Fujifilm F50fd vs FinePix S5 IS Pro: 12MP from digital compact it’s not the same as 12MP from SLR

After Canon’s 12MP cameras such as PowerShot G9, SD950 and A650 appearing, this mega pixels gross is not outstanding. However, the Fujifilm’s favorite SuperCCD HR sensor coupled with 1/1.6 inch size, which is not the rule for a digital compact camera, suggests to me some expectancies to an outstanding picture quality. Unfortunately, a small compact’s sensor, as Canon G9 / IXUS 960’s 1/1.7 inch chip plays dirty with Fuji F50 images too. For more details look through Canon Powershot G9, SD950 and A650: can 12MP make SLR from compact.
Fujifilm FinePix digital camera’s main advantages
After my contact with Fujifilm S5 IS Pro SLRs, I have impress by Fuji SuperCCD HR sensor’s color rendering. In addition to an adequate (in comparison with Canon’s G9 / SD950 $400-450 instead of $220-270 for F50) price, this compact would be the best choice as a pocket camera, especially with a great Fuji’s list of features. Look at Nikon D200 body gives birth to Fujifilm S5 Pro. Cheap D2Xs or how to win 12 megapixels from D200.
Fujifilm F50fd key features
- Dual Image Stabilization mode, which combines a mechanically stabilized CCD sensor with high ISO sensitivities for Total Anti-Blur protection; this combination of these two different approaches reduces the "blur"; effect from the photographer's hand-shake and subject movement even further to provide the highest quality digital pictures yet, with sharp, clean and clear results
- The Next Generation Face Detection 2.0 Technology, featuring Automatic Red Eye Removal, which can detect up to 10 human faces in a scene in as little as 5/100's of a second, correcting focus, exposure, and white balance automatically, regardless of where subjects are located within the frame
- Mimicking a professional photo studio setting, by using Face Detection and preset camera settings, Portrait Enhancer Mode minimizes fine lines and small skin blemishes for smooth, natural looking portraits
- Dual Shot Mode: In this selectable mode, the FinePix F50fd quickly shoots two images in rapid succession; one with the flash and one without – and saves both. This function lets the user perform a comparison at their convenience and select the most pleasing image.
- I-Flash (Intelligent Flash) detects subtle lighting differences within a scene and then varies the flash intensity accordingly, it also leverages the high sensitivity of the Fujifilm F50fd to enable the camera to use less flash, resulting in an image that displays pleasing, natural tones without a "washed-out"; effect
- Full Manual Photographic Control: gives users total control with manual adjustment options for camera settings: resolution, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc
- A new playback feature ‘GUI Micro Thumbnail’ that allows for viewing an index print on the LCD. Fujifilm F50fd will show up to 100 images in microform, then the control buttons are used to move over specific images and select them for quickly find a single image by being able to jump to particular segments of images in the time sequence
- Infrared communication via IrSimpleTM technology for fast, easy wireless image transfer to a compatible device
- Special Scene and Blog Modes: 16 pre-programmed scenes, including a special underwater scene mode for use with a special underwater casing. In the Blog mode, the FinePix F50fd copies and automatically reduces the size of copied images for easy posting to a blog, Web page or as an attachment to email for easy sharing with friends and family while maintaining the original file
- xD / SD / SD-HC Compatible slot: it accepts not only Fujifilm's traditional xD-Picture Cards but also Secure Digital (SD) and SD-High Capacity/SD-HC cards too
- Battery Life: Long-life rechargeable Li-ion battery, up to 230 shots
Fujifilm FinePix F50fd pros and cons
Still, after F50’s owners reply: “I immediately took it on a vacation, but was very disappointed when I downloaded the pictures to my laptop that evening. Almost all of them were noisy and grainy. None of them came out clear and crisp. Not even the auto shoots ones with plenty of daylight.” – I have recalled a bitter truth: nothing is perfect. Of course with its price, the Fuji F50fd can successfully compete with expensive Canon’s digital cameras as PowerShot G9, A650 and SD950. However, my favorite Canon A630 with 8MP 1/1.8 inch sensor, low noise images and an useful flip out and twist display is still unexcelled. Look through Choosing Digital Compact camera: Canon A650 vs A640, against A630.
Pros:
- Aperture and shutter priority exposure controls
- Sensor shift image stabilization
- Nice slim design
- Face detection that outperforms the versions offered by most of the competition
- Movie quality is quite good for such a small camera
- Good price for 12MP compact: $220-270
Cons:
- The camera is sluggish between shots
- Noisy images, even at lowest ISO
- No full-manual exposure mode
As the replacement for the Fujifilm F30/F31fd, which had great results in low light / high ISO performance, the FinePix F50fd has much more pixels, features etc. However, in case of the F30/F31fd its outstanding performance in low light was the result of clever resolution limited at 6MP. Unfortunately, in chase of useless 4000 x 3000-image size the F50 gets a useless image noise.
FinePix F50fd specifications
- 12 million effective pixels 1/1.6 inch Super CCD HR VII sensor
- Maximum image size: 4000x3000
- Dual Image Stabilization (High sensitivity + CCD shift)
- 35 - 105 mm (35 mm equiv), wide: F2.8 – 8, Tele: F5.1 – 8, 3x optical zoom lens
- 2.7-inch TFT screen with 230.000 pixels
- Face Detection 2.0 Technology built-in to the camera’s processor
- ISO 1600 sensitivity at full resolution
- 640 x 480 pixels VGA movie capture of 25 frames per second with sound
- Connectivity, USB 2.0 high speed, Video out, DC-in
- IR Communication (IR simple/IR SS)
- Micro thumbnail view (up to 100 thumbnails visible)
- 2 fps max 3 images; 5 fps max 12 images at 3MP
- Aperture and shutter priority modes
- 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)
- Storage: xD-Picture Card, SD/SDHC card; internal memory - 25 MB
- Focus distance: normal: 60cm-infinity, macro: 5cm (wide)
Conclusion
In any case, the Fujifilm F50fd is a good compact with small and lightweight 'Aero' design body. Moreover, with its price, a great movie mode and Fuji’s riches of features this pocket gadget would be a good choice as the second camera or an easy digital compact for traveling. However, the megapixel’s race plays a mean joke on the FinePix F50fd. As a result, a ‘junior’ model -- the Fujifilm F40fd with the same sensor size but with only 8.3 million effective pixels for $200 is much more preferable. What is more, the FinePix F40fd can successfully compete with some Canon digital compacts as Canon SD1000 as IXUS 70 vs. SD 870 or IXUS 950 vs. SD 950.