Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR user reviews

Pros Read in summary

Cons Read in summary

Summary The new Fujifilm HS50EXR is a very nice upgrade of the HS30EXR. The best feature of this camera is the 42x (1000 mm eq.) F2.8-5.6 zoom lens. It is very sharp throughout its range. The next best feature is the very fast and accurate focusing. Fuji uses a new 0.5 inch sensor with phase detection pixels and contrast detection to quickly AND accurately focus the lens. All in all, a very nice wildlife, birding and general camera for a good price.

The Good:

- Whopping 42x (1000mm eq.) F2.8-5.6 zoom lens. Edge sharpness is good and purple fringing is all but eliminated by the EBC lens coating and the software.
- Fast and accurate automatic focusing within the optical zoom range. Focusing accuracy is average to poor while in digital zoom.
- Lens shift optical image stabilization is excellent and allows you to hand hold to 84x(42x optical, 42x digital).
- The new processing system is much, much faster than the HS30EXR. Frame freeze is eliminated (so far).
- Image quality is good and comparable to the HS30EXR but is still limited by the 0.5 inch sensor.
- Space for your fingers above the lens has been provided to manually focus the camera.
- The macro mode is outstanding and allows you to focus as close as one centimeter. Produces amazing insect photos.
- Fuji's color has always been outstanding and is so with this camera.
- The EVF (Electronic View Finder) is very usable with 920 K dots and is my preferred method.
- Excellent 920,000 dot articulated LCD display.
- Very useful "Q" button that gathers all of your most changed settings in one place.
- Three way switch on the side of the camera that allows you to change from Continuous, Single and Manual focus is very useful.

The Average:

- Manual focus is better, especially using focus peak highlight to strengthen high contrast outlines but I still yearn for my split screen as on my Nikkormat and no focus hunting.
- I find that I only use EXR mode when the conditions are poor. In looking at my photos, I find I have good photos of poor conditions and usually do not use them.
- Focusing accuracy is average to poor while in digital zoom.
- The menu system needs to be better organized with like settings grouped together.
- The manual needs to be expanded and organized, with actual explanations of the myriad of features and a usable index. It is not enough to just list the feature.
- You should not have to go through menus to access RAW file mode. It should be one touch as on the earlier HS cameras.
-As a Photoshop user, I find the SilkyPix included program to be very un-intuitive and almost useless.

The Poor:

- The battery door is an accident waiting to happen. It is poorly constructed of cheap, flimsy plastic, is difficult to open, and sure to break. What happened to the old HS battery door that was well constructed with a steel back?
- This year's lens cap is also a disaster. In the name of style, Fuji has eliminated any chance of gripping the cap and releasing it from the lens. Maybe I can buy last years model that was designed with function over form.

The Deal:

- Before you will buy this camera I suggest check for best deal at: Digitalcameragreatdeals.blogspot.com/p/hs50exr.html

Hope this review is helpful, good luck!