March 11th, 2010

Instant film isn't dead – it's just weird and expensive

The Polaroid saga is a long and strange one. And the last couple years have been especially strange. Bankrupt, reanimated, relaunched, sold out, bought up… I wouldn’t be surprised if Polaroid showed up on Dancing With The Stars.

They keep saying they’re coming back, but I’ll believe it when I see it. In the mean time, your options for instant film are depressingly limited, and it’ll cost you a… → Read More

February 2nd, 2010

Fujifilm unleashes a torrent of digital cameras

Whoa. You go to bed in a world without many Fujifilm cameras and wake up in a world blessed with a dozen new ones! We begin with the interesting ones – basically the FinePix XP10 rugged model, shown above, and the hubristic HS10, a 30X optical zoom wannabe D-SLR camera that shoots in HD. Otherwise you’re looking at a long, dark spring ahead. As for the rest of these meh-too cameras… → Read More

January 27th, 2010

A gaggle of FujiFilm FinePix cameras leak

Hmmm, unannounced digital cameras. Got to love the Internet. Anyway, LetsGoDigital dug up details about four tasty FujiFilm FinePix cameras. These aren’t just Wal-Mart specials, either. Oh no, take notice, these boys are nice, especially the S2500HD with an 18x optical zoom and 720p recording mode. Hit the jump for pics and details. → Read More

January 22nd, 2010

Fujifilm and IBM develop magnetic tape that stores 35TB

Fujifilm and IBM today announced they jointly developed a technology that makes it possible to store 35TB of data on a single magnetic tape. The companies say the tape can store the “text of 35 million books, which would require 248 miles (399 km) of bookshelves”. 35TB is about 44 times as much as previously possible. → Read More

July 22nd, 2009

The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W1 becomes official, includes 3D movie mode

Time published a bunch of info about Fujifilm’s upcoming 3D consumer camera system early last week. The mag talked about how how the FinePix Real 3D W1 the next best thing, which I claimed was doubtful considering its price, but one small detail was left out: this camera can also record 3D movies. That’s sweet.

Update: More pics of the camera and system after the jump. → Read More

July 13th, 2009

Fujifilms's 3D camera is expensive, will probably not catch on

We like innovative products as much as the next nerd, but we’re thinking that Fuji might be beyond its time with this 3D camera. It sounds sweet. The Fujifilm camera can produce 3D pics by using two lens that are spaced out a lot like human eyes. It then uses fancy software to combine the two images into one 3D picture that can then be viewed on either a special digital photo frame or on a special… → Read More

June 12th, 2009

Fujifilm's Z300 offers touchscreen shooting

Fujifilm yesterday announced [JP] the FinePix Z300 for the Japanese market, a digital camera that lets users snap pictures by touching the target object on the LCD screen on its backside. The Z300 can focus the shot by itself so that even beginners can make decent photos. → Read More

March 5th, 2009

Fujifilm F200EXR starts shipping this weekend

Booyah! Amazon just updated their Fujiflim F200EXR page with an availability date. The most promising and probably the best point and shoot available will start shipping March 7th. We can’t wait to see what that EXR sensor can do. → Read More

February 23rd, 2009

More sample images from a Fujifilm F200EXR emerge [Update]

Dpreview has just posted a batch of sample images from a pre-production and production F200EXR. They certainly look better than this original batch, but we’ll need more time to sift through them.

My initial impression is that picture quality is very sharp, but it gets a bit noisy at higher ISO settings. What do you photogs think?

Update: Here’s a little commentary from my brother based on… → Read More

February 17th, 2009

Fujifilm updates the FinePix S1000, calls it the FinePix S1500

I’m not a fan of these ‘bridge’ cameras, but there’s a reason why camera companies keep updating or putting out new ones. They’re ‘widlly popular’ as Fuji says of its FinePix S1000. The S1500 is a 10-megapixel shooter with a 12x optical zoom, dual image stabilization and SR Auto (auto scene recog). It will make its debut next month for $250. → Read More

February 15th, 2009

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR available for pre-order

Fuji’s highly anticipated follow up to the F30, the F200EXR, is available now for pre-order from Amazon. Sure, it’s a $400 point and shoot, but if it’s even marginally better than the F30 then we’re all in for a treat. Check out test shots here. Ideally, we’d really like to see these sample images at 100 percent with crops at ISO 800 and 1600 to see what it’s really capable of. But until we have… → Read More

February 4th, 2009

Fujifilm's fine new F200EXR features that sexy new sensor

A long time ago, on a site design far, far away from the current one, we mentioned that Fujifilm was preparing to release a totally awesome new sensor for point-and-shoots.

A fundamental reorganization of the photodiode pattern results in… well, if you want to know, read the post. But the point is that they’ve made a more intelligent sensor instead of just packing more megapixels in, and this… → Read More

September 30th, 2008

Fujifilm's new CCD may be just crazy enough to work

Fujifilm has shown (will show, rather, if this technique works) that there’s still a lot of play on the lowest levels of sensor design. With all the new facilities cameras enjoy such as face detection and touchscreen interfaces, it’s easy to forget that we haven’t peaked in terms of the underlying technology, in many cases CCDs. The way photodiode arrays are laid out seems like… → Read More

September 25th, 2008

Fujifilm unveils world's first digital camera for 3D photos

Another world first from Japan: Fujifilm announced yesterday [JP] it has developed the world’s first digital camera capable of producing three-dimensional photos. The camera can also be used to make conventional photos. Fujifilm’s prototype features two lenses and combines a set of pictures to display a 3D picture on the 3D screen instantly. All that users have to do is press the… → Read More

August 1st, 2008

Fujifilm F60fd specs leaked online

Photos and specs of several new Fujifilm digital cameras have hit the Web in the past several hours. Among them, the F60fd. (The full breadth and width of the leaks are right now being discussed on the DP Review forums, if you’re so inclined.) That fuzzy photo there is the F60fd, by way of some online merchant, which can safely be compared to the just-anounced Pentax Optio M60. The specs… → Read More

July 31st, 2008

FujiFilm Glam Cam expands face detection, looks marvelous

Aiming for style, FujiFilm today unveiled the FinePix Z200fd. The new “glam cam” has a range of features that digital camera owners have come to expect, and added a couple of new ones. The camera looks cool, no doubt about it, but Fuji hopes to attract buyers with more than just style. The 10 MP camera sports a 5X optical lens, a 2.7” LCD screen and sensitivity settings up to ISO 1600. → Read More

July 23rd, 2008

Nintendo starting up a Wii photo-sharing service

The report is incredibly vague, but apparently Nintendo is going to be partnering with Fujifilm to create a new online photo-sharing service. Doubtless it will be a place where you can get business cards of your Miis, printouts of your record times on Mario Kart, and maybe posters of your favorite panoramas from Zelda. I look forward to seeing my friends’ entire apartments plastered with Mii… → Read More

July 17th, 2008

Fujifilm Launches Z20fd Social Network: Because cameras need community too

In what can only be described as a grand experiment, Fujifilm has teamed up with Ning.com to create a social network, ZSpotNow.com, based around a single digital camera. The Z20fd is a 10-megapixel point and shoot that comes in multiple fun colors and a special blog mode that reduces and resizes images for upload to blogs and email lists. It also records MPEG4 video and can upload directly to… → Read More

May 27th, 2008

The Fujifilm Z200fd: a perfectly decent, thin little point-and-shoot

At 2cm thick, this little Fujifilm is a slick little piece of hardware. I generally trust the camera-based brands like Pentax and such when it comes to cameras, but this looks like a pretty decent one. It’s 10 megapixels, with a 5x optical zoom on probably a cut-rate lens, image stabilization (good for a small thing like that), and a wealth of “entertaining and versatile… → Read More

May 22nd, 2008

Self-timer for lovers in new FujiFilm FinePix Z200fd

FujiFilm will start selling its newest digital camera, the FinePix Z200fd, in Japan on June 7th (MSRP: $390). It comes with a 10-megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom lens and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. SD/SDHC and xD cards are supported. The Z200fd boasts an ISO range from 64 to 1,600. One function distinguishing the new FujiFilm model from other cameras is the self-timer for lovers (“ai suru… → Read More

