The S2 PRO is a new model (2002) in the professional line of Fuji's digital cameras. They cost like 6Mp reflex cameras from Nikon and Canon, and have a twice greater frame resolution. The Nikon D100 looks too miniature (its case is partially used in the S2), while the FUJI looks too big. 

But the camera fits in hand nicely, like the Nikon D100, the management is almost the same. The optical system is from Nikon. The camera is bigger because of the additional power source (it's hybrid, i.e. not very efficient). On the other hand, such power supply is more popular than the Nikon rechargeable battery. The front panel has the focusing mode switch (single, continuous, manual), on the lens's left there is a DoF preview button and a focus assist lamp (0.5-3 m), on the right is the lens release lock button. 

There is one more display on the additional area (in comparison with the D100) - they are three in all - and a SmartMedia card slot. Data transfer and direct shooting (Hyper-Utility Software) are supported through IEEE1394 and USB (only data transfer) interfaces.

Specification:

12 Megapixels results from interpolation of data with Super CCD matrix of the third generation. That is why the figure is not correct, but the shots take more memory. 

The additional backlit display shows shooting settings and comes in handy in case of quick shooting - you don't need to turn the camera down to see the settings on the upper display. Using the controls under the display you can adjust parameters (white balance, focus, compression and file size or contrast, saturation, sharpness).

The controls are taken from Nikon D100. The release button with a remote control connector and a switch ring around. The exposure compensation and flash compensations buttons are behind it (you must press the button and turn one of the dials; the photo shows the rear dial, the front one is under the release button). The display has a backlight button on the right. Under the display you can see the AE-L / AF-L (auto exposure / auto focus lock) button and around that is the metering selector switch with positions for center-weighted, 10-segment matrix or spot. On the left you can find the dioptric adjustment. The left side houses the M-A-S-P mode dial (exposure mode, sensitivity and custom settings). The shooting modes ring (frame, series, self-timer, multiexposure) is around the dial. The rear panel features the bracketing and sync buttons (front sync, rear sync, slow sync and red-eye reduction). An external Nikon flash can be connected to the camera (a shoe and a separate sync connector are provided).

Menu

Choosing a media type in the menu.	Adjusting the display's brightness.
Choosing a media type in the menu.	Protection of shots from deletion.
Choosing a file format.	Erasing of shots and memory card formatting. The review menu also has voice memo and DPOF.
Image display modes and other settings (white balance, file format, media type, shooting lock is a memory card is not inserted etc.).	White balance menu, manual mode.
System settings (file numeration, PC connection type, sound, language, date).	Image with histogram.

Resolution & Noise

If we proportionally enlarge a frame of the Nikon D100 up to the maximum frame of the FujiS2Pro  using the same lens Nikkor 24-85 1:3.5-4.5 D, the advantage of the Super CCD in resolution won't be noticed.

Resolution chart (enlarged twice in HTML tag) for f = 24 mm, f/d = 8, frame center.

The Super CCD matrix has a lower noise level. In the same conditions at the same ISO the frames of the Fuji S2Pro are less noisy. Below you can see shots (1:1) taken for the whole ISO range available. The minimal sensitivity of the FinePixS2Pro is 100, and Nikon D100 has it 200. The maximum one of the Nikon is 2 steps higher than that of the Fuji.
 

FinePix	D100
iso 100, 1 s, f/d 8
iso 200, 0.5 s, f/d 8	iso 200, 0.5 s, f/d 8
iso 800, 0.125 s, f/d 8	iso 800, 0.125 s, f/d 8
iso 1600, 0.06 s, f/d 8	iso 1600, 0.05 s, f/d 8
	iso 1600+2 steps, 0.015 s, f/d 8

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