Fuji F50fd

Today I am writing about the best compact digital camera in the market: the fuji f50fd; Although I am not a fan of fuji's compact models, the flagship model has gained a reputation with amazingly high image quality at high sensitivities with the F30 and F31fd.

These models did not get the crowd's attention, probably because they were not very fashionable and didn't play the megapixels race, with only 6Mp when the competition were going above 8Mp.
Fuji failed us coming to the MP race with the F50fd but, to be fair, it is still ahead of competition when it comes to good high iso response. Even if we compare it with more expensive and well known models as Canon G7 or G9 and Nikon P5100 the Fuji is the winner if we are looking for iso over 400.

Here is the proof:


It retains highest quality up to iso400, and is really good at iso800, decreasing at 1600 and being terrible at 1600 and 3200.
If we do not compare it with results from other compact cameras these may even look very noisy, but once we compare it with the G9 or P5100 the Fuji really shines.

The downside is, they did not make pictures from the F50fd any better than F31fd, despite having 12Mp instead of 6. If there is plenty of light and you want to print the picture on an insanely big size for a compact camera, you may get slightly more detail with the F50fd, but for printing posters, you should go for a digital reflex for starters (even with less MP).
On the other hand, the screen is very good, colors are accurate to the output, and, while lacking an optical viewfinder the screen sports an extra-bright mode, that when in use makes the screen perfectly visible with direct sunlight.

Another feature unique from the fuji its modes to simulate different kinds of films. There is one for color called "chromo" and another for black and white pictures.
Here is the comparison between chromo and standard color:



In my opinion, there are only two big issues with the Fuji F50fd.
Firs of all, battery does not last very long, maybe too tight for a photo-intensive day. It is worse than its predecesors, F30 and F31fd.

The second drawback is the user interface. If you choose one mode you may not even see option that are not selectable in that specific mode, so you can be driven crazy looking for something in the menus, that simply is not there in that mode.
It also makes you navigate through too many items to adjust F or S in Manual mode, this body needs more dedicated buttons and a reorganization of the user interface. Despite this, in about an hour, you can master it all.

This camera is, until further notice, my preferred compact camera and the one I would recommend most. Great image quality, good price -specially if you look for it-, many features, really compact and feels well built and durable.

There is a better review in dpreview if you want it.