Technology News

Fujifilm recently launched their latest super zoom camera with a 10 megapixel sensor, 12X optical zoom with dual image stabilization, ISO levels up to 6400, Tracking Auto Focus, Instant Zoom, Panorama shooting mode etc.

Below is the press release:

Fujifilm today announced the introduction of the FinePix S1500, a compact, extremely lightweight digital camera, packing an impressive 12x optical zoom lens and Dual Image Stabilisation.

Perfect for advanced amateur photographers the 10 Megapixel FinePix S1500 features a versatile Fujinon 12x optical zoom (33mm-396mm equivalent), Face Detection technology with automatic red-eye removal,  Dual Image Stabilisation (combining CCD-shift with high ISO), ISO levels of up to ISO 6400 (at 3MP), and a brand new Tracking Auto Focus function. This, along with features such as Panorama Shooting Mode and Instant zoom, make the FinePix S1500 a camera that will suit every member of the family.

Dual Image Stabilisation
In addition to offering incredible zoom range, the FinePix S1500 features combined CCD-shift and image stabilisation to avoid the effects of camera shake at longer shutter speeds. Dual Image Stabilisation facilitates long distance and fast action shots by ensuring that blur is minimised and photographic quality is always guaranteed.

Lock on to the Action
The FinePix S1500’s new Tracking Auto Focus function means that users can track a moving subject whilst ensuring focus is maintained, even when using the full eye-watering 12x zoom. This feature is ideal for kids who are always on the go, dogs bounding through fields, or Dads wanting to capture the perfect sports action shot. Simply focus, press the shutter half way and the camera will lock on to the subject, ready for you to take the perfect shot.

Family Friendly Features
As well as Tracking AF, the FinePix S1500 includes numerous other features which will make it a hit with the all-action family. The Instant Zoom feature helps to capture moving subjects at high zoom settings, and works alongside Face Detection when shooting pictures of people.

Panorama Shooting Mode, first featured on the extremely popular FinePix S1000fd, this enables users to create impressive panoramic pictures by seamlessly stitching together three separate photos.  

Continuous Shooting is great when capturing sports and action shots. The camera can fire an impressive 7.5 frames per second up to 15 frames (at 2MP) or 3.3 frames per second up to 6 frames (at 5MP).
Once images have been recorded, they can be easily viewed via High Speed

Playback or Micro Thumbnail View. High Speed Playback displays 10 frames per second making it quick and easy to find your favourite image. Alternatively, users can use Micro Thumbnail View which shows up to 100 thumbnails on the back of the large 2.7" LCD screen.
Plus, to make taking great images as easy as possible, the FinePix S1500 has

Scene Recognition AUTO, which cleverly detects a scene without any need to pre-select the mode on the camera. Having identified the most commonly photographed subjects, Fujifilm has developed technology to automatically identify and recognise different scenes – Portrait, Backlight Portrait, Night Portrait, Landscape, Night and Macro. Once the scene in the frame has been detected, the camera will optimise the settings to capture the most stunning photo of your chosen subject.  Portrait Mode works in conjunction with Face Detection technology to get the best possible portraits, instantly removing red-eye.

Close-up and personal
The compact and lightweight body is small and portable, making it perfect for holidays, family days out, or for snapping around the house. Inside the tiny shell is a massive 12x zoom, ideal for a wide range of subjects.
The FinePix S1500 features an internal memory of 52MB, which also helps as a great storage option. With a low-power consumption (operating on four AA type alkaline batteries) the FinePix S1500 is the perfect camera for the energy-conscious consumer.

Features at a glance:
• 10 Megapixels
• 12x zoom lens
• Dual Image Stabilisation
• 2.7" LCD
• Tracking Auto Focus
• Instant zoom
• Panorama Shooting Mode
• Full Photographic Control
• SR Auto
• ISO to 6400 (at 3MP) sensitivity
• 16 scene modes
• Face Detection Technology with automatic red-eye removal
• 300 shot battery life (with AA Batteries) and up to 700 shot battery life with AA Lithium Batteries

Specifications

Model: FinePix S1500

Number of effective pixels*1: 10.0 million pixels

CCD sensor: 1/2.3-inch CCD

Storage media: Internal memory (Approx. 23MB),  SD memory card  SDHC, memory card*2

File format: Still image: JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2*3), Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG) with sound, WAVE format, Monaural sound, (Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible)

Number of recorded pixels:
Still image: 3,648 x 2,736 (10M) / 3,648 x 2,432 (3:2 format) / 2,592 x 1,944 / 2,048 x 1,536 / 1,600 x 1,200 / 640 x 480 pixels
Movie: 640 x 480 pixels (30 frames/sec.), 320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.) with monaural sound

