When is a 12MP RAW file really 6MP?

Horatio · Apr 17, 2021

When you have a Fuji Finepix S2 Pro!

I found a really nice S2 locally for a reasonable price and sprung for it, thinking my RAW files would be 12MP. The problem lies in the RAW converter. PS and LR apparently ignore the S2's Super CCD interpolation to yield double the resolution. So I tried Fuji's latest RAW converter software, but the S2 files are not compatible! This is quite frustrating. I'm prepared to use Adobe's new Enhanced resolution software, but I was hoping to actually use that on a 12MP file.

Any suggestions, other than buying a D90? Is there a converter that better understands the Super CCD files?

Wallendo · Apr 17, 2021

Since a RAW file only records unprocessed sensor data, it can only record 6MP of data from a 6MP sensor.

You can either set you camera to record JPG or TIFF images (letting the camera upscale to 12 MP or let your software upscale to 12 megapixels (likely using a different algorithm than Fuji uses).

Your best bet may be to track down the original software that shipped with the camera, although that may be difficult.

If you can’t do that, try saving an image as JPG and RAW. Upscale the image to 12 MO using Adobe’s tools and the compare the images to see if there is any real difference.

Horatio · Apr 17, 2021

Thanks for responding. Original software would be great, but I doubt it will run on my OSX platforms, even if I could find a copy. I’ll try the RAW/TIFF option, although it yields 32MP files and takes forever to write. Gigapixel AI might be a viable option to consider if PS options are unsatisfactory. Actually the 6MP RAW resolution is pretty good.

Horatio · Apr 30, 2021

Found a copy of the FinePix Viewer and RAW converter software and installed it on my old Windows PC. I can now get the full resolution (12MP) images, but only in TIF format! Seems it’s the same as the in-camera TIF conversion for max resolution.

Ko.Fe. · Apr 30, 2021

S2, D90? You are at the wrong path. Digital vintage isn't the same as film vintage.
From my circa 2005 FujiNoFilm vintage experience, you have to use FujiNoFilm software provided with this vintage camera to get maximum from their propriety RAW files.
FujiNoFilm is notorious to have proprietary RAW files even until recently.

Horatio · Apr 30, 2021

Ko.Fe. said:
S2, D90? You are at the wrong path. Digital vintage isn't the same as film vintage.
From my circa 2005 FujiNoFilm vintage experience, you have to use FujiNoFilm software provided with this vintage camera to get maximum from their propriety RAW files.

Any idea where I could find a copy?

Oren Grad · Apr 30, 2021

The Fuji raw converter back in the day was Hyper-Utility HS-V3. I used it with the S5 Pro that I owned for a while back around 2007.

Honestly, the appearance of the "12MP" files generated by HS-V3 was obviously interpolated, and for my taste the files didn't stand up well to further processing. After some initial experiments with the interpolated files I stuck to 6 MP. But if you're determined to try it for yourself, HS-V3 is what you want.

BIG caveat: I'm actually not entirely sure of what HS-V3 did with the S2 files - I'm familiar with their use with S3 and S5 files. But at any rate, that would be the software to look for.

EDIT: To be clear, HS-V3 did not ship with the camera - it was sold separately as a software product. So you need to search for that.

Ko.Fe. · Apr 30, 2021

Horatio said:
Any idea where I could find a copy?

Register on digital cameras forums and ask to share the copy.

Horatio · May 1, 2021

Oren Grad said:
The Fuji raw converter back in the day was Hyper-Utility HS-V3. I used it with the S5 Pro that I owned for a while back around 2007.

Honestly, the appearance of the "12MP" files generated by HS-V3 was obviously interpolated, and for my taste the files didn't stand up well to further processing. After some initial experiments with the interpolated files I stuck to 6 MP. But if you're determined to try it for yourself, HS-V3 is what you want.

BIG caveat: I'm actually not entirely sure of what HS-V3 did with the S2 files - I'm familiar with their use with S3 and S5 files. But at any rate, that would be the software to look for.

EDIT: To be clear, HS-V3 did not ship with the camera - it was sold separately as a software product. So you need to search for that.

Thanks. I may check into it, but at this point my curiosity has been mostly satisfied.

Ko.Fe. said:
Register on digital cameras forums and ask to share the copy.

Good idea. Thanks.

When is a 12MP RAW file really 6MP?

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