Fuji S2 Shutter release speed

[Hank]

[font color=\'#000000\']The shutter release is mechanical, rather than electical.  You use a conventional plunger type release screwed directly into the S2 shutter release button, as in days of yore, so a lot depends on the quality of the release cable itself.  Overall I have to say that it is a tiny bit slower than the electrical releases on our N90S's and 8008S's until you learn "by feel" how far down you can press the release without actually setting it off.  Otherwise the stroke is quite a bit longer.  

You may also find the slower FPS and smaller buffer on the S2 frustrating for bird work.  I can't fault the S2 for image quality (we use four of them in our business, to the exclusion of any Nikon DSLR), but we're not chasing birds.  In fact, the image quality is so good that we won't consider upgrading to the the S3 unless they do something about the FPS and buffer size- irrespective of any improvements in image quality.  The high price for a small increase in image quality simply won't be a good investment, considered from a purely business decision about return on investment.[/font]

[Hank]

[font color=\'#000000\']Fuji took a real beating over the S3 following their "release" at PSA- basically a dummy model under glass that no one could handle, accompanied by a questionable spec sheet.  Looking back, they got the same kind of hits when they released the S2.  The good news in that was that they seemed to take some of the criticism to heart before finally putting the S2 on the market.  We can only hope for the same on the S3.

On the practical side, in spite of the fact that we already own 4 of them, if the S3 doesn't live up to our expectations we will seize the opportunity to pick up a couple of more S2's when the price drops after the "real" release of the S3.  They're already pretty reasonably priced, considering image quality, and we use multiple bodies to compensate for the small buffer and long download times.[/font]

[birdfoto]

[font color=\'#000000\']I'm a pro wildlife shooter and shutter release speed is critical to me, particularly when photographing birds. I'm presently using a Nikon D1X and am pleased with its performance but am seriously thinking about Fuji S2 or more likely the soon to be released S3. How is the shutter response speed of the S2-- say, compared to the Nikon D1X?[/font]

[birdfoto]

[font color=\'#000000\']Hank, Thanks for the good info. If you're happy with FOUR S2s that speaks volumes!!!!!!. Tough call as to waiting for S3 with price and release date uncertain.[/font]