ProductCritic: Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro Reviews

vnunet.com (100)

A good-value digital SLR with an impressive feature set and which excels at portraiture.

Digital Camera Mag (100)

The S5 Pro is a major improvement over the S3 Pro in its handling and build quality, and it makes for an interesting comparison with the Nikon D200. Definition at a pixel level is certainly no better, but the S5 Pro’s tonal rendition is often superior, especially with portraits.

NeoCamera (95)

Overall, the S5 Pro is a superb DSLR. Its image quality is excellent, with great color, tonality, dynamic range, metering and low image noise until ISO 800. This digital camera leaves very little to complain about.,The biggest issue is probably the Fuji Finepix S5 Pro’s price, particularly for a 6 megapixels DSLR.

PhotographyBLOG (90)

I found it a pleasure to shoot with, even if it is a little unwieldy compared with the Olympus E-410s and Nikon D40xs of this world, which would still be a better bet for the keen amateur trading up from a compact. Still, the Fujifilm S5 Pro is a very capable performer, Fujifilm has obviously listened well to the wants and needs of its chosen market and, being one of a kind, if that chosen market is yours, look no further.

ePHOTOzine (90)

Using the same body as the Nikon D200, the Fuji S5 obviously has to differentiate itself in other ways, and the fact that the CCD and processing engine are completely different means that the cameras do head down very different paths. If you are shooting predominantly landscape photos then the D200 is a better camera, but for portraits and use in more challenging light, the S5 is more capable. If you are looking at breaking into the wedding market though, then there really is no choice – the wide dynamic range of the S5 makes it far superior and it’s the only choice anywhere near this price point.

ThinkCamera (90)

There are things about this camera that drive me mad. OK, it’s the menus and especially the zoom on review system. However, I absolutely love the results I get with it and the learning curve isn’t too steep. The S5 is a better camera than the D200.

Popular Photography & Imaging (90)

A camera like this one, made up of hardware and software from different manufacturers, runs the risk of turning out a Frankenstein monster, but the FinePix S5 Pro is no such freak. On the contrary, we found its operation smooth and seamless, with easy-to-grasp controls and menus, and help screens aplenty if and when you need them. This is the camera the old S3 Pro should have been—squared.

Gadget Guy (90)

A fine alternative to the current Canon and Nikon cameras. The S5 Pro’s somewhat different bells and whistles – like Live View and variable dynamic range – should attract the fans.

DigitalCameraInfo (85)

The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro’s image quality makes it a viable choice for pros and other quality-conscious photographers. Dynamic range, noise and color are all excellent. The S5’s mechanicals – a Nikon D200 body, with Nikon autofocus, metering and flash – are also big assets. The drawbacks of the S2 and S3 bodies are gone. The remaining drawback is speed. The shooting rate is glacial, and the camera churns away recording data for minutes at a time when it’s shooting RAW files.

Digital Photography Review (84)

Ultimately it’s hard to wholeheartedly recommend a 6MP camera that costs $1900 when you can get exactly the same model with 10 megapixels (and better continuous shooting) for quite a lot less. Of course no one is going to buy the S5 Pro for its resolution, nor are they likely to be swayed by a few hundred dollars. And you need to be producing serious enlargements to see the D200’s sharpness advantage, whereas you can see the S5 Pro’s DR advantage and great color even in a postcard print. It’s not for everyone, but for studio work, portraits and demanding dynamic range work (such as weddings) it fits a sizeable niche perfectly.

KenRockwell.com (83)

The Fuji S5 is the best camera I’ve ever used for people photography; get one today for people. Get something else for other kinds of photography. Most of the time the Fuji S5 has the look of wedding and portrait negative film, while my other digital cameras look more like slide film

bythom.com (83)

Fujifilm didn’t create a camera that will appeal to everyone. Those that think that the S5 Pro is a D200 with a Fujifilm sensor will be disappointed by a lot of the handling and speed compromises that Fujifilm’s integration introduced. Make sure you can really live with them before committing to the camera. While I’ve been pretty harsh on these handling changes, that’s primarily because Fujifilm isn’t advancing the bar as fast as some of the other DSLR companies are (indeed, may not even be advancing the bar at all). Four years ago we would have enjoyed the S5 Pro (because it would have been compared to a D100, S2 Pro, and 10D). But in the high tech business, slow change is not usually good change, as competitors can and will pass you by.

Let's Go Digital (80)

The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro is not a product for the masses, but will undoubtedly be loved by photographers that want to get the most out of their daily digital workplace. Image quality is still Fujifilm’s featured attraction, in one of the most popular bodies found in a DSLR, Nikon’s D200. It’s a first rate DSLR camera!

TrustedReviews (80)

The Fujifilm S5 Pro continues in its predecessors’ tradition of providing superior dynamic range and tonal quality for specialist portrait and wedding photographers, who will be delighted with its outstanding capabilities in these areas, as well as its superb handling, build quality and performance. It’s not really an ideal camera for the general consumer though, so if you’re looking for a similarly-priced general-purpose DSLR you’d be better off buying the Nikon D200 instead.

Digital Arts (80)

Ultimately, the S5 Pro impresses with its picture quality, tough body, and new features, but there simply may not be enough here to sway existing Canon or Nikon users. Despite that, the S5 Pro deserves a closer look.

MacUser (80)

Ultimately, though, it’s the combination of a unique sensor in a superbly capable body that’s the major attraction. The pixel count may be the same as the previous model, but there’s no doubting the S5 Pro’s strengths, and it’s a good alternative to the usual makes.

CNET (77)

While a wide dynamic range lets it serve up tons of highlight detail and impressive overall image quality, the S5 Pro isn’t for high-speed sports photography, and it could use more resolution.

Computer Arts (60)

The S5 Pro is worth considering as a studio portrait camera if the low resolution doesn’t bother you. But it’s harder to see the attraction for general use when you can get better performance for less money elsewhere