Fujifilm Finepix S100FS Review

11 Megapixels11 MegapixelsUltra-Zoom: At least 10X optical zoom.Ultra-Zoom: At least 10X optical zoom.Electronic View FinderElectronic View FinderStabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Stabilization: Compensates for tiny involuntary movements of the camera.Continuous DriveContinuous DriveVGA Video: 640 x 480 or more but less than 1280 x 720.VGA Video: 640 x 480 or more but less than 1280 x 720.Manual Controls: Both fully-manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (T and V).Manual Controls: Both fully-manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (T and V).Custom White-Balance: Specifies exactly what should be white to the camera.Custom White-Balance: Specifies exactly what should be white to the camera.Action Photography: Shutter speeds of 1/1500 or more.Action Photography: Shutter speeds of 1/1500 or more.Night Photography: Reaches shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds.Night Photography: Reaches shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds.Hotshoe: Allows external flash units to be attached.Hotshoe: Allows external flash units to be attached.Spot MeteringSpot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and SD memory.Accepts Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and SD memory.Accepts xD memory.Accepts xD memory.Neocamera detailed reviewNeocamera detailed reviewDiscontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer. May still be in stock or found used.Discontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer. May still be in stock or found used.

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS Introduction

The Fuji Finepix S100FS is a large high-end fixed lens digital camera aimed at prosumers. Fuji calls it the most sophisticated camera ever made. It is an SLR-styled camera with complete manual controls, a mechanical lens and numerous buttons to give it a professional feel.

This camera's outstanding feature set includes:

  • 11 Megapixels sensor
  • 14.3X Stabilized optical zoom lens
  • Starts at 28mm wide-angle and reaches 400mm
  • Mechanical zoom ring
  • Electronic focus ring
  • ISO sensitivity ranging from 100 to 10000
  • Shutter speeds from 1/4000s to 30s
  • Selectable dynamic range from 100% to 400%
  • 4 Film-simulation modes
  • Bracketing of film-simulation, dynamic range and exposure
  • Complete set of manual controls
  • Unlimited high-quality movie recording
  • Hot-shoe and sync-port for external flashes
Fuji S100FS

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS Suitability - What is it good for?

The Fuji Finepix S100FS is designed for a all sorts of photography. Unlike most fixed-lens cameras, the S100FS is as large as the average DSLR. It is quite sturdy and feels solid. Even the moveable LCD and the memory card door feel sturdier than most. Since it weighs 912gIncluding battery and SD card, it feels more like a professional tool. The camera can be held securely thanks to its large rubberized grip with a horizontal indentation for the index finger. On the back side of the camera, an inward curvature prevents the thumb from slipping to the side.

Fuji Finepix S100FS

Pictures from the S100FS can be printed nicely in sizes up to 20 "x15" thanks to its high quality 11 megapixels Fuji SuperCCD HR sensor. The optical zoom lens starts at 28 mm, which is a moderate wide angle, and goes all the way to 400 mm which is a substantial telephoto. Near the wide-angle end, the lens can focus as close as 1 cm in super-macro mode. This makes this digital camera suitable for most photography subjects including architecture, wildlife and macro.

Since this camera provides ISO settings from 100 to 10000 and shutter-speeds from 1/4000th of a second to 30 seconds, it can be used for a vast range of photographic conditions and creativity. Indoor and social occasions can be captured well using high-ISO settings, while low-light photography can be captured using the slow shutter-speeds. Even indoor sports can be photographed using fast shutter speeds and high-ISO settings available with the S100FS. Other lighting conditions can be helped by using the Fuji S100DS's powerful built-in flash or an external flash attached to the camera's hot-shoe or sync-port. The Fuji S100FS also allows control over the dynamic range it captures. Possible options are 100%, 200% and 400%, although these are not available at all ISO settings.

Storage options are also versatile with both SD-HC and xD cards being supported. Since SD cards are cheaper, faster (See our Memory Performance feature) and available in larger sizes than xD, we recommend people who don't already have memory cards of either type to buy SD cards for the Fuji S100FS.

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS Capability - What can it do?

Beyond taking pictures in a large variety of conditions suitable for large prints, the Fuji Finepix S100FS packs some useful and interesting features. Below is a list of its most useful features, followed by explanations, when required.

