World’s First! Fujifilm F100FD Review (a short one… :P)

Posted on March 16th, 2008 by KhoKing.
Categories: Photography.

Fujifilm F100FD just released on yesterday in Japan and I have the privilege to be the among the first to get my hands on one!

The box…

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Front view…

kkk_1186.JPG

Rear view…

kkk_1187.JPG

Ok…I knew the above are meaningless…I will update with some actual photo tests at various ISO later…getting tired already today… :P

For your information, the available ISO setting from Fujifilm F100FD are:

  • ISO400
  • ISO800
  • ISO1600
  • ISO3200

Wait for my update “tomorrow”… ;)

Sorry for the late in updating, here’s the continuation of the review:

ISO Test

I tested on my baby’s toy, quite dim in my room during the test, shutter speed is very low so pardon me for the blury photos.

All shots below are 100% crop near center and shadow area of the following photo (EXIF instacts):

dscf1013.JPG

ISO400 (below)

iso400.jpg

ISO800 (below)

iso800.jpg

ISO1600 (below)

iso1600.jpg

ISO3200 (below)

iso3200.jpg

F100FD starts with ISO400, you can’t go below it. ISO400 produces very clean photo, which is definitely much better than many other P&S digital camera out there. ISO800 is still very clean, actually even better than my Nikon D200 at ISO800!

ISO1600 is still usable but ISO3200 for me is too bad…must avoid.

Sorry, I am not sure if Noise Reduction is ON or OFF, I took the shot as default setting in the camera, as if I am a noob not knowing how/what to change in the camera. Bought one, take photo straight away.

Distortion Test

I use a simple method to test the distortion, metal slide curtains.

At wide angle (I added some lines for you to see how much distortion in comparison)

dscf1005.JPG

At telephoto (little to no distortion)

dscf1004.JPG

Macro

Macro setting in F100FD is quite limited. See shots below:

Without Macro Setting, below is the closest I can go to get focus:

nomacro.jpg

With Macro Setting, I can go closer to the subject but still not much:

macro.jpg

Face Detection

Yes, this is probably one of the biggest selling point of Fujifilm F100FD! Improved Face Detection technology that your model do not need to face you directly and the camera can still detect the face! Side view of your subject will still trigger the camera face detection. You will be able to see a movable green rectangular on the LCD screen, if your mode moves, the green box will move with the face as well. Very neat and handy design for sure!

Flash Exposure

Shot below is with flash ON. I think F100FD does a great job in giving the right flash without overexposing the subject. However, like all built in flash camera, shadow is harsh.

dscf1006.JPG

Summary

ISO performance of Fujifilm F100FD is impressive. Price is attractive at around US$350~400, face detection technology is great, idiot proof and will not get background sharp models blurred photos anymore!

Exposure and flash exposure deliver by the camera is spotted on!

Macro photography is limiting though, as you can’t go very near to your subject.

Some people asked about the comparison to Fujifilm F31FD or other cameras, sorry I do not have access to the cameras at the time of the test so I can’t do comparison.

HIGH RECOMMENDED for those who want a pocket size P&S that has very useble ISO upto 1600!

Update (31st March 2008):

Here’s photos of the Black version of Fujifilm F100FD. It feels very elegant in hand! Definitely no cheap P&S feel!

kkk_1612.JPG

kkk_1614.JPG

For those who are interested you can order it at:

http://shashinki.com/shop/advanced_search_result…

25 comments.

Jack Frost

Comment on March 17th, 2008.

Is it better than the F31?

Davey C

Comment on March 18th, 2008.

Yeah, make sure you do comparitive shots, directly pitting the f30/f31 against the f100 in low light, high iso conditions.

I would like to see lighting such as a dim candle-lit room at iso 800, 1600, and 3200; also listing shutterspeed.

I am also very interested to know if the f100’s smaller aperture of 3.3 compared to 2.8 on the f30, has reduced its low light capabilities.

Please also post some tests to compare the ‘dynamic range’ of the camera, that fuji alleges has been raised by ‘400%’. Maybe taking a photo of a monitor or TV screen could help with this test? because cameras tend to generate way too much contrast (hence destroying dynamic range) in this situation.

Breno

Comment on March 19th, 2008.

First-hand reviews were a bit disappointing… I hope they have fixed the problems in time… We´ll see.

bartolomeau

Comment on March 20th, 2008.

“You are reading World’s First! Fujifilm F100FD Review”
Where is the review then?

