FujiFilm adds five new models to its digital camera line
FujiFilm has just announced five new, mostly point and shoot digital cameras with availability starting later this year the new models offer (almost) something for everyone but are probably lacking in low light conditions.
The first model is the A920 which features FujiFilm’s proprietary SuperCCD sensor in the 9 megapixel range with a 4x optical zoom and offers up a 2.7″ LCD display for framing shots. It features digital image stabilization which is inferior to the optical kind and supports xD, SD or SDHC memory cards. This model will hit US streets in September with a retail price right around $200.
Next up is the F480, an 8 megapixel model with a 4.0x wide optical zoom with the focal length starting at a generous 28mm and ending at an acceptable 112mm. It too features digital image stabilization (in my opinion this mode is useless) and is packaged with a rechargeable Li-ion battery pack. Also debuting in September with a street price of $180.
Now the model I’m sure we’ve all been waiting for. FujiFilm made a name for itself with the relatively large sensors in the F10/F20/F30/F31fd and F40fd models and is announcing the F50fd. The F50fd uses the same large sensor present in the F40fd model but boosts the resolution to 12 megapixels thus negating the advantage of a large sensor. It features Fuji’s “Face Detection 2.0″ technology which enables off-angle face recognition.
The F50fd features a seventh generation SuperCCD sensor, Real Processor II along with both digital and optical image stabilization. The F50fd will be available at the same time as all the other models with a price of $300.
Leading the superzoom territory will be the S8000fd with a whopping 18x optical zoom and 8 megapixel CCD sensor in a SLR-style body. This camera also features a wide angle 27mm to 486mm zoom lens and like the F50fd also features digital and optical image stabilization. It features face detection technology, is powered by 4xAA batteries and will retail for $400 which is encroaching on entry-level dSLR territory and I would certainly consider moving to a entry-level dSLR if your budget if $400 or $500.
Lastly and quite possibly least the Finepix Z10fd is the successor to the Z3 and Z5fd. It has the least resolution of the models here only offering a 7.2 megapixel sensor BUT this will in all likelihood reduce the occurrence of image noise and features a standard 3x optical zoom. Instead of including a memory card, the camera has 54MB of internal memory but you’ll certainly want to buy a high speed memory card for it. It has a 2.5″ LCD for composing shots and is compatible with xD, SD or SDHC memory cards, in fact, all of the new models are compatible with xD, SD and SDHC memory cards. The Z10fd will have a retail price of $200 with availability in September.
I’m glad that FujiFilm decided to get away from using only xD memory cards as they are slow, top out at 2GB and are more expensive than competing SD and SDHC memory. xD should have been left on the drafting table to begin with now if only Olympus could see the light as Fuji has.
The only models I’m really okay with here are the ones that feature optical image stabilization which is all but required on the 18x superzoom model. The others are just “so-so” and I wouldn’t trust that 12 megapixel sensor on the F50fd, the sensor is really too small for that resolution, perhaps a bump to 7.2 or 8 megapixels was in order but 12 is pushing things a bit too far.
As for the S8000fd… if that’s the model you’re looking at consider an entry-level dSLR and sure those won’t come with an 18x zoom lens but I guarantee the low light performance will be usable up to ISO 1600 for small prints with superior quality and overall the dSLRs will be more responsive and produce far superior overall images.
The current top entry-level dSLRs (in no particular order) are the Nikon D40, Pentax K100D and Pentax K110 (same as the K100 available for $70 to $80 less but lacks image stabilization). The D40 is priced at $530, the K100D at $469 ($415 after rebates) and the K110D is a steal at $397. Larger sensors with lower resolution beat the so-called “megapixel race” in my book any day. All these dSLRs feature 6 megapixel sensors and are packaged with 18mm to 54mm zoom lenses (27mm to 82mm in 35mm terms). That’s a compromise I’m willing to take for far superior performance and image quality provided you don’t need to do too much cropping or enlarging.
Related Posts:
