Fujifilm 2012 budget ultra-zoom models: FinePix S4200, S4500 and SL300
Fujifilm has unveiled three more affordable full-sized ultra-zoom cameras to complement the two flagship EXR models mentioned above. These three cameras sport traditional CCD sensors, more basic operation (ie fewer buttons and advanced controls) though you still do get manual exposure controls and lower price tags.
- 14 megapixel traditional CCD image sensor
- S4200: 24 – 576 mm (f3.1 – f5.9) 24X optical zoom lens
S4500 and SL300: 24 – 720 mm (f3.1 – f5.9) 30X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels) and EVF
SL300: 3 inch LCD with 460,000 pixels
- Full manual controls with restricted aperture control
Automatic shooting, scene modes and auto scene detection available
SL300: External flash hotshoe and lens barrel zoom ring
- Motion Panorama for automatic panorama creation
- 720p standard HD (1280 x 720) movie mode with sound and zoom
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses 4 AA batteries
- Available in February for $230 (S4200), $260 (S4500) and $300 (SL300)
Fujifilm 2012 F-series: FinePix F660EXR, F700EXR and F770EXR
Fujifilm’s F-series camera line had a humble beginning many years ago with the point-and-shoot FinePix F10 (Anyone remember this camera? It’s like a classic/milestone in Fujifilm’s digital camera history). And to the delight of many, the F-series have transformed to include bigger zoom lenses and manual controls, making them great ‘travel’ cameras thanks to their versatility.
This year, they’ve got three new F-series cameras: the FinePix F660 EXR, F750EXR and F770EXR.
- 16 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor
- FinePix F660EXR: 24 – 360 mm (f3.5 – f5.3) 15X optical zoom lens
FinePix F700EXR and F770EXR: 25 – 500 mm (f3.5 – f5.3) 20X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (460,000 pixels)
- Full manual controls with restricted aperture control
F770EXR only: RAW image mode
- EXR sensor modes: High resolution, high sensitivity or high dynamic range
Premium EXR Auto picks an EXR mode along with a scene mode for you
- High-speed continuous shooting at 11 frames per second (full resolution)
- Motion Panorama automatically captures a panoramic image (360 degrees) as you pan the camera
- F770 EXR ONLY: Built-in GPS with landmark database and navigation to back where a photo was taken
- 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) 30 FPS movie mode with stereo sound and optical zoom
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $280 for F660EXR, $350 for F700EXR and $380 for F770EXR
- F660EXR: Black only
F700EXR: Comes in choice of white, black or red
F770EXR: Comes in either black or red
Fujifilm rugged camera lineup 2012: FinePix XP50, XP100 and XP150
In their epic 2012 FinePix lineup launch (which totals close to 20 new cameras), Fujifilm has brought out three new rugged cameras. These new compact models sport waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof bodies while sporting a decent amount of optical zoom and point-and-click features. The FinePix XP50 contains the core features of a rugged digital camera while the XP100 and XP150 add on with more toughness (deeper waterproof rating and ability to withstand higher drops), with the XP150 topping everything off with a built-in GPS and compass.
- 14 megapixel CMOS image sensor
- 28 – 140 mm (f3.9 – f4.9) 5X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
- Waterproof (5 feet/1.5 meters), shockproof (5 feet/1.5 meters), freezeproof (14 F/-10 C) and dustproof
XP100 and XP150 are waterproof to 33 feet (10 meters) and shockproof to 6.6 feet (2 meters)
- Automatic shooting with auto scene selection; no manual controls
- Continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second
- Motion Panorama 360 for automatic panorama stitching while you pan the camera
- In-camera HDR mode
- XP150 ONLY: Built-in compass and GPS with landmark database and navigation to back where a photo was taken
- 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) 30 FPS movie mode with sound and zoom
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $200 for XP50, $250 for XP100 and $280 for XP150
- XP50 and XP100 come in your choice of silver, black, blue, orange or green
XP150 comes in either black or orange
Fujifilm FinePix T400
Fujifilm announced a pair of affordable compact super-zoom cameras today. The FinePix T350 and T400 sport identical 10X zoom lenses, which is on par with what pricier compact super-zoom models of yesteryear had, and conventional CCD image sensors.
- T350: 14 megapixel CCD sensor
T400: 16 megapixel CCD sensor
- 28 – 280 mm (f3.4 – f5.6) 10X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
- Automatic shooting with auto scene detection; no manual controls
- Motion Panorama lets you automatically create a panorama
- 720p standard HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $160 for T350 and $180 for T400
- Comes in your choice of black, red or blue
Fujifilm FinePix JZ250, one of Fujifilm's five new affordable cameras for 2012
Fujifilm announced a whopping eighteen new cameras today, and to kick things off, there’s five affordably priced pocket cameras with sub-$150 price tags. These cameras are extremely similar in terms of feature set: point and shoot operation (no manual controls), ‘traditional’ CCD image sensor (means no high-speed burst or slow motion movie modes here), basic 720p HD video with mono sound and simple operation in mind, allowing you to ‘step up’ to the next model for not much more cash.
All of the five cameras below use Fujifilm lithium-ion batteries and take SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards, and will become available towards February (JX500 and JX550) and March (AX550, JZ100 and JZ250)
- Fujifilm Finepix AX550: $90, 16 megapixels, 5X optical zoom, 2.7 inch LCD
- Fujifilm FinePix JX500: $100, 14 megapixels, 5X optical zoom
- Fujifilm FinePix JX550: $120, 16 megapixels, 5X optical zoom, 3 inch LCD
- Fujifilm FinePix JZ100: $130, 14 megapixels, 8X optical zoom with optical image stabilizer, 2.7 inch LCD
- Fujifilm FinePix JZ250: $150, same as JZ100 above but with 16 megapixels
Samsung DualView DV300F
Samsung has just made themselves the first camera maker of 2012 to release a new digital camera with the announcement of their new DualView DV300F camera. The camera sports dual LCD displays (the front one for self-portraits) and has built-in WiFi functionality.
- 16 megapixel CCD imaging sensor
- 5X optical zoom lens (25-125 mm, f2.5-f6.3)
- Optical image stabilizer
- Dual LCD displays: rear 3 inch (460,000 pixel) LCD, front 1.5 inch LCD
- Built-in WiFi for uploading photos to photo sharing sites, cloud storage services and to your computer
WiFi also enables remote shooting with live preview using Android smartphones
- Automatic and scene modes
- 720p movie mode
- Takes microSD/microSDHC cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Pricing and availability to be announced
- Comes in your choice of silver, black, red or blue
How about another stylish camera? Check out my review of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 310 HS, a new pocket camera from Canon that packs a big 8X optical zoom lens. Head on to the Canon ELPH 310 HS/IXUS 230 HS photo gallery to view our usual large gallery of sample photos.
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We’re close to yet another new year and while the focus of most folks right now is enjoying the warmth in the homes and the joy of shopping for the holiday season, it’s never too late to start planning ahead for what’s coming next year. The industry is getting more competitive as cameras become more affordable and individuals offering their photography services are popping out everywhere. Granted that the biggest selling points or appeal would be skill and experience of a photographer, but part of the road to success also involves getting your name out there. After all, nobody is going to hire you, no matter how good you are, if they haven’t heard of you or seen your works. This is when having your name and portfolio printed on photographer business cards will come in handy the next time you mingle with others at that fashion event, or chat up friends of family at the next wedding you attend. This makes your networking with others more worthwhile and memorable. As a photographer myself, I would agree when most successful folks stress the importance of business cards in establishing reputation and connecting with potential clients. That said, hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday season and year end, with at least some productivity in work before we flip the calendar page over to January 2012.