KhoKing

Comment on March 20th, 2008.

Sorry, got a bit busy recently. Will post the “short” review ASAP.

Thanks.

KhoKing

Comment on March 20th, 2008.

Sorry for the delay, finally I have managed to complete my “short and simple” review of Fujifilm F100FD. Hope you guys enjoy reading.

Thanks. :)

Arinel

Comment on March 28th, 2008.

Are you sure the camera starts at 400 ISO? I thought it was 100 like on all previous fuji (and others)?

KhoKing

Comment on March 28th, 2008.

Hi Arinel,

I checked again the specifications:

Auto ISO (Standard, 3200, 1600, 800, 400)
Selectable ISO (100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400*, 12800*)
* ISO 3200 & ISO 6400 available at 3MP or lower resolution

I was testing the camera at Auto ISO setting, so it starts at ISO400.

Arinel

Comment on March 28th, 2008.

Thanks. It means that obviously one can decide at which ISO level a picture will be taken (if one leaves the totally automatic settings).
As probably other readers here, what would interest me would be a comparison between the f100fd and the f31fd (or the f30).
But thanks again.

Diego

Comment on March 28th, 2008.

Hi, can you add some Wide Dynamic Range samples and some shots at iso 3200 6400 and the new ultra high iso 12800?
Tanks for the reviews, bye

Mara

Comment on March 28th, 2008.

can you post a picture of a dark area at ISO1600 and ISO3200. I read that there is a pink band appearing at the side of the photo. It even appears at ISO400.

Also, the barrel distortion of this camera is really bad at the sides too.

KhoKing

Comment on March 28th, 2008.

Barrel distortion is quite bad at wide angle. For telephoto, looks ok.

I will try to take some high ISO shots soon…

By the way, I tried out the BLACK version last night. It is really cool! Black looks very elegant than the silver version. Will post some photos later. :)

Marco

Comment on April 6th, 2008.

Thank you for this review! I was searching like a crazy one for a review :) I hope you can also take a picture in the 6500 ISO because I think this is the same quality as the 1600 in the F30/31 .

mozilla

Comment on April 14th, 2008.

When the light is not so good it starts whith higher ISO in AUTO-Modus . logical… (-;

Ton in {Bkk}

Comment on April 15th, 2008.

I’m a Fuji user, let me clarify that Auto(400) thing for you :)
The Auto(400) means the camera will automatically select the ISO between 100 - 400 for you, but won’t go beyond 400. Same for Auto(800), Auto(1600), etc.

Jason

Comment on April 23rd, 2008.

Thanks for the review.. do you have problems with the dreaded “Pinkish Band” issue? take a look at the dpreview forums for the problem, it seems widespread around the world. I’m surprised you didn’t see it on your camera. Basically shoot a darkish low light scene with iso 400 or higher and see whether you get a pink band on the left side of the image…

KhoKing

Comment on April 23rd, 2008.

Hi Jason,

Thank you for commenting.

I have heard about banding issue on Nikon DSLR as well, did not see it from the quick review test photos that I shot.

Perhaps it is there in the F100FD, but I don’t think it matters that much. Banding is a common issue when a sensor pushing its sensitivity to a higher level. I don’t think it is that obvious in the F100FD, at least I didn’t notice it… :P

deegos

Comment on April 26th, 2008.

Hi KhoKing,

Does the Shutter Speed show on the LCD after half press the shutter button?

thanks.

bob 123

Comment on April 30th, 2008.

this review is a joke he does not no how to operate camera, and there are no comparisions. the worts is the blurry teast shot

Bunstugfer

Comment on May 4th, 2008.

No bob 123:

The “worts” is an inability to spell “worst”. Come back when they finish tooching yuoo how to spurl.

KhoKing

Comment on May 4th, 2008.

Hi bob 123,
Thank you for your comment. I will try improve in future.

Hi Bunstugfer,
Thank you for your comment.

KhoKing

Comment on May 4th, 2008.

Hi deegos,

I don’t have the camera with me now, but I don’t remember seeing the shutter speed on the LCD when pressing the shutter.

Ronald

Comment on May 17th, 2008.

Hi deegos,

The shutter speed is shown when pressing half.

deegos

Comment on May 19th, 2008.

Ronald, thanks for the info. glad to hear that.

KhoKing, thanks for the review.

Philipcs

Comment on June 6th, 2008.

still cant fight with F31fd –> http://imapnet.com/boren/F31vsF100/

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