March 29th, 2008

Fujifilm to track sensitive backup data via embedded GPS

Imagine you’re Visa. You’ve got terabytes of personal data on millions of customers, and it all has to go somewhere. The cheapest solution is tape storage, which you keep in a secure room and write all that sensitive stuff to. Then, when the time comes to archive it somewhere cool and dry, like a storage facility, you put it on the truck, and it disappears en route. Uh oh, spaghettios! → Read More

November 1st, 2007

Party report: Fuji spent a whole lotta money to promote the Finepix Z10fd

Photo courtesy of this guy. Consumer electronics companies go to incredible lengths to get their name “out there,” where “there” is any number of media outlets… even this one! Last week, Fujifilm held a little get together at Irving Plaza in New York to promote its youth-oriented FinePix Z10fd point-and-shoot. Being as clever as I am, I quickly made the connection… → Read More

August 14th, 2007

10 Days of CrunchGear Giveaway: Fujifilm Z10fd

Bloops. Sorry. The Samsung L74 wide wasn’t ready to go yet but I’ve got something better for you. How about a Fujifilm Z10fd. This little beastie has face detection so your grandma will be in focus and her cat won’t. Unless her cat has a human face. → Read More

June 8th, 2007

Fujifilm Z5fd Review

I’ve been watching former film camera manufacturers struggle to grab a piece of the digital camera market for a few years now and, at this stage in the game, I’ve been fairly impressed. Take Fujifilm, for example. Long known for their great film and prints, the former giant has had to contend with digital ninjas like Canon and Nikon while still remaining solvent. I’ve tried a few… → Read More

March 9th, 2007

Fujifilm FinePix S700: Entry-level long-zoom?

Priced at a low $249, the Fujifilm FinePix S700 heads near budget territory on pricing, but in features comes close to other newly announced long-zoom models. The 7.1-megapixel camera has a 10x optical zoom with image stabilization and one of the finest LCDs we saw on the PMA floor (it was trumped only by the 3.5-inch beauty on the Sony G1, which we’ll have full video of posted soon). → Read More

March 9th, 2007

Fujifilm A820, A900: 8 or 9 Megapixels, Less Than $200

Everyone seems to be downplaying the importance of megapixels lately, and while we don’t disagree they shouldn’t be wholly ignored because it’s still a reflection on image quality. Case in point, Fujifilm’s newest compact budget shooters, the A820 and A900, which offer the company’s 8- and 9-megapixel Super CCD HR image sensors, respectively. The A820 carries a price… → Read More

February 22nd, 2007

Fujifilm's $249 10x Optical Zoom S700

Fujifilm announced three cameras today, the entry-level Fujifilm FinePix A820 (8MP) and Fujifilm FinePix A900 (9MP) shooters and the FinePix S700, which is a budget-minded compact SLR-style digital camera with a 10x optical zoom. Crucial specs include a 7MP CCD sensor, a 2.5-inch LCD and electronic viewfinder, and ISO up to 1600. It also uses the company’s i-Flash that adjusts the strength… → Read More

January 19th, 2007

CES 2007: Dear Diary…Hump Day Part One

It’s finally Wednesday, January 10. It’s my last day of meetings. Seven of them in a row starting bright and early with Akimbo and their CEO who’s named same as me. Put simply, Akimbo is a content provider. They deliver Web-based video to TVs. They’re not trying to replace broadcast, satellite, or cable TV, but offer options that are more tailored for your personal… → Read More

December 15th, 2006

FujiFilm FinePix S6000fd Hands On

You’re past that awkward point and shoot stage but you’re not yet ready to pull the trigger on a full DSLR. What’s a poor photo buff to do? What you need is a super-zoom camera, something like a DSLR and something like a point and shoot but with a powerful zoom lens and some high-end features. What you need is the FinePix S6000fd from FujiFilm. → Read More

November 8th, 2006

Holidays 2006: The Season's Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Basically every digital camera that’s not a digital SLR (dSLR) is a point-and-shoot camera. From there though, the camera model types get more segmented by features as well as by size: compact, ultra-compact, advanced/enthusiast and super-zoom. And with so many models of each type on the market, we decided it was about time we broke down and told you about some of our favorites. → Read More