Fujifilm intros ISO 12,800 pocket cam, more
updated 08:00 am EST, Wed February 4, 2009
Fujifilm F200EXR and F150
Fujifilm today had its turn at pre-PMA expo launches with three compact cameras, including one it says is the most flexible ever. The FinePix F200EXR's 12-megapixel sensor is adjustable in a special EXR mode that lets users either opt for the full resolution or else step down to 6 megapixels for difficult conditions: it can either switch to a high-sensitivity mode for low light or a wide dynamic range mode to bring out detail in shadows or bright lights. A second drop down, to 3 megapixels, will let the camera shoot as high as ISO 12,800 in extreme conditions where flash isn't an option.
The camera brings a 28-140mm, 5X zoom lens with hardware stabilization and has improved software features over earlier cameras, including better face detection that captures off-angle heads as well as presets that recreate well-known film stock like Provia or Velvia. Recording of images or 640x480 videos is sent to either SDHC or xD cards.
In more conventional launches, the A150 and A100 are both starter cameras with 10-megapixel sensors, 3X zoom lenses and up to ISO 1,600 sensitivity; the A150's advantage is a larger 3-inch preview LCD versus the 2.7-inch LCD of the A100. They both run on AA batteries and use 52MB of internal memory plus SDHC cards for storage.
Fujifilm hasn't provided release dates or pricing beyond promising a US release.
A150 and A100
scary
02/04, 08:18am reply
Yeah, right, ISO 12,800 with a sensor probably as big as my thumbnail. I wonder if you'll be able to make out anything in the resulting pictures, besides the noise.
Jeronimo2000
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Joined: Aug 2001
shyah
02/04, 10:57am reply
I'd be interested in some real-world sample shots. By stepping down to 3MP it can use the "extra" pixels to soak up more light, but then you end up with a much smaller photo...
Sounds a lot like the fabulous digital zoom "feature"
pottymouth
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2003
re: shyah
02/04, 11:31am reply
Stepping down to 3MP probably also lets it use more aggressive noise reduction.
Still though, even on mid-range SLRs even ISO 6400 is questionable unless you use something like Noise Ninja.
cmoney
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Sep 2000
Give it a chance
02/04, 03:39pm reply
I have been VERY impressed with the Fuji f20 and f31 cameras' low-light, high-ISO performance. Better than any other pocket cam out there, by a large margin. And I'm not the only one: the f31 took such sharp photos and worked so well in low-light situations that it achieved cult status among photo enthusiasts. You'd find it selling on eBay USED for about $500, compared to $200 for a new Fuji. It was THAT good! I don't put it beyond Fuji to have come up with something even better. The key to the F20/F30 low-light performance was that they shunned the "megapixel wars" in favor of low-light performance. So, while all the competition was racing for 8-, 10-, even 12-megapixels on tiny sensors, Fuji stayed with 6MP and optimized their low-light sensitivity. Unfortunately, the marketing department won out and Fuji jumped on the megapixel bandwagon. But it sounds like they now are combining the low-MP high-ISO performance with the marketing-oriented high-MP competitiveness. Wait 'til the reviews and sample images are out before you pass judgement. Don't write this one off. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Longwalker
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Joined: Feb 2008
oh no
02/05, 12:19am reply
it's too good. this sounds like the camera for me. i never use flash. thank God they didn't announce pricing that means it'll be months before we see it.
ggirton
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Joined: Nov 1999