds of sample images at the pixel level. I read about the purple fringing and soft corners problematic with this camera, and I saw some of that in the samples. But in my research I also found a lot of good stuff that made the camera a very attractive d-SLR alternative. And so I hoped that the trade-off would be worth it. Namely better dynamic range, color accuracy and usable images taken at higher ISOs.
I’m so pleased to report that this camera delivers on all counts. Dynamic range is the best of all the CCD-sensor cameras currently marketed. And images taken at ISO 800 are cleaner, sharper and more color accurate than the images taken with my Canon SX10 at ISO 80 and 100. There really is no comparison. Fuji wins, hands down! When I auto-adjust a Fuji image in Adobe Photoshop CS3, oftentimes there’s no change at all. Pictures are spot-on, straight from the camera.
Unexpected surprises were less barrel distortion at extreme wide angle and incredibly fine resolution. I can crop images to approximate the 560mm of optical zoom in the SX10 with no reduction at all in detail. In fact, the Fuji crops are clearer than the full frames from the SX10. This is due to a less aggressive approach to noise suppression and the way that Fuji has arranged the pixels on the sensor.
Focusing is both quick and accurate. Colors are pleasing in the film simulation modes as well as standard mode. Shutter lag is lower than average, even in low lighting and poor contrast conditions. The macro modes require some work to eke out the best from subjects, but when I get it right–wow!
Canon superzooms have spoiled me with their articulating LCDs. The LCD on the S100fs, while not as versatile as a 180-degree swiveling one, is very usable and makes easy work of ground, waist level and over-the-head shots. The LCD is easy to see even outdoors thanks to the brightness adjustment feature.
The only areas where the Fuji really lags behind are in its review mode and shooting and review menus. Canon and others have the edge here–reviewing images with the Fuji is clunky and slow, and deleting images requires three button presses followed by a rather long pause while the image is erased. It’s a pretty primitive procedure compared to late-model cameras of other major brands, and Fuji could take some pointers in these regards.
Battery life is short at 250 shots per charge; I really prefer rechargeable AA power, which is nearly always longer-lived than proprietary batteries. It helps a lot, though, that the battery recharges very rapidly. I’ve picked up three extras to make sure I’m good to go for a full day in the field, so no worries!
For this photographer, at least, the last word is image quality. And where it matters most Fuji is the clear winner, strutting head and shoulders above its competition. Yes, there is occasional purple fringing, but it is only troublesome in the most extreme contrast scenes and at certain combinations of ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Happily, this kind of image is the exception and not the rule and can be dealt with pretty effectively in Adobe Camera Raw. And, anyway, to my eye, purple fringing is not quite as distracting as the royal blue, green, bright red and yellow fringing that plagues some of the SX10 images.
Fuji Finepix S100fs will be a hard act to follow. RAW imaging, excellent image quality and great performance make this camera a clear winner. It’s easy to see why it earned the TIPA Gold Award for 2008!
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