Fuji S5

[ericstaud]

Nikon D200 or Fuji S5

Portraits, skin tones, family photos, architecture, landscape.  I love the idea of increased dynamic range and the nice fuji colors, but does the resolution hit tip the scales to the D200?  Has anyone done a comparison?

I know the price difference would make the choice for many, but I am ignoring that for now.

[BernardLanguillier]

Eric,

You might want to check the Fujifilm DSLR section at DPreview.

There are lots of S5 users over there, and they all seem very happy about their new toy.

Some of those guys have D200 as well, and the general concensur appears to be that the files of the S5 aren't quite as detailed as that of the D200, but that the slight gap is more than compensated by the DR and colors delivered by the S5.

I have been considering getting a S5 to replace my D80.

Regards,
Bernard

[roskav]

Tried it against my D2x as I was trying to get something better for low light and high iso .. the S5 looked great on the Bridge preview screen ... v smooth gradations and less obvious noise in comparision to the D2x... But when I brought it up to the same pixel size as the Nikon, the problems were still there.  I have to print at A1 for front of house shots and can't justify a complete changeover to Canon.. (If it would make much difference..!?) It's a really good camera for the price!

Ros

www.roskavanagh.com

(Comparison made at iso 800 in natural light) .. I'll see if I can get some 100% detail crops for you/

[tensai]

I'm curious about the S5 as well. I might rent one to check out its files, especially regarding the dynamic range.

I shoot mostly cityscapes and some architecture, some people - all with the D200. I like the speed of the D200 for when doing portraits, as well as wireless flash. But if significant enough, I would trade better files for slower camera.

Shooting landscape you could say that it would be really nice to have the extra dynamic range. Same thing applies to resolution though. Both lack of dynamic range as well as resolution you can deal with by shooting multiple shots. But it seems to me I would much rather have the resolution, and bracket for extended dynamic range, than have the dynamic range but having to stitch a panorama together. Both is possible, but the first is much easier (and if absolutely necessary sometimes even doable by hand with the D200's 5fps, well ok perhaps not really).  

To me it would all depend on how much nicer the colours of the S5 are, or how much less resolution/detail there is.

With the D200 I shoot mostly RAW and if I don't bracket, I develop two or three versions of the same file to get that little bit of extra detail and colour in the shadows, and a smoother transition to the highlights.

If a single exposed S5 gives a similar file, I would seriously consider trading my D200 in.

Regards...