Advertisement
Advertisement
Read Next
The Advantages Of Square Filters
Square filter systems like K&F...Adobe Super Resolution
Adobe’s new tool for increasing image...Nikon Z 9: A Wild Opportunity
The best camera technologies...Convert A Camera To Infrared
With a modest investment in equipment...Advertisement
Featured Articles
Read More
How To Use Focus Peaking For Maximum Sharpness
How to use focus peaking to get maximum sharpness with every shot.
Read More
How To Use HDR For Nature Photography
Can I stop carrying graduated neutral density filters?
Read More
Organizing Your Photos, Part 1: A Place For Everything
Use these tips to tame your photo library.
Read More
Best Cameras For Wildlife Photography
To capture the decisive moment in animal activity and behavior, choose a camera with the AF performance, speed and image quality that are up to the task.
Read More
Wildlife Photo Impact
Tips and insights for creating dynamic portraits of wildlife.
Read More
Lake Of The Clouds
Best times and locations to photograph in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan.
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
What makes the S3 Pro so distinctive is its 4256 x 2848-pixel Super CCD SR II sensor. This new design incorporates dual sensors at an individual photosite. An S-pixel is the larger of the two pixels and is optimized to record shadow details. An R-pixel, directly adjoining an S-pixel, is significantly smaller and is biased to record highlights. This allows the camera to capture highlight and shadow details in high-contrast scenes. For example, in a landscape scene that the photographer meters to favor the highlights, the S3 Pro will retain more shadow details than comparable digital SLRs. While other cameras might produce shadows with no detail and distracting noise, the S3 Pro captures an image file with detail that holds up even when enlarged to a significant size.
The 6.17 million S-pixels combined with the 6.17 million R-pixels produce a 12-megapixel file. The increased dynamic range and file size are a result of the data produced by the R-pixels, which exist to capture greater degrees of brightness rather than the entire tonal range. Images produced with the S3 Pro output excellent-quality 11×14 and 16×20 enlargements. The camera also features a saturated mode that mimics the qualities of Fujichrome Astia, ideal for those who favor the color saturation and contrast of color slide films. A less-saturated mode is comparable to color negative film.
The S3 Pro has an ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 1600. While an increase in ISO typically has resulted in noise, we found that photographs created at ISO 800 with the S3 Pro were exceptional. Although there was evidence of noise, the color, tonality and contrast were strong, even with bigger enlargements.
Like its predecessor, the S3 Pro is modeled after the Nikon N80 film camera, hence the Nikon F-mount. This means that both Nikon G-series and D-series lenses can be mounted with a 1.5x magnification factor. You can use other Nikon AF lenses, but you lose 3-D Matrix capability.
The complete package provided by the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro makes it a great camera for nature photographers. Its wide dynamic range and film-simulation modes ensure that the camera captures the subtle and telling details of virtually any subject, even under complicated lighting situations. Street Price: $2,499.
Contact: Fujifilm, (800) 800-FUJI, www.fujifilm.com.
[ Specifications ]
Effective Resolution: 12.1 effective (S-pixels: 6.17 million; R-pixels: 6.17 million)
Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount
Viewfinder: 95% horizontal
Media Type: Dual memory slots—CF Types I & II, xD
Shooting Modes: Program, Shutter- and Aperture-Priority, Manual
Exposure Compensation: ± 3 stops in 1/2-EV steps
Metering System: 10-zone 3-D Matrix Metering
Focus System: 5-zone TTL phase detection
Shutter Speeds: 30-1/4000 sec., Bulb, X-sync: 1/180 sec.
ISO Equivalency: 100-1600
Power Source: 4 AA-sized NiMH or lithium batteries
Size: 5.8×5.3×3.1- inches
Weight: 28.7 ounces
2 Two-inch TFT LCD with 235,000-pixel resolution
3 USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 connectivity