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.
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 |
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|---|---|---|
| Sensor | • 1/1.6 Super CCD HR VII |
• 1/1.7" Super CCD HR |
| 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 |
| Street price | • US: $254 • UK: £179 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal and plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/1.6 Super CCD HR VII |
| Image sizes | • 4000x3000 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Scene modes | • Portrait • Portrait Enhancer • Landscape • Sport • Night • Fireworks • Sunset • Snow • Beach • Underwater • Museum • Party • Flower • Text |
| White balance | • Automatic scene recognition |
| 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) |
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).
|
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2007 dpreview.com and the review in part or in whole may NOT be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author. For information on reproducing any part of this review (or any images) please contact: Phil Askey
Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization | $386.99 |
Fuji CAMERA, FINEPIX F50FD, 12 MP, 3X OPT | $327.49 |
Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization | $386.99 |
Fujifilm Finepix JX500 14-Megapixel Digital Camera | Silver | $75.99 |
Fujifilm Finepix Z100fd 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) | $199.95 |
Fujifilm Finepix A700 7.3MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom | $139.99 |
Fujifilm Finepix F100fd 12MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom | $299.95 |
Fujifilm Finepix Z100fd 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Pink) | $114.90 |
FujiFilm 2GB Accessory Kit for Fujifilm Finepix F50fd | $29.40 |
Fujifilm FinePix F60fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom | $249.95 |
Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR 12MP Super CCD Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Dual Image Stabilized Optical Zoom | $229.49 |
Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR Digital Camera (Black) | $218.04 |
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