Kyocera's New Finecam S5R Digital Camera

The World's Fastest Digital Continuous Capture Rate Ensures The Shortest Lag Time and Unlimited Continuous Shooting at 3 Frames Per Second

Pocket-sized 5 Megapixel Camera Features "DayFine" LCD Monitor

Somerset, NJ - Kyocera Optics, Inc., an imaging industry leader, offers a solution for digital camera fans who have been frustrated by "missing the moment" due to the combination of the shutter speed lag time and slow "click to click" speed. The company’s new 5 Megapixel Finecam S5R with RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology offers the World's fastest Continuous Capture Mode. In combination with a virtually non-existent lag time of 0.07 seconds (*1), it can capture images at an incredible unlimited 3 frames per second. (*2) This dynamic new feature removes the restrictions imposed by other competitive digital products. The Finecam SR5 is only limited by the size of the SD memory card in terms of how many images can be consecutively captured.

Kyocera's Rapid Tuning Technology did this by eliminating the barriers that limited the transfer of digital data to the card. The pipeline operation removes the bottlenecks for non-stop captures at 10-12 times faster than the competition.

The real world benefit is that you will be able to take images with the Kyocera Finecam S5R that were missed before. Imagine being able to capture the very moment the flame is extinguished on your daughter's first birthday cake or your son sliding into home plate with the winning run! Any action sequence can be captured, printed and shared with the new Kyocera Finecam S5R featuring Rapid Tuning Technology.

“Kyocera is bringing revolutionary new image processing technology to the market that solves many of the problems that irritate digital camera users," explained Ben La Marca, President of Kyocera Optics, Inc. “RTUNE, or Rapid Tuning Technology, which is at the heart of our new digital cameras, has never been available in a Prosumer/Consumer digital product before. Great pictures can't wait, and Kyocera is providing a solution through RTUNE on our two newest digital cameras as well as future models."

The new Rapid Tuning Technology high-speed imaging processor provides the world's fastest full-memory consecutive shooting of any digital camera. (*1) Incorporated into the Finecam S5R, Rapid Tuning Technology provides the combined features of full-memory successive shooting at approximately 3 frames per second and improved image quality and dynamic range. In addition, the "DayFine" LCD Monitor displays the subject in real time during consecutive shooting. Rapid Tuning Technology is the perfect solution for subjects on the move such as pets, children and sporting events.

The Finecam S5R packs all its innovation in a small and light body (3.6" wide x 2.3" high x 1.3" deep) that weighs approximately 6.3 ounces and sports high-quality stainless steel covers. Additional functions include six shooting modes and a movie mode with VGA sound that is available at the maximum capacity of your memory-card. Kyocera’s “Day-Fine” LCD Monitor ensures brilliant screen representation even in bright lighting conditions.

The Kyocera S5R is also loaded with a full range of features such as a maximum 11x zoom (consisting of a 3x optical zoom lens and 3.7x digital zoom) with continuous AF for precise tracking of moving subjects. The six scene modes enable the user to adjust the Finecam S5R for any situation. The modes include Standard for general photography, Sports Action perfect for capturing fast moving subjects, Night View for night scenes, Night Portrait fires the flash for illumination while capturing the back ground, Macro and Landscape.

With conventional digital cameras, the level of each RGB color in captured images is controlled by adjusting the white balance after converting the analog image information from the CCD to the digital signal processor. However, this method requires compensating an uneven signal level for each RGB color at the analog stage with the digital signal processor, so if the signal levels in the shadow areas are not sufficient, the result is poor image quality.

The Rapid Tuning Technology image processor incorporated into the Finecam S5R adjusts the output level for each RGB color at the analog signal stage before it is converted into a digital signal. Then the image processor converts it into a digital signal to provide fine detail that faithfully reproduces the original image.

Thanks to Rapid Tuning Technology, color noise is reduced in 16-bit A/D calculations. The A/D conversion of analog image information into digital signals is performed with accuracy of 16 bits internally, and outputted as 12 bits. Since detailed resolution reduces color noise, which tends to occur in a single color or in a dark area of an image, it faithfully reproduces subtle darkness and lightness as well as shade and shadows of color.

The high-resolution, 3x optical zoom lens provides a maximum of 11x when used with the newly developed 3.7x digital zoom. In addition, up to 8x digital zoom can be used when playing back images. The Finecam S5R incorporates high-resolution optics, which provide a projected resolution of at least 200 lines/mm at the image center at focal lengths of 7.3 mm (wide-angle) to 21.9mm (telephoto). These focal lengths correspond to approximately 35mm to 105mm for 35mm format cameras. The lens combines a compact size and high performance through the technologies developed by Kyocera’s optical division. By using special low-dispersion glass, four aspheric lenses and continuous AF, the camera provides the highest-quality images.

The Finecam’s S5R’s macro mode enables close-ups down to 12cm. Setting the camera to macro in scene mode allows the photographer to photograph a subject from a minimum of 12cm from the front of the lens. This is possible in both the telephoto and wide-angle lens settings. In the telephoto mode, the user can fill the image area with a subject measuring just 3.4cm x 4.5cm, allowing them to enjoy macro photography beyond typical magnifications.

The Finecam S5R enables the user to easily shoot movies with audio at 30 frames/second up to the maximum capacity of the memory card. The recorded file is in AVI format and can be played back easily on the “DayFine” LCD monitor, a television or a personal computer. (To play back movies on a personal computer, it is necessary to install QuickTime 4.1 or later). When the Finecam S5R is connected to a television, the viewer can watch a movie at 30fps/VGA full screen.

The customized start-up screen allows the Finecam S5R user to select a favorite image as the start-up screen. The image appears whenever the camera is turned on for a personalized experience.

It is easy to resize captured images with the Finecam S5R down to 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 pixels after being captured. This is the ideal solution for emailing images to family, friends and co-workers. From the menu selection, you can select from three image resize options: whole, quarter and one-sixteenth area. The area to be resized can be selected via the selection button. This unique function in combination with a PDA incorporating an SD memory card slot, allows the user to easily create an image size suitable for display.

The Finecam S5R incorporates a 1.6” “DayFine” LCD Monitor which is easy to see in the brightest sunlight conditions. In addition to the conventional back light system, “DayFine” technology includes a special optical film and exclusive light transmission circuitry that harnesses the power of the sun by absorbing incoming light and then reflecting the light back through the LCD, adding to the brilliance and contrast of the display.

When it comes to navigating the menus, the Finecam S5R makes it easy from setup to capture to playback. To make it intuitive, the camera offers an easy to use control button that works on the principal of a joystick. Along with the logical screen selections and functions, the camera is easy for anyone to use.

The Finecam S5R is provided with a USB cable that is perfect for uploading images to a personal computer. The cable complies with the USB mass storage class of accessories and images can be read via the cable as a mass storage devise on a computer.

The Finecam S5R features Epson’s revolutionary new PRINT Image Matching (PIM) technology, enabling them to work perfectly with the newest generation of EPSON Stylus Photo printers. With PRINT Image Matching, critical image specific parameters for printing are recorded by the camera and saved in each image data file. PRINT Image Matching-enabled Epson Stylus Photo printers use this information to ensure that they accurately reproduce the image created by the camera.

The camera is shipped with the highly rated Adobe Photoshop Album software.

The street price for the Kyocera Finecam S5R is $549.00 and the camera is shipping now.