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Digital Cameras and Accessories
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro: the digital SLR that's tuned for image quality
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Announcement Date:
23 September 2004
Any photographer who has thought hard about their choice of film, and whose work is geared towards ultimate image quality, will understand the appeal of the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro.
Representing the company's pursuit of film photography standards for the digital world, the FinePix S3 Pro introduces Fujifilm's unique Super CCD SR II – dual pixel technology that is technically inspired by the structure of silver halide crystals in colour negative film.
The new sensor produces 12.34 million effective pixels in 6.17 locations, combining 6.17 million high-sensitivity S-pixels and the same number of low-sensitivity R-pixels. Thanks to a newly developed image processor, the FinePix S3 Pro achieves exceptional image quality with a fourfold increase in dynamic range over non-SR Super CCD sensors, rich colour reproduction, high signal to noise ratio (lower noise at higher sensitivities) and tonality that was previously impossible to generate with digital cameras.
The FinePix S3 Pro's designers have been able to make full use of Fujifilm's extensive colour film expertise. For instance, rather than force photographers to shoot in RAW mode and spend time on an extensive workflow process, Fujifilm has introduced Film Simulation Modes, dynamic range presets and colour space selection.
Once the photographer is familiar with these settings, they will be able to produceJPEG images straight from the camera, which require no post-production. Photographers can choose between smooth, extended tonality and natural skin tones, or the dramatic impact of highly saturated colour. The FinePix S3 Pro's Film Simulation Mode is the equivalent of changing film type to suit shooting conditions, and achieves this at the touch of a button.
The FinePix S3 Pro is designed from the photographer's viewpoint. The body design of the camera has been developed with significant improvements in versatility and ease of use. Dual shutter release buttons are provided for both landscape and portrait compositions, and dual LCD monitors confirm shooting settings and composition at a glance, without the need to scroll through menus. In addition, the body has been sculpted and rubberised to provide a solid grip.
For the first time on any digital SLR, a pre-exposure Live Image Mode has been incorporated to enable photographers to frame and focus images without the need to use the viewfinder. Activated for up to 30 seconds prior to a normal exposure, Live Image Mode is ideal for shots using a tripod as well as effective capture of candid images.
The FinePix S3 Pro features two D-TTL compatible flash interfaces (hot shoe and synchro terminal) and dual media slots, making it compatible with xD-Picture Cards™, CompactFlash™ and Microdrive™ cards up to 4GB capacity.
Expandable shooting options are achievable thanks to the FinePix S3 Pro's compatibility with Nikon-fit lenses and accessories, including the latest 'DX'-designated options, giving plenty of scope for further shooting control.
The FinePix S3 Pro comes bundled with Hyper Utility Software HS-V2 Ver. 3.0 which enables high-quality RAW data conversion, and incorporates an image viewer, PC control functions and expanded colour processing options.
FinePix S3 Pro features at a glance:
Super CCD SR II sensor delivering 12.34 million effective pixels (6.17m S-pixels + 6.17m R-pixels)4,256 x 2,848 (12.1 million) recorded pixelsFilm Simulation Modes to replicate the results of various reversal and professional portrait colour negative filmsImproved and adjustable dynamic range by changing the mixing ratio of the 'S' and 'R' pixelsDual shutter release buttons (for horizontal/vertical orientation)Dual LCD monitorsNew 2", 235,000 pixel LCD monitorSensitivity: ISO 100, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600Dual flash interfaces to support hot shoe and synchro terminal optionsD-TTL flash meteringNikon F-Mount for compatibility with Nikon lensesNikkor D and G-type lens supportHigh speed dual image interfaces (IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0)Live Image Mode for accurate image preview, focusing and framingLightning fast start-up Selectable RAW capture modesUSB 2.0 and FireWire connectivityxD-Picture Card™ and CompactFlash™ / Microdrive™ media slots (compatibility information available at www.fujifilm.co.uk)DC-IN, Video Out, PC Sync terminalHS-V2 Ver. 3.0 software included with the camera
Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm's Director of Consumer Products, said, "Photographers obsessed with image quality will identify with the technicians who developed the FinePix S3 Pro. The S3 Pro is what DSLR photography is all about – not compromising matters by adding yet more pixels, but instead concentrating on adding pure picture quality.
"Moreover, it offers the professional photographer more versatility than ever before. Anybody whose best work is on conventional Fuji film won't need to look any further for the digital equivalent."
Availability & pricing
The FinePix S3 Pro will be available from UK retailers in November 2004.
