Performance
Corking image quality is the only thing that would pull it out of the
bag after the interface frustrations. Colours are fresh and natural and
noise performance was a pleasant surprise.
Although you can go up to ISO 12,800, the combination of 3-megapixel resolution and intrusive noise reduction makes the results look like they've been daubed in crayon. But apart from the predictably overambitious higher ISO speeds, noise control is actually pretty good. Even at ISO 800, well beyond the reach of most compacts, speckly noise doesn't overwhelm the image. Noise reduction isn't too overzealous, with only the finest detail smudged.
Low light performance is good, as you'd expect from an F series camera, but we have to add the caveat that without quick access to exposure compensation, the results can be hit and miss, especially when different light sources are involved. The F100 wouldn't know where to start with, say, a concert.
We were able to take a picture in 1 second from start up. Meanwhile, the burst mode -- if you can find it buried in the menu -- clocks in at a rather shoddy 0.5 frames per second.
There are other faster burst modes: top three and final three modes, which save the first or last three images from when you hold down the shutter. Final three saves three images in 2 seconds. Top three is even faster, saving three frames in 1 second. But it then takes another 10 seconds to process them and besides, we can't for the life of us think of a situation that would require you to use top three.
Conclusion
We really want to like the Fujifilm FinePix F100fd and as an
uncomplicated point-and-shoot with a fun control wheel, we do. But the
weight of expectation from its illustrious forebears, such as the Fujifilm FinePix F50fd,
leaves us disappointed. Its feature set is too dumbed down and what
manual controls you do get are inexplicably and annoyingly in the wrong
place.
Decent image quality means we could recommend this to the everyday snapper, but anyone who wants decent results even in harder lighting environments would be better off with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5.
Edited by Shannon Doubleday
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User reviews3
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Sofi Pickering 5 January 2012
Good: EVERYTHING
Bad: nothing
Comment: i got this camera a couple of years ago now, and i still love it. It is responsive, has great picture quality, appropriate and efficient settings, good battery life and much more. When i purchased it, i also purchased the camera's underwater housing (as i am a scuba diver) which is of similar excellent quality. if they still sell this camera, i would strongly advise you to buy it. ITS FANTASTIC
GallopingGrandad 29 April 2009
Good: Picture quality in so called manual mode with white balance set to cloudyand 400ASA.
Bad: No bracketing, no manual controls.
Comment: This little Pocket Rocket can produce outstanding photos, but alas not all the time.
Fuji shold be reported to Trading Standards as it does not have manual control as it says in the Sales Literature.
Its aperture and shutter settings are never consistently the same on consecutive shots.
I cant understand why Fuji have devised such a consumer unfriendlly menu design.
However, and despite the above, I like it a lot!
vsqq 22 July 2008
Good: support SD, playful wheel, good performance
Bad: can not turn off view window to save power
Comment: In outdoor, picture quality is good and also in low light, the picture quality is better than other similar price cameras. Compare with Fujifilm previous camera, this F100fd can support SD makes it better for storage card usage.
See all 3 user reviews