Fujifilm Finepix F50fd

Press Release:
Much anticipated successor to the F31fd adds a wealth of new features including Face Detection 2.0 and CCD-shift image stabilisation

Fujifilm today announced the launch of the FinePix F50fd, the successor to the award-winning FinePix F31fd. Packed with innovative technology and introducing exclusive new features, the FinePix F50fd is designed to make it easier than ever to get perfect pictures and stunning portraits in even the most challenging situations.

The all-new sleek and slim metal body is a mere 22.9mm thick and the Aero curve design means that the FinePix F50fd isn’t just capable of taking beautiful pictures; it’s stylish and slim enough to slip into any pocket or purse. Dual xD-Picture Card and SD/SDHC compatibility gives users the freedom to choose from a wide range of high capacity memory cards.

Cutting edge performance
So many of the most important pictures we take are in low light, yet this is the area where compact digital cameras have always produced the least satisfactory results. This is why Fujifilm’s engineers have put so much effort into improving the low light capabilities of the FinePix range of cameras.

The TIPA and DIMA award-winning FinePix F30 set the standard for low light photography. The FinePix F50fd builds on this heritage with a larger than average 1/1.6 inch 12Mp Seventh Generation Super CCD HR sensor and Real Photo Processor II. Together these allow ultra high-resolution capture with breathtaking detail, even at high ISO settings. The newly developed sensor design features several key improvements that increase the efficiency with which each pixel gathers light, and an enhanced two-stage noise reduction system ensures that noise is kept to a minimum without valuable detail being lost. Despite doubling the number of pixels, the new sensor offers similar performance to the groundbreaking FinePix F30 and F31fd at sensitivity settings up to ISO 3200. For shooting in the very lowest light without compromising image quality, the FinePix F50fd offers sensitivity modes of up to ISO 6400 at lower resolutions (ISO 3200: 6MP, ISO 6400: 3MP).

For those occasions when flash is required, Fujifilm's Intelligent Flash system sets the power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure. Avoiding both the messy background blur of slow-sync flash, and the stark contrast of conventional flash, Intelligent Flash results in visibly more pleasing, natural looking photos. For times when a decision about lighting could mean a missed photo opportunity, the FinePix F50fd's Natural Light plus Flash mode takes two photos in quick succession, one with flash and one without, then displays them side-by-side for instant comparison.

New Dual Image Stabilisation
As well as offering class-leading high ISO performance for avoiding subject blur when shooting in low light, the FinePix F50fd also features CCD-shift image stabilisation for avoiding the effects of camera shake at longer shutter speeds. The combination of high ISO and CCD-shift offers a complete system for avoiding blur caused by hand shake or subject motion. Never before has a compact camera offered such a comprehensive solution for avoiding blurred results whilst retaining high-resolution photographic quality.

New Face Detection 2.0 – from any angle
The F50fd is the first FinePix model to feature the second generation of Fujifilm’s ultra-fast Face Detection technology. Face Detection 2.0 offers dramatic performance and capability improvements and adds innovative new features designed to turn everyday snaps into stunning portraits.

Fujifilm's Face Detection technology was originally developed for the company's photofinishing division, where it was used for reproducing the fine detail in people's faces in print. Face Detection works by triangulating eyes and mouth, using an algorithm to optimise focus, white balance and exposure for up to ten faces in a single frame. A green square surrounds the face of the primary subject on the camera's LCD screen, whilst white squares identify up to nine other subjects. Movement tracking keeps the camera 'locked on' to its subjects until they move out of the picture. The technology works irrespective of the subject's position in the frame, and is not confused by spectacles

In developing the second generation of Face Detection technology, the key goal of Fujifilm’s engineers was to remove the limitations of all such systems whilst retaining the class-leading 0.05 second detection speed. The result was Face Detection 2.0, a state-of-the-art system that dramatically expands the capabilities of the original system.

Most face detection systems work only when the subject (or subjects) are looking directly at the camera, and most cannot detect a face if it is at too steep an angle (such as when the person is resting their head on someone’s shoulder or lying down). Face Detection 2.0 can detect a subject in full profile and at virtually any angle (through 270 degrees), even if they are moving within the frame. The FinePix F50fd allows you to shoot natural portraits and capture the expressions of friends and family, safe in the knowledge that the exposure, focus and white balance will be perfectly optimised for the most important thing in the frame; the faces of your subjects. Photographing children who won’t sit still has never been easier.

