Fujifilm Unveils Pre-CES Slate
By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 1/4/2007 8:26:00 AM
Valhalla, N.Y. — Hoping to get a jump on the CES deluge, Fujifilm announced several new digital cameras today, including a lower-cost version of its infrared camera and models that can accept both SD and xD-Picture Card flash memory cards.
The 8-megapixel FinePix F40fd will be the company’s first model to offer support for two memory cards – SD and xD - in a single slot. It features the company’s face detection technology, which can be used before an image is captured to ensure proper focus and in review mode to zoom in on specific faces to see if their eyes are open.
Using the company’s Real Photo processor, the F40fd can achieve ISO sensitivities to 2000 and offers a dual-shot mode for taking two photos in succession – one with the flash turned on, the other with the flash off.
The camera features a 3x optical zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD display with a new wide view filter, a picture stabilization mode, Fujifilm’s i-Flash system, an updated graphical user interface (GUI), 14 scene modes, and a 300 shot battery life.
The FinePix F40fd ships in March for a suggested retail price of $299.
The company will also make two introductions in its entry-level A-series in March with the 6-megapixel FinePix A610 and the 8-megapixel A800. Both models incorporate dual memory card support, 3x optical zoom lenses, 2.5-inch LCD screens, and Fujifilm’s new GUI.
The FinePix A800, for a suggested $179, is the first A-series model to use Fujifilm’s 8-megapixel Super CCD sensor. It is also the first entry model to sport a mode dial. It can achieve light sensitivities to ISO 800 at full resolution and offers 17 scene modes.
The A610 features 14 scene modes and will retail for a suggested $129.
Finally, Fujifilm will follow-up its first infrared camera (the S3 Pro UVIR) with the lower-cost IS-1.
The 9-megapixel model, geared toward forensics and medical users, can capture images in both the visible and infrared light spectrums.
The model offers a live preview mode, articulating LCD, 10.7x optical zoom lens (28-300mm, 35mm equiv.), picture stabilization mode, and ISO sensitivities to 1600 when shooting visible light images.
The IS-1 ships to select dealers in February for a suggested $899.
