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The Fujifim FinePix F31fd is a minor upgrade to the very successful Fujifilm Finepix F30 (the point and shoot I've been using for the past few weeks).
The Fujifim FinePix F31fd has a slight update to it's look as well as face recognition and Infra Red connectivity. Other than that it is largely the same camera as the F30 with ISO of up to 3200, 6.3 megapixels, 3x Optical Zoom and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.
It will retail for a price of $399 when it ships this December.
Get a Price on the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd
FUJIFILM BRINGS FACE DETECTION TO THE COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA CATEGORY WITH THE FINEPIX F31fd
Camera also Boasts 3200 ISO, i-Flash and Picture Stabilization
Valhalla, New York, September 25, 2006 -- Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., is proud to unveil the FinePix F31fd, the first pocketable digital camera from Fujifilm to feature the company’s new Face Detection Technology.
Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology debuted on the SLR-styled FinePix S6000fd. It has a tremendous impact on the quality of “people pictures” by ensuring that cameras like the FinePix F31fd will automatically focus on and expose for faces, rather than details that lead to less-than-desirable photographs. Identifying up to 10 faces in a frame, Face Detection Technology ensures photos of friends and family are crisp, clear and properly exposed for a natural feel. It has an advantage over the few other face detection systems currently on the market as the technology is built-in to the camera’s processor, enabling the FinePix F31fd to identify faces and optimize settings within a scant 0.05 seconds.
With the FinePix F31fd, which is similar in style to the FinePix F30, Fujifilm adds Face Detection to the many significant breakthrough features in the award winning and critically-acclaimed FinePix F30 - unprecedented light sensitivities up to ISO 3200 at full resolution, Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization, the ‘i-Flash’ system, and best-in-class 580-shot battery life. Add a 3x optical zoom lens from Fujinon, a 6-MegaPixel Super CCD HR sensor, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen with glare-reducing coatings and the FinePix F31fd is an ideal companion for consumers looking for a first-class upgrade to their current digital cameras.
Face Detection Technology
Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology was originally developed for the company’s photofinishing division where it has been improving the quality of photos produced at retail photo centers nationwide by Fujifilm’s Frontier Digital Lab Systems. Fujifilm’s Research & Development team adapted the technology for use within digital cameras, where it is now a genuinely useful tool for making subjects look their best.
A selectable option, Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology identifies faces by triangulating a subject’s eyes and mouth using an algorithm to optimize focus and exposure. It simultaneously displays a green rectangle around the primary subject, while 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 regardless of the subject’s position in the frame, and is not confused by eyeglasses. In Playback mode, Face Detection automatically zooms to subjects’ faces and trims the shot for optimum portraits.
Low Light Photography and Picture Stabilization
Fujifilm has identified low light photography as one of the true benchmarks of a digital camera's performance, as many images are taken when light is limited. Limited light requires the use of a flash, however, a flash can leave subjects looking ‘washed out’ and background detail almost non-existent. Higher light sensitivities make flash-free photography possible with available light, balancing foreground and background exposure and contributing to a natural look and feel.
Higher light sensitivities also enable the camera to shoot with faster shutter speeds, which lessen the likelihood of blurry pictures caused by a moving subject or the shake of an unsteady hand. To make it easy for consumers to achieve blur-free results, the FinePix F31fd features a helpful “Picture Stabilization” mode dial setting. This easy-to-identify, automatic setting lets the FinePix F31fd choose the correct light sensitivity and best-matching shutter speed, producing the highest quality digital pictures without blur and the noise often associated with high sensitivity photographs.
i-Flash
For those occasions when flash is required, Fujifilm’s intelligent ‘i-Flash’ system sets flash power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure. Fujifilm’s i-Flash system is more advanced than similar flash systems because it can detect more accurately the subtle lighting differences within a scene, and then light the subject accordingly with a wider range of flash intensities. Together, the Face Detection and i-Flash technologies produce photographs with prominent subjects exhibiting pleasing, natural tones.
