F30/31 replacement?

[jmoti]

Hi all,
I've been (over)researching my camera upgrade purchase for a few months now, and I've zeroed in on the F31fd as my most likely purchase. It seems to have the best overall combination of size, picture quality, and manual shutter control on the market. As always though, there are tradeoffs, and it's missing some things I'd really like - dreamy things like optical IS and a wide-angle lens, and things already implemented in the f40, like SD card capability and a slightly smaller footprint (the ability to carry my camera everywhere is important to me). Plus, the f40's sexier :-)

That being said, does anybody have any idea when a replacement might show up? I was hoping maybe at PMA, but no such luck. I will also admit to having a crush on the upcoming Panasonic FX30, with its super-slender body, IS, wide-angle lens, and 60-second max shutter (could do some really neat night photography!) But it's likely to be noisy, and it has no real manual shutter control. So what's the prospects a new F50(?) might be a mashup of the two? Thanks for your input!

[P_Schneider]

I would think that you might see an upgrade to the F30 (maybe F50 if the numbering holds true) and you might see some specialty models such as the IR type cameras but I would think other than that, Fuji pretty well rounded out it's different lines. The exception of course is the E series which I have no idea what they're going to do with that line, still only 1 model that you don't hear much about.

[kodi]

Fujifilm F40fd has been released in Hong Kong. Interesting to know that they are made in Japan instead of China. But I have to tell you this is absolutely not an upgrade of F30/31, sad to say that not only on its absence of most manual functions, but also the picture quality.

When Fuji joins the pixel race, they seem to be facing the same problem as Panasonic - how to put so many pixels in a small CCD without comprosing the picture quality. The result is, hints of grain even at low ISO settings and oil paint effect at moderate ISO setting. This is particularly obvious in the shade areas.

If I am not expecting too much, the overall maneuver of this model is very good. User friendly interface, quick start up, reliable white balance, fast auto focus and most important, it takes an SD card as well as an xD.

When balancing the pros and cons of this model, the price may be another important consideration. In Hong Kong it is sold at US$290 with a 2G SD card, screen protector and a Fuji leather case.

[P_Schneider]

Fujifilm F40fd has been released in Hong Kong. Interesting to know that they are made in Japan instead of China. But I have to tell you this is absolutely not an upgrade of F30/31, sad to say that not only on its absence of most manual functions, but also the picture quality.

When Fuji joins the pixel race, they seem to be facing the same problem as Panasonic - how to put so many pixels in a small CCD without comprosing the picture quality. The result is, hints of grain even at low ISO settings and oil paint effect at moderate ISO setting. This is particularly obvious in the shade areas.

If I am not expecting too much, the overall maneuver of this model is very good. User friendly interface, quick start up, reliable white balance, fast auto focus and most important, it takes an SD card as well as an xD.

When balancing the pros and cons of this model, the price may be another important consideration. In Hong Kong it is sold at US$290 with a 2G SD card, screen protector and a Fuji leather case.

The F40fd is an upgrade for the F20, that's why were hoping there is a F50 coming out, which if everything holds true, would most likely be named the F50. You're right of course about the picture quality, putting a couple million more pixels on the same chip will do that. As I have stated in other threads I think that Fuji already hit the sweet spot with the F30 / 31 as far as MP vs Sensor size is concerned.

[bTaryag]

Does anyone have any info/ideas/rumors as to when the f50 (or whatever it will be called) is coming out?