nic viewfinder and high tech automation as well as full manual exposure and focus control for those who want it. New features include SR Auto, which enables the camera to match the exposure mode to the scene being shot, Dual Image Stabilization, which combines mechanical sensor shift compensation with high ISO settings. The camera also offers Face Detection with auto red-eye removal, burst rate up to 7.5 fps, VGA movie recording, 14 scene modes, and 4-AA battery operation. The S1500 will be available in March for $249.95.
For details and specs, read the Fujifilm USA press release:
COMPACT 12X OPTICAL ZOOM FINEPIX S1500 EXTENDS FEATURE SET
D-SLR-Style Camera Sports Dual Image Stabilization and Automatic Scene Recognition
Valhalla, NY, February 17, 2009 – FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. today announced the successor to the wildly popular FinePix S1000 with the introduction of the FinePix S1500.
Ideal for advanced amateur photographers who are looking for an affordable, SLR-styled digital camera, the 10-MegaPixel FinePix S1500 is wrapped with an eye-catching black casing and has a Fujinon 12x optical zoom (33mm-396mm equivalent) offering great range and flexibility. Building on the legacy of Fujifilm’s S-series digital cameras, the FinePix S1500 includes Fujifilm’s Dual Image Stabilization and SR Auto (Automatic Scene Recognition).
Automatic Scene Recognition
SR Auto (Automatic Scene Recognition) enables the FinePix S1500 to intelligently recognize six types of scenes automatically. For each picture taken in this mode, the S1500 will optimize the ideal exposure, focus, white balance and ISO for the scene to ensure the best quality picture is captured with ease.
Dual Image Stabilization
Dual Image Stabilization is a marriage of mechanical sensor shift stabilization, to steady the photographer’s hand, and Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization Technology, which uses fast shutter speeds with ISO high sensitivity, to prevent virtually all types of image blur. As a result, an increase in clarity and sharpness is achieved, even in low lighting conditions.
Rounding out the FinePix S1500 powerful feature set is a large 2.7″ high-resolution (230k dots) LCD, electronic viewfinder (EVF) and ISO levels of up to ISO 1600 at full resolution.
Fujifilm’s FinePix S1500 also offers the following useful features:
• Full Manual Photographic Control: Photo enthusiasts and advanced photographers have total control with manual adjustment options for various camera settings including resolution, ISO, aperture, shutter speed and more.
• Face Detection with Automatic Red Eye Removal: Face Detection operates by identifying and prioritizing faces in a framed scene, and then adjusting the focus and exposure accordingly to ensure the sharpness and clarity of human subjects in the picture, regardless of background. After a shot is captured, each detected face is instantly checked for red eye. If it is found, it is corrected automatically, saving the time-consuming process of fixing it later.
• Instant Zoom: Instant Zoom makes it easy to frame and compose shots with moving subjects at high zoom settings. A selectable frame on the LCD screen lets you bracket and track the subject in standard wide view. When the shutter is released, Instant Zoom boosts the zoom ratio and captures only the enlarged area as a full-sized image, keeping the subject in the frame.
• Continuous High Speed Shooting mode: This mode allows moving subjects to be captured by shooting high-speed shots of up to 15 frames at 7.5 fps at 2MP and six frames at 3.3 fps at 5MP.
• Panoramic Shooting mode: Users can capture, combine and save a maximum of three consecutive shots at 3MP resolution each as a panoramic picture.
• Movie Recording: VGA quality at 30 frames per second with sound.
• 14 Pre-programmed Scene Modes: The FinePix S1500 features 14 pre-programmed scene modes that offer a one-touch setting for almost any situation.
• SD / SD-HC Compatible slot: A single media slot that accepts SD/SD-HC media cards.
• Operates on 4xAA Batteries: The ultimate in convenience and accessibility, using AA batteries means in a pinch, more batteries are just moments away. Four x AA alkaline battery power delivers 300 shots and up to 700 shots using lithium AA battery.
“Fujifilm’s FinePix S1500fd offers advanced amateur photographers an affordable, SLR-styled digital camera,” said David Troy, marketing manager, Consumer Digital Cameras, Electronic Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. “Sporting a Fujinon 12x Optical Zoom for greater range and flexibility and Automatic Scene Recognition, the FinePix S1500 offers its user an efficient, feature-rich digital camera making it easy to capture amazing images.”
The FinePix S1500fd will debut in March 2009 at a retail price of $249.95.
