Fujifilm introduces Finepix S1500 super-zoom

Pre-PMA 2009: Fujifilm has introduced the Finepix S1500 super-zoom compact with wide-angle 12x optical zoom (33mm-396mm equiv.). The 10MP camera incorporates Dual Image Stabilisation alonsgside features such as AF tracking, Panorama Shooting mode, Face Detection technology and Instant Zoom. It is also designed for lower power consumption with a 300 shot battery life using AA Batteries and up to 700 shot battery life with AA Lithium batteries.

Press Release:

FinePix S1500: Super Zoom, Super Small, Super Technology

February 17, 2009 - Fujifilm today announced the introduction of the FinePix S1500, a compact, extremely lightweight digital camera, packing an impressive 12x optical zoom lens and Dual Image Stabilisation .

Perfect for advanced amateur photographers the 10 Megapixel FinePix S1500 features a versatile Fujinon 12x optical zoom (33mm-396mm equivalent), Face Detection technology with automatic red-eye removal, Dual Image Stabilisation (combining CCD-shift with high ISO), ISO levels of up to ISO 6400 (at 3MP), and a brand new Tracking Auto Focus function. This, along with features such as Panorama Shooting Mode and Instant zoom, make the FinePix S1500 a camera that will suit every member of the family.

Dual Image Stabilisation
In addition to offering incredible zoom range, the FinePix S1500 features combined CCD-shift and image stabilisation to avoid the effects of camera shake at longer shutter speeds. Dual Image Stabilisation facilitates long distance and fast action shots by ensuring that blur is minimised and photographic quality is always guaranteed.

Lock on to the Action
The FinePix S1500’s new Tracking Auto Focus function means that users can track a moving subject whilst ensuring focus is maintained, even when using the full eye-watering 12x zoom. This feature is ideal for kids who are always on the go, dogs bounding through fields, or Dads wanting to capture the perfect sports action shot. Simply focus, press the shutter half way and the camera will lock on to the subject, ready for you to take the perfect shot.

Family Friendly Features
As well as Tracking AF, the FinePix S1500 includes numerous other features which will make it a hit with the all-action family. The Instant Zoom feature helps to capture moving subjects at high zoom settings, and works alongside Face Detection when shooting pictures of people.

Panorama Shooting Mode, first featured on the extremely popular FinePix S1000fd, this enables users to create impressive panoramic pictures by seamlessly stitching together three separate photos.

Continuous Shooting is great when capturing sports and action shots. The camera can fire an impressive 7.5 frames per second up to 15 frames (at 2MP) or 3.3 frames per second up to 6 frames (at 5MP).

Once images have been recorded, they can be easily viewed via High Speed Playback or Micro Thumbnail View. High Speed Playback displays 10 frames per second making it quick and easy to find your favourite image. Alternatively, users can use Micro Thumbnail View which shows up to 100 thumbnails on the back of the large 2.7” LCD screen.

Plus, to make taking great images as easy as possible, the FinePix S1500 has Scene Recognition AUTO, which cleverly detects a scene without any need to pre-select the mode on the camera. Having identified the most commonly photographed subjects, Fujifilm has developed technology to automatically identify and recognise different scenes – Portrait, Backlight Portrait, Night Portrait, Landscape, Night and Macro. Once the scene in the frame has been detected, the camera will optimise the settings to capture the most stunning photo of your chosen subject. Portrait Mode works in conjunction with Face Detection technology to get the best possible portraits, instantly removing red-eye.

Close-up and personal
The compact and lightweight body is small and portable, making it perfect for holidays, family days out, or for snapping around the house. Inside the tiny shell is a massive 12x zoom, ideal for a wide range of subjects.

The FinePix S1500 features an internal memory of 52MB, which also helps as a great storage option. With a low-power consumption (operating on four AA type alkaline batteries) the FinePix S1500 is the perfect camera for the energy-conscious consumer.

Features at a glance:

10 Megapixels
12x zoom lens
Dual Image Stabilisation
2.7” LCD
Tracking Auto Focus
Instant zoom
Panorama Shooting Mode
Full Photographic Control
SR Auto
ISO to 6400 (at 3MP) sensitivity
16 scene modes
Face Detection Technology with automatic red-eye removal
300 shot battery life (with AA Batteries) and up to 700 shot battery life with AA Lithium

Availability & pricing
The FinePix S1500 will be available from April. Pricing will be announced nearer to the date of the launch.

Fujifilm FinePix S1500 specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.3 " CCD • 10 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3648 x 2736 • 3648x 2432 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 X 480
Movie clips	• 640x480 (30fps) • 320x240 (30fps)
File formats	• Still Image : JPEG (EXIF 2.2) • Movie Clip : AVI (MJPEG) Audio : WAV
Lens	• 33-396mm equiv. • f = 5.9mm - 70.8mm • F2.8(W) - F5.0(T)
Digital zoom	Approx. 5.7x
Focus	Continous AF
AF area modes	• Cente • Area • Multi
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
ISO sensitivity	• Auto (ISO 800) • Auto (ISO 400) • ISO 64 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 (at 3MP)
Metering	TTL 256-zones metering
Exposure modes	Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Shuttter speed	8 sec to 1/2000 sec
Shooting modes	• Mode dial: : Auto, Natural Light, SP1, SP2, P, A, S, M, Panorama, Movie • SP1/SP2: Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower, Text, PS(Anti-Blur)
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.
Continuous shooting Modes	• 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) • Top-15, Ultra High speed (max 7.5 frames/sec, 2M pixels)
Flash	• Modes: 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. • Range Normal: Wide Approx. 40cm / 1.3ft to 8.7m / 28.5ft Telephoto Approx. 1.5m / 4.9ft to 4.8m / 15.7ft Macro: Macro: Wide Approx. 30cm / 1.0 ft to 3.0m / 9.8ft Telephoto Approx. 80cm / 2.6ft to 3.0m / 9.8ft
LCD monitor	• 2.7 inch TFT LCD • approx. 230,000 pixels • Amorphous silicon TFT colours LCD monitor • approx.100% coverage
Digital input/output	• USB 2.0 High Speed
Video output	AV : NTSC, PAL (user selectable)
Storage	• Internal memory (Approx. 24 MB) • SD/SDHC
Power	• 4xAA type alkaline batteries(included) • Ni-MH rechargeable batteries(optional) • Lithium batteries(optional)
Weight (no batt)	325 g
Dimensions	103 (W) x 73 (H) x 68 (D) mm 4.0(W)× 2.9(H)× 2.7(D) in