Fujifilm XP50 Review

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XP50 Overview

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XP50 Overview
Specifications

Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Fujifilm FinePix XP50
Resolution:	14.40 Megapixels
Sensor size:	1/2.3 inch (6.2mm x 4.6mm)
Lens:	5.00x zoom (28-140mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	LCD
Extended ISO:	100 - 3200
Shutter:	1/2000 - 4 sec
Max Aperture:	3.9
Dimensions:	3.9 x 2.7 x 1.0 in. (99 x 68 x 26 mm)
Weight:	6.2 oz (175 g) includes batteries
MSRP:	$200
Availability:	03/2012
Manufacturer:	Fujifilm
Full specs:	Fujifilm XP50 specifications

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14.40 Megapixels	5.00x zoom	1/2.3 inch size sensor

Fujifilm FinePix XP50 Overview

Posted: 05/09/2012

Do you want a camera that's not going to break the bank, and that you'll be hard-put to break, as well? (Let's face it, life happens and even the most coordinated of us occasionally drop our gadgets.) Well, then you might want to look at the Fuji FinePix XP50. Crowned with shockproof bumpers and a rubber grip, its rugged body can accompany you pretty-much anywhere you go.

The Fujifilm XP50 offers what its manufacturer refers to as Four-Way Protection. This consists of waterproofing to 16.4 feet (five meters), dustproofing, shockproofing against a 5 foot (1.5 meter) fall, and freezeproofing to as low as 14°F (-10°C). The water and dustproofing combine to merit the IEC60529 IP68 rating, while the shockproofing meets MIL-STD 810F Method 516.5.

Inside, the Fuji XP50 is based around a 14 megapixel CMOS image sensor that yields sensitivities from ISO 100 to 3,200 equivalents at full resolution. On the front panel is a FUJINON-branded 5x optical zoom lens with a useful 28mm wide angle and a moderate 140mm telephoto. Unfortunately, the maximum aperture is rather dim, varying from f/3.9 to f/4.9 across the zoom range. (It's also a two-step aperture, and so most exposure control must be handled with shutter speed and ISO sensitivity.) On the plus side, the lens sits safe behind a reinforced glass barrier with a water-repellent coating, contributing to the camera's overall shoot-anywhere design. There's also a sensor-shift type image stabilization system, which should make it easier to get blur-free photos in less-than-ideal light. The contrast-detection autofocus system includes a tracking function locked automatically when the shutter button is half-pressed.

There are a couple of other external features of note. On the rear panel is a slightly smaller-than-average 2.7-inch LCD panel, which also has rather low resolution at just 230,000 dots. With manufacturer-rated 96% coverage, it's also just a little tight. Fujifilm does note, however, that it is brighter and easier to see in direct sunlight or underwater. There's also a built-in flash strobe and an LED lamp for autofocus assist.

The XP50 offers four main exposure modes: Auto, Program, Scene Recognition Auto, and 20 scene modes, three of them for underwater use. The SR Auto mode recognizes and automatically selects settings appropriate to one of six common scene types: Portrait, Landscape, Night, Macro, Night Portrait, and Backlit Portrait.

Among the scene modes are several less common choices. A 360° Motion Panorama Mode seen previously in F600EXR and Z950EXR can automatically capture and stitch together several photos to create a full 360-degree panorama as you sweep your camera across a scene. Another mode called Pro Low-light captures four high ISO exposures, and then stacks them to create a single image with reduced noise levels. Dynamic Range mode is similar, but varies exposure between frames and merges the result into a single high dynamic range image. The Natural Light & with Flash mode captures each shot twice, once with flash and once with higher sensitivity and natural light only; you can then choose one or keep both.

Perhaps the most unusual feature, though, is related to the Face Detection technology, which is now able to locate up to 6 faces simultaneously. As well as the fairly common red-eye correction, it can also be set to capture a photo automatically based on face detection. That in itself isn't unusual, but the implementation is. You can specify the number of faces that must be recognized before the shutter is tripped, up to a maximum of four faces. Also for couple photos, you can choose how close together those faces should be (near, close, or super-close).

As well as still images, the FinePix XP50 can capture Full HD movies; that's 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, at 30 frames per second. Alternate resolutions include 720p (1,280 x 720) and VGA (640 x 480). These are recorded with monaural sound using H.264 compression, and saved in a .MOV file. There's a dedicated Movie record button, and it's possible to record movies underwater with a One-Touch mode that configures the camera appropriately.

The XP50 includes a fairly standard range of connectivity options: both standard-definition composite and high-definition Micro HDMI video outputs, and a USB 2.0 High Speed data connection. Note that the HDMI cable itself is also an optional extra. The Fuji XP50 stores data in 95MB of built-in memory, or on Secure Digital cards, including the higher-capacity SDHC and SDXC types. Power comes courtesy of a proprietary NP-45A rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack, said to be good for up to 220 shots on a charge. Interestingly, the battery compartment has a double-locked design to prevent users accidentally opening the camera underwater.

Pricing for the Fujifilm FinePix XP50 is set at around US$200, with availability from March 2012. Five body colors will be available: black, blue, orange, silver or green. An optional accessory is a kit containing an adjustable float strap, protective silicone skin and a neoprene sports case. This shipped at the same time as the camera itself, with no set price.