Fujifilm launches FinePix S8100fd ultra-zoom

[David Rasnake]

The FinePix S8100fd is the third release in Fujifilm's trifecta of new ultra-zooms.

Building on the S8000fd, one of the long-zoom leaders currently on the market, the 10 megapixel S8100fd's 18x wide-angle zoom (with a range of 27-486mm) is this camera's main attraction.

Promoted in Fuji's press materials as a DSLR substitute, the S8100fd's zoom reach, stretching from the wide-angle to extreme telephoto zones, packs no less than three lenses' worth of optical power. Combine this range with a Super Macro Mode that allows focusing at distances as close as 1 cm and it looks more and more impressive all the time.

Dual Image Stabilization shows up here, making the S8100fd more practical as a hand-held device at long zoom lengths.

Not surprisingly, the S8100fd offers full manual control. It's also well-stocked in the automatic features department, implementing some new ease-of-use technologies.

Intelligent i-Flash evaluation is able to detect subtle lighting differences and cut back or ramp up flash power as needed for more accurate, even exposures. In the same vein, Dual Shot Mode captures two photos - flash and non-flash versions - in rapid succession, allowing shooters to choose the better of the two.

In addition to its 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD, the S8100fd comes equipped with an electronic viewfinder, potentially easing complaints about the camera's usability in extremely bright sun, especially.

The FinePix S8100fd should make its retail debut in March. Expect to pay around $400.

Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd specifications:

Sensor	10.0 megapixel, 1/2.3" CCD
Zoom	18x (27-486mm) Fujinon zoom, f/2.8-4.5
LCD/Viewfinder	2.5", 230K-pixel TFT LCD; Electronic Viewfinder
Sensitivity	ISO 64-6400
Shutter Speed	4-1/2000 seconds
Shooting Modes	Auto, Picture Stabilization, Natural Light, Natural Light with Flash, Zoom Bracketing, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Scene, Movie
Scene Presets	Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower, Text, Auction
White Balance Settings	Auto, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent 1, Fluorescent 2, Fluorescent 3, Incandescent, Custom
Metering Modes	Not Specified
Focus Modes	Center AF, Multi AF, Area AF, Continuous AF, Manual, Macro, Super Macro
Drive Modes	Normal, Top 3, Top 33, Top 33 (Ultra High Speed), Continuous
Flash Modes	Auto, Forced On, Slow Synchro, Forced Off, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Syncrho with Red-Eye Reduction
Self Timer Settings	10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
Memory Formats	xD-Picture Card, SD, SDHC
Internal Memory	58 MB
File Formats	JPEG, AVI, WAV
Max. Image Size	3648x2736
Max. Video Size	640x480, 30 fps
Zoom During Video	No
Battery	4 AA batteries
Connections	USB 2.0, AV output, DC input
Additional Features	Face Detection, i-Flash, Super Macro Mode