Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/06/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks to all who gave advice on compact cameras. I decided to go with the Fuji F31. I couldn't get over the following excerpt from a review in dpreview regarding the Fuji Super CCD. The supporting test images also impressed me. The F31fd was just over $200 after rebate from B&H. I wonder if the rebate means they're phasing it out. >From dpreview..... http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf31fd/page17.asp >> I suspect (though I hope I'm wrong) that this is the last time we'll see this sensor in a compact camera, as Fuji feels the pressure to keep up with the megapixel race ever more strongly. This would be a real tragedy; the F31fd hits the image quality 'sweet spot' by using a large sensor, relatively low pixel count and some very clever processing, and I can't see them repeating this with a more densely-packed sensor. It is the perfect illustration of the oft made point that more pixels do not mean better quality; we've compared the F31fd to a whole range of much more expensive compacts going right up to 10MP, and - aside from a little extra resolution at base ISO - it puts most of them to shame. Once you get to ISO 400 there simply isn't a compact on the market that can hold a flame to it.<< I just wish it was a Leica. :-( OTOH, hopefully I can superglue the 35mm finder that I picked up at a camera swap meet years ago (it's plastic, but tiny and has bright optics) to it. I won't feel badly defacing a $200 camera. DaveR