Finally a real replacement for the F31d, one of my favourite compact cameras! And at last Fuji is starting to put real CCD shift image stabilizers in their cameras.

I’ve just recently bought a F31d as it’s a bargain now at around RM800.

As for the F50fd it does indeed have a lot to live up to.

The F50fd takes quite a jump from the F31fd’s six megapixels, it now has twelve megapixels…this worries me somewhat and it makes me wonder if it will be able to match the F31fd’s high ISO performance. The F50fd also features a mechanical CCD-shift image stabilization system, improved face detection, ISO 1600 at full image size and a 2.7″ LCD monitor. The F50fd should be available in September at around $300USD.

Digital photographers looking for a top-of-the line compact digital camera can now take advantage of the latest in Fujifilm’s F-Series digital cameras with the 12-Megapixel FinePix F50fd. Following a long line of award winning F-Series models, the FinePix F50fd, like the FinePix F31fd and F40fd before it, offers consumers a super-compact digital camera that takes beautiful shots with the most advanced features and technology available, so that missing great shots is not an option.

Combining a 12-MegaPixel, 7th Generation Super CCD with a 3.0x optical zoom and a 2.7″; high-resolution 230,000 pixel wide angle view LCD, the FinePix F50fd is a compact powerhouse that incorporates all the features users have come to expect from Fujifilm’s more advanced digital cameras. With the addition of Dual Image Stabilization, Face Detection 2.0 Technology with Automatic Red Eye Removal function, and ISO settings of up to ISO 6400, the F50fd takes compact digital cameras to the next level, arming users with a host of new features and enabling them to take pictures never before possible.

Wow another 18x zoom! It’s seems to be the in thing now.

Shortly after the announcement of the Panasonic Lumix FZ-18 with 18x Zoom and 8.1 Megapixels comes this Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd.

Of course the first runner was the Olympus SP-550 UZ, which didn’t get great reviews.

The S8000fd comes equipped with Fujinon’s 18x Wide Angle Optical Zoom lens, offering unprecedented flexibility in a compact SLR body style camera. With a 27mm-486mm equivalent, it’s all the lens you need in one device. The fixed lens eliminates the need for additional zoom or wide angle lenses, and it’s a sealed system, which prevents dust contamination – the #1 D-SLR repair complaint.

Other helpful features found on the FinePix S8000fd for top-quality picture-taking include:

• i-Flash Intelligent Flash: 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 FinePix S8000fd to enable the camera to use less flash, resulting in an image that displays pleasing, natural tones without a “washed-out” effect. And with an automatic pop-up flash, it’s always ready when you need it.
• Full Manual Photographic Control: Gives the user total control with manual adjustment options for settings on the camera (resolution, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc), and is desirable by the photo enthusiasts/advanced photographers.
• Scene modes: A wide range of more than a dozen pre-programmed scene modes provides top-quality photos in a range of shooting conditions.
• High-Speed Continuous Shooting Modes: Action comes at you fast. With four speed options, the S8000fd has the ability to capture up to 15 frames per second (at 2 MP resolution) and never misses the shot.
• High Resolution LCD: The 2.5″ LCD display offers 230k pixels of resolution with an astonishing 60 fps refresh rate for smooth viewing.
• Electronic Viewfinder (EVF): Rather than framing your shots with the 2.5″ high resolution LCD, the S8000fd offers an electronic viewfinder to eye up the best shot with an astonishing 60 fps refresh rate for smooth viewing.
• xD / SD / SD-HC Compatible slot: A new single media slot accepts not only Fujifilm’s traditional xD-Picture Cards but also Secure Digital (SD) and SD-High Capacity (SD-HC) cards too.
• Operates on 4xAA Batteries: The ultimate in convenience and accessibility, using AA batteries means in a pinch, more batteries are just moments away.

The fact that it uses AA batteries is always useful when traveling, especially as a backup for SLR users who inevitably have tonnes of AA batteries for their speedlights/flashes.