In Playback mode, Face Detection will automatically zoom in to subjects' faces – one by one if there are several in the frame - and optionally trim the shot and save a close-up ‘portrait’ shot in-camera. A new slideshow feature zooms in on detected faces during playback and lets you enjoy them as a slideshow.

New Say goodbye to red-eye – for good
Red eye is the single biggest reason why the best portraits are ruined. The FinePix F50fd uses Face Detection technology to find and instantly correct any red eye from every face in the frame - either as the shot is taken or in playback.

Other red eye correction systems do exist in the market, but many are prone to error. Some systems incorrectly change other red elements in the picture, like jewellery or even the subject’s lips (because the red eye system is not set within the face detection process), or can only be used in playback mode, or are just too slow. The new F50fd finds red eye only in the pupil of the eye, and corrects the error in less than two seconds.

New Portrait Enhancer
The FinePix F50fd sees the debut of an exciting new feature designed to transform a snapshot into an exceptional portrait. In Portrait Enhancer mode the FinePix F50fd’s powerful automatic retouching system gives skin tones a silky-smooth texture and removes blemishes such as spots and wrinkles. Once they’ve seen the beautiful skin tones produced by the Portrait Enhancer, the loved ones in your life will never again hide their faces whenever you get your camera out!

New 2.7in LCD screen
The FinePix F50fd features a large high-resolution 2.7in, 230,000 pixel LCD screen, which is coated with Fujifilm's proprietary Wide View film. This minimises glare and reflections, and also enables consumers to view the LCD from any angle (even in sunny conditions), to enable shooting from waist level or above the head, or to make picture playback to a group so much easier.

Special scene modes
The camera's 16 scene positions include beach, snow and fireworks for optimum photography, no matter what the event. For the more advanced user the FinePix F50fd also features Aperture and Shutter Priority modes for total creative control.

Real Photo Technology
The secret to the FinePix F50fd’s class-leading image quality is Fujifilm’s unique Real Photo Technology (RPT). The guiding principles behind RPT are simple; to set the highest possible standards for overall image quality, to expand digital photography opportunities and to give users fewer wasted shots.

RPT is an umbrella term for the combination of cutting edge technologies such as the Super CCD sensor, Real Photo Processor and Fujinon lens, all optimised to work together to produce the most natural, beautiful results in any conditions. As one of the largest imaging companies worldwide, Fujifilm is in a position to develop and to manufacture these components themselves, and it is this control over the design of the entire system that makes RPT so powerful.

Real Photo Technology cameras are designed from the ground up to capture real photographs with stunning quality - giving users the power to capture the moment exactly as the eye sees it, no matter how challenging the shooting conditions.

With the human eye as the ideal, RPT continues to evolve and to set even higher standards for digital photography.

Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm's Director of Photo Products, said: "The FinePix F31fd was always going to be a hard act to follow, but with the FinePix F50fd we are confident that we’ve redefined what a compact digital camera is capable of. With its mix of style, cutting-edge features and class-leading image quality the FinePix F50fd is an exciting product that builds on the qualities of its predecessors whilst adding a wealth of features and is designed to take compact digital photography to a new level.”

FinePix F50fd features at a glance

• 12 million pixel Super CCD HR VII and Real Photo Processor II
• Dual Image Stabilisation (CCD-shift and high ISO)
• World’s most advanced hardware-based Face Detection technology (2.0)
• Portrait Enhancer and automatic red-eye removal
• 25Mb internal memory plus xD-Picture card, SD and SDHC compatibility
• ISO 100-1600 sensitivity at full resolution, ISO 3200 and 6400 at 6Mp and 3Mp resolution respectively
• 3.0x optical zoom
• Wide view 2.7in high resolution screen
• Playback features including Face Zoom and Micro Thumbnail (100 shot) view
• IR Communication
• VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
• PictBridge compatible for direct printing without a PC
• Quick response times and 5 fps continuous shooting (12 frames, 3Mp)