Evaluation:  
Conclusion: surprisingly poor performer
Review: I've been a fan of Fujifilm cameras since they used film.
I'm sorry to see that, after using this camera, Fujifilm is going in the wrong direction.
If they would've just added the wide angle lens and 5x zoom to the F50fd they'd have a winner. Instead they removed the ability the choose the type of image stabilization in favor of one generic image stabilization mode that is ineffective. The dynamic range that was added washes away all fine details and gives the term watercolor noise reduction a whole new meaning.
The price is astronomical for the poor performance this camera provides.
If you want a good camera with a wide angle lens and more zoom look to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4S 8.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) or for a wide angle lens with less zoom try the Canon PowerShot SD870IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver). If you want a great camera that delivers excellent detail, great low light shooting, go back to the Fujifilm Finepix F50fd 12MP Digital Camera with 3 x Optical Image Stabilization.
I'm sorry to say that it appears Fujifilm has lost their way with the F100fd.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Waste of money. Great specs, but it doesn't happen.
Review: Waste of money. Great specs, but it doesn't happen and its a big camera, not small. I will keep it short. I have owned many Fuji cameras, I buy one each time a new model is introduced. Low light performance is poor, not any better than the prior model, maybe worst. Buy plenty of extra batteries, it has no battery life. Lots of blurred pictures despite its phony baloney image stabilization system. Sorry I purchased it, it will become a ebay item so I can move to another manufacture of cameras. Last, the charging is a stand alone unit. It was better when you could just simply plug the power direct into the camera and charge, that was easy. I guess those review these, don't really use these them in every day life. I do, PASS ON THIS CAMERA!
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Pros & Cons
Review: Pros:
- 28mm wide angle, great for group shots
- SD or xD card types
- High ISO Image Quality better than 1 f-stop better than f50fd and almost as good as f31fd
- Optical image stabilization
- Dynamic range maintains shadow details that would otherwise have been lost
- Good automatic flash adjustment
Cons:
- Menu much less intuitive than predecessors. Useful options buried--may make you miss the shot.
- Slow start up time.
- Less than average battery life
Quality:
I leave this at ISO400 (AUTO). With the camera at the other ISO AUTO modes, it prefers the higher ISO's when indoors, producing ugly noise. ISO 400 is almost as clean as ISO 100, where ISO 100 will produce shots that are too dark indoors. I also took a shot of a subject about 1 1/2 feet away with flash, and surprisingly used just enough not too overexpose it, where my other digicams would have.
Design:
The dial around the menu button is unnecessary, since you could do the same with the 4-way button action. I never needed to scroll through shooting modes or photos quickly. Miss a dedicated selector for shooting modes, and single button press for menu.
Wish List for the next model:
- If they made a slot for just xD or SD instead of both, they probably could have fit a larger battery with higher capacity.
- Sacrifice 5x zoom to make it smaller & lighter. Make 3x: it 28-105mm.
- Dedicated shooting mode dial as on the f31fd. Easier menu.
- Zoom buttons, which is more comfortable, instead of a rocker.
- The return of manual settings.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: One of the best little cameras!!
Review: I have a Nikon SLR, but like many dragging a big camera around can be a pain!
I own an older Canon Elph SD-450 which actually takes rather GOOD pictures..except in low light and well..it's just too old now. I was trying to update my Canon with the newer technology out there..Face detect,image stabilization,better movie mode. From a lot of research I initially wanted to buy the Fuji F100fd but kept getting scared off about the pink banding issue, so I bought a Canon SD 950. The Canon IS a very good camera but I was finding the face detect worked less than 50% of the time and anything shot at 200iso or above looked rather noisy and the pictures were rather washed out. Flesh tones with the Canon tend to be TOO pink overall.To fast forward I did buy this Fuji camera..and overall I feel it's a bit superior to the Canon 950. Pics come out with a bit less saturated colors BUT now I realize colors, especially skin tones look more natural with the Fuji. Face detect works much better with this Fuji as well. That being said, at full 12 megapixels I can see a bit of noise in pics 400 iso and above rendering face detect a bit useless in some cases. To sum up, OVERALL this Fuji is VERY good. A little messing with some of the settings and this Fuji takes GREAT pics overall. I like many, wish "they" could make a point and shoot with a bigger sensor and maybe no more than 8 megapixels..but till then to me..this Fuji is about as good as it gets till then. Also I should mention I have seen NO NO pink banding in any pics..and for those who shot pics in total darkness in a drawer LOOKING for pink banding?..well isn't that a bit crazy??? I recommend this Fuji...great camera overall!
UPDATE: All I wrote above I still feel. But after coming back from vacation and analyzing the Fuji pics at full resolution I now realize most pictures are just too noisy,..and all lack detail..like for example seeing hair as hair instead of cotton like hair. Long story short I returned this Fuji...got a Panasonic TZ5 and I like it MUCH better and though the TZ5 is suppose to be a bit noisy above 200ISO it's MUCH more quiet and detailed than the Fuji 200 iso-800. I still feel the Fuji IS one of the better tiny cameras out there..but you may want to try a Panasonic TZ5 with 10 times zoom..and NO purple fringing...you may be surprised just how good the TZ5 is compared to the Fuji.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Hands Down Best Compact On The Market
Review: I am being very open and honest when I say this is the best compact on the market. Please note when I say this I am specifically refering to image quality. Things like looks, feel, menu layout, options, weight...ect are a mater of personal preference and who can judge that for you. I will admit I am not a professional photographer but I don't need to be to see which pictures are more pleasing to the eye. Isn't this what it is all about?
In short the Fuji F100 take beautiful, sharp colorful high resoloution pictures. I specifically compared it against Sony's DSC W170 & Canon's SD870 IS. The only reason I ever tried these other cameras is because I currently own a Fuji F31FD and wanted something with a real image stablizer. After reading all of the raving reviews I purchased the Sony DSC W170 and the Canon SD870 IS. I took various pictures with both cameras around my house on a sunny day,, inside and outside. To my suprise they were not even close to my Fuji F31FD or the Fuji F100FD. The descrepancy is such that it makes me wonder if Sony and Canon pay reviewers to give them great reviews. The reality is that the Fuji blows them both out of the water. Don't get me wrong, both Sony and Canon will take nice pictures outdoors, (Pictures on par with the Fuji) but as soon as you come inside the difference is day and night. The reason is very simple. Fuji cameras have a larger sensor that capture more light with less noise. This makes pictures taken indoors brighter and sharper with an overall look that is much, much more pleasing to the eye. Not to mention pictures taken indoors with Fuji never have the white spots that both the Cannon and Sony would have at random. This alone was a deal breaker. Since these spots are totally random you never know when your photo was going to be ruined by them. Never an issue with the Fuji! I realize most people think Sony and Canon's are great but it just make me think they don't really know the difference, or that they value something other than image quality about their cameras, hince giving them great reviews. Both the Canon Elps series and Sony DSC are very popular and are the cameras most people will buy, but remember in most cases the crowd is wrong and this is definatietly the case here. The Fuji takes excellent pictures outdoors and the best of any compact indoors. Don't let these so called professional reviews cost you a 15% restocking fee. Just go buy the Fuji and know none of the other compact even come close. Highly Recommended!
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