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
Specifications and features
| Type of camera |
Interchangeable-lens digital SLR |
| Effective pixels |
12.34 million (6.17 million S-pixels plus 6.17 million R-pixels) |
| CCD sensor |
23.0 x 15.5mm Super CCD SR II
Number of total pixels: 12.9 million (S-pixel: 6.45 million, R-pixel: 6.45 million) pixels |
| Number of recorded pixels |
Still image: 4,256 x 2,848 (12.1 million) / 3,024 x 2,016 / 2,304 x 1,536 / 1,440 x 960 pixels |
| Storage media |
Slot 1: xD-Picture Card™ (16MB to 512MB capacities currently available)
Slot 2: CompactFlash/Microdrive™ (card compatibility information is available at www.fujifilm.co.uk) |
| File format |
JPEG-DCF compatible (Exif Ver 2.21)
CCD-RAW (14-bit)
(Design Rule for Camera File System compliant / DPOF compatible) |
| Number of images / recording time |
See chart below |
| Lens mount |
Nikon F mount (with AF coupling, AF contacts) |
| Compatible lenses |
D / G type AF Nikkor lenses: all functions possible
AF Nikkor other than D / G type: all functions except 3D Matrix Metering possible
Non-CPU: usable in Manual exposure mode (exposure meter cannot be used) |
| Lens servo |
Single Servo AF (S), Continuous Servo AF, manual focus (M) Focus tracking automatically activated in subject's status in Single Servo AF (S) or Continuous Servo AF (C) |
| Picture angle |
Approx. 1.5x focal length in 35mm format equivalent |
| Auto focus |
TTL phase detection
Detection range: EV 1 to EV 19 (ISO 100 equivalent at normal temperature) |
| Focus area |
One of five focus areas can be selected |
| AF area mode |
Single area AF
Dynamic AF (Dynamic AF mode with closest subject priority is available) |
| Focus lock |
Focus is locked by pressing AE/AF Lock button or lightly pressing shutter release button in Single Servo AF |
| Shutter |
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter speed |
30 sec to 1/4000 sec. Bulb, X-contact: max 1/180 sec. |
| Sensitivity |
Equivalent to ISO 100/160/200/400/800/1600 |
| Exposure metering system |
TTL full-aperture exposure metering system
Three metering systems selectable (depending on lens used)
3D-10 matrix metering: EV 0-21
Centre-weighted metering: EV 0-21
Spot metering: EV 3-21 |
| Exposure compensation |
+/-3 EV range, in 1/2 steps |
| Auto exposure lock |
Detected exposure value locked by pressing AE/AF lock button |
| Exposure modes |
P: auto-multi program (flexible program possible), S: shutter priority auto, A: aperture priority auto, M: manual |
| White balance |
Automatic
Manual (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent Light (Daylight), Fluorescent Light (Warm White) Fluorescent Light (Cool White), Incandescent Light, Custom 1, Custom 2 |
| Viewfinder |
Fixed eye-level pentaprism, built-in dioptre adjustment (-2.0-1 to +1.0m-1) Frame coverage: approx. 93% vertical, approx. 95% horizontal |
| Eye point |
24mm |
| Focusing screen |
Clear matte screen, II with focus brackets and on-demand grid lines |
| Viewfinder information |
Focus indications, metering system, AE lock, shutter speed, aperture, exposure mode, electronic analogue exposure display/exposure compensation display, frame counter/exposure compensation value, ready-light, multiple exposure, focus area, flash exposure compensation, five sets of focus brackets (area) / spot metering area, centre-weighted metering, on-demand grid lines |
| LCD panel (top panel) display |
Shutter speed / exposure compensation value, aperture, exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, auto exposure bracketing, bracketing bar graphs, flexible program, flash sync mode, AF area mode, focus area, battery power |
| LCD monitor |
2.0-inch low-temperature polysilicon TFT (approx. 235,000 pixels, wide-type LCD, approx 100% frame coverage) |
| Built-in flash |
Guide No.12 (ISO 100, m), flash coverage: 20mm or longer lens |
| Flash sync mode |
