Kyocera's New Finecam SL300R Digital Camera

The World's Thinnest 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera Offers The Shortest Lag Time and Unlimited Continuous Shooting at 3.5 Frames Per Second

Ultra Thin 3.2 Megapixel Camera Features Stylish Swivel Body

Somerset, NJ - Kyocera Optics, Inc., an imaging industry leader, announces the new Kyocera Finecam SL300R, the World's Thinnest 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera. (*1) While sleek in size at approx. 15mm thin, Kyocera’s cool new digital features a unique swivel lens for obtaining images from virtually any vantage point.

In addition to being the World's Thinnest, the 3.2 Megapixel Finecam SL300R 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. Utilizing Kyocera’s new RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology, the SL300R offers the World's fastest Continuous Capture Mode. In combination with virtually non-existent lag time of 0.07 second (*2), it can capture images at an incredible unlimited 3.5 frames per second! (*3) For instance, you can fill a 256MB SD memory card with continuous images at 3.5 fps, then go back, review the shots and pick the ones you want to keep. And this is at 3.2 Megapixel resolution of 2048 x 1536. This dynamic feature removes the restrictions imposed by other competitive digital products. The Finecam SL300R 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 accomplishes this by eliminating the barriers that limited the transfer of digital data to the memory card. The pipeline operation removes the bottlenecks for non-stop captures at a speed that is 10-12 times faster than the competition.

The real world benefit is that you will be able to take images with the Finecam SL300R that were missed before due to digital lag time. Imagine being able to capture the very moment your daughter blows out the candle on her 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 Finecam SL300R.

“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 swivel lens/flash body of the Finecam SL300R revolves, enabling easy framing of any scene from high overhead to low angle shots. The rotating lens provides easy movement for perfect framing in every scene such as self-portrait, low and high angle shots and macro mode. Its diminutive size (3.9" wide x 2.5" high x .6" thin) and sleek body with brushed aluminum panels are sure to make a fashion statement. The Finecam SL300R also offers a vast array of very flexible functions such as seven scene modes to suit any type of shooting conditions, voice memo feature that makes it possible to record a voice message with an image, and movie mode with sound that can be recorded in VGA at 30 frames/sec. until the memory card is full.

The new Rapid Tuning Technology high-speed imaging processor provides the world's fastest full-memory consecutive shooting of any digital camera. (*3) The Rapid Tuning Technology provides the combined features of full-memory successive shooting at approximately 3.5 frames/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.

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 shadow areas are not sufficient, the result is poor image quality.

The RTUNE image processor in the Finecam SL300R 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 RTUNE, 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 shades and shadows of color.

High-Resolution 3X Optical Zoom

The high-resolution, 3x optical zoom lens provides a maximum of 6x when used with the newly developed 2x digital zoom. In addition, up to 8x digital zoom can be used when playing back images. The Finecam SL300R incorporates high-resolution optics, which provide a projected resolution of at least 200 lines/mm at the image center at focal lengths of 5.8mm (wide-angle) to 17.4mm (telephoto). These focal lengths correspond to approximately 38mm to 115mm for 35mm format cameras. The lens combines ultra compact size and high performance through the technologies developed by Kyocera’s optical division. The Finecam SL300R offers continuous AF that allows the user to seize the moment.

Special scene modes provide the perfect solution for any shooting situation. The camera incorporates seven scene modes to make the most of challenging photographic setting according to the situation, based on six predefined settings. The seven modes include Standard, Sport Action, Night View, Night View Portrait, Portrait, Macro and Landscape. Each of the settings can be easily selected by using the scene button located on the back of the camera body.

The Finecam SL300R 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, 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 SL300R is connected to a television, the viewer can watch a movie at 30fps/VGA full screen.

The customized start-up screen allows the SL300R user to select a favorite image as the start-up screen. The image appears whenever the Finecam SL300R is turned on for a personalized experience.

It is easy to resize captured images with the Finecam SL300R 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 Finecam SL300R’s 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 SL300R incorporates a 1.5” “DayFine” LCD Monitor that is easy to see in the brightest of 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 Kyocera SL300R 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 Finecam SL300R is easy for anyone to use.

The Finecam SL300R 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.

To fit every situation, five flash modes are available (Auto flash, Red-eye reduction auto flash, Fill-in flash, flash off), three color modes (Color, sepia, B/W), six white balance modes (Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Preset), five sharpness settings (+3, +2, +1, standard, -1), two chroma settings (standard, +, -) and exposure compensation (+2.0EV ~ -2.0EV) is also available.

The Finecam SL300R 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 Finecam SL300R is shipped with the highly rated Adobe Photoshop Album software.

The street price of the Finecam SL300R is $399.00 and the camera will be shipping in October.