  • Film-simulation: Provia, Velvia, Soft, Portrait.
  • Dynamic range: 100%, 200% and 400%.
  • White-balance: Auto, 7 Preset and 2 Custom, all fine-tunable in 7 steps on Red-Cyan and Blue-Yellow scales.
  • Metering modes: evaluativeAlso called segment or matrix, spot and average.
  • Focus control: single auto focus, continuous auto focus, manual focus.
  • Drive modes: single frame, first 7-frames, first 50 frames at 3 MP, final 7-frames, long period.
  • Exposure compensation: +2 to -2 EV, in 1/3 stop increments.
  • Flash compensation: -2/3..+2/3, 1/3 EV steps.
  • Exposure bracket: 3 shots, 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV steps.
  • Film-simulation and dynamic-range bracketing, 3 shots.
  • Auto focus modes: center, multi-pointCamera chooses a point to focus on, areaUser selects an area to focus on.
  • Flash modes: auto, on, off, slow-syncAlso called rear-curtain sync.
  • Face detection with or without redeye removal.
  • Photography modes: fully automatic, program automatic, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual, 2 custom modes, 14 scene-modes and film-simulation bracket.
  • Other: Auto exposure lock or toggle and focus check.

The Fuji Finepix S100FS brings several unique and rare features. The FS in S100FS stands for Film-Simulation and is a newcomer to this class of camera. Fuji offers 4 film types which differ in dynamic-range, color, tone and sensitivity. Additionally, each parameter can be increased or decreased independently of the film-simulation mode. The control over dynamic range is fairly new too. It is somehow related to ISO sensitivity which is why not all dynamic range options are allowed at all ISOs. Basically, dynamic range is increased from the default 100% by simulating capture of parts of the image at different ISO settings.

Fuji Finepix S100FSDrive modes require some explanations. Obviously, in single frame mode, the camera takes a single picture when the shutter is pressed down. The first 7-frames mode is the typical burst mode where the camera focuses once and takes up to 7 picturesMetering for each one. It does so at 3 FPS, and shows a brief review of each picture after its taken. The first 50-frame mode works the same way except that images are shot at 7 FPS and resolution is limited to 3 megapixels. Exposure bracketing produces one properly exposed frame, one underexposed and one overexposed. The increments are selectable to 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV or 1 EV. Film simulation bracketing takes an image in Provia, Velvia and Soft modes. Bracketing of dynamic range takes shots at 100%, 200% and 400%. It is unclear why the camera needs to take three shots when bracketing film-simulation or dynamic-range, instead of taking one and outputting three.

The final 7-frames drive-mode is a Fuji invention which has made it into many Fuji digital cameras and several models from other manufacturers. Simply put, the camera takes pictures continuously at 3 FPS but only saves the last 7 frames taken. This is a very valuable feature for action shots when it is difficult to anticipate the action. Finally, the long period drive mode takes pictures at roughly 1 FPS, the number of pictures taken depending on the speed of the memory used. Most photography modes and scene modes are also typical.

The AE-L button either locks the exposure while it is pressed or sets it until the AE-L button is pressed again. The specific operation of this button depends on an obscure menu which chooses between AE-L 1 and AE-L 2. The Focus-Check button magnifies the center of the live-preview, to facilitate manual focusing or validating the auto-focus. Unfortunately, neither the LCD nor EVF is precise enough to make this entirely accurate.

Fuji Finepix S100FS

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS
Buy from these sellers: Buy From Amazon.com
By Neocamera on 2008-07-23

Please Support Neocamera

All information on Neocamera is provided free of charge yet running this website is a huge endeavor. Purchases made via affiliate links found throughout the site help keep it running and up-to-date. There is no additional cost to you, so please consider buying via these links to our affilates:

  • Best Buy Banner
  • Photography Store Banner
  • BH Photo Banner
  • Amazon Banner

If you found any information on this site valuable and did not purchase via our affiliate links, please considering donating via PayPal:

Any amount will be greatly appreaciated. Thank you for your support!

Fujifilm S100FS Highlights

Fujifilm Finepix S100FS
Large digital camera

Sensor-Size: 9 x 7mm

2/3" Sensor

Actual size when viewed at 100 DPI

11 Megapixels Ultra ZoomISO 100-3200
14.3X Mechanically Linked Wide Optical ZoomShutter 1/4000-30s
Built-in StabilizationFull manual controls, including Manual Focus
0.20" Built-in EVF 200K PixelsCustom white-balance with 2 axis fine-tuning
3 FPS Drive, 7 ImagesSpot-Metering
640x480 @ 30 FPS Video RecordingHot-Shoe & Sync-Port
2.5" LCD 230K PixelsLithium-Ion Battery
Secure Digital High Capacity, xD
Internal Memory
Buy from these sellers: Buy From Amazon.com

Dynamic Range Misunderstood

Dynamic range is a problem in photography because the world has a luminance range far greater than any sensor or film can capture. If dynamic range was not a problem, there would be no need for exposure. Exposure controls which range of luminance is recorded in a photograph.

The dynamic range that a camera captures refers to the range of luminance of the world which is recorded by the image sensor. The misconception is that the dynamic range of the resulting image files is different. In reality, all JPEG images have the same dynamic range, they are all 8-bits-per-component (hence 24-bits-per-pixel). That is, each color component can have a value between 0 and 255. No matter which camera produces a JPEG, it can produce one with pixel-components that are 0 and some that are 255.

Since the camera output has always the same dynamic range but sensors differ in the dynamic range which they can capture, a mapping occurs between the two ranges. This mapping compresses the captured dynamic range into the output dynamic range. Therefore, the wider the captured dynamic range, the lower the contrast in the resulting image. This is the reason why it is important to select an appropriate dynamic for the subject matter and not simply leave the camera to its maximum dynamic range.

Camera Bag

Clear

Your camera bag is empty. To add a camera or lens click on the star next to its name.

Your camera bag is empty.

Add cameras or lenses by clicking on the star next to their name.

Updates

    2023.11.20

  • 2023.11.20

    Best Digital Cameras of 2023 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras of 2023

    Find out which are the Best Digital Cameras of 2023. All the new Mirrorless Digital Cameras from entry-level to high-end professional.

  • 2023.07.10

  • 2023.07.10

    Fujifilm X-H2 Review Update Poster

    Fujifilm X-H2 Review

    40 Megapixels APS-C Hybrid Mirrorless Digital Camera with 7-stop IBIS. Fastest shutter ever and 8K video capture. Large builtin EVF with 0.8X magnification and 5.8 MP, plus an Eye-Start Sensor. Packed with features and large number of controls in a weatherproof and freezeproof body.

  • 2023.05.07

  • 2023.05.07

    Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G Review Update Poster

    Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G Review

    Review of the unique Sony FE 20-70mm F/4G lens. The optical zoom of this lens spans ultra-wide-angle and medium focal-length coverage, making it one of the most versatile Full-Frame lenses on the market.

  • 2023.01.15

  • 2023.01.15

    Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 Review Update Poster

    Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 Review

    Review of the Huion Inspiroy Dial 2 tablet, a medium sized drawing surface with dual dials and customizable buttons. Connects via USB-C or Bluetooth 5.0 with Windows, Linux and Android support.

  • 2022.12.08

  • 2022.12.08

    How to Pack for a Photo Trip Update Poster

    How to Pack for a Photo Trip

    Find out how to pack for a travel photography trip, carry your gear safely while meeting airline regulations.

  • 2022.11.13

  • 2022.11.13

    Best Digital Cameras of 2022 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras of 2022

    The best digital cameras of 2022. A short list of the most outstanding models in their respective categories. Choose one for yourself or as a gift.

  • 2022.09.21

  • 2022.09.21

    Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 60-250mm F/4 SDM, the constant-aperture telephoto zoom with the highest zoom-ratio on the market.

  • 2022.09.20

  • 2022.09.20

    Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 50-135mm F/2.8 SDM, the lightest professional telephoto zoom native to the K-mount.

  • 2022.09.10

  • 2022.09.10

    Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW Review Update Poster

    Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW Review

    Review of the Pentax DA* 11-18mm F/2.8 DC AW, the widest professional ultra-wide zoom native to the K-mount.

  • 2021.11.24

  • 2021.11.24

    50 Gifts Under $50 For Photographers in 2021 Update Poster

    50 Gifts Under $50 For Photographers in 2021

    50 Gifts photographers will love. All for under $50 USD. 2021 Edition.

  • 2021.11.17

  • 2021.11.17

    Best Digital Cameras for 2021 Update Poster

    Best Digital Cameras for 2021

    Neocamera shows which are the very best Digital Cameras for 2021 in every category: Mirrorless, DSLR, Premium Compact, Ultra-Zoom and Rugged.

  • 2021.09.04

  • 2021.09.04

    Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW Review Update Poster

    Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW Review

    Exclusive review of the Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 PLM AW professional lens of Pentax K-Mount APS-C DSLR cameras.