Front-curtain sync (normal sync), red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync, slow sync, rear curtain sync |
| Ready light |
Lights up when flash fully charged with built-in flash
Blinks for 3 sec for full output warning |
| Accessory shoe |
Standard ISO-type with hot-shoe contact (safety lock provided) |
| Remote release |
Electronic shutter release |
| Self-timer |
Electronically controlled: timer duration: 20 sec/10 sec/5 sec/2 sec |
| Video output |
NTSC/PAL selectable |
| Digital interface |
USB 2.0 (high speed) for data storage, IEEE 1394 for data storage and shooting |
| Sync contact |
X-contact only: flash synchronisation up to 1/180 sec |
| Power source |
4 x AA Ni-MH batteries (sharing power with camera body), AC power adaptor AV-5VX (optional - bought separately) |
| Dimensions |
147.8 (W) x 135.3 (H) x 78.5 (D) mm |
| Weight |
Approx 815g (excluding batteries and lens) |
| |
| Camera functions |
FinePix S3 Pro |
| Shooting modes |
Single frame shooting
Continuous shooting
- D-range STD mode: max 2.5 frames/sec
RAW: up to max 7 frames
JPEG: up to max 12 frames
- D-range: WIDE mode:
RAW: max 1.4 frames/sec up to max 3 frames
JPEG: max 1 frame/sec up to max 6 frames
Preview mode
Multiple exposure |
| Parameter setting |
|
Colour
Film simulation
Colour space
Contrast
Sharpness
D-range |
High/STD/org/B&W
Film simulation F1/F2
sRGB/Adobe-RGB
Hard/STD/ORG
Hard/STD/ORG
Wide: Auto/wide 1/wide 2
STD |
| Playback function |
Single frame / thumbnails in 9 segments
Playback zoom / histogram indication / standard chart |
| Accessories included |
- Fujifilm Hyper Utility Software HS-V2 v3.0
- 4 x AA Ni-MH batteries
- Battery charger for Ni-MH batteries
- Shoulder strap
- Body cap, eyepiece cap, LCD cover, cable holder
- USB cable (with filter)
- IEEE 1394 cable
- Video cable
- CD-ROM containing:
- USB driver
- FinePix Viewer
- ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix
- RAW File Converter LE
|
| Optional accessories |
- xD-Picture Card™: 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512MB capacities currently available
- CompactFlash™: 128, 256, 512, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB capacities (x20 speed or above)
- AC power adaptor (AC-5VX)
- PC Card Adaptor (DPC-AD)
- CompactFlash™ Card Adaptor (DPC-CF)
- USB Pen Drive/xD-Picture Card™ Reader (DPC-UD1)
- Fujifilm 7-in-1 Memory Card Reader (DCR-71)
- Min. capacity 2300mAh Ni-Mh rechargeable batteries
- Fujifilm multi-purpose leather case
|
© 2004, Fuji Photo Film (UK) Ltd. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Number of recorded pixels |
4256 x 2848 |
4256 x 2848 |
4256 x 2848 |
4256 x 2848 |
3024 x 2016 |
3024 x 2016 |
2304 x 1536 |
2304 x 1536 |
1440 x 960 |
1440 x 960 |
| Quality |
RAW-WIDE |
RAW-STD |
JPEG F |
JPEG N |
JPEG F |
JPEG N |
JPEG F |
JPEG N |
JPEG F |
JPEG N |
| Image Data Size |
Approx. 25MB |
Approx. 13MB |
Approx. 4.7MB |
Approx. 2.4MB |
Approx. 3.0MB |
Approx. 1.5MB |
Approx. 1.7MB |
Approx. 880KB |
Approx. 1.0MB |
Approx. 520KB |
| 16MB |
0 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
10 |
8 |
17 |
14 |
29 |
| 32MB |
1 |
2 |
6 |
13 |
10 |
20 |
17 |
35 |
30 |
59 |
| 64MB |
2 |
4 |
13 |
26 |
21 |
42 |
36 |
72 |
61 |
120 |
| 128MB |
5 |
9 |
26 |
53 |
42 |
84 |
72 |
144 |
122 |
241 |
| 256MB |
10 |
19 |
53 |
107 |
85 |
169 |
146 |
290 |
245 |
484 |
| 512MB |
20 |
39 |
107 |
214 |
170 |
339 |
292 |
580 |
491 |
967 |
| 340MB Microdrive |
13 |
27 |
73 |
146 |
116 |
232 |
200 |
396 |
338 |
671 |
| 1GB Microdrive |
41 |
81 |
220 |
437 |
349 |
698 |
597 |
1173 |
995 |
1932 |
| 2GB Microdrive |
79 |
154 |
418 |
832 |
664 |
1328 |
1135 |
2230 |
1892 |
3673 |
4GB Microdrive |
158 |
309 |
838 |
1665 |
1328 |
2657 |
2271 |
4461 |
3785 |
7348 |
© 2004, Fuji Photo Film (UK) Ltd. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
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