I had earlier blogged and bragged about the FUJIFILM FINEPIX F100fd as the "Ultimate" compact camera. However, before I make up the decision to go for my kill, I will always do a lot of research and tests. This time, I was deciding between a FINEPIX F50fd and the FINEPIX F100fd.
Decision making is based on Functionality, Performance justify against Price.
Generally, the comparison in specifications are as shown:
FINEPIX F50fd VS FINEPIX F100fd
Sensor: 12 megapixels Super CCD HR VII 12 megapixels Super CCD HR VIII with RP Processor III
Lens: 35mm normal 28mm wide angle
Zoom: 3x optical zoom 5x optical zoom
Monitor: 2.5-inch 230,000-pixel LCD 2.7-inch 232,000-pixel LCD
Face Detection: fd 2.0 Technology fd 3.0 Technology feat. Auto-Red Eye Removal
Image Stabilization: CCD-Shift with ISO 6400 CCD-Shift with ISO 12800
Highlight: Aperture & Shutter Priority Dynamic Range 100%, 300% & 400% (limited to minimum ISO400)
Street Price (SGD$): S$399 S$499
In a LIVE situation test, I evaluated the performance of FINEPIX F50fd VS FINEPIX F100fd. I compared particularly the noise levels at various ISO standards, from the lowest ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (not highest since beyond this is not really useable).
All test setups are done such that the aperture is at its widest (f/2.8 for F50fd ; f/3.3 for F100fd) and at widest angle(35mm for F50fd ; 28mm for F100fd), shot from the same standing position and 100% cropped segments are compared. Except for TEST #3, where the FINEPIX F50fd image is resized to 75% since in the FINEPIX F100fd wider angle makes the same subject smaller on the sensor, hence the larger subject in FINEPIX F50fd picture is resized to 75% to match that in FINEPIX F100fd. ISO 800 was chosen since that is the highest usable ISO setting where the noise is acceptable (subjective to individual).
TEST #1
ISO 100 - ISO 400
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TEST #2
ISO 800 - ISO 3200
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TEST #3
ISO 800 F100fd @ 100% VS F50fd @ 75%
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Verdict
The price of FUJIFILM FINEPIX F50fd has come down from street price of S$499 (Dec 2007) to S$399 (Apr 2008), since the release of FINEPIX F100fd at S$499 (Apr 2008). Presently, the best price for a switcher's second hand FINEPIX F50fd can go down to a lowest S$320 for a few months old warranted set, while the best street price of the FINEPIX F100fd is at S$480. Does the functionality and performance justify its price?
The noise levels at various ISO settings from ISO 100 - 3200 has been compared and my personal opinion is that the FINEPIX F100fd has cleaner images compared to FINEPIX F50fd, attributed to the newer Super CCD VIII sensor in the FINEPIX F100fd.
From the EXIF information, FINEPIX F100fd evaluates and captures the same scene using a 1/3 slower shutter speed attributed to its slower maximum aperture of f/3.3 at widest angle.
The advantage of the FINEPIX F100fd is the 28mm widest angle which allows more of the scene to be recorded at a narrow space compared to the FINEPIX F50fd at 35mm.
Since the FINEPIX F100fd captures at a wider angle, the same subject will appear smaller in the image compared to FINEPIX F50fd. Since resizing larger images down, the noise level can be reduced. I have resized the ISO 800 image from FINEPIX F50fd down by 75% to match that from the FINEPIX F100fd. The result shows that the noise levels at ISO 800 are on par, though with a closer scutiny, FINEPIX F100fd is still better. ISO 800 was chosen because in my opinion, when lighting is low, ISO 800 produces acceptable quality when they are resized down. Any settings above ISO 800 produces way too much noise and are rather un-usable unless they are resized smaller by 50% or more.
Technically, the FINEPIX F100fd fares better by having a wider angle at 28mm and a longer zoom range of 5x optical zoom. The FINEPIX F100fd boasts its Dynamic Range (up to 400%), though this was not evaluated, the limitation of having to set the ISO 400 must be considered but luckily the FINEPIX F100fd produces clean images at ISO 400. However, the FINEPIX F100fd lacks Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, which are adored by high-lever photographers who would like more control over their shots. Though both cameras tend to choose the widest aperture (f/3.3 for F100fd and f/2.8 for F50fd) no matter in macro or landscape scene modes, FINEPIX F50fd having the aperture priority allows users to narrow down the aperture to f/8 in order to capture more depth and details. Though FINEPIX F100fd has minimum aperture of f/11, but users cannot decide when they want to use this aperture, which makes it rather pointless.
So does it justify paying around S$100 more to get the FUJIFILM FINEPIX F100fd? Definitely a tough choice considering the advantages of wider angle, more zoom and cleaner images at the cost of a slower aperture and lacking aperture/shutter-priority modes.
What is your choice?
DISCLAIMER
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Singapore Photography Review Camera Compact Camera Fujifilm FINEPIX FUJFILM FINEPIX F50fd F50fd FUJFILM FINEPIX F100fd F100fd ISO noise control
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