Fujifilm FinePix F50fd

Connectivity
Software (6.75)
The Fujifilm FinePix F50fd comes with a CD-ROM with FinePix Viewer version 5.4 for Windows and FinePix Viewer version 3.5 for Macintosh.

FinePix Viewer takes about five minutes to install, and another few to restart the computer. Pictures can be viewed in thumbnail screens of four, 12, or 35 at a time. A larger preview of a single image with a strip of seven thumbnails below it can also be viewed. Finally, there are thumbnails listed with details such as file type, file size, date and time, and image size.

FinePix Viewer version 5.4

Users can view shooting info and can rotate images with on-screen buttons. There are also buttons to delete, magnify, and scroll through images. There is also a "face zoom" button that magnifies detected faces much like the button on the camera in the Playback mode.

The column on the left side of the FinePix Viewer’s window has easily accessible tasks for pictures. Pictures can be printed, organized into folders, or edited. Slide shows can be played, e-mails can be sent, and comments can be added. The actual image manipulation isn’t very impressive.

Images can be rotated, text inserted, image quality adjusted, size shrunken, and red-eye corrected. Sort of. We tried the red-eye correction, but it looked very unnatural. The software program inserted green dots over the red eyes, shown in the image below.

Red-eye removal screen

An operation guide appears when users activate the few editing features, and the software is fairly intuitive. The FinePix Viewer is good for users who simply want to organize, print, and e-mail pictures. If they want to edit pictures, however, they’ll have to look into purchasing additional photo editing software.

Jacks, ports, plugs (7.25)
The camera has a single port on its right side, where a nicely hidden door folds out. The jack fits the USB 2.0 cable that is included; this function can be set to PTP or MTP (media transfer protocol). The AV-out cable also fits in this jack: it can be set to NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu.

The F50fd has IrSimple wireless transfer technology that allows it to communicate and send images to other compatible devices. There are a few downfalls, though: IrSimple technology isn’t abundant in North America and many other places around the globe, and the camera has to be within about three feet of the compatible device (computer, printer, phone, etc). If it has to be within three feet, it seems logical to get out a cable. It’s probably faster to transfer via cable too – although we couldn’t try these transfer protocols head-to-head because nothing here is Ir-enabled.

Direct Print Options (6.0)
Users can select images and create print orders through the F-mode button in the Playback mode. The print order can be made with or without the date printed on the pictures. The order can be reset from the menu, too. Pictures can be scrolled through – slowly, of course – and up to 99 prints can be made from each image. A DPOF total appears at the top of the LCD screen. Users can transfer images to PictBridge printers with the included USB cable. If the printer has IrSimple wireless technology, then the images can be wirelessly transferred – but only one at a time.

Battery (5.5)
The battery fits under the right side of the camera in a compartment with a nice springy door. The battery is very skinny and light. The NP-50 battery has about 1000 mAh of power that translates to 230 shots on a fully charged battery. The lithium-ion battery takes about 2.3 hours to charge in the included wall-mount charger. The wall-mount charger is small and convenient for packing away on long trips. There is an optional power adapter available that comes with a coupler so it can fit in the single USB/AV jack on the camera.


Memory (3.5)
The Fujifilm FinePix F50fd comes with 25 MB of internal memory, the same amount as the F40fd. However, the new model comes with more resolution, so it holds less pictures. Only five full-resolution images, in fact. The older F40fd has only xD-Picture card compatibility, though, and the new version expands its compatibility to include SD and SDHC as well as xD-Picture. This expansive offering should attract consumers who have been loyal to other brands of cameras that accept SD media while not forgetting the xD tradition on its digital cameras.

Other features (7.0)
IrSimple Wireless Transfer – This feature is included on most new Fujifilm digital cameras. It is a relatively low-cost and effective way of wirelessly transmitting photos, but there are some major drawbacks. First, the technology isn’t as widespread as competitors such as Bluetooth. Second, it is only effective when in close range. The camera has to be within three feet of the other IrSimple device. There are printers, cell phones, computers, and other devices out there with IrSimple, but they are still few and far between. At the least, users can transfer photos from one FinePix to the other. But what practical use is that? The IrSimple transfer is intuitive and is found in the F-mode menu in Playback mode. Does it actually work? We don’t know: there are no other IrSimple products around to test it on. There lies the problem.

Option Waterproof Case – When enclosed in the case, the F50fd can go underwater up to 131 feet. At the time of publication, pricing and availability were not yet available for the case, but the F40fd’s retails for $179.