Fuji FinePix S2 ProFuji updates their digital SLR with a 6 megapixel CCD, with the same excellent color...<<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & InterfaceReview First Posted: 7/24/2002 |
Image
Storage and Interface
The S2 can accommodate CompactFlash Type I and II as well as SmartMedia 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. The camera can also accept IBM's MicroDrives, currently available in sizes up to 1GB, with even larger units on the horizon. (The S2 is also a great platform for the somewhat power-hungry MicroDrive, thanks to its low power consumption. - An S2 with a MicroDrive will consume less power than many D-SLRs with conventional flash cards in them.) 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. The memory card slot cover is one of my minor design gripes with the S2 though: I found the latch & cover design quite cumbersome to operate.
SmartMedia cards can be write protected by placing a small write protection sticker in the designated area on the card. Stickers must be clean to work and can only be used once. CompactFlash cards cannot be write protected, but images on the 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. Three image sizes are available to choose from, 4256x2848, 3024 x 2016, 2304 x 1536 or 1440 x 960, with Hi (uncompressed TIFF), Fine, or Normal JPEG compression levels. Under the Record setup menu, you can choose between TIFF-RGB or CCD RAW formats.
The S2 Pro has both USB and FireWire computer interface ports for connection to a host computer. I didn't receive a USB cable with my eval unit, but I did test the FireWire download speed to my G4 PowerMac. FireWire was definitely fast, but perhaps not as much so as I'd have expected. (Possibly limited by the memory card bandwidth?) I clocked a FireWire download at 1.115 Megabytes/second. (That's about twice as fast as the fastest USB cameras I've tested to date.
Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it when
you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time
to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos
due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few things
more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen with any
card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. "Stuff happens,"
as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered
with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount
of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam
reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read
our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now,
so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then
it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for
Windows or PhotoRescue for
Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF
manual and quickstart
guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need
it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue
is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen.
(Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly
recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly
scheduled review...
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