Fujifilm FinePix F300EXR: A Fast-Focusing, 15x Zoom Point-and-Shoot Camera, and Four Others [DigitalCameras]

Fujifilm\’s rolling out five new FinePix cameras, among them the 12MP, 15x zooming F300EXR point-and-shoot, and the similar Z800EXR which trades that long zoom for a little screen. Both have a new sensor that offers \’em super fast hybrid autofocus.

In addition to its Fujinon Super Wide-Angle lens (24-360mm equivalent), the F300EXR has a new 12MP EXR Super CCD sensor (it all sounds very super) that soups it up with a hybrid autofocus system, allowing it to deciding between both Phase Detection AF and Contrast AF to keep things crisp.

A 3-inch, 460K display will make things look nice on the backside, and there\’s also a Mini-HDMI port for sharing your shots and 720p, 24 fps video. If the concept of that looooong zoom already has your hands a piece shaky, a new gyroscopic sensor will reduce blur.

There\’s also a new Motion Panorama mode for fun 360 degree shots, besides a face recognition mode which might be programmed to recognize up to 8 faces. That\’s about where my circle of friends tops out, so, great! The F300EXR can be available in August for $330. Full press release down below.

The Z800EXR is the F300\’s little brother-smaller, slimmer form factor; only 5x zoom; lower top ISO of 3200-however it too gets the benefit of the recent CCD sensor and its attendant hybrid autofocus. What it does have that the F300 doesn’t, however, is a 3.5\” touch screen that you may tap to establish focus.
The Z800EXR-full details here-can also be out in August in black, red, gold, or pink but for under $230.

The S2800HD, a petite 18x (28-504mm equivalent) zoomer that shoots 720p HD and has mini-HDMI for sharing, has a 14MP CCD, smile/blink detection, and tracking autofocus. It\’ll be available in August for $260. Press release here.

Rounding out the squad are the 14MP Z80 (left; no plans for US release) and 14MP JX280 (right; $150). The JX280 has 5x optical zoom, 2.7\” LCD, and shoots 720p video. [Fujifilm USA]

FUJIFILM LAUNCHES POWERHOUSE 15X LONG-ZOOM POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA: THE FINEPIX F300EXR

Powerful New Addition to Fujifilm\’s Award-Winning F-Series Offers Advanced Capabilities with New Features in a Compact, Stylish Package

Valhalla, N.Y., July 21, 2010 – FUJIFILM North America Corporation today announced the FinePix F300EXR, a graceful, compact camera that combines intuitive use with essentially the mostsome of the most advanced features, including an astounding 15x Fujinon Super Wide-Angle lens (24mm – 360mm equivalent) and Fujifilm\’s next generation EXR technology with Hybrid High Speed Auto Focus, available in some degree-and-shoot camera.

Encased in a beautifully sculpted black metal shell with a double coated lacquer finish and measuring only 23 mm thick¹, the FinePix F300EXR offers a 12-MegaPixel EXR Super CCD, a massive, 3.0\” High-Contrast 460K LCD, Intelligent Image Stabilization and HD movie capture at 720p.

\” The principle concerns consumers have are speed of capture, blurry photos and image quality. With the FinePix F300EXR, you won\’t miss the action or sacrifice image quality as it has Fujifilm\’s EXR technology with Hybrid High Speed Auto Focus. It also has Intelligent Image Stabilization for users to gain outstanding leads to virtually any lighting condition without blurring,\” said David Troy, director of selling, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation, \” Combine those features with a Fujinon 15x long-zoom lens and a new high contrast LCD in a chassis only 23mm thick and it helps make great pictures that folks will love.\”

Sharp, Clear 15x Zoom Lens
The FinePix F300EXR includes a Fujinon 15x Super Wide-Angle optical zoom lens that produces crisp high resolution results in the course of the focal range, from 24mm wide-angle to 360mm telephoto. The lens of the FinePix F300EXR also features Super EBC Coating that keeps ghosting and flare to minimum, bearing in mind optimal picture quality.

EXR Sensor Technology, with Hybrid High Speed AF
The subsequent generation EXR sensor within the FinePix F300EXR incorporates Phase Detection pixels built-in to the CCD to appreciate Hybrid High Speed Auto Focus. It has the flexibility to intelligently decide between the two focusing systems on the camera. As an example, when a bright, high-contrast subject is positioned inside the center of the frame, Phase Detection AF works fast and accurately; and in dark scenes, Contrast AF is employed to work accurately.

