FinePix S3 Pro
Encyclopedia
The Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro is an interchangeable lens digital single-lens reflex camera
introduced in February 2004. Its successor, the Finepix S5 Pro
, was released on 25 September 2006. It is based on a Nikon F80
(N80 in the U.S.) viewfinder, shutter, mirror-box and autofocus
modules surrounded by a Fujifilm body that includes its own proprietary CCD
image sensor and electronics, and a vertical grip shutter release. It has a Nikon F
lens mount and can use most lenses made for 35 mm Nikon
SLR
cameras, but only with manual operation with Nikon AIS lenses, unusually for a digital SLR the S3 Pro can be used with a manual cable release.
It is autofocusing and has an electronically controlled focal plane shutter with speeds from 30 sec. to 1/4000 sec. with x-flash synchronization
at 1/180 sec. It has built-in exposure metering with spot, center weighted and evaluative modes and pop-up flash. Its ISO film speed equivalents ranged from 100 - 1600. The camera is currently in production.
The camera's principal distinction is its 23mm x 15.5mm photo sensor. Designated the Super CCD
SR, it is unique in two ways. First, like its predecessors used in the earlier FinePix S1 Pro
and FinePix S2 Pro
, it has its photodiodes oriented diagonally rather than horizontally and vertically as in all other DSLR
cameras. This allows the use of a sophisticated interpolation
system that produces an output image equivalent to 12.1 megapixels. The apparent resolution of images in this interpolated mode lay somewhere between 6.17 megapixels and the 12.34 megapixel interpolated output.
Second, it uses two photodiodes in each photo site, one with the normal sensitivity of a CCD sensor and the other that is smaller and less sensitive. The purpose of this scheme is to provide greater resistance to the gross overexposure of highlights which is more common among digital cameras than film cameras.
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
introduced in February 2004. Its successor, the Finepix S5 Pro
Finepix S5 Pro
The FinePix S5 Pro is a digital single lens reflex camera introduced by Fujifilm on25 September 2006 and since discontinued. It replaces the previous FinePix S3 Pro and keeps the Nikon F mount compatibility, including DX size lenses. It is based on the Nikon D200 body, and benefits from its...
, was released on 25 September 2006. It is based on a Nikon F80
Nikon F80
The Nikon F80 is an SLR camera manufactured by the Japanese Company Nikon for prosumers, that is to say amateur photographers with advanced skills.-History:...
(N80 in the U.S.) viewfinder, shutter, mirror-box and autofocus
Autofocus
An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...
modules surrounded by a Fujifilm body that includes its own proprietary CCD
Charge-coupled device
A charge-coupled device is a device for the movement of electrical charge, usually from within the device to an area where the charge can be manipulated, for example conversion into a digital value. This is achieved by "shifting" the signals between stages within the device one at a time...
image sensor and electronics, and a vertical grip shutter release. It has a Nikon F
Nikon F
The Nikon F camera, introduced in 1959, was Nikon's first SLR camera. It was one of the most advanced cameras of its day. Although most of its concepts had already been introduced elsewhere, it was the first camera to combine them all in one camera. It was produced until October 1973 and was...
lens mount and can use most lenses made for 35 mm Nikon
Nikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
SLR
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
cameras, but only with manual operation with Nikon AIS lenses, unusually for a digital SLR the S3 Pro can be used with a manual cable release.
It is autofocusing and has an electronically controlled focal plane shutter with speeds from 30 sec. to 1/4000 sec. with x-flash synchronization
Flash synchronization
In a camera, flash synchronization is defined as the firing of a photographic flash coinciding with the shutter admitting light to photographic film or electronic image sensor. It is often shortened to flash sync or flash synch....
at 1/180 sec. It has built-in exposure metering with spot, center weighted and evaluative modes and pop-up flash. Its ISO film speed equivalents ranged from 100 - 1600. The camera is currently in production.
The camera's principal distinction is its 23mm x 15.5mm photo sensor. Designated the Super CCD
Super CCD
Super CCD is a proprietary charge-coupled device that has been developed by Fujifilm since 1999. The Super CCD uses octagonal, rather than rectangular, pixels...
SR, it is unique in two ways. First, like its predecessors used in the earlier FinePix S1 Pro
FinePix S1 Pro
The Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro was an interchangeable lens digital single-lens reflex camera introduced in January 2000. It was based on a Nikon F60 film camera body that was modified by Fujifilm to include its own proprietary image sensor and electronics. Because of the Nikon body, it had a Nikon F...
and FinePix S2 Pro
FinePix S2 Pro
The Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro is an interchangeable lens digital single-lens reflex camera introduced in January 2002. It is based on a Nikon F80 film camera body that was modified by Fujifilm to include its own proprietary image sensor and electronics. Because of the Nikon body, it has a Nikon F...
, it has its photodiodes oriented diagonally rather than horizontally and vertically as in all other DSLR
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
cameras. This allows the use of a sophisticated interpolation
Interpolation
In the mathematical field of numerical analysis, interpolation is a method of constructing new data points within the range of a discrete set of known data points....
system that produces an output image equivalent to 12.1 megapixels. The apparent resolution of images in this interpolated mode lay somewhere between 6.17 megapixels and the 12.34 megapixel interpolated output.
Second, it uses two photodiodes in each photo site, one with the normal sensitivity of a CCD sensor and the other that is smaller and less sensitive. The purpose of this scheme is to provide greater resistance to the gross overexposure of highlights which is more common among digital cameras than film cameras.