Coming this spring: Longer zooms, more megapixels from Olympus and Fujifilm

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Coming this spring: Longer zooms, more megapixels from Olympus and Fujifilm

Feb 2, 2010 News

Fujifilm Finepix Z700EXR
Photo: Fujifilm

Seventeen new digital point-and-shoots, ranging in price from $100 to $500, have just been announced by Fujifilm (13 models) and Olympus (4 models) in preparation for the PMA camera trade show. Although most are tweaks to existing lines, there are a few standouts:

The 10-megapixel Fujifilm Finepix HS10, $500, and 14-megapixel Olympus SP800 UZ, $350, each sport a 30x zoom, the longest we've seen in a digital camera. Both superzooms seem to be approaching the kind of zoom ranges typical in many standard definition camcorders, which can go as high as 70x. The HS10 has a wider-angle zoom lens (24mm-720mm 35mm equivalent) than the SP800 UZ (28mm-840mm 35mm equivalent). The HS10 can also shoot RAW files, which give you more flexibility in editing photos. Both have 3-inch LCDs, and can shoot HD resolution video (although the HS10 has a higher resolution at 1080i).

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010
Photo: Olympus

Both manufacturers have introduced new rugged models. Olympus, one of the first to produce waterproof or rugged cameras, has introduced two 14-megapixel Stylus Tough cameras: the Stylus Tough 8010, $400, and the Tough 6020, $300. Both have 5x zoom and large internal memory capacity (2 GB and 1 GB, respectively). Like its predecessor, the Tough 8000, the 8010 can go to a depth of 33 feet in water, but has a wider zoom range. The Tough 6020 can go to a depth of 16 feet, deeper than its predecessor, the Tough 6000, and has a wider zoom range. Both can shoot HD resolution video. The 12-megapixel Finepix XP10, $200, isn't Fujifilm's first waterproof model, but it is the brand's first rugged camera. The XP10 is waterproof (to a depth of 10 feet), can withstand a 3-foot drop and is freezeproof to 14 degrees F.

Fujifilm Finepix HS10
Photo: Fujifilm

Fujifilm unveiled its first touch-screen point-and-shoot, the 12-megapixel Finepix Z700EXR, $280. This subcompact includes Fujifilm's Super CCD EXR sensor, which should make the camera very flexible in various lighting situations. The touch screen has a touch-shot feature, which lets you tap the LCD to indicate where you want to focus. And if face detection weren't enough, this model also has pet detection, which lets you recognize up to 10 dogs or cats and keep them in focus. Sorry, owners of birds, rabbits, guinea pigs or snakes.

All the new cameras mentioned will be available in March except the Finepix XP10, which will be available in February.

—Terry Sullivan

NetBoxie