Fujifilm Finepix F50fd
As the replacement for the Fujifilm F30/F31fd, a camera that has reached an almost legendary status since its launch back in 2006, the Fujifilm F50fd has some big shoes to fill. If anything deserves to be called a ‘classic’ camera in the shortlived world of digital compact cameras it would have to be the Fujifilm F30/F31fd. It wasn’t very pretty, it wasn’t very feature packed and it wasn’t even very cheap. But the F30/F31fd produced some of the best results we’ve ever seen in a compact camera, and was leaps and bounds ahead of all its competitors when it came to low light / high ISO performance, proving that just because a camera has a small sensor it doesn’t have to be completely useless at anything over ISO 400.
The F30/F31fd’s outstanding performance in low light was the result of some clever technology (Super CCD sensor and Real Photo Processor) on the one hand and Fujifilm’s admirable refusal to succumb to the pressure to compete in the ‘megapixel race’. In an almost unique attempt to optimize image quality (rather than marketing potential) they limited the F30/F31fd’s resolution to 6 megapixels, on a sensor that is slightly bigger than the competition’s.
Although the F30 and F31fd sold in pretty decent numbers, proving that it is possible to sell a camera on image quality rather than numbers, Fujifilm has finally caved under the pressure and joined the mainstream with the F50fd, doubling the F30/F31fd’s pixel count to squeeze a whopping 12 megapixel on the tiny 1/1.6in sensor.
The F50fd also ups the ‘whiz bang’ factor condsiderably, adding a range of new features including a mechanical CCD-shift image stabilization system, improved face detection and a 2.7″ LCD monitor. But can it match its predecessor’s peerless image quality or has Fujifilm thrown the baby out with the bathwater by not only joining the megapixel race, but going right to the top with a full 12 megapixels? Let’s find out, starting, as ever, with the headline specification.
- Face Detection 2.0 Technology built-in to the camera’s processor
- Dual Image Stabilization (High sensitivity + CCD shift)
- 2.7-inch TFT screen with 230.000 pixels
- ISO 1600 sensitivity at full resolution
- 12 million pixels Super CCD HR VII sensor
- 3.0x optical zoom
- IR Communication (IR simple™/IR SS™)
- VGA movie capture of 25 frames per second with sound
- Micro thumbnail view (up to 100 thumbnails visible)
- 5fps continuous mode (3MP, 12 frames max)
- Aperture and shutter priority modes
FinePix F50fd specifications
| Street price | • US: $254 • UK: £179 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/1.6 Super CCD HR VII • 12 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 4000×3000 • 4224×2816 • 2848×2136 • 2048×1536 • 1600×1200 • 640×480 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @25fps • 320 x 240 @25fps |
| File formats | • JPEG (Exif 2.2) • Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG) • DPOF |
| Lens | • 35 – 105 mm (35 mm equiv) • 3x optical zoom • F2.8 – 5.1 |
| Image stabilization | Dual-IS (High ISO + CCD Shift) |
| Conversion lenses | None |
| Digital zoom | Up to 8.2x |
| Focus | AF with Macro |
| AF area modes | • Center • Multi • Continuous |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | • Normal: 60cm-infinity • Macro: 5cm (wide) |
| Metering | TTL 256-zone metering |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • Auto (ISO 1600) • Auto (ISO 800) • Auto (ISO 400) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 (6MP) • ISO 6400 (3MP) |
| Exposure compensation | • +/- 2 EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| Exposure bracketing | None |
| Shutter speed | 8 – 1/2000 (depending on exposure mode) |
| Aperture | • Wide: F2.8 – 8 • Tele: F5.1 – 8 |
| Modes | • Auto • Natural Light • Natural Light & with Flash • SP1 • SP2 • A/S (Aperture or Shutter priority AE) • M (Manual) • Movie |
| Scene modes | • Portrait • Portrait Enhancer • Landscape • Sport • Night • Fireworks • Sunset • Snow • Beach • Underwater • Museum • Party • Flower • Text |
| White balance | • Automatic scene recognition • Fine • Shade • Fluorescent light (Daylight) • Fluorescent light (Warm White) • Fluorescent light (Cool White) • Incandescent light • Custom |
| White balance fine tune | None |
| Self timer | 10 / 2 secs |
| Continuous shooting | 2.0fps max 3 images 5.0fps max 12 images at 3MP |
| Image parameters | • Standard • Chrome (vivid) • B&W |
| Flash | • Auto • Red-eye reduction • Forced On • Forced Off • Slow Sync • Wideangle range: 0.6 – 4.4m (2.0 – 14.4 ft) • Telephoto range: 0.6 – 2.4m (2.0 – 7.9 ft) • Macro range: 0.3 – 0.8m (1.0 – 2.6 ft) |
| Viewfinder | None |
| LCD monitor | • 2.7-inch • 230,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 high speed • Video out • DC-in |
| Wireless connectivity | IrSimple™ / IrSS™ |
| Print compliance | PictBridge |
| Storage | • xD-Picture Card • SD/SDHC card • Internal memory (25 MB) |
| Power | • NP-50 Li-ion battery (included) • Optional AC adapter |
| Weight (no batt) | 155 g (5.5 oz) |
| Dimensions | 92.5 x 59.2 x 22.9 mm (3.6 x 2.3 x 0.9 in) |