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February 8, 2005*— A new addition to the Fujifilm F-series was announced today: the FinePix F-10. This new compact digital camera sports 6.3 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom in a 6-ounce body. This model diverges from the labeling pattern of the earlier F440, F450 and F700, but the F-10 is not as far a leap backwards as the math implies. The main difference lies in the camera’s new Real Photo Processor (called the RP Processor by Fuji), which works in combination with the camera’s Super CCD.
"The processor is designed specifically to work alongside a Super CCD and make the most of it," said Andrew LaGuardia, Senior Manager for Corporate Communications at Fujifilm. "We discovered when working with marketing research groups that people wanted to solve shutter lag and improve boot-up time….we needed to do things such as focusing, white point calculation, and exposure calculation much faster to improve shutter lag. The new imaging processor is designed to really accomplish all of that."
The RP Processor is extremely fast and produces 50 percent less noise than the current image processor in the F-series. This is a serious accomplishment, considering F-series cameras always have the "most compact, lightest, and greatest image processor," LaGuardia said. Apparently, many mechanical elements used in earlier F-series models are also used Fujifilm’s professional digital SLRs.
With its wide range of shooting modes, the F-10 is designed for beginner and intermediate photographers. The camera contains a manual mode, in addition to priority and automatic settings. A variable aperture opens from f/2.8-f/5, with a shutter speed range from 15-1/2000th of a second. The enhanced image processor reduces shutter lag time to 0.01 seconds and startup time to 1.3 seconds. The F-10 also contains a burst mode for added speed, capable of capturing subsequent images at 2.2 frames per second for three consecutive frames. The F-10’s loaded movie mode shoots up to 30 frames per second at 640 x 480 resolution with audio, until the card is full. The F-10’s ISO rating is also manual alterable within an 80-1600 range, offering incredible flexibility for a compact digital camera.
"These performance numbers are just what consumers want to hear and are possible due to yet another breakthrough technology from Fujifilm," said Ron Gazzola, Marketing Manager for Fujifilm’s Digital Devices Division. "As consumers begin to search for their second or third generation digital camera, they’ve added another important factor to the purchase equation - experience. This experience is telling them that while image quality and camera ergonomics are important, other details play a big role in their overall satisfaction."
The Fujifilm F-10 has some great physical features as well. The 3x optical zoom lens is constructed from 6 elements in 5 groups with 2 aspheric. In the 35mm format, the included lens is equivalent to 36-108mm. The F-10 contains a large, 2.5-inches LCD screen, comprised of 110,000 pixels. It also has a feature that intensifies the image on the screen so that it can be easily viewed in low light.
Fujifilm designers and engineers have put in some work on the F-10. The camera is largely constructed from a single piece of metal that is wrapped around its entire front and both sides. This monocoque construction is also used in airplanes, race cars, and golf clubs because of the strength and stability it lends to the design. The camera’s rectangular body measures 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches. It is powered by a lithium 120 battery, which lasts up to 500 exposures before needing a recharge.
The Fujifilm FinePix F-10 will retail for $499.95 when it becomes available in March or April 2005.