Steve's Digicams - Breaking News - Fujifilm 02/19/03 Press Releases

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. Announces First 6.2 Megapixel (S-Pixel: 3.1 Million, R-Pixel: 3.1 Million) Consumer Digital Camera With New Fourth-Generation Super CCD SR For Extended Dynamic Range

FinePix F700 offers 6.2 million effective pixels to capture images with quality approaching that of film

See some actual Fuji F700 Sample Pics

ELMSFORD, NY, February 19, 2003 – Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. today unveiled the first consumer 6.2 megapixel (S-pixel: 3.1 million, R-pixel: 3.1 million) digital camera, which carries its proprietary new Super CCD SR (Super Dynamic Range) technology. Capturing pictures with quality approaching that of film, with the capability to capture 2,832 x 2,128 (6.03 million) recorded pixels, and dramatically increased dynamic range, the new Fujifilm FinePix F700 represents a new frontier in digital photography. The Fujifilm FinePix F700 is the first 6.2 million effective pixel (S-pixel: 3.1 million, R-pixel: 3.1 million) consumer digital camera on the market today.

One of two new Fujifilm digital cameras announced today, the FinePix F700 is intended for photo enthusiasts who want a near-film quality print experience from digital imaging products. The FinePix F700 produces digital pictures that stay truer to life than ever before, thanks to its Super CCD SR technology, which doubles the number of pixels on the chip. The SR sensor offers 3.1 million large pixels (S) with high sensitivity to light, and 3.1 million smaller pixels (R) with low sensitivity to light, resulting in a dynamic range of four times that of previous Super CCDs. Fujifilm combines this new technology with the traditional color integrity and overall high quality imaging Fujifilm is best known for, allowing consumers to capture truer-to-life images.

The FinePix F700’s sleek metal body echoes traditional film-camera design with centralized placement of its viewfinder, lens and 1.8 inch LCD screen. Its 6.2 million effective pixels (S-pixel: 3.1 million, R-pixel: 3.1 million) can produce high-resolution images with 2,832 x 2,128 (6.03 million) recorded pixels. In addition, the FinePix F700 offers on-demand continuous auto-focus, three color modes, manual functions, advanced movie recording capabilities, diminished shutter lag, and at 1.2 seconds, one of the fastest start-up times on the market. The FinePix F700 also comes with a cradle for easy downloading and recharging.

"The FinePix F700 is representative of Fujifilm’s focus – leading-edge technology combined with an enjoyable user experience. The camera’s sleek and familiar form factor, combined with its increased dynamic range, heightened sensitivity, and unique functions will make it the new camera of choice for consumers who seek the highest standard in picture quality," said Eric Thorng, Senior Marketing Manager of Consumer Digital Imaging Products, Consumer Markets Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc.

Some of the Fujifilm FinePix F700’s most exciting features include:

• Increased dynamic range and resolution – The camera’s fourth-generation Super CCD SR technology provide 6.2 million (S-pixel: 3.1 million, R-pixel: 3.1 million) effective pixels, resulting in 2,832 x 2,128 (6.03 million) recorded pixel output. The sensor’s increased dynamic range helps to create pictures of a quality approaching that of film.
• Zoom – The FinePix F700 offers 6.6x zoom capabilities, with a 3x optical zoom and 2.2x digital zoom.
• Exposure modes and manual functions – The camera offers P/A/S/M exposure modes and manual settings, allowing consumers a more interactive experience while capturing high-quality images.
• High sensitivity – The FinePix F700 offers auto sensitivity equivalent to ISO 160-400 when the LCD is on and the flash is off. Manual equivalency is ISO 200/400/800, and at 1600, when resolution is fixed at 1 megapixel.
• Rapid continuous auto-focus on demand – The camera offers consumers a rapid continuous auto-focus (C-AF) on-demand mode in addition to its built-in autofocus capabilities. Consumers can choose to capture action shots in crisp, clear focus by pressing the C-AF button, located just to the left of the lens, to engage a full-time active fine focus adjustment. This choice conserves power, while allowing the consumer flexibility in capturing their images.
• Color modes – The FinePix F700 produces near film quality pictures in standard color mode, and also offers black and white and chrome settings. The FinePix F700 also allows users to capture their images in RAW files as well as the JPEG format.
• Sleek and familiar style – The camera’s unique horizontal design echoes that of traditional cameras, and places the viewfinder, lens, and 1.8 inch LCD screen in the center of its sleek metal body. Its start-up time is one of the market’s fastest, ready to capture images only 1.2 seconds from the time it is turned on.
• Movie recording with sound – The FinePix F700 captures full resolution VGA digital video at 30 frames/second with sound, for non-stop unbuffered recording directly onto storage media. Movies can be replayed for friends and family at later dates on NTSC or PAL outputs.

The FinePix F700 comes bundled with an NP-40 battery, USB/AV cable, hand strap, 16MB xD-Picture Card, AC Power Adapter, and Picture Cradle / Battery Charger, FinePixViewer 4.0, ImageMixer VCD for FinePix 1.0 software. The camera will be available for purchase in April 2003 at the suggested list price of .95.

Fujifilm Makes Digital Photography Easy:
Now, consumers can get high-quality photos produced from their digital cameras just as easily as they get pictures from film cameras. It’s as simple as bringing their media storage card to one of thousands of Fujifilm Digital Camera Developing services providers nationwide. Consumers are encouraged to visit www.digitalcameradeveloping.com and click on the link to "Print Your Digital Camera Photos" to find a retailer in their area offering Fujifilm Digital Camera Developing services. Printing options range from self-service kiosks to dropping off media storage for minilab development, just like with film.

To help simplify digital camera technology and educate consumers about the choices available to them, Fujifilm is now traveling the country for a third year with its FinePix "Picture of America™" Tour featuring its FinePix Truck. The tour highlights Fujifilm’s complete line of shoot, store, print and share digital photography solutions. Details about the truck, as well as information about where it will be next, can be found at www.fujifilm.com/finepixtour.

About Fujifilm

Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is the U.S. marketing subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. of Tokyo (FUJIY), a leading global manufacturer in three business segments, including Imaging Solutions, Information Solutions and Document Solutions. Recognized for its technological innovation and high quality, Fujifilm offers a complete portfolio of imaging, information and document products, services and e-solutions to retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers.

The complete Fujifilm product portfolio in the U.S.A. includes: professional and consumer film and cameras; digital imaging products, including cameras and printers for commercial and consumer use; digital minilabs and kiosks; photographic paper and photofinishing supplies; professional motion picture film; high-capacity floppy disks, CDs and DVDs, tape cartridges and other data storage media; videotape and audiocassettes; professional and consumer optical discs; microfilm and other micrographic products; and graphic arts film, conventional and digital printing plates, analog ad digital color proofing systems, drum and flatbed scanners, imagesetters and computer-to-plate systems. Fujicolor Processing, Inc., a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., provides wholesale photofinishing through a network of laboratories across the country. Fujifilm e-Systems is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., that develops workflow solutions to support the company’s photofinishing labs and consumer photographic businesses, including online imaging services such as Fujifilm.net.

For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilm.com.

• USB Driver
• FinePixViewer
• ImageMixer VCD for FinePix
• RAW File Converter LE

• CPU Pentium, 200MHz or higher
• Windows®98, 98SE, 2000Pro., Me, XP HE/Pro.
• RAM of 256MB or more recommended
• 140MB of free hard disk space
• CD-ROM drive

• CPU of Power PC
• Mac OS 8.6 to 9.2.2, 10.0.4 to 10.2.2
• RAM of 256MB or more recommended
• 110MB of free hard disk space
• CD-ROM drive