Kyocera Finecam S5R Review

By: Steve's Digicams


Steve's Digicams



Review posted 10/31/03



Click on the S5R camera for a QTVR tour


The 5 Megapixel Finecam S5R features RTUNE Rapid Tuning Technology and offers the world's fastest Continuous Capture Mode (as of Otober 2003.) In combination with a virtually non- existent lag time of 0.07 seconds, it can capture images at an incredible unlimited 3 frames per second. The Finecam S5R is only limited by the size of the SD memory card in terms of how many images can be consecutively captured.

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 S5R is 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.

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 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 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.


Finecam S5R Features:

  • Five megapixel imager for up to 2560x1920-pixel still images
  • 3X optical zoom, F/2.8 (35-105mm 35mm equivalent)
  • Unlimited capture at 3fps with .07 sec. lag time
  • RTUNE Technology with 16-bit A/D reduces color noise
  • 1.6-inch Day Fine liquid crystal monitor
  • Macro focus as close as 3.5" from the lens
  • Aperture Priority (F/2.8 or F/9.6)
  • Program AE w/automatic shutter (1 - 1/2000 sec.)
  • Six Scene modes: Standard, Sports, Night, Night Portrait, Macro, Landscape
  • Motion video w/audio 640x480, 320x240 or 160x120 @ 30fps, length of clips is only limited to capacity of the SD media
  • Long shutter speeds of 2, 4, or 8 sec
  • Manual focusing possible (0.6m to infinity)
  • Metering modes: Evaluation, Center-weighted or Spot
  • Selectable ISO sensitivity; Auto, 100, 200, and 400
  • Automatic popup flash with Auto, Red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Flash Off or Night Backdrop
  • Color modes (Color, Sepia or Black & White)
  • White Balance (Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Cloudy, Fluorescent, or Manual Pre-set)
  • Exposure compensation (+/- 2EV in 1/3EV steps)
  • Ultra compact and durable steel body design
  • Rechargeable lithium battery pack and charger included
  • Epson PRINT Image Matching compatible


The Finecam S5R outfit includes a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, AC charger/adapter, 16MB SD card, USB data cable and video cable. Also included is the highly rated Adobe Photoshop Album software. The street price for the Finecam S5R is $549.00 and is shipping now.





Physical Views



Kyocera Finecam S5R

Kyocera Finecam S5R

Kyocera Finecam S5R

Kyocera Finecam S5R

Kyocera Finecam S5R

Kyocera Finecam S5R





Kyocera Finecam S5R

The Finecam S5R compared in size to a standard CD disc.








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Finecam S5R Specifications

Effective pixels 5,000,000 pixels
Image pickup device 1/1.8" square pixel original color filter interlace reading system CCD (total number of pixels: 5,250,000)
Still image sizes 2560 x 1920, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 pixels
Image quality Two levels, F (fine) and N (normal)
Moving image sizes 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120 pixels
Moving image frame rate 15 frames/second, 30 frames/second
Lens Kyocera zoom lens (7 elements in 6 groups), 7.3-21.9 mm f2.8-4.8, 3x zoom lens(equivalent to approximately 35-105 mm in the 35-mm format)
Electronic zoom x1.3, x1.6, x2.0, x3.0, x3.7
Focal adjustment Video feedback auto focus (wide AF or spot AF switchable) and manual focus (configurable distance)
Range of shooting Approx. 60 cm to infinity from the CCD surface, approximately 17 to 60 cm in macro
* Approx. 55 cm to infinity from the front of the lens, approximately 12 to 55 cm in macro
Exposure control
- Control method Programmed AE, aperture priority AE
- Light metering system Can be selected from three modes: CCD multi area evaluative metering, center-weighted metering, spot metering system
- Metering link range LV6 to LV16
- Exposure compensation +2.0 EV to -2.0 EV (1/3 increments)
- Aperture Fixed (f2.8, f9.6*), auto
* f-stop converted for brightness
Shutter Using both CCD electronic shutter and programmed electronic shutter with independent aperture control ( 1second. to 1/2000 second, 2 seconds, 4 seconds and 8 seconds)
White balance Auto, manual (sunlight, incandescent light, cloudy weather, fluorescent, preset)
Color modes Color, monochrome, sepia
Sharpness +3 to -1 (5 levels)
Color saturation +, 0, - (3 levels)
Sensitivity setting Auto, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400, ISO800
Viewfinder
- Optical viewfinder Real imaging zoom viewfinder
- Liquid crystal monitor 1.6" 70,000-pixel TFD color liquid crystal monitor applying the dual backlight system ( Day Fine liquid crystal monitor)
* The brightness of the liquid crystal is adjustable
Flash Built-in system, range: approx. 60 cm to 2.5 m (in the wide mode), approx. 60 cm to 2 m (in the telephoto mode)
Flash mode (1) Auto flash, (2) Auto flash for red -eye reduction. (3) Fill-in flash, (4) Flash disabled
Scene mode (1) Standard mode, (2) Sport mode, (3) Night view mode, (4) Night view portrait mode, (5) Macro mode, (6) Distant view mode
Moving image recording mode File format: AVI, can be selected from with or without audio
Moving image recording time Up to full capacity of the memory card
Playable environment in personal computer: QuickTime 4.1 or later (Windows, Macintosh)
Consecutive shooting Approx. 3 frames/second, up to full capacity of the memory card when using a SD memory card for high-speed recording
Audio recording for still image Up to 30 seconds for one image
Playback mode Multi image display (six images), single display, after-recording (audio memo for still image), protect, erase (single image), erase all images , rotate, slide show, resize, DPOF setting, close-up playback, thumbnail playback, playback of moving images shot by this camera, information display
Setup function AF mode (SAF, CAF), brightness adjustment of the liquid crystal, date setting, date insertion, card format, auto power-off setting, mode lock, shutter sound/operational sound setting, language selection (Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese), video output switch (NTSC, PAL), consecutive file number reset, setting reset, change of selected color, start screen selection, on/off switch for REC review
Recording media SD memory card/MMC (Multi Media Card)
Input/output terminal Input terminal for the external power source, USB terminal (mini -B)
Power source 3.6V lithium-ion battery 1000 mAh,
Dedicated AC adapter
Battery life Approx. 130 images* (when using the liquid crystal monitor)
Approx. 160 images* (when not using the liquid crystal monitor)
* When using the attached new lithium-ion battery, at room temperature, based on the Kyocera measurement standards: 50% flash, 2560 x 1920, normal image quality
Dimensions 3.6" width x 2.3" height x 1.3" depth, excluding protrusions such as the liquid crystal and the lens
Weight Approx. 6.3 oz, excluding battery and the recording media
Operating temperature 0 - 45 degrees Celsius ( no condensation)
    Estimated number of images to be shot and recording pixels
2560 x 1920 Approx. 103 images (fine), approximately 205 images (normal)
1600 x 1200 Approx. 263 images (fine), approximately 512 images (normal)
1280 x 960 Approx. 409 images (fine), approximately 805 images (normal)
640 x 480 Approx. 1560 images (fine), approximately 2937 images (normal)
Moving images 640 x 480 Approx. 1 minute 50 seconds (30 frames/second), approximately 3 minutes 39 seconds (15 frames/second)
Moving images 320 x 240 Approx. 7 minutes 12 seconds (30 frames/second), approximately 14 minutes 12 seconds (15 frames/second)
Moving images 160 x 120 Approx. 26 minutes 45 seconds (30 frames/second), approximately 50 minutes 45 seconds (15 frames/second)

* When using a 256-MB card and recording in the same mode only. The number of images to be shot differs depending on the subject and the type of card.







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