Fuji S1

[DaveNJ]

Hello -

I am looking to get back into digital photography. I had bought a Canon D30 last year and used for about 3 months, but was disappointed at the amount of time required in post processing to get a good photo. I sold it last January 2002 and went back to film. It appears the Fuji SLRs don't have this problem.

I don't have much invested in Canon lenses, so I could make the jump to Nikkor as I am just starting to gear up.

Anyway, instead of getting the S2 at $2399 right now, what about getting the Fuji S1 for $1300 ? I plan on just using it for studio portraits in my basement, candids, family events and just general hobby shots.

Is it worth it for me to bite the bullet and pay the extra $1000 for the S2 ?
Any comments or recommendations would be appreciated.

thanks,
Dave

[ballroom_boy]

Hi there,

In terms of your photo requirements, I was in the exact same position as you last fall. I had a Nikon CP 990 (a great little camera) and wanted to enter the world of the DSLR. I had a fairly limited budget and some existing Nikkor lenses (all pro f/2.8 glass) for my F70 body. And after talking to a couple studio (and wedding) photographers about the S1 (they liked it a lot), I bit the bullet and bought one (about $US 1400).

I am VERY pleased with my S1. I wanted to shoot JPEGS straight out of the camera and the S1 does a fine job with that. I read many reviews that said that the S1 was a great camera if you wanted to minimize how much post processing you do in Photoshop (all I do is crop and sharpen once in a while).... at this point in my photography career I do not have the need to shoot in RAW mode nor do I have a lot of time to manipulate a lot of images. And I rarely enlarge my prints beyond 8x10... and at that size, the 3.5 megapixel images are wonderful. I get MANY compliments on them.

I will someday upgrade to an S2 (or if a full frame sensor Fuji DSLR ever comes out) and keep the S1 as a second/backup body, once I improve my technique and have the need for shooting in RAW mode (plus all of the post processing techniques).

If you want a good, basic DSLR, with rich Fuji colour and very easy handling, get the S1. It is a great price at the moment. Sure, the S2 has more flexibility, resolution, and bells & whistles, however, I believe the S1 can hold its own.

I have NO regrets with my purchase. I would do it again in a heartbeat. You can check some user reviews at:

http://www.photographyreview.com/PRD_84816_3127crx.aspx

Take care
Roel :)

[Tom V]

See http://www.s2pro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=459 for comments from Bob, who apparently has a faulty S1. There is an article at http://www.ddisoftware.com/reviews/s2/#color that mentions a color cast problem with some S1s that you should watch out for. I have only seen one sample of the problem, so I don't think it is very widespread.

Test the camera on some evenly lit, neutral colored subject matter to test for the color cast problem. Test the exposure, test the focus, test it with flash, etc. to make sure all the systems are working perfectly. Only you can decide if the price is right for you and your circumstances.

I just searched eBay and found 10 Fuji S1 cameras going for between $51 and $1149, in various conditions between used and new. $1300 might be a little high for buying just a camera from a stranger - you might as well buy it off eBay. If the camera in question is being sold by a friend - how good a friend are they if they are going to take you to the cleaners? If the "extra" cost will cover some warranty, that might count for something. Some of the cameras on eBay looked brand new (old stock) and probably still have valid new warranties. You would have to look into it to be sure. Make sure you get a USA version.

I bought my S2 through eBay and am glad I did.