Fujifilm Finepix F50fd Review, December 2007
Lars Rehm & Simon Joinson

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

Changes over the F31fd

While the upgrade from the F30 to the F31fd was fairly minor, the F50fd is a completely new camera. The new 12 megapixel sensor and the image stabilization system are the most obvious changes but there is also a larger screen and some minor new features. The color is now a slightly warmer silver and Fujifilm has moved from the boxy design of the F30/F31fd to more curves and edges, something which they call 'Aero' design. It also makes the camera quite a bit slimmer.

	Fuji F50fd	Fuji F31fd
Sensor	• 1/1.6 Super CCD HR VII • 12 million effective pixels	• 1/1.7" Super CCD HR • 6.3 million effective pixels
Lens	• 35 - 105 mm (35 mm equiv) • 3x optical zoom • F2.8 - 5.1	• 36-108mm equiv • 3x optical zoom • F2.8-5.0
Digital zoom	Up to 8.2x	Up to 6.2x
Maximum Image Size	4000 x 3000	2848 x 2136
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 80-6400 • Up to ISO 1600 at full res	• Auto • ISO 100-3200 • Up to ISO 3200 at full res
Continuous Shooting	2.0fps max 3 images 5.0fps max 12 images at 3MP	2.2fps max 3 images
Shutter speed	8 - 1/2000 sec	3 - 1/2000 sec
Flash range, Auto ISO	Up to 4.4m (wide)	Up to 6.5m (wide)
LCD screen	• 2.7-inch TFT • 230,000 pixels	• 2.5-inch TFT • 230,000 pixels
Battery life (CIPA standard, using LCD)	230	580
Image stabilization	Dual-IS (High ISO + CCD Shift)	None
Face detection	Version 2.0	Standard
Movie mode	25fps	30fps
Dimensions	92.5 x 59.2 x 22.9 mm (3.6 x 2.3 x 0.9 in)	92.7 x 56.7 x 27.8 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in)
Other	Portrait Enhancer Blog mode Micro thumbnail view Anti-red eye flash

FinePix F50fd specifications

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

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