Fujifilm debuts HD-enabled camera

Fujifilm Canada has jumped the gun and announced on its Web site two new shooters from the Japanese company. From what we know, these two models were not supposed to be unveiled before mid-August, so our guess is someone in that office is going to get the boot.

The FinePix S2000HD is a prosumer camera styled like a dSLR, but unlike its predecessors, this model is capable of capturing 720p-quality video. This will also be Fujifilm's first HD-video-enabled shooter. The 15x optical zoom and large sensor size seem to pit this bridge against Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-FZ28. The Fujifilm is equipped with sensor-shift image stabilization to counter shaky hands, while the Real Photo Technology will keep colors accurate.

The latest iteration to come from the J-series is the FinePix J150w. It is a substantial upgrade from the FinePix J50. Besides an exterior overhaul (using metal for the shooter's body now), the features are bumped up as well. It now sports face detection, high ISO sensitivity of 3,200, and a 5x optical zoom with 28mm wide-angle lens. Also new to the family are the J100, J110w and J15.

According to Fujifilm Canada, the FinePix S2000HD and J150w will retail for approximately US$294 and US$292, respectively.

We contacted Fujifilm Singapore but the company declined to comment as of press time. However, we will update once we have more information.

Picture credit: Fujifilm Canada

Nikon offers to beef up buffers for D3 users

Nikon has issued a service note with some nice news for D3 owners: For US$500 and a trip to the service center--for your camera, not you--the company will take your D3 and double its burst raw (as well as big JPEGs and TIFF) shooting buffer capacity. (Check if this applies to the Nikon service center in your country.) A handy-dandy chart in the notice indicates, for example, that the buffer for 14-bit uncompressed full-resolution raw files will jump from 16 to 36 frames.

Cynics might claim that Nikon's doing this to leapfrog the Canon EOS-1D's 20-frame buffer, but I don't think sports, catwalk or wildlife shooters are going to care about the why. And as far as we know, this is the first time a manufacturer has offered a physical upgrade for a camera that wasn't a fix.

Via CNET Crave

Update: Nikon Singapore has told us it is offering the upgrade at a cost of S$780 before tax. You have to leave your D3 with the service center for 7 to 10 days while the technicians increase the memory for the buffer circuit board. As for other parts of Asia, check with your local Nikon office to see if it is offering the same service. Click here to find out more.

Sanyo's flashy Xacti HD700 follow-up adds a megapixel

And the mini-camcorder cavalcade keeps rolling on. Well, in Japan at least. Sanyo premiered its latest HD pocket-corder, Xacti, Wednesday in Japan. The DMX-HD800 records at up to 720p at 30fps in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, and does so with an improved 8MP CMOS sensor.

There are some other tweaks to the specs that you can view on Sanyo's Japanese Web site (Google translated for your pleasure), but all-in-all it looks like another decent offering. (Though, personally, I find the gold and pink colors a bit too "look at me, I've got a camcorder".) The DMX-HD800 will be available August 22 in Japan for approximately US$460.

Don't feel like waiting for this to make it stateside? Check out our review of the Kodak Zi6 that has solid 720p video performance in a compact package.

Via CNET Crave

Olympic committee bans "professional" cameras for visitors

If you're heading to Beijing (or are already there) for the Olympics, take note that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games has imposed bans on several items, one of which is "professional camera equipment". Unless you have official press credentials, we suggest you bring just your point-and-shoot along for the Games.

So what constitutes "professional camera equipment"? Are there any measurements or benchmark to compare with? Although it wasn't mentioned on the official Olympic's Web site, some netizens are speculating that it's dSLRs with big lens. Then what about Fujifilm's FinePix S100fs, which is physically bigger than some entry-level dSLRs? Or the Olympus E-420 fitted with the 25mm pancake lens, a combination small enough to look like a bulky point-and-shoot?

If not properly stated, this vague description may trigger some arguments at the security checkpoint, and I don't think spectators will be happy to be rejected at the door just because of the equipment they are carrying. The best way to steer clear of all the trouble and get your seat? Leave your dSLR at home.

B+W infrared filters for digital cameras

B+W Filters, made by Schneider Optics, earlier this month released two infrared filters for digital cameras, the B+W IR 092 and the B+W IR 093. The IR 092 is nearly opaque and allows a small amount of visible light through, similar to a No. 25 Wratten gel. The IR 093 is completely opaque, allowing only IR light to pass through, similar to a No. 87 Wratten gel. Both filters are available with screw-on mountings in 35 sizes from 19mm to 77mm to fit a variety of lenses.

While most digital cameras have an infrared blocking filter built-in, there are several purpose-made infrared capable digital cameras such as the Fujifilm Finepix IS-1 point-and-shoot camera, and the Fujifilm Finepix IS Pro DSLR, update to the S3 Pro-UVIR, modified with the IR/UV blocking filters removed creating a true full spectrum camera. On Sigma's 14MP SD-14 DSLR the IR blocking filter can be easily removed allowing for IR shooting, although probably not too good for your warranty. There are shops that can modify certain existing cameras for IR capability, too. For more information on digital infrared photography other cameras that can shoot IR visit here.

Via CNET Crave

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