Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR

The S5 Pro delivers top quality images for portrait, wedding and nature photographers

By Robert Jensen

The Fujifilm S5 Pro DSLR camera is a real workhorse of a camera that uses Fuji's exceptional Super CCD SR Pro double pixel technology (6.17 million S-pixels and 6.17 million R-pixels arranged in a diagonal matrix). Fuji is the only manufacturer to have sensors with dual 'buckets' per pixel, one large 'S' receptor to record standard information with low noise levels, and one smaller 'R' receptor to better capture image highlights.

Fuji claims the S5 Pro can retain detail even on a 3-stop over exposed RAW image. Another advantage of this technology is higher levels of detail with horizontal and vertical lines (other sensors give their best output with diagonal lines). If you think about it, our environment contains many more horizontal and vertical lines than diagonal. This is similar technology to Fuji's popular FinePix S3 Pro camera that was so popular with portrait and wedding photographers. Fujifilm's RP (Real Photo) Processor Pro offers even more outstanding, film-like results. (You can even produce images that look like they were shot on FujiChrome slide film)

 

The Fujifilm S5 Pro accepts Nikon lenses.

Now we come to the reasons most pro photographers would want to buy a Fujifilm DSLR; dynamic range and gorgeous color. The Fujifilm cameras have long had a dedicated following of pro portrait and wedding photographers because of the very pleasing skin tones it produces. Clients love it and that means more sales to the pros.

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The image qualities of JPEGs shot with the S5 Pro are beautiful and noise levels low even at high ISO's. To get the finest output you'll want to shoot RAW but there is a caveat, you must use Fujifilm's (rather clunky) HyperUtility software for the conversion process since the hardware (sensor) and software were designed to work in unison with each other for the best results. I think you'll be duly impressed with the S5 Pro's output. My 13?x19? test prints were perfect.

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Once again Fuji has built its sensor technology into a Nikon supplied body but the S5 Pro is the first using the beefy Nikon D200 as its base. The S5 Pro has exceptional build quality. Instead of a mostly plastic framework like with the older S3 Pro/Nikon D80 you've now got a rugged magnesium alloy frame. The S5 Pro also features seals around doors and controls to keep moisture and dust out of the guts of the camera.  

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