The F300EXR uses both Phase Detection AF and Contrast AF to present fast auto focus speeds in all scenes. To attain an amazing auto focus speed of 0.158 seconds², Fujifilm engineers placed pairs of phase detection pixels on the EXR sensor, which work like external sensors on DSLRs. The F300EXR automatically selects the easier focus system (Contrast or Phase Detection), by measuring the volume of light or contrast within the scene. The ease for the photographer is immediate and obvious – a nearly instantaneous capture of the subject inside the frame, with out missed shots or subjects half out-of-frame.

Intelligent Image Stabilization
Long-zoom cameras need stabilization more than any other compact, with handshake and subject movement a selected problem in low light at telephoto range and in movie mode. With a newly enhanced gyro sensor, the hot image stabilization system promises further improved image quality with reduced blurring and noise in still pictures and even when shooting movies at the total 15x optical zoom or in very low-light. The hot sensor is in a position to beat handshake and might catch up on both sharp and wide hand movements, therefore increasing ISO to freeze action isn’t any longer so necessary, meaning beautifully sharp low-light pictures may be achieved at 400 ISO, rather then 800 or 1600 ISO at night scenery. The FinePix F300EXR also works to minimize blur to a minimum by deploying high ISO sensitivity to automatically increase shutter speeds, and CCD Sensor Shift Stabilization to counteract the problems of handshake. By cleverly combining these two, blur is reduced to an absolute minimum.

3.0\” High-Contrast LCD
The FinePix F300EXR is fitted with a high contrast 460K-pixel 3.0\” LCD. The high contrast LCD is a considerable benefit in bright light, and signifies that the camera might be directed at various shooting angles to enable framing of awkward shots. The LCD is bright and clear for beautiful rendition of shots in playback.

HD Movie Capture
Having the ability to capture movies in HD quality – 720p – the F300EXR also has a Mini HDMI Port, making it quick and straightforward for users to achieve the whole benefits of their home theater system and to share all their special moments.

Motion Panorama 360 for the appropriate All-Round Shot
New to the EXR sensor, the F300EXR extends the sweep range to 360˚ (shots may also be taken vertically). Combined with fantastic Fujifilm printing, astounding scenes will be taken, showing fine detail, low noise and high resolution at 180, 240˚ or a whole 360˚ range.

Improved Pro Focus Mode
Introduced on the F70EXR, Pro Focus Mode has proved extremely popular with photographers. Through complex digital imaging technology, several images are combined to create a crisp shot of the subject against a defocused background and foreground. Ideal for portraits, nature photography or any subject that needs \’lifting\’ from its background, the FinePix F300EXR Pro Focus Mode provides satisfying professional results at the touch of a button. Results are even more simple to realize as Pro Focus Mode has been now been combined with Face Detection and Face Recognition.

Face Recognition
With Face Recognition, users can register up to eight (8) faces, at the side of names, birthdays and categories, and the F300EXR will prioritize focus and exposure right on the faces of those special people. Users also can use Image Search to view images of a registered person. Compared to models from other manufacturers, Fujifilm\’s Face Recognition has faster recognition speed, greater number of names displayed, and the power to recall essentially the mostsome of the most often shot subject.

Tracking Auto Focus
The F300EXR also has Tracking Auto Focus, which allows users to track a moving subject automatically for still picture capture.

The FinePix F300EXR also offers these additional features:

• Super Intelligent Flash: The FinePix F300EXR offers a flash control system which efficiently controls the level of flash for a given exposure to supply beautifully balanced flash illumination across the foreground and background. Gone are the ugly washout shots where the subject is blasted with light and the background dark and unexposed. Super Intelligent Flash is greatest in macro photography where the contrast between subject and background will be especially challenging, but can also be effective for night and backlit photography.

• EXR AUTO Technology: Prized for bringing a new level of image quality to the patron compact market, Fujifilm\’s EXR technology has the unique ability to modify its behavior counting on the shooting conditions by automatically switching sensor modes. The FinePix F300EXR could be left on EXR Auto Mode and the camera will do the complete exertions for you, or alternatively, you’ll be able to manually select one of three EXR Priority modes for prime resolution (HR), dynamic range (DR) or high sensitivity and coffee noise (SN).

• Face Detection and Automatic Red-eye Removal: To produce perfectly exposed and focused portrait shots, the FinePix F300EXR is fitted with Fujifilm\’s latest Face Detection technology which will track up to 10 faces simultaneously, at almost any angle to the camera. The system instantly corrects red-eye and then saves both the original and the corrected image file automatically.

• Photobook Assist: Photobook Assist means that you can select and organize images on your camera to create a digital photobook. You’re able to download the photobooks for your computer using MyFinePix Studio software that’s included.

The FinePix F300EXR will probably be available in late August 2010 at a retail price of $329.95.

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This post is tagged: camera, F300EXR:, Fast-Focusing, finepix, fujifilm, others, point and shoot, zoom, [DigitalCameras]