Fuji FinePix S2 Pro Professional Digital Camera [6.1MP] - Body + Battery Kit

As a Professional photographer of some 15 years standing, and some 15 years of using nothing but trusty Nikon Fm2's, it was with some understandable anxiety that I ventured forth into the new digital age with the Fuji S2 Pro.

I need not have worried. Having hammered the camera for 3 months with over 12000 images it really has proved a brilliant investment.It has masses of options and custom settings,but above all it delivers one hell of a punch when it comes to image clarity. Mine has only been using the medium compression in order to save memory space, but wow, final images will knock you out!

Simple to use the camera comes with all the necessary software and the thumbnail viewing system is particularly easy to utilise.

On the downside, it eats batteries, so do use rechargeables or purchase the mains lead accessory for indoor use.

Why ever use film again?

SO there are better digital cameras around, maybe you think 6mp isn't enough or that this camera is too old to be any good. WRONG.
I bought a second hand S2 pro 2 years ago, it has been used very hard since, I have found the camera to be dependable, relaible, weather (and chocolate sauce) resistant and most importantly takes a very very impressive photograph.
You might think that 6Mp isn't a lot these days, after all you can get a 14mp camera for £50 that will go into your shirt pocket but the number of megapixels is only half the story, the physical size of the sensor is important your average pocket compact has a sensor size like a postage stamp, the Fuji (and many other DSLR cameras) use the APS-C sized sensor that is bigger, not as big as the the 35mm frame of film but bigger. this means that the photosites (the pixels in the MP) are larger making for a more sensitive senso, that captures colour contrast and detail better. The second factor is the lens, the quality and size of the lens make a big difference, you average lens for a camera liek this could cost as little as £30 and on upwards to £5000 or above. The number and quality of the glass elements in the lens change how sharp the image is and how much light can get to the sensor they are designed to do the best job they can, the lens on your compact is designed to fit in your pocket.
OK so enough technowaffle, the Fuji S2 pro still has a reputation for taking colour rich sharp detailed photographs, there are a lot of wedding and portrait photographers in the world still using the S2 pro because of the job it does on skin tones, other cameras still don't do as good a job. There are downsides and upsides to a camera of this pedigree, the design is Fuji internals wedded to an old Nikon film body, this is why it takes 2 different battery types AA and CR123, its not a huge problem a couple of spare sets fit easily into a bag. Second issue is that in low light it can sometimes have problem focussing (this is by no means limited to the S2 or even old cameras, some modern ones still have problems) the display screen on the back is small and the viewfinder is a little dark. Thats about it for the bad, the good news is the fantastic image quality, as it is an old Nikon body it will accept all Nikon F mount lenses (there are loads of them knocking about cheap) and Nikon flash guns there is tons of cheap used equipment for this camera, it is still compatable with the latest generation of Nikon F mount lenses including those with VR (vibration reduction). ITs cheap, the price of a Fuji S2 can be even lower than advertised here. The camera is solidly built, mine has been out in terrible wet weather, freezing cold, hot summer sunshine and had chocolate sauce accidentally drizzled onto it, it has carried on regardless. I have even dropped it onto a hard wooden floor, not a scratch.
So if you want to move up in the camera world without spending a fortune, this could be the ideal camera for you, there are a host of control options on the outside of the camera making it closer to a pro camera, while still working in the standard 'Auto' mode and taking great shots.
I would recommend this camera to anyone on a budget looking for a way in to learning photography on a more serious level, I have taken photos for the local press as a freelance with my Fuji and out shot people with much much more expensive equipment.
Have I thought about upgrading, yes in fact I have upgraded, I still have the Fuji because if I want to shoot lanscapes or portraits it really is hard to beat.