When
a camera such as the FujiFilm S2 Pro is released, comparisons with
the previous model are unavoidable, if only because as its name indicates,
the S2 is expected to dethrone the S1.
The S2 is based on Nikon's F80/N80 body, a more advanced camera than the
F60/N60 that had been used to create the S1, resulting in a higher performance
digital SLR.
While
in many respects the ergonomics of the S1 and S2 are similar, there are
some critical differences. First, the S2 provides a Sub-Command Dial,
located immediately below the shutter release. The Sub-Command Dial can
be used to select apertures or shutter speeds while the Main Dial selects
the opposite. In addition, it is used to change some of the settings related
to exposure bracketing and Custom settings.
The S2 also provides a Depth of Field preview at the push of the button
located on the right side of the lens and directly below the AF assist
light.
Closer towards the back of the S2, a large LCD display screen indicates
most of the most important camera settings. Next to it is a button that
not only lights up the display, but lights up the other display screen
of the S2 which is located on the back of the camera.
While
the top LCD display relays information about the "analogue"
part of the S2, the one on the back relays information about the "digital"
part of the camera. This screen, and the 4 function buttons below, are
the primary way to select the image quality, the image format, the white
balance, the focus area, the image size, the colour, tone and sharpness.
In Playback, the same function buttons serve for a host of other
functions, ranging from Delete to providing histograms (Master (overall
brightness), Red, Green and Blue) for an image being displayed on the
LCD screen.
The major difference
between the S1 and the S2 is found on its Exposure Mode Dial. Unlike
the the S1 which offered Scene modes, the S2 offers straightforward Program
modes, and two additional settings positions:
P
P*
Full
Program mode, and Program mode with program shift that permits the
selection of combinations of apertures and shutter speeds.
S
Shutter
Priority.
A
Aperture
Priority.
M
Manual
mode which extends to a Bulb mode past the 30 second mark.
CSM
Custom
Settings which provides for 15 user preferences.
ISO
ISO
settings ranging from 100 to 1600 ISO.
The
Release Mode Switch is immediately beneath the Exposure Mode Dial.
It is used to select Single Frame, Continuous, Self Timer or Multi Exposure
as the shutter release mode.
Facing the back of the camera but near the Exposure Mode Dial, two additional
buttons provide the access to Auto Bracketing and the Sync modes when
held down while the Command Dial is rotated. The S2 is capable of Auto
Bracketing exposures by ±2EV in 1/2 EV increments over 2 or 3 frames.
The Sync Modes available to the S2 using its own pop-up flash are Front-Curtain
Sync, Slow Sync, Rear-Curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, and Red-Eye Reduction
with Slow Sync.
Metering
is selected with a small dial on the right of the TTL viewfinder. Three
modes are available
Centre-weighted,
Matrix,
and
Spot;
while the centre button
serves for Auto Exposure Lock or Auto Focus Lock.
As
is always the case with all reflex cameras, the TTL viewfinder is critically
important, and in the case of the S2, it manages to improve on the S1's
already excellent finder. The S2 benefits from Nikon's excellent design
for the F80/N80. The finder shows 93% of the frame vertically and 95%
horizontally, and has a crisp and bright image. In addition, the viewfinder
provides on-demand composition grids — which flash red then the
shutter release is pressed halfway — something which normally requires
changing the focusing screen of the camera.
Likewise, the focus point lights up in red to indicate the current selection,
and any one of five can be selected using the 4-direction button on the
back of the S2.
Camera
settings are indicated below the frame using green LEDs on a dark background
— the opposite of the S1 — and a less intrusive system when
the camera is used for night photography. The display provides information
for:
•
Focus
Indicator
•
Aperture
•
Focus
Area
•
Flash
Ready
•
Metering
System
•
Exposure/Flash Compensation
•
Multiple
Exposure
•
Exposure
Compensation
•
AE
Lock
•
Exposure
Compensation Value
•
Shutter
Speed
•
Exposure
Mode
The S2's pop-up flash has a guide number of 12 metres at 100 ISO and offers
a coverage sufficient for a 28mm lens. Flash compensation is also available,
over a range of -3EV to +1 EV in 1/2EV increments.
In addition, the flash is capable of 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash
when used in conjunction with D or G Type Nikkor lenses — lenses
with their own CPUs. The system uses a series of imperceptible pre-flashes
that are detected by the S2's five-segment TTL Multi-Sensor and are analysed
for brightness and contrast. This information, along with the distance
information obtained from the lens, are combined to produce flash exposures
that automatically compensate the flash output so it is balanced with
the ambient light.
The
3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash is an excellent system when photographing
very reflective objects, or subjects in front of a very distant background.
With non-CPU lenses, in other words lenses that do not provide distance
information to the camera, the S2 uses standard TTL Flash which will ensure
that at least the foreground is correctly exposed.
Finally, a Flash Synch connection is also provided on the upper left side.
The
back of the S2 Pro is a redesign from the S1. The LCD screen's size is
reduced to an 1.8 inch from the 2 inch of the S1, and the 4-direction
control that permits the selection of the autofocus point is placed so
it can be reached by the thumb when using the camera. Although the S1
has a 4-direction control, the latter is used exclusively on Playback
or to make menu selections as the S1 only offers a centre AF.
Otherwise, most functions that are available on the S1 continue with the
S2.
Playback is activated
at a press of the Play button, and the 4-direction control can be used
to magnify the image, or switch from one to another.
The ergonomic
design of the S1 is excellent, but the S2 is even better. Fingers find
themselves over the correct buttons naturally; focus points are selected
easily, the camera responds quickly and accurately. Best of all, the viewfinder
is a jewel. The "on-demand" grid lines imported from the Nikon
N80/F80 body are marvelous to use, and remain visible under all circumstances,
something which cannot be said of lines etched on a focusing screen.
While
in many respects the ergonomics of the S1 and S2 are similar, there are
some critical differences. First, the S2 provides a Sub-Command Dial,
located immediately below the shutter release. The Sub-Command Dial can
be used to select apertures or shutter speeds while the Main Dial selects
the opposite. In addition, it is used to change some of the settings related
to exposure bracketing and Custom settings.
Centre-weighted,
Matrix,
and
Spot;
