FinePix

Episode 41: Underwater iPhones and rugged cameras

Most of you are probably just gearing up for your summer vacations, but we here at Always On have already had ours. It's all for you, dear viewers; it's all for you. On this week's episode, we visited Hawaii's Big Island to road-test gadgets meant for sun and water fun. And not to be all lowest-common-denominator, but that last sentence basically translates to an entire episode filmed in swimsuits. Just saying.

First up, we went snorkeling with three underwater cases for the iPhone: the $20 Proporta BeachBuoy, the $89 Hitcase, and the $329 iGills SE-35, to … Read more

Fujifilm XP200, S8400W adds more Wi-Fi to FinePix line

Continuing to focus on its pockets of growth for point-and-shoots, Fujifilm announced today two new FinePix models, the XP200 and S8400W.

An update to 2012's rugged XP170, the XP200 gets better waterproofing, now able to shoot down to 50 feet, and is still shockproof to about 6.6 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and dustproof. It has a redesigned battery door with a dial-locking mechanism to help keep the seal tighter than simple sliding locks.

Other improvements include a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3-inch, 920K-dot-resolution LCD, and a new burst-shooting button for capturing shots at up to 10 … Read more

Ultracompact megazoom cameras compared

Zoom lenses sell cameras these days, so it's no surprise that manufacturers are doing everything they can to get longer lenses into increasingly smaller bodies.

A 3x or 5x zoom lens used to be the standard for ultracompact cameras -- those measuring 1 inch thick or slimmer -- but in 2012, you can easily find a skinny point-and-shoot with a 10x optical zoom.

The frontrunner here is the sub-$250 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 thanks to its excellent features, fast autofocus, and the quality of its pictures and video (though its color accuracy could be better). Most of the category consists of sub-$200 cameras, though, so there are several options if you're just looking for a simple pocket camera with a long lens.… Read more

Fujifilm X100 verdict: The next one should be great

From a market standpoint, the pricey Fujifilm FinePix X100 is a bit of an oddball. Though we traditionally call models like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 or Canon PowerShot G12 "large sensor" compacts, their CCDs are relatively tiny compared to the APS-C-size CMOS in the X100. ILCs like the Sony Alpha NEX or Samsung NX series have APS-C sensors, but they're higher resolution with smaller photosites. The X100 also sports a prime lens with a 35mm-equivalent focal length, while the less expensive, more mainstream-focused compact models incorporate zoom lenses; no matter how short the zoom range, a prime … Read more

Unboxing the Fujifilm FinePix X100

The much talked about and hyped Fujifilm FinePix X100 has finally arrived. In CNET Asia's offices, at least. If you haven't heard about the X100 before, here's a quick brief history of it and why it's one of the most anticipated snappers this year.

The X100 was announced last year at the Photokina imaging trade show, and it stole the limelight with its retro styling. It looks like a rangefinder camera from the past, giving it a nostalgic feel.

What's also interesting about this FinePix is its hybrid viewfinder: It combines both optical and electronic viewfinders in a single component. More about this in the hands-on that we'll put up soon, so check back for that. … Read more

Fujifilm reveals more information about the X100

In September, Fujifilm showed off the X100 at the Photokina trade show in Germany. Aside from several mockup units and prototypes on display, the company was tight-lipped when pressed for more details. Since then, the hype for this camera has waned, but the firm just revived interest by releasing more information regarding the FinePix's specifications.

According to the Japanese camera maker, the X100 will have three focusing modes: manual, single autofocus, and continuous autofocus. In manual-focus setting, photographers can rotate the focusing ring around the lens to focus on the subject. Using the hybrid viewfinder, users can magnify a portion of the scene to check if the frame is sharp.

There will also be a dedicated RAW button. When you press the button in JPEG mode, the camera will capture in both RAW and JPEG. Included with the snapper is the SilkyPix RAW software which lets users convert RAW photos to common formats such as JPEG. … Read more

Quick Take: Fujifilm