Lens: Fujinon 12x optical zoom lens, F2.8 (Wide) - F5.0 (Telephoto)

Lens focal length: f=5.9 - 70.8mm, equivalent to 33 - 396mm on a 35mm camera

Digital zoom: Approx. 5.7x

Aperture: Wide: F2.8 - F6.4, Telephoto: F5.0 - F8.0, max 5 steps in 1/3 EV increment

Focus distance (from lens surface):

Normal:

• Wide: Approx. 40cm / 1.3ft. to infinity
• Telephoto: Approx. 1.5m / 4.9ft. to infinity

Macro:

• Wide: Approx. 5cm - 3m / 2.0in. - 9.8ft.
• Telephoto: Approx. 80cm - 3m / 2.6ft. - 9.8ft.

Super Macro:

• Approx. 2cm - 1m / 0.8in. - 3.3ft.

Sensitivity:

Auto / Auto(800) / Auto(400) / Equivalent to ISO 64 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 (Standard Output Sensitivity)

* ISO 3200/6400: 3M pixels or lower (Number of recorded pixels)

Exposure control: TTL 256-zones metering

Exposure mode: Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual

Shooting modes: Mode dial: Auto, SR Auto, SP, P, S, A, M, C, Panorama, Movie
SP:Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Night (Tripod), Natural Light, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower, Text

Image Stabilization: CCD-shift type

Shutter speed: (Auto mode) 1/4sec. to 1/2000sec., (All other modes) 8sec. to 1/2000sec.

Continuous shooting: Top-3 (max. 1.4 frames/sec.)

• Last-3 (max. 1.4 frames/sec.)
• Long-period (max. 1.4 frames/sec.)
• Top-6, High speed (max. 3.3 frames/sec., 5M pixels or lower)
• Top-15, Ultra high speed (max. 7.5 frames/sec., 2M pixels or lower)

Focus: Auto focus (Area, Multi, Center, Tracking) / Continuous AF

AF assist illuminator available

White balance: Automatic scene recognition

Preset: (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm white), Fluorescent light (Cool white), Incandescent light), Custom

Self-timer: Approx. 10 sec./2 sec.delay

Flash :Auto flash

Effective range (ISO AUTO):

Normal:

• Wide: Approx. 40cm - 8.7m / 1.3ft. - 28.5ft.
• Telephoto: Approx. 1.5m - 4.8m / 4.9ft. - 15.7ft.

Macro:

• Wide: Approx. 30cm - 3.0m / 1.0ft. - 9.8ft.
• Telephoto: Approx. 80cm - 3.0m / 2.6ft. - 9.8ft.

Flash modes

• Red-eye removal OFF: Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro.
• Red-eye removal ON: Red-eye Reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction & Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro.

Electronic viewfinder: 0.2-inch, Approx. 200,000 dots, FLCD monitor (R/G/B colors are displayed in a single dot), Approx. 97% coverage

LCD monitor: 2.7-inch, Approx. 230,000 dots, TFT color LCD monitor, Approx. 97% coverage

Movie recording: 640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames/sec.

• 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec.

With monaural sound

* Optical or digital zoom function is selectable during movie recording.

Photography functions: SR Auto (Scene Recognition Auto), Instant Zoom, Panorama shooting mode, Face Detection (with Auto red-eye removal), High speed shooting, Framing guideline, Post shot assist windows, Frame No. memory, Histograms, Silent mode

Playback functions: Slideshow, Face Detection (with Red-eye removal), Trimming, Single frame and Multi-frame playback (with Micro thumbnail), Sorting by date, Image rotate, Voice Memo, Histograms (Highlight warning)

Video output: NTSC / PAL selectable

Digital input/output: USB 2.0 High speed

Power supply*4: 4x AA type alkaline batteries (included), Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (sold separately) or Lithium batteries (sold separately)

DC Coupler CP-04 with AC power adapter AC-5VX(sold separately)

Dimensions: 102.5(W) x 73.0(H) x 67.8(D)mm / 4.1(W) x 2.9(H) x 2.7(D)in. (excluding accessories and attachments)

Weight: Approx. 324g/11.4oz. (excluding accessories, batteries and memory card)

• *1 Number of effective pixels: The number of pixels on the image sensor which receive input light through the optical lens, and which are effectively reflected in the final output data of the still image.
• *2 Please see the Fujifilm website to check memory card compatibility.
• *3 Exif 2.2 is a digital camera file format that contains a variety of shooting information for optimal printing.
• *4 Manganese dry, nickel-cadmium and lithium cannot be used with this product. 2,950, 12,400, 39min, 71min

Fujifilm.