Currently demanding space on retailer’s shelves near you is Fuji’s latest FinePix compact camera, the FinePix F300EXR, a small camera with a mahoosive zoom range.
Feel the girth
A curvy and not unattractive offering, the FinePix stands above the pack by virtue of its gloriously wide-angle 24mm-360mm (35mm equiv) 15x optical lens – a monster zoom range by any standards.
Despite the girth of its lens, it’s still a relatively compact snapper, measuring in at a pocketable 103.5 x 59.2 x 32.5mm.
The 12MP snapper employs a new hybrid autofocus system which is claimed to be as fast as DSLRs, with the camera automatically flipping between regular contrast-detection AF to the phase-detection system usually seen in DSLRs.
There’s also face detection (able to detect a mob of up to eight people), while inside lurks a second-generation 0.5-inch Super CCD EXR sensor capable of shooting 720p HD video at 24fps.
Other features include an updated image stabilisation system, 3-inch, 460k-dot, LCD screen with a wide view filter, manual exposure modes, 360 degrees Motion Panorama and a ‘Super Intelligent’ flash that does it darned best to balance flash illumination across the foreground and background.
The Fuji FinePix F300EXR is out now in the UK – and at the time of writing, it’s just £250 on Amazon,
Full specs
FinePix F300EXR / F305EXR
Number of effective pixels – 12.0 million pixels
CCD sensor – 1/2-inch Super CCD EXRStorage media
Internal memory (Approx. 40MB)
SD memory card / SDHC memory cardFile format
still image
JPEG (Exif Ver 2.3 *3)
movie
AVI (Motion JPEG) with soundsound
WAVE format, Monaural sound
(Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible)Number of recorded pixelsStill image:
L : (4:3) 4000 x 3000 / (3:2) 4000 x 2664 / (16:9) 4000 x 2248M : (4:3) 2816 x 2112 / (3:2) 2816 x 1864 / (16:9) 2816 x 1584
S : (4:3)2048 x 1536 / (3:2) 2048 x 1360 / (16:9) 1920 x 1080360° Vertical 7680 x 1080 Horizontal 7680 x 720
240° Vertical 5120 x 1080 Horizontal 5120 x 720
120° Vertical 2560 x 1080 Horizontal 2560 x 720
Lens
Fujinon 15x optical zoom lens
focal length
f=4.4 – 66mm, equivalent to 24-360mm on a 35mm camera
full-aperture
F3.5(Wide) / F5.3(Telephoto)
Digital zoom L, M : Maximum approx 4x
S : Maximum approx 4.4xAperture F3.5 / F7.1 / F10.0(Wide), F5.3 / F11.0 / F16.0(Telephoto)
Focus distance
(from lens surface)
Normal
Wide : Approx. 45cm / 1.5ft. to infinity
Telephoto : Approx. 2.5m / 8.2ft. to infinity
Macro
Wide : Approx. 5cm – 3.0m / 2.0in.- 9.8ft.
Telephoto : Approx. 1.2m – 3.0m / 3.9ft. – 9.8ft.Sensitivity
Auto / Auto(400) / Auto(800) / Auto(1600) / Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800* (Standard Output Sensitivity)
* ISO3200 : M mode or lower, ISO6400, ISO12800 : S modeExposure control
TTL 256-zones metering, Multi, Spot, AverageExposure mode
Programmed AE, Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, ManualShooting modes
Natural Light, Natural Light & with Flash,Portrait, Portrait enhancer, Landscape, Sport, Night, Night(Tripod), Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater, Party, Flower, Text, Dog, CatImage stabiliser CCD-shift type
Face detection YesExposure compensation -2.0EV-+2.0EV 1/3EV step
Shutter speed Auto : 1/4sec. to 1/2000sec.
All modes : 8sec. to 1/2000sec. with mechanical shutterContinuous shooting
TOP 5
approx. 1.5frame/sec. max. 5frames
TOP 23
approx. 4.5frame/sec. max. 23frames *
FINAL 5
approx. 1.5frame/sec. max. 5frames
FINAL 23
approx. 4.5frame/sec. max. 23frames *
* Image size S only, ISO 200 – 3200
Auto bracketing –Focus
mode
Single AF / Continuous AF
type
TTL contrast AF / Phase detection AF
AF frame selection
Center, Multi, Tracking
White balance
Auto, Custum, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light 1(Daylight), Fluorescent light 2(Warm White), Fluorescent light 3(Cool White), Incandescent light, Underwater
Self-timer 10sec. / 2sec. delay / Auto-shutter(dog, cat) / Auto releaseFlash
Auto flash(super i-flash)
Effective range: ( ISO 800)
Normal
Wide : Approx. 15cm – 3.2m / 0.5ft. – 10.5ft.
Telephoto : Approx. 90cm – 1.9m / 3.0ft. – 6.2ft.
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.
Hot shoe –Electronic Viewfinder
LCD monitor 3.0-inch, TFT Color LCD monitor, Approx. 460,000dots,(approx. 100% coverage)Movie recording 1280 (1280×720 : HD), 24frames/sec.
640 (640×480 : VGA), 30frames/sec.
with monaural sound
* Zoom function can be used during movie recording.
Shooting functions EXR mode (Auto / Resolution priority / High ISO & Low noise priority / Dynamic range priority), Face recognition, Face Detection, Auto red-eye removal, Film simulation, Dog / Cat detection,Power management, Framing guidline, Frame number memory, Advanced mode (Motion panorama360, Pro focus, Pro low light)
Playback functions Face Detection, Auto red-eye removal, Image search,Crop, Resize, Image rotate, Slide show, Multi-frame playback (with Microthumbnail), Autorotate playback, Voice memo Favorites, Photobook assistOther functions
PictBridge, Exif Print, PRINT Image Matching II, 31 Languages, Time difference, Silent mode
Terminal
Video output
NTSC/PAL selectable
Digital interface
USB 2.0 High-Speed
HD output
HDMI MICRO connectorPower supply
NP-50 Li-ion battery (included) / CP-50with AC power adapter AC-5VX (sold separately)Dimensions 103.5(W) x 59.2(H) x 32.6(D) mm /
4.1(W) x 2.3(H) x 1.3(D) in.
(Minimum thickness : 22.9mm / 0.9in.)Weight Approx. 195g / 6.9oz. (excluding battery and memory card)
Approx. 215g / 7.6oz. (including battery and memory card)Operating Temperature 0°C – +40°C / +32°F – +104°F
Operating Humidity 80% or less(no condensation)
Guide to the number of available frames for battery operation Approx. 250framesAccessories included
Li-ion battery NP-50
Battery charger BC-45W
Hand strap
A/V cable for the FinePix F300EXR
USB cable for the FinePix F300EXR
CD-ROMOptional accessories
Li-ion battery NP-50
Battery charger BC-45W
DC coupler CP-50
AC power adapter AC-5VX
HD player HDP-L1