“Fujifilm set the benchmark for digital camera performance earlier this year with the introduction of the FinePix F30, a model that helped consumers take better pictures through innovative technology breakthroughs and best-in-class performance,” remarked David Troy, Senior Product Manager, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. “With the addition of Face Detection Technology to an already outstanding camera package, the FinePix F31fd will turn just about any picture-taker into a top-notch photographer.”
The FinePix F31fd has a number of useful features that make it easy to snap outstanding photos:“Natural Light & with Flash” Dual Shot Mode: In this mode the FinePix F31fd quickly shoots two images in succession -- one with and one without the flash -- saving both. This convenient function lets the user perform an on-the-spot picture comparison and decide whether the FinePix F31fd produced the most pleasing photo with flash, or without.
“Natural Light” shooting mode: This mode preserves scene mood and enhances background detail by shooting with faster shutter speeds at higher light sensitivities (if necessary) with a suppressed flash.
Fast Operation: The camera’s fast response times, 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5 second start-up time, ensure it will catch all the action and spell the end for missed photo opportunities.
LCD: The FinePix F31fd features a large 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen coated with Fujifilm’s proprietary CV film. This minimizes glare and reflection so that images can be viewed from any angle and even in sunny conditions, when glare would usually be a problem. In addition, the screen’s brightness adjusts automatically, depending on the amount of light available, to further enhance ease of viewing.
Better Movie Quality: Movie capture for the FinePix F31fd is enhanced by noise reduction, making it possible to capture clear, sharp moving images even at high ISO sensitivity speeds. It is also capable of VGA movie capture at 30 frames per second with sound.Special scene modes: The FinePix F31fd has 15 scene positions including beach, snow and fireworks for optimum photography, no matter what the event. Manual settings: Includes shutter and aperture priority, for more user control.The FinePix F31fd will be available in December at a retail cost of $399.
PhotographyBLOG reivews the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd where they write - 'With the addition of Face Detection and Infra-red, the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd is currently the new best compact, carry-everywhere digital camera for the discerning photographer. There are still a few unnecessary faults though that are retained from the F11 model (come on Fujifilm!), and all that new technology has made the F31fd quite a lot more expensive than its older sibling, the F30, which is overall a more economical and sensible purchase.'
blip.tv has a video review of the Fujifilm Finepix F31d and talks about the camera's face recognition feature: "In our tests we were not just impressed by the feature, which you can see in action in the video review, but also the camera itself. There were a few niggles, such as it selecting noisier high ISO speeds in Auto mode even when the lighting was good, but even so we liked this £199 camera."
Trusted Reviews has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd and writes, "Image quality is also very good. The lens produces excellent corner-to-corner sharpness, and has virtually no wide-angle barrel distortion. Exposure metering is outstanding, and colour reproduction is also faultless. The only criticism, and one that I’ve made before about Fujifilm cameras including the F30, is a higher than usual level of purple fringing on high-contrast edges, especially next to very bright highlights. ... All in all the F31fd is an extremely good camera, capable of producing outstanding results in circumstance that would defeat most other models. ... Like its predecessor the F30, the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd has the best high-ISO performance on the market, as well as a number of other useful features, not least of which is class-leading battery duration. Build quality, style, performance and photographic results are also as good as anything else on the market. However the Face Detection technology is probably not enough to justify the relatively high price compared to the outstanding F30."
Vnunet has a review of the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd and writes, "Overall image quality is good, but if you crop in 100 per cent you'll see image noise causing some quality issues, even when shooting at ISO 100. That said, if you're not planning to print out extra large photos and won't be cropping in on detail too much, it's not really a problem as you're unlikely to notice it. Occasional purple fringing was apparent in areas of high contrast, but colour reproduction and the camera's auto-exposure decisions were both good. ... The Finepix F31fd has plenty going for it, and the Face Detection technology is a real bonus - especially for novice snappers fed up with blurred portrait shots."
