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Fujifilm's FinePix F80EXR reviewed: mo' megapixels mo' problems
You all know the deal: the quest for higher numbers to put on stickers on the front of cameras hasn't necessarily resulted in a similarly exponential increase in image quality. If you needed more proof, check out Photography Blog's review of the Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR, an upgrade to last-year's compact 10x superzoom F70EXR. This year's revision get's a 20 percent boost in the all-important megapixel count, up to 12, but the sensor "delivers slightly worse image quality than its predecessor." That's not a good start, but the rest is better, with the camera's dynamic range shooting mode earning high marks, and the body's overall design and compactness scoring well too. It sounds like decent value for $299.99, but you'll want to read that full review before plunking down your digits.
Fujifilm's Finepix HD Player HDP-L1 puts 3D W1 footage onto your new 3D HDTV
Still monkeying around with that Finepix Real 3D W1 camera, somewhat confused about what exactly you bought it for? Take heart, bandwagon jumper -- the bridge you've been searching for has just been constructed. Fujifilm has recently introduced a new card reader / HD player for use with its year-old 3D point-and-shoot, and judging by the topic of conversation at this year's CES, it sure seems like the timing is far better this go 'round. Put simply, the HDP-L1 (¥4,000; $43) accepts both 2D and 3D content stored on SD / SDHC cards from your W1, and the HDMI output pipes that content directly onto your shiny new 3D HDTV for at-home enjoyment. We're told that it'll also work with that antediluvian 2D content as well, but let's be honest -- you didn't buy a 3D camera just to shoot in 2D, now did you? On second thought, don't answer that.
Elevator operating robot janitor goes on sale in Japan
In one year alone we've seen robots shaking things up in such far-flung fields as fashion and interpretive dance. That said, our concerns are generally more prosaic -- that's why we're most excited by the industrial strength autonomous sweepers developed by the likes of Fuji Heavy Industries, Sumitomo, and Subaru. Like last year's model, their latest sweeps the floor, picks up the trash, is able to operate modded elevators, and comes equipped with laser sensors for avoiding obstacles and may even be outfitted with a camera. In addition, this new guy has slimmed down to about half the size (better for slipping into tight corners) and sports a twenty-four volt battery that gets about 2.5 hours per charge. The best news, however, is that it's finally for sale! It should hit the streets of Japan by the end of next year for a price somewhere in the $35,000 to $46,000 range. We'll take two. [Warning: PDF source link]
Fuji Heavy Industries outs friendless, autonomous farming robot
Fuji Heavy Industries in Japan has announced what it's calling 'the first' autonomous farming robot. This bot, which is about six and a half feet long and runs on gas, sends and receives laser signals to orient itself by way of reflective plates placed every 30 feet, using them to judge distances. This bad boy can grow fruits and veggies all by its lonesome, and can even operate in a greenhouse. The farming robot -- which is expected early next year -- will run about $100,000, but we'd suggest you buy two so he can have a buddy.
Fujifilm's Remora flash could save those underwater family portraits
Underwater photography is tough, and, when you're dealing with something less than Caribbean-clear blue seas, finding the right lighting can be near-impossible. Fujifilm's Remora looks to make things a little easier, offering a 60 degree beam of light with a guide number of 20, so it's bright enough even for nighttime cuttlefish documentaries but can be dimmed to save the retinas of sensitive cephalopods. Four AA batteries give you 240 flashes at a depth of up to 180 feet, but at £229 (about $370) only the most serious rebreathers need apply.
Fujifilm Finepix REAL 3D W1 now shipping to soon to be disappointed consumers
Well, partner, are you the sort to ignore woefully bad reviews and plunk your hard-earned cash down on expensive gadgets anyway? Buck up, because here's your chance. Fujifilm's Finepix REAL 3D W1 may not have impressed the critics -- or, really, anyone, apparently -- but it's now shipping into the hands of consumers who can't be bothered to read such things. MSRP for the camera is $599.95, while the 3D digital viewer will go for $499.95. Finally, if you're still into the whole prints on paper scene, you'll have to wait a few weeks until the company's SeeHere.com goes live, then pay a whopping $6.99 per print. Hey, nobody said the future of imaging would be cheap.Update: SeeHere.com is indeed live as we speak.
Fujifilm Finepix Real 3D W1 slammed in early review, company responds point-by-point
Akihabara News' early review of the Fujifilm W1 3D Camera pretty much laid everything out from the get-go with its headline, "The worst camera ever made: the review." It assuredly caused more than a few raised eyebrows, not the least of which from Fujifilm itself. In an interesting and welcoming move, the company invited the publication to a face-to-face meeting -- not for some physical redemption, mind you, but to address all the points of disappointment. There isn't a lot said to alleviate concerns, and the common thread among all replies is pretty much that this is a new field that currently caters to a very small niche, and there's gonna be speed bumps for time to come -- in other words, better luck next time. Still, it's somewhat refreshing to see a major company tackle the subject head-on and in public view -- now if only we could make this an industry-wide trend. Read - W1 3D camera review Read - Fujifilm's response
Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D W1 camera and Real 3D V1 picture viewer detailed, can do 3D movies as well
Not that it wasn't official when Time featured it early last week,but now Fujifilm's now rolled out the proverbial red carpet for its FinePix Real 3D W1 camera, with a press release providing more details about both it and the Real 3D V1 8-inch picture viewer. Some of more notable features on the W1 -- aside from being the touted "world's first 3D imagine system," of course -- is a 3x optical zoom, a 3D LCD system for on-camera viewing, Dual Capture Shooting Mode for taking two shots simultaneously with different settings, and just to be perfectly clear, the ability to shoot video in three mind-blowing dimensions. Additionally, the two lens can be used for some more creative, but decidedly old-fashioned 2D photography. As for the V1 display, it's got a 3D / 2D LCD panel with 800 x 600 resolution, supports playback of 3D pics and movies, and supports SD / SDHC. No word on what the resolution / card support is for the camera, but for now we're gonna guess it's at parity with the frame. If you're wanting physical 3D prints, Fujifilm says it'll be providing that service, doing the prints in-house and send them your way. Actual printers for purchase will come once a sustainable market exists (assuming that happens). The W1 camera and V1 frame are listed with a September 2009 launch date, as we previously heard -- price is curiously listed as TBA, but since Time already let slip a $600 estimate, take that as your ballpark estimate for the interim.
Fuji F70 EXR compact superzoom spotted all over the 'net, S200FS mentioned
While we're not too fond of the megapixel war pushing consumer point-and-shoots to ridiculous resolutions, we certainly don't mind the recent trend of little cams getting big lenses, and Fuji could be next. Rumors and pictures of the F70 EXR have been spreading on all manners of forums and internets, promising a new half-inch, 10 megapixel sensor backing a 27 - 270mm lens, all packaged in a rather svelte looking exterior (another glimpse below). Mechanical image stabilization is said to be on offer, but rumored VGA video capture will be a disappointment if true. Also being discussed is the S200fs, a supposed follow-up to the "why won't this lens come off" not quite an SLR S100FS from last year. That's all we know about that one, and while both are said to be available in September, we'd wait for some official word from Fuji before making any pre-orders at neighborhood camera shops.[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]
Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D camera to launch in September, cost around $600
It's been a while since we've heard anything about Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D camera, but as the twin-lensed shooter nears that scheduled September release some more details are spilling out -- including the price, which will be "around $600" at launch. Yeah, it's steep, and that's not all: to properly view the images you'll need to either shell out for special prints with a plastic lenticular lens on it or buy a special stereoscopic LCD photo frame, and none of that really screams "cheap." Honestly, our instinct would be to spend all that scratch on a good DSLR or even something like the Olympus E-P1, but there's always a chance Fujifilm's about to reveal the public's deep-rooted desire for 3D snapshots. We'll see -- anyone dying for one of these?[Thanks, ED]
Fujifilm debuts touchscreen-based FinePix Z300 camera
Fujifilm has laid a little low since it stormed into CeBIT and PMA with its latest slate of cameras, but it looks like it's now back to slowly trotting out new models one at a time, like this just-announced FinePix Z300. As you can see above, this one stays fairly close to the previous Z200fd model in terms of design, with the notable exception of a touchscreen on the backside that seems to replace just about every button but the bare essentials. Otherwise, you can expect the same 10-megapixels and 5x optical zoom as before, along with image stabalization, an apparently improved macro mode, ISO settings up to 1600 and, of course, your choice of four different colors. No word on a release 'round here just yet, but folks in Japan will be able to pick this one up on June 20th for ¥40,000, or just about $400.[Via Impress]
FujiFilm's FinePix F200EXR, and its pricetag, get reviewed
While some early shots showed a lot of promise, a full review was necessary to ensure that FujiFilm's latest compact camera would be the performer we were hoping for -- and that it would live up to its $400 price. According to Photography Blog this 12 megapixel shooter doesn't disappoint, scoring very high marks for image quality and features. Its EXR mode, which can toggle between favoring resolution, dynamic range, or low noise, works more or less as advertised, bringing far more depth to shadows than your usual pocket cam can manage. Pictures were clear through ISO 800, but anything above that (up to its ludicrous ISO 12800 mode) were too noisy to be usable. Overall the cam was found to be a "veritable breath of fresh air" and a solid choice for a serious photographers who like air and don't want to lug their SLR everywhere.
FujiFilm FinePix F200EXR gets priced
If the early snaps are any indication, FujiFilm's FinePix F200EXR might just be the kick in the ass the relentlessly boring compact cam market needs, but revolution won't come cheap -- Amazon just listed the 12 megapixel camera for $399. Considering you can buy any number of $200-$250 compacts that have superficially similar spec sheets, we'll see if consumers can be persuaded to shell out extra for pure image quality -- a tough sell even during happier economic times, but we're eternal optimists.[Thanks, Craig R.]
Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR's photos shown off
We were fairly hopeful that Fujifilm's recently revealed 12 megapixel FinePix F200 EXR point and shoot would produce some great looking shots. Well, the fine folks over at Impress Watch have gotten their hands on one and taken it for a spin. In case you've forgotten, the camera is Fuji's first offering to boast its new 1/1.6-inch Super CCD EXR sensor, and it's got a 3-inch LCD, a 28-mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, and is capable of 640 x 480 AVI video recording. The photos we're seeing are very crisp and detailed, with excellent color and very low noise. Though we won't know until we see for ourselves (still no word on pricing or availability for this one), we're preliminarily impressed. Check a few more after the break -- hit the read for full comparison shots with explanations.
Fuji expands A-series with A150 and A100 boringcams
Although we're expecting big things from FujiFilm's Super CCD EXR-packing F200, we can't say we're nearly as intrigued with the two new A-series compacts the company also saw fit to release this morning. The A100 and A150 are pretty much the basic kit you've come to expect at the bottom end of things: both have 10 megapixel sensors with ISO 1600 sensitivity, 3x optical zooms with image stabilization, face detection, QVGA video recording, and a bunch of scene modes that shouldn't be too hard to completely ignore. The only difference between the two are the screen sizes -- the A100 does it at 2.7 inches, while the A150 sports a three-inch screen. No word on pricing, but we'd guess cheap.Read - A100Read - A150
Fujifilm FinePix S100FS gets reviewed
FujiFilm has made some pretty bold claims about its FinePix S100FS "DSLR-styled" camera and, according to the folks at Photography Blog, it looks like it has mostly managed to live up to them. They seem to have been especially impressed by the camera's solid build quality, which they say leaves an "impression that stays with you" and, just as importantly, they had few complaints about the image quality, with the 14.3 x zoom delivering the goods and the resultant images boasting great colors and detail. On the downside, the camera is, as expected, more sluggish than a proper DSLR, it's battery life is only "average to poor," and it's $800 list price isn't exactly a bargain considering what you can get for just a couple of hundred bucks more. Of course, you can likely find it for cheaper than that if you do a bit of digging, which Photography Blog says makes it even easier to recommend.
Subaru features STELLA electric car at G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit
With just about every other automaker on the planet champing at the bit to showcase its newest electric prototypes, Subaru's doing its best to hang on to the briskly moving bandwagon. Said company has just recently announced that its plug-in STELLA concept will be showcased at the upcoming G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit, and four of the five on hand will actually be used to "transport government officials and other participants" while the other offers itself up for test drives. The four-seat vehicle in question utilizes the same EV (electric vehicle) system employed in the R1e, suggesting that it can cruise around 80-kilometers (50 miles) on a full charge and hit a top speed of 100km/h (or just over 62mph).[Via AutoblogGreen]
Fuji releases the FinePix A850, world yawns
Alright, so you weren't exactly waiting on pins and needles for Fuji to release yet another entry-level FinePix digital camera, but might we interest you in yet another entry-level digital camera with totally average specifications? We thought so. We think you'll find the FinePix A850 offers a uninspiring 8 megapixels of image-stabilized resolution, a delightfully adequate 3x optical zoom, and a solidly-middling ISO 800 maximum sensitivity. But don't get too excited digging change out of the couch just yet -- Fuji's not going to announce pricing on this pinnacle of yesterday's technology until it gets closer to launch in July.[Thanks, Mark]
Fujifilm's Z10fd and Z100fd cameras get totally rockin' firmware update
For those of you who've recently dropped some dough on a new Fujifilm Z10fd or Z100fd, you've got some firmware to update. The company issued a couple of fixes today which tweak minor features on the cameras -- though we're sure a few folks will be happy to get them. The updates boost the startup speed in both models when using xD cards, enable camera-to-computer transfer with higher capacity media in the Z10fd, and adjust the underwater white balance on the Z100fd. Hit the read links, and begin your magical journey to freshness.[Via Digital Photography Review]Read - FinePix Z10fd Firmware (camera control software) Update Ver.1.01Read - FinePix Z100fd Firmware (camera control software) Update Ver.1.01
Fuji Finepix Z100fd gets reviewed: "surprisingly good"
We first saw Fuji's Finepix Z100fd back in July, but now that camera-buying season is in full force, PhotographyBlog has taken it out for a review and pronounced it a worthy candidate for your hard-earned cash. Of particular note was the 5X optical zoom, which is better than most other cams in this price range, and the image stabilization and face detection systems, which worked admirably. The camera also drew praise for its slick diagonally-opening lens cover and illuminated Z logo. On the downside, the Z100fd was fairly pokey to store shots and didn't offer the absolute highest image quality, but those apparently aren't dealbreakers -- the folks at PB say overall, the Z100fd is "a fashion camera that isn't simply a matter of style over substance."