The S8000fd also features a full-resolution ISO equivalency of ISO 1600, a rarity in consumer-level digicams. The S8000fd can achieve ISO 3200 and ISO 6400 at 50% resolution, settings that are rare at the consumer level. Such high light sensitivities allow for faster shutter speeds, which reduce blurring caused by both camera shake and subject movement.

I’ll be interested to see how it performs, I hope it’s something like my newfound friend the Fuji f31d.

I’ll be looking forwards to this one as I do love Fuji picture quality, and finallty they are starting to put image stabilizers in their cameras!

Ah finally some Reviews of the Fujifilm S5 Pro!

It seems it’s much as expected, fantastic Dynamic Range, but slow, slow AF and slow shooting speed. Definitely not for sports or wildlife shooters.

A good camera for skin tones though, excellent white balance (with the new firmware) and very good rendition of highlight details.

No bunching up on the histogram like normal digital camera, apparently it has wide ’shoulders’ and gives more leeway like film.

It also has pretty interesting film simulation modes.

If you shoot in the studio, or you do a lot of portraits and wedding, and don’t like post-processing much, this could be the camera for you.

Although many might say the Canon 5D might be a better choice.

You can find some sample pictures here and here.

Fuji S5 Pro vs D200 Dynamic Range Test.

Fuji Finepix S5 Pro Experience Report

Overall we find the Fuji S5 a very exciting camera. The highlight extension paired with excellent noise characteristics raise the bar for image quality and shows that not only Megapixels matter.

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro CNET Editor’s Review

The bottom line: While a wide dynamic range lets it serve up tons of highlight detail and impressive overall image quality, the S5 Pro isn’t for high-speed sports photography, and it could use more resolution.

Popular Photography - Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

But this is not really a sports shooter’s camera. The S5 will no doubt please its intended audience — wedding and portrait shooters. The bigger question is whether it will appeal to the broader market of serious amateur photographers. Actually, we think it will. A lot.

Fuji FinePix S5 Pro Digital Camera Body Only

The Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro’s image quality makes it a viable choice for pros and other quality-conscious photographers. Dynamic range, noise and color are all excellent. The S5’s mechanicals – a Nikon D200 body, with Nikon autofocus, metering and flash – are also big assets. The drawbacks of the S2 and S3 bodies are gone.

Basically looks a Nikon D200 with SuperCCD technology, effectively 12 megapixels but the images will only be 6 megapixels.

The S5 Pro features the same SuperCCD SR design sensor although now called ‘SR Pro’, it features 6.17 million ‘S photodiodes’ (normal DR) and 6.17 million ‘R photodiodes’ (highlight DR) for a total photodiode count of 12.34 million. Other headline improvements are the new body (which is obviously based on the Nikon D200) and all that includes; better AF, i-TTL flash, metering, Lithium-Ion battery. Other improvements include better DR control, up to ISO 3200 sensitivity and LAN / WiFi accessories.

This is the beast everyone is looking for, solid body, high ISO, amazing lack of noise and a wider dynamic range than other cameras.

A lot of people are still using the Fuji S3Pro as a portrait camera due to the beautiful colours it gives and the fact they can use Nikon lenses.

I’m really glad manufacturers are stopping the megapixel race and concentrating on quality.

Nobody ever really needs more than 10-12 megapixels.

And the difference between 8-10mp and 10-12mp is negligible.

It’s strange there’s no reviews out for this camera yet, it’s set to be around RM8500 in Malaysia.

For all you flower shooters out there, I know you’ve plenty of nice flower shots.

Your flowery photos could bloom into RM5,000!

Unbelievable…but true! All you need to do is join the Flora Fest Photo Contest 2007 themed, ‘Colours of Harmony’ photo contest by sending in your best floral photo portrait that showcases the beauty of flowers. Be it a Blood Banana, ‘Pisang Derhaka’, ‘Madu Tiga’ or a flower by any other name… your task is to capture its true beauty in the most flattering manner.

Begin shooting or sending in your photographic perfections now!

Submissions must be in by December 20th 2006.

Download Contest Form