Barely half a year after the launch of the pocket-sized FinePix F30, Fujifilm has launched an upgraded version with the somewhat less memorable name of the FinePix F31fd.
As far as we could see, the new model is identical to its predecessor apart from the addition of hardware-based face recognition technology using the Real Photo Processor II and IR communication capabilities.
Fujifilm is making a big hoo-ha of their Face Detection technology, which ensures that the camera automatically focuses on and exposes for faces, rather than background details.
Face Detection does its clever stuff by triangulating eyes and mouth, using an algorithm to optimise focus and exposure and is able to cope with up to ten grinning mugs in a single frame.
The company claim that the technology is able to identify faces, optimise settings and take a winning snapshot within just 0.05 seconds (although it won’t solve the problem of people blinking as soon as your finger goes near the shutter, or pesky kids pulling stupid faces).
Like the F30, the F31fd offers full resolution ISO 3200 exposures, Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens, 6.3 megapixel Super CCD HR VI, VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound and a 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen.
It’s a nippy little fella too, with a claimed 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5 second start-up time, backed by a healthy 580-shot battery life, although the company are resolutely sticking to their obscure xD-Picture Card memory storage.
Fujifilm FinePix F31fd specs:
Sensor 1/1.7 ” Type Super CCD HR, 6.3 million effective pixels, Real Photo Processor II
Image sizes 2848 x 2136, 3024 x 2016 (3:2), 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
Movie clips 640 x 480 @30fps, 320 x 240 @30fps with Mono sound
File formats JPEG (Exif 2.2), Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG), DPOF
Lens 36-108mm equiv, F2.8-5.0, 3x optical zoom
Digital zoom up to 6.2x
Focus AF with Macro
AF area modes Center, Multi
Focus distance Normal: 60cm-infinity, Macro: 5cm (wide)
Metering 256- zone TTL / Spot / Average
ISO sensitivity Auto, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200
Shutter speed 1/2000-15secs
Aperture F2.8-8
Modes Auto, Program AE, Picture Stabilisation, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Burst/Continuous
Scene modes Natural light, Natural light with flash, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater, Museum, Party, Flower close-up, Text
White balance Auto, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight/Warm white/Cool white), Incandescent light, Custom
Self timer 2 or 10secs
Continuous shooting 2.2fps max 3 images
Image parameters Standard, Chrome (vivid), B&W
Flash Auto, Intelligent flash mode, Red eye reduction, Forced flash, Suppressed flash, Slow synch, Red eye reduction & Slow synch
Other photographic functions Face Detection, High-speed shooting, Best framing, Frame No. memory
Playback Functions Face Detection, IR Communication(IR simpleTM), Single frame, 9 Multi-frame , Sorting by date, Image rotate, Voice Memo Trimming, Automatic playback
Viewfinder No
LCD monitor 2.5-inch, 230,000 pixels, Anti-glare/low reflection
Connectivity USB 2.0 high speed, Video out
Print compliance PictBridge
Storage 26MB internal memory, xD-Picture Card
Power NP-95 Li-ion battery, AC adapter AC-5VC included
Weight (no batt) 155 g (5.5 oz)
Dimensions 92.7 x 56.7 x 27.8 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in)