Fujifilm's 2007 F-series compact — 12MP 1/1.6-inch Super CCD, 35-105mm stabilised zoom, dual xD/SD slot
The FinePix F50fd sat near the top of Fujifilm's F-series compact line, announced in July 2007 and on sale from that September. It moved the enthusiast-leaning fd family to 12 megapixels and, for the first time in the series, added mechanical image stabilisation, selling worldwide under the same name at a launch price around 300 dollars.
A 1/1.6-inch 12-megapixel Super CCD HR sensor sits behind a Fujinon 3x zoom covering 35-105mm equivalent at f/2.8-5.1. CCD-shift image stabilisation, face detection and sensitivity from ISO 100 to 6400 (the 3200 and 6400 settings at reduced 6MP and 3MP resolution) headline the spec, alongside a 2.7-inch 230k-dot LCD, about 25MB of internal memory and a dual card slot taking both xD-Picture Card and SD/SDHC.
The F50fd suits buyers wanting a pocketable CCD-era compact with more sensor area than typical 1/2.3-inch rivals. The larger sensor and stabilised lens make it capable in ordinary light, though the 12MP count pushed noise up at higher ISOs compared with the earlier 6MP fd models, so it rewards restrained sensitivity settings.
On the used market the dual slot is a practical advantage: cheap SD/SDHC cards work, so the obsolete xD format can be ignored. Check that the proprietary rechargeable battery holds charge and a charger is included, that the lens extends and retracts smoothly, and inspect the LCD for scratches; many buyers seek this era of Super CCD compacts specifically for their colour rendering.