Chasseur D'Images (March 03, No. 271) has an in depth article on the Fujifilm FinePix S3. The tests they do are far beyond what I can report here. 12 pages of images, tests, descriptions, graphs, etc. Summary: Positives. -image quality: great. (really Great!). -dynamic range is an E-6 killer -better even than Superia 800 (range) -very low noise at ISO 800 Among the photos shown are a model lit by a few candles, nothing else. The soft lit model looks great in this light. The candle flames themselves are just over the edge of blown out (the blue flame base is visible but the top of the flame comes out white, no detail). Per C d'I at 40x60cm (about 16x24") @ ISO 800 there is no grain. (To me the sample crop in the mag at that blowup looks quite soft). Their test photog claims it is easy to capture 10 EV scenes with detail. (V about 7 EV for other DSLR's). Further, even the camera gen'd JPG's (from the high dynamic mode) are usable directly for very good results. Negatives -body sucks -slow recording (once 2 or 3 images are in the buffer, it goes dead slow) -0.5 stop EV exposure steps. -batteries: don't last long (AA). One statement: "The recording time for RAW is so slow that it is cruelly embarrassing with a model in front of the camera." (translated as best I can). Another: "The very best sensor imprisoned in a body form yesteryear." Cheers, Alan