Valhalla, N.Y. – Among six second-half digital still cameras
introduced Wednesday by Fujifilm USA were a pair of advanced long-zoom models
from the company’s FinePix assortment.
The new flagship, which is due to arrive in August, is the
FinePix S200EXR, offering an advanced EXR 12-megapixel
CCD sensor and a 14.3x
zoom lens, with the ability to shoot VGA/30 fps video.
Joining it in the same time frame will be the FinePix F70EXR, offering
sleek, compact body styling and advanced features at an aggressive price point.
Fujifilm bills the FinePix
S200EXR “its most advanced” d-SLR-bridge camera to date. Shipping in August at
a $600 suggested retail, the S200EXR combines a Fujinon optical zoom lens (30.5mm-436mm
equivalent); Fujifilm’s latest 12-megapixel super CCD EXR sensor and a compact
body design that reduces the bulk and expense associated with the use a
traditional d-SLRs.
The long zoom range enables SLR-like shooting flexibility without
the hassle of an interchangeable lens system, Fujifilm said.
Images are said to be comparable to SLR quality, through the use
of the new EXR CCD sensor technology, which has been improved since its use in
the popular FinePix S100FS model.
The system offers three switchable modes in one sensor: a high-resolution
mode offering fine detail for full and even light; a wide dynamic range mode,
with two sets of 6 million pixels to enhance detail; and a
high-sensitivity/low-noise mode, which caps two adjacent pixels together to
produce 6 million large photodiodes that can absorb greater amounts of light in
dark settings for high quality, low-light images.
An EXR priority mode is said to quickly optimize settings to
allow the photographer to concentrate on capturing the perfect shot. The photographer
can decide in advance which sensor setting to prioritize by choosing
high-resolution (HR) priority to maximize resolution, high ISO and low-noise
priority (SN) for high-quality low-light work, or D-range priority (DR) for the
best detail with contrasting subjects.
The EXR auto mode offers six different modes depending on the
setting: portrait, night, macro, landscape, night portrait and backlit portrait.
The camera will automatically recognize the scene and not only optimize focus,
color balance, exposure, flash and sensitivity, but will also automatically
switch the sensor to HR, SN or DR mode depending on the lighting conditions of the
scene.
The camera includes five film simulation modes, including black-and-white
and sepia modes, a 2.7-inch high contrast 230,000-pixel LCD screen, a new super
intelligent flash, improved battery life that is almost 50 percent better than
the FinePix S100FS, and combined CCD-RAW (EXR)/JPEG shooting.
The super intelligent flash system is integrated in the auto mode
to control the flash output to avoid flash wash-out. The system will make
adjustments to capture both subjects and backgrounds over the full flash range.
“This camera benefits from the culmination of Fujifilm’s Super
CCD EXR technology and EXR Processor
development,” said David Troy, Fujifilm electronic imaging division consumer
digital camera marketing manager. “This powerful combination allows the FinePix
S200EXR, with its wide dynamic
range, to capture the subtleties in color, tone and detail to deliver perfect
shot conditions every time.”
The camera also employs a dual image-stabilization system using
both optical image stabilization and Fujifilm high ISO system to reduce blur
caused by subject movement (by automatically increasing ISO).
The FinePix S200EXR also allows photographers to use full manual
control with the ability to set shutter speeds of between 1/4,000 second and 30
seconds.
Also included are three bracketing functions: Film Simulation
bracketing, which automatically sets Film Simulation to Provia, Velvia and Astia
for simultaneous capture of three frames; Dynamic Range bracketing, which
automatically sets dynamic range to 100 percent, 200 percent and 400 percent
for simultaneous capture of three frames; and AE bracketing, which
automatically sets exposure range to even, under and over for simultaneous
capture of three frames.
The camera’s movie mode records video in 640-by-480 resolution at
30 fps. The optical zoom can be used during movie recording.
The FinePix F70EXR, which will carry a $280 suggested retail,
will offer many of the same advanced functions, and includes a sleek, compact design
and a 10x wide-angle optical zoom lens.
The Fujinon 10x optical zoom
lens features a focal range from 27mm to 270mm, and uses a Super EBC coating to
reduce ghosting and flare.
The camera’s dual picture
stabilization system automatically increases shutter speeds to freeze action,
and uses CCD image stabilization to counteract the problems of handshake.
The body features a sculpted metal shell, lacquer finish and
measures 22.7mm thick.
It also employs an EXR CCD sensor, offering unusually high-quality
exposure control and resolution for long-zoom digital cameras.
The EXR system uses Multi Frame Technology for d-SLR quality
images, including the use of wide aperture shooting to create mood and depth in a picture.
Also included in the F70EXR
are five different film modes to allow a variety of pre-set color and contrast
modes designed around Fujifilm’s most famous film emulsions.
Like the S200EX the F70EXR includes
a Super Intelligent Flash control system and 2.7-inch high contrast LCD view
screen.
Long zoom cameras need
stabilization more than any other compact, with handshake and subject movement
a particular problem in low light at telephoto range.
Other features include Face
Detection 2.0 with automatic red-eye removal. The technology will track up to
10 faces simultaneously, while the red-eye removal system will automatically
eliminate the red-eye effect from exposures.
