Fuji FinePix S3 ProFuji updates their digital SLR with a 12.34-megapixel Super CCD SR II, for amazing tonal range.<<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video & Power>> Page 10:Image Storage & InterfaceReview First Posted: 9/7/2005 |
Image Storage and Interface
The S3 can accommodate CompactFlash Type I and II as well as xD-Picture Card memory cards for image storage, but ships without any memory card in its packaging. This makes sense, as most users will want to purchase their own memory cards (if they don't already have a few from previous cameras they've owned), and there's no sense in adding the cost of a big memory card onto the cost of the basic camera. Plan on buying a 256 MB card as an absolute minimum, but a 1 GB card would make more sense. The media card slot location on the rear panel is convenient for changing memory cards while mounted to a tripod, and the slot is protected by a hinged, plastic door that flips in and out of place.
xD-Picture Cards and CompactFlash cards cannot be write protected, but images on either card can be individually protected through the Playback menu. Through this same menu, images can also be set up for printing on a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) device. Four image sizes are available to choose from, 4,256 x 2,848, 3,024 x 2,016, 2,304 x 1,536 or 1,440 x 960, with Hi (RAW), Fine, or Normal JPEG compression levels. The S3 Pro has both USB and FireWire computer interface ports for connection to a host computer. I didn't test download speed over the FireWire interface, but USB downloads were quite speedy, at 1,761 KB/second. While not quite as fast as the fastest USB 2.0-equipped cameras I've tested, this is about three times as fast as cameras with USB 1.1 (or USB 2.0 "full speed") interfaces can manage. With transfers this fast, few users will find any need for FireWire connections or external card readers. (Download speed measurements were made using a Lexar 80x CF card and a Sony VAIO desktop computer, with a 2.4 GHz Pentium IV processor.)
| Resolution/Quality 256 MB Memory Card |
Fine | Normal | |
|
| 4256 x 2848 |
Images (Avg size) |
52 4.9 MB |
104 2.4 MB |
19 / 9 13 / 26 MB |
| Approx. Compression |
8:1 | 15:1 | 1.4:1 / 2.8:1 | |
| 3024 x 2016 |
Images (Avg size) |
83 3.1 MB |
167 1.5 MB |
|
| Approx. Compression |
6:1 | 12:1 | ||
| 2304 x 1536 |
Images (Avg size) |
142 1.8 MB |
280 911 KB |
|
| Approx. Compression |
6:1 | 12:1 | ||
| |
Images (Avg size) |
238 1.1 MB |
462 553 KB |
|
| Approx. Compression |
4:1 | 8:1 | ||
The S3 Pro has both USB and FireWire computer interface ports for connection to a host computer. I didn't test download speed over the FireWire interface, but USB downloads were quite speedy, at 1,761 KB/second. While not quite as fast as the fastest USB 2.0-equipped cameras I've tested, this is about three times as fast as cameras with USB 1.1 (or USB 2.0 "full speed") interfaces can manage. With transfers this fast, few users will find any need for FireWire connections or external card readers. (Download speed measurements were made using a Lexar 80x CF card and a Sony VAIO desktop computer, with a 2.4 GHz Pentium IV processor.)
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