Specifications:
FinePix S1500
Number of Effective Pixels
10.0 million pixels
CCD Sensor
1/ 2.3-inch CCD
Storage Media
Internal memory (approx. 23MB) /xD-Picture Card TM ( 16MB – 2 GB )
SD memory card /SDHC memory card
File Format
Still image: JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2 )
Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG ) Audio: WAVE format, Monaural sound
(Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible)
Number of Recorded Pixels
Still image: 3,648 × 2,736 / 3,648x 2,432 (3:2 format) / 2,592×1,944 / 2,048×1,536 / 1,600 x 1,200 / 640 X 480 pixels
Movie: 640 x 480 pixels (30 frames/sec.), 320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.) with monaural sound
Lens
Fujinon 12 X Optical zoom lens , F2.8 (Wide) – F5.0 (Telephoto)
Lens Focal Length
f=5.9mm – 70.8mm, Equivalent to 33-396mm on a 35mm camera
Digital Zoom
Approx. 5.7x (max.)
Aperture
F2.8 – F6.4 (Wide) / F 5.0 – F 8.0 (Telephoto)
max 5 steps in 1/3 EV increment
Focus Distance
Normal: Wide angle: Approx. 40cm / 1.3 ft to infinity
Telephoto: Approx. 1.5m / 4.9 ft to infinity
Macro: Wide Angle: Approx. 5cm / 2.0 in to 3m / 9.8 ft
Telephoto: Approx. 80cm/2.6 ft. To 3m/9.8 ft
Super Macro: Approx. 2cm / 0.8 in. to 1m / 3.3 ft.
Sensitivity
Auto / Auto(800) / Auto(400) / Equivalent to 64/100/200/
400/800/1600/3200/6400 (Standard Output Sensitivity)
*ISO 3200/6400: 3M pixels (Number of recorded pixels) (Standard Output Sensitivity)
Exposure Control
TTL 256-zones metering
Exposure Modes
Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Shooting Modes
Mode dial : Auto, SR-Auto, SP, P, S, A, M, C, Panorama, Movie
SP : Portrait,Landscape,Sport,Night,Night(Tripod),Natural light, Fireworks,Sunset,Snow,Beach,Museum,Party, Flower,Text
Shutter Speed
AUTO mode: 1/4 sec to 1/2000 sec., All other mode): 8 sec. to 1/2000 sec. (depends on shooting mode)
Continuous Shooting
Top-3 ( max 1.4 frames/sec)
Last-3 ( max 1.4 frames/sec)
Long-period ( max.1.4 frames/sec)
Top-6, High speed (max 3.3 frames/sec, 5M pixels or lower)
Top-15, Ultra High speed (max 7.5 frames/sec, 2M pixels or lower)
Focus
Auto focus (Area, Multi, Center ,Tracking)/Continuous AF
White Balance
Automatic scene recognition
Preset (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light), Custom
Self-timer
Approx. 10 sec./ 2 sec. delay
Flash
Auto flash
Effective range: (ISO AUTO):
Normal: Wide Approx. 40cm / 1.3ft to 8.7m / 28.5ft
Telephoto Approx. 1.5m / 4.9ft to 4.8m / 15.7ft
Macro: Wide Approx. 30cm / 1.0 ft to 3.0m / 9.8ft
Telephoto Approx. 80cm / 2.6ft to 3.0m / 9.8ft
Flash mode:
Red-eye removal OFF: Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro.
Red-eye removal ON: Red-eye Reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction & Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro.
LCD Monitor
2.7-inch, approx. 230,000 pixels, Amorphous Silicon TFT color LCD monitor,
approx. 97% coverage
Electronic Viewfinder
0.2-inch, approx.200,000 dots FLCD monitor (R/G/B colors are displayed in a single dot) approx. 97% coverage
Movie Recording
640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames/sec.
320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames/sec.
With monaural sound
* Optical or digital zoom function can be selectable during movie recording.
Photography Functions
SR Auto (Scene Recognition Auto), Instant Zoom, Panorama shooting mode, Face Detection (with red-eye removal), High speed shooting, Framing guideline, Post shot assist windows, Frame No.memory, Automatic playback, Histograms, Silent mode
Playback Functions
Slide show, Face Detection (with red-eye removal), Trimming, Single frame and Multi-frame playback (Microthumbnail mode included),Sorting by date,Image rotate, Voice Memo, Histograms (Highlight warning)
Video Output
NTSC / PAL selectable
Digital Input/Output
USB 2.0 High-speed
Power Supply
4xAA type alkaline batteries (included), Ni-MH rechargeable batteries(optional) or Lithium batteries(optional)
DC Coupler CP-04 with AC power adapter AC-5VX (optional)
Dimensions
102.5(W)× 73(H)× 67.8(D) mm/4.0(W)× 2.9(H)× 2.7(D) in.(excluding accessories and attachments)
Weight
Approx. 11.4 oz.(excluding accessories, batteries and memory card)
Accessories Included
4x AA type Alkaline batteries, Shoulder strap, Lens cap, Lens cap cord, USB cable, A/V cable, CD-ROM: FinePix Viewer, Owner’s manual
