Resolution, color, ease of use. Mechanical bulb exposure control

Lack of portrait orientation handle. Focusing in low or no light.

I photograph lighthouses professionally day and night often from a boat, always alone often in the middle of no where. I can't miss the shot. I used and loved and published with an S-1 for a couple of years. I went for the S-2 based on lower noise night time exposure performance and so far have not been disapointed. Love the camera. Can't imagine needing more performance any time soon. Tremendous value for the money. I shoot 6MP RAW or Jepg. Raw at night with focus via a connected computer. If you can't afford the S-2, get a new or used S-1.

Customer Service

Excellent

Similar Products Used:

S-1, Nikon 990's, A2E, N-80, OM-1's

Image quality, firewire connection

slow 2 frames per second, non-rubberized grip, slow sync speed, two different battery types

As a professional in both photojournalistic and studio settings I find the image quality to be very, very good; especially at both 400 and 800 ISO’s. Under low light situations (ISO 800) the image quality was better than what I was getting film based. I have no other digital experience- have been film based for over 25 years- bu t am very impressed with the final results. However, I find there are several camera design flaws that would make me pause before I would consider purchasing this camera again. First and foremost is the interminably slow 2 frames per second record time. This combined with the excruciatingly slow ‘wake-up’ (from it’s battery conservation sleep mode- typically it take 3 to 4 depressions of the shutter to awaken it) proves frustrating; many times long after the ‘moment’ has passed. Like most users and reviewers, the lack of a ‘positive’ rubber grip is fatiguing especially after a long days use. Additionally, the slower than normal sync speed of 125 could be improved on. And can someone please explain to me: WHY is the LCD cover milk white and not clear plastic!? Plus: why-o-why does it necessitate TWO different battery types!? This is a royal pain! On the positive side, the fact that the camera has a sync adaptor is a big plus, not to mention the versatile hot shoe- not having to go out an replace my older flash units was a big selling point for me. As a first time digital buyer, I will say again that the final outcome- the images quality- is very impressive and that alone helps me to get over many of the cameras inherent design flaws.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus E10

The S2's color and image are wonderful and in 8 by 10s professionals have difficultly telling the difference between film and digital images. Additionally, the whiteness correction did permit available light photography during volleyball without having to add a filter to compensate for the light color.

The slow flash sync speed will preclude my being able to take photos during most basketball games. The camera did lock up with an error once and I had to remove the batteries and reinsert them.

The Fuji F2 has replaced my Nikon F100 for outdoor sports photography. I have taken photos on over 20 events during the past two months and the images created are even better than those I have created with the F100. To counter lag (time between shutter depression and image capture) I shoot with the shutter button partically depressed while I am composing and focusing. I have been able to capture a quaterback throwing the ball with the ball about a foot from his hand. What has been a true benefit for my application is the change of the effective focal lenght from 80-400 to 120-600. With that I am able to capture frame images from the far side line as well as to see the color of the quarter backs eyes over the center. Images taken have been blownup to 13 by 19 inch prints with most people having difficultly differentiating between the image from the 4.5Meg JPEG and the 35 Meg TIFF. Battery life utilizing a supplemental power pack, a compact flash 1 gig hard drive, and an image stablizing lense has not been a problem with over 300 images taken in one afternoon session.

Customer Service

The first camera had a couple of pixel defects. I returned the camera on Monday night and received a new camera on Friday morning.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F100, N90s, N90.

-Well designed body based on the Nikon N80 -Firewire connection to allow fast connection to PC -Addition of ISO 100 for studio compatibility with big strobe -Option of RAW CCD capture format for large unprocessed files -Uses dual media storage types. Buy the most cost effective or use what you already have( doubles the chances you already have useful media. -Newly added flash sync terminal (no more S1 hot shoe jury rig) -Priced perfectly to make it an unfinanced option for expansion

Lightness of the body means more tripod time. I tried eighth and quarter of a second shutter speed, something I regularly do, but not enough mass in the body. Images showed fine movement. y

Received the S2 after having been on Calumet's waiting list. Unpacked it, put on a Nikon lens put in the supplied batteries and shot. I was instantly impressed with the image quility. After having had it only two days. I had to shoot a dusk product shot on film. The shot was to be done in two pieces and stripped together. I took the Fuji along to back up the shot and see what it was capable of. Set up my Fuji 680III as the primary camera and the S2 beside it. The product was a dog leash with a built in flashlight. There were both a dog and a person in the shot. Shot film at the turn of light to make the shot look night like. Shot the flashlight/leash with the light on and steam blown through the beam to strip in. Shot everything with the S2 at the same time. The S2 produced such sharp, clean files in this difficult light that I have'nt even shown the clients the traditional film. The low light images have no visible noise even in the darkest versions. I used a setting of ISO200 and l chose an apeture priority setting of f8. The shot is great. The Firewire connection was the single feature that set it apart from the lower cost digital SLR's and makes it practical tool for fast teathered studio shooting. I use an Imacon 3020 digital back in the studio and am in the process of comparing the two capture devices as well as a comparison with a Kodak 660. I am very impressed with this camera even before I factor in the very reasonable price. There is no other entry level prosumer camera I could reccomend to the advanced amature with Nikon lenses already in your bag. And for the pro with a $25,000 capture back already in the studio, it's a cost effective step out the door with image quality useful for many commercial applications. Mark Rockwood Mark Rockwood Photographyc