Improvements / advantages vs. F30 / F31fd:
1. The metering and the auto focus work much more precisely than in the F30 / F31fd, the focus is also faster. It thereby succeed better snapshots and you produce less waste.
2. The colors of the F100fd are by default not as dull and are compared between standard and Chrome mode, the F30 / F31fd - so I think finally optimally. My partners in the F30 / F31fd partly mandatory post-PC unnecessary.
3. The image details in 12MP-Fine mode are top notch and are daylight shooting with ISO 100 on almost DSLR-level.
Neutral changes vs. F30 / F31fd:
1. The new 5x zoom is indeed timely, but you have to live in the wide-angle image with curvatures. In comparable focal lengths of the F30 / F31fd these curves do not occur, of course, so you can decide for themselves whether and when to take the WW-border region of the objective to complete.
2. The noise behavior from ISO 200, although even a slight (insignificant) deterioration to F30 / F31fd but the denoising in the improved JPEG engine now works in my opinion more towards detailed receipt, which ultimately clearly speaks with 12MP back for the F100fd ,
3. The minimum focusing distance in macro mode is longer, but the auto focus works well also very precise. With the F30 / F31fd you had to cheat to get really close sharp images. The higher resolution of the F100fd longer minimum focusing distance can also be compensated almost back. After more than 300 macro shots with the F100fd I can attest to an above-average macro capability of this camera so still. The new compact Sony with a close range of 10 cm are an absolute joke about it.
4. The revised operation using the wheel is initially used to. What initially somewhat frustrated me, but then has proved for some acclimatization period as practical and quick to use.
Although 5. The optical image stabilizer does not work miracles, but makes an average positive effect and is not harmful.
Deteriorations / disadvantages vs. F30 / F31fd:
1. As the only serious I look at the significantly reduced battery life. With the F30, I managed some cases more than 700 photos with one battery charge. The F100fd I each managed between 150 to 250 photos. So it's no longer so that you can take the camera so without hesitation as a F30 / F31fd anytime. They should have freshly charged before each trip or to set a second battery.
2. In order to exploit the benefits of new F100fd, it is recommended to always put on Mode 12MP Camera Fine. Unfortunately, the memory requirements and then quite high. If you really relies on xD cards, I recommend the use of rare and relatively expensive xD-Picture Card 2GB Type-H, not Type-M! With this card, you can then, after all, take more than 400 photos in the said format.
3. Long-term exposures are possible only until 8 instead of the previous 15 seconds. Some experiments that come with the F30 / F31fd still, are now unfortunately realizable only with higher ISO levels and corresponding noise.
4. In conjunction with the image stabilizer mode that tends F100fd quickly to high ISO levels, while short exposure times and lower Verwacklungsgefahren object but provoking unacceptable noise. Who is able to hold a camera reasonably quiet, the it is recommended to keep the image stabilization mode, however manually to limit the ISO levels to CAR 400.
Conclusion: I have not regretted the change from the F30 / F31fd to new F100fd. The advantages and improvements outweigh the few disadvantages by far. The F100fd is therefore not dizzy pixel spin, but really an evolution of the F30 / F31fd and gets my strong buy recommendation.
