Why is the Fujifilm F31fd so sought after?

The F31fd, and the closely related F30, earned a lasting reputation for high-ISO performance that was remarkable for a 2006 compact. Their larger Super CCD sensors produced usable images at ISO 800 and 1600 with pleasing Fuji color, so they still sell at a premium among people who want a low-light-capable pocket CCD.

What is Super CCD and how is it different?

Super CCD is Fujifilm's own sensor design that uses octagonal photosites in a rotated honeycomb pattern instead of the usual square grid, aiming for more resolution and dynamic range per chip size. Variants include Super CCD HR, the dual-photodiode SR for extra highlight range, and the later switchable EXR.

Fujifilm FinePix CCD Cameras: Super CCD and the Fuji Colour

Fujifilm did CCD differently with its Super CCD design, and the famous Fuji colour is exactly why the FinePix line is so sought after today.

Fujifilm approached the CCD era with its own engineering, and that is why the FinePix line looks a little different from everything else. Instead of the standard square-grid sensor everyone used, Fuji built the Super CCD, with octagonal photosites arranged in a rotated honeycomb pattern. The claim was better resolution and dynamic range from a given chip size, and while the marketing numbers were optimistic, the sensors really did have a character, especially in how they held highlights and rendered color. Combined with Fuji's film heritage, that is the root of the beloved Fuji colour.

The Super CCD generations

Fuji iterated the design several times. The original Super CCD gave way to Super CCD HR (high resolution) and, more interestingly, Super CCD SR, which paired a large primary photodiode with a small secondary one in each pixel to extend dynamic range, a genuinely clever idea for taming bright skies. Later came Super CCD EXR, which could switch modes to prioritize resolution, low light or dynamic range. Knowing these names helps you read a used listing, because the sensor type tells you a lot about how the camera behaves.

The F-series: pocket legends

The most famous FinePix compacts are the F-series. The FinePix F10, F11 and especially the F30 and F31fd earned a cult reputation for high-ISO performance that shamed rivals of the mid-2000s. On their larger 1/1.7-inch Super CCD sensors, these cameras produced usable images at ISO 800 and even 1600, which was almost unheard of for a compact in 2006. The F31fd in particular is still hunted at a premium precisely because of that low-light ability and its pleasing color. Later F-series bodies like the F100fd, F200EXR and F550EXR carried the EXR sensor and film-simulation features.

The S-series bridge and S-Pro bodies

Fuji built a wide range of S-series bridge cameras, from the affordable S5000, S5200, S5600 to the enthusiast S9000, S9500 and S6500fd, all with long zooms and Super CCD sensors. At the professional end sat the DSLR-style bodies built on Nikon mounts: the FinePix S1 Pro, S2 Pro, S3 Pro and S5 Pro. The S3 Pro and S5 Pro used the Super CCD SR sensor, and portrait and wedding photographers loved them for skin tones and highlight roll-off that felt closer to film than the digital norm of the time.

The Fuji colour signature

What people mean by Fuji colour is a specific rendering: rich but believable greens, warm and flattering skin tones, and a gentle highlight roll-off that avoids the harsh clipping of many CCDs. Later FinePix bodies made this explicit with film-simulation modes named after Fuji stocks, so you could dial in a Velvia-like punch, a softer Astia look, or standard Provia. Even the earlier bodies without named modes carry that DNA in their default JPEGs, which is why FinePix files often need less color work than rivals.

The Z and A entry compacts

Below the F- and S-series sat the everyday lines. The stylish Z-series (Z10fd, Z20fd, Z100fd) were slim sliding-cover compacts with internal folded zooms, aimed at people who wanted a pocketable camera with the Fuji look and simple operation. The A-series (A200, A345, A800 and many more) were the budget point-and-shoots, often AA-powered, cheap then and cheap now. Neither line has the low-light heroics of an F31fd, but both still carry Fuji's pleasant default color in daylight, so they are an inexpensive way to sample the FinePix rendering before spending on a sought-after body.

Getting the best from a FinePix

These cameras reward playing to their strengths. On bodies with film-simulation modes, try Velvia for landscapes and Astia or standard for people, then leave the file largely as shot, since the whole point is Fuji's color science. On the SR and EXR bodies, use the dynamic-range modes when a scene has bright sky and shadowed foreground; that is where Fuji's dual-photodiode idea genuinely pulls detail back into the highlights. The famous F30 and F31fd can be pushed to higher ISO than most CCDs, but they are still happiest at ISO 100 to 400 for the cleanest tone. And because Fuji metering tends to protect highlights, you can usually trust it in tricky mixed light rather than fighting the exposure.

Cards, batteries and what to check

The memory-card situation depends on the era:

Early FinePix bodies use xD-Picture Card, the same scarce, pricey format as Olympus, so confirm a card is included or budget for one.
Many mid-era bodies had dual xD and SD slots, and later models moved fully to SD/SDHC, which is far more convenient.
Batteries vary. The slim compacts use small proprietary NP-series lithium packs, while some S-series bridge bodies run on AA cells. Test that any pack holds a charge.

Which FinePix to choose

Your pick depends on what you want. For the classic pocket-CCD experience with the best low-light ability, chase an F30 or F31fd and accept that they command a premium. For a similar look with SD cards and later features, an F100fd or F200EXR is more practical to run. For reach in one package, an S9000, S9500 or S6500fd bridge gives you a long Leica-free but capable Fujinon zoom. And if you want the film-like portrait rendering, the DSLR-style S3 Pro or S5 Pro with their SR sensors are the specialists, though they need Nikon lenses and a computer workflow. Match the body to the job and the Super CCD character comes through in all of them.

When inspecting a used FinePix, check the lens for smooth zoom, fire the flash, and shoot a test frame to look for any color cast or dead lines that would indicate sensor trouble. Every Fujifilm FinePix at Boston Camera is tested and confirmed working before it goes on the shelf.