ThinkCamera has a review of the Fujifilm F31fd and writes, "Colour rendition of skin tones is good in the F31fd and the clever face detection software helps you get the best focus and optimized exposure for the shot you are taking. ... When you zoom in on it you can see some noise but not as bad as you might expect at ISO 800. I printed it at 6in x 4in and was pleasantly surprised. There was a very slight softening effect but nothing that would worry you. You'll also notice that the background is nicely balanced too. ... It's a smashing little camera. If you take lots of photos of people it will help you get the best focus for each person. The Fujifilm F31fd is perfect for getting that shot at the party with all your mates. It has a high ISO (can capture detail when it's dark, keeping it sharp), it will balance the background and it won't blow out their faces."
LaptopMag has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd and writes, "We were impressed with the F31fd's ability to rapidly seek out human faces and not focus on other things in the shot. ... Many digicams also drop the ball when taking low-light shots. At a birthday party, the FinePix F31fd did a good job of capturing the guests crowded around a cake with the lights off while the candles were being blown out. When we bumped the ISO up to 1600, there was very little noise, and when we maxed it out at ISO 3200, the camera still retained some level of quality. The results didn't look overly grainy like photos from some other point-and-shoots that we've tested."
PCWorld has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd and writes, "In our lab tests, the F31fd performed admirably. Its battery life earned a rating of Superior because the camera reached our test limit of 500 shots on one charge of its rechargeable lithium ion battery. The average number of shots per charge for recently tested point-and-shoot cameras is far lower, at about 270 photos. In our image quality tests, our jury gave the camera high marks for its photos' color accuracy and low distortion. The camera scored high across all categories, earning an overall image quality score of Very Good."
Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Fuji Finepix F31fd and writes, "Looking through all the test shots I have to say I am pretty impressed with the Finepix F31fd. All the key factors I look for in a camera are covered. These include natural colours, sharpness, contrast and lowlight photographs. ... 'm a big fan of the Fuji Finepix F31fd. If you are looking for a digital camera with a bit of style that takes a good photo then this one is worth a close look. It has one or two extra features that come in handy, especially in lowlight. Therefore an area that can be a weakness with other digital cameras is a strength with this one."
Digital Trends has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd and writes, "This is a good not great 6.3-megapixel digicam. Although it has a lot going for it, it really didn’t ring the bell for me. There were issues with sharpness, some focusing problems and the camera labored saving big files. And Face Detection, one of its highly touted features, didn’t measure up to competitors. If the F31fd dipped well below $300, I’d consider it but this Made In China digicam didn’t make my most favored list. Consumer alert: Fujifilm will soon release the FinePix F40fd for $299 so you can expect prices of this one to drop nicely"
DPReview has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd and writes, "Broadly speaking the F31fd - like the F30 before it - produces sharp, bright, clean output that puts most of its higher megapixel competitors to shame. It also goes without saying that in the ISO 400-800 range it is still absolutely unrivalled. Focus - though it may slow down a little when challenged - is very reliable indeed, and in decent light the auto white balance is faultless. Some of the issues we encountered with the F30 have been addressed - the exposure seems more reliable and the tone curve no longer produces that strange 'flat midtones' effect. This makes the F31fd a much more beginner-friendly 'point and shoot' camera than its predecessor, though like most compacts the contrast is set too high and highlights can and up clipped fairly easily. The bad news is that purple fringing is still a problem in contre-jour situations (and around specular highlights), there are still some situations where the metering gets things wrong (over exposing), though it does seem better."
ComputerActive has a review of the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd and writes, "Under ideal conditions, photos are colourful if ever so slightly soft straight out of the camera. And, though opting for the top ISO3200 setting in low light when you want to avoid the bleaching effect of flash introduces the bugbear of image noise – tiny, grain-like speckles – the F31fd produces results that are both usable and better the performance of some rivals at ISO800. ... Though the face-detection feature is more gimmick than essential, the Fujifilm F31fd is one of the most impressively constructed compacts outside of Canon’s Digital IXUS range."
Get a Price on the Fujifilm Finepix F31fd
Posted by Darren in our Fuji category on September 25, 2006