PMA 2005 | Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro digital camera review
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Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
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STORAGE & ENERGY: Fujifilm is one of the initiators of the xD card so it is quite obvious that this card can be used in the FinePix S3 Pro. The CompactFlash or Microdrive can also be used, because the S3 Pro has two slots. Fujifilm doesn’t mention the CompactFlash in its manual, it does mention the Microdrive though. The latter one however is rather vulnerable, it contains a rotating hard disk, so I prefer the flash memory. The Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro benefits from a fast card such as the new San Disk Extreme III CompactFlash. The xD Picture cards are faster than the standard CompactFlash memory cards as turned out of the comparison tests we made. Beside high read and write speed the xD Picture Card is characterized by its ultra compact and light weighted format. Just like the CompactFlash, the xD Picture card is available with high storage capacities.
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Select a chapter
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- S3 Pro Introduction |
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| - S3 Pro Camera |
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| - S3 Pro Control |
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| - S3 Pro Adjustments |
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| - S3 Pro Storage & Energy |
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- S3 Pro Conclusion
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As mentioned before, the FinePix S3 Pro's files are extremely large, most certainly when photographing in RAW format. Which I recommend, looking at the possibilities it offers. A 1GB card will only be able to store 41 images in extended dynamic range. A 2GB card therefore is advisable. Fortunately the prices of these high storage memory cards have dropped drastically lately, and fortunately for us, they are still dropping.
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Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro double Flash card slot for CF and xD |
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Images can be transferred onto a computer through Firewire or USB2.0 High Speed. Id recommend a separate card reader, to save energy from the camera. In standard dynamic range, about 2.5 images per second can be captured. The buffer will then store 12 JPEG or 7 RAW photos. In extended dynamic range image speed drops to 1.4 images per second in RAW with a buffer of 3 images. In JPEG the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro gets even slower with 1 image per second, but the buffer is larger with 6 images. I''d expect more from a camera in this class, and that that is also possible prove Canon and Nikon.
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Resolution
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Format
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Pixels
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Filesize
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Number of images
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| FINE |
JPEG
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4256x2848
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4,7MB
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220
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| NORMAL |
JPEG
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4256x2848
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2,4MB
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427
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| FINE |
JPEG
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3024x2016
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3,0 MB
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349
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| NORMAL |
JPEG
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3024x2016
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1,5MB
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698
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| FINE |
JPEG
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2304x1536
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1,7MB
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1173
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| NORMAL |
JPEG
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2304x1536
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880KB
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995
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| FINE |
JPEG
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1440x960
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1MB
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1932
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| RAW |
JPEG
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4256x2848
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520KB
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41
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| RAW |
JPEG
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4256x2848
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13MB
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81
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Unlike the Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro the FinePix S3 Pro needs only one type of battery. Fujifilm has chosen for rechargeable NiMH batteries, AA format. This is quite useful because you can buy them everywhere. And in case of an emergency you purchase common AA batteries, which are available in far away places, in the middle of nowhere. A fully charged camera can take hundreds of images. Fujifilm says: 400 with the use of the monitor and 50% flash.
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Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro uses 4 AA NiMH batteries |
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I noticed that as being too optimistic, Id say it takes that amount without flash, as I found out testing the camera, which is more realistic. Measuring the battery life is not easy, it depends on many factors, amongst them the temperature. Batteries last less long in the cold for example.
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