So I went out and shot some samples today for Johnny, they're up on my flickr page here... C's Flickr

It's the same boring shot SOC (pumkins and a bush... not my most inspiring of late ) but i started at 100 and worked up to 3200 ISO so being the same shot it will give you a good idea of how the noise level progresses.

You can actually download the full sized files from the flickr set too--if you want to see how the files play.

I'll host a few fuji Raw files up on my server--though I don't like shooting raw with the camera because the buffer is so darn slow.

That's pretty outstanding! I was looking at the S5 since I am a Nikon shooter and don't want to buy new lenses.

How bad is the buffer? I am a RAW fan.

Well... I wouldn't personally shoot a wedding in Raw with it... it's slow, the shooting could probably keep up with me... but if your buffer is processing, you can't playback very quickly. I'd just hate for it to ever become an issue.

Because of the dynamic range, there's less reason to shoot Raw.

John - so you never shoot Raw? Or is that statement specifically for the Fuji S5?

Those samples are very nice. I have the S3, and I am planning on the S5 soon, probably before the end of the year.

Really nice! May make the move to an S5 soon...thank you for sharing!

I purchased an S5 about a month ago and just shot my daughters weddings with it. All I can say is "WOW!"

Of course I run everything through noiseware anyway, but the files are outstanding. Some even make me wonder who really took them!!!

I am so impressed with everything about the S5. The buffer could be better, but as a wedding photographer who normally does not need to take 10-15 fps and hope I got something, it is just fine with me. I can get 7-8 raw files before it needs to rest. that is plenty for me.

I figure if I need to shoot 10fps to get one shot, I need to get out of the business.

The raw files are about 25.5 megs so plenty of stuff to work with, for sure.

You can upgrade the buffer but then I would not have my camera. Perhaps if I get another S5 I might do that, but until then, it is fine.

I wasn't aware that you can upgrade the buffer.....how/where? I knew that the S3 was upgradeable, but didn't know about the S5.
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Okay, that is not bad at all....I was thinking in my head much worse


I'm definitely going to do some research on the upgrade too...Iam getting a new body in the January/February timeframe. I had been set on the D300 but now that the S5 is in the picture, maybe not. Noise is my biggest complaint with my Nikon.

Yeah it is fine for me. Those are raw files too...huge things. I have not really tried to shoot jpgs with it. I just got used to liking raw files. Some people swear the Fuji JPGs are better than any other JPGs but I don't know.

Fuji can upgrade the buffer. It is not cheap though, last I checked it was in the $700-$800 range.

I know it's been a while since this topic was "alive", but we shoot weddings with S5s and absoultey love the results, the RAWs are excellent and the highlight detail retention is excellent. The only thing that annoys me is the buffer. If you shoot off several frames in quick succesion, it takes about 10 seconds for you to be able to pull up a preview. And I'm sure that I don't need to remind anyone how looonnnnnnggggg 10 seconds can be when you're shooting a wedding!
My advice...buy the fastest cards you can and make sure that they are at least 4GB (we get about 160 Raws from 4 gig cards).

Yeah I agree. I shoot with a butt-load of 2 gig cards. I am just waiting for the prices for 4 gig cards to drop a little more.

LOL! I have a few of those too! I recently bought a 6 gig Kingston that was on sale at B&H and it works fine. It's only 133x but it's not that big of a deal if you're shooting getting ready footage and other "slow moving" events. It beats changing cards every few shots...

But for coming down they aisle....Top of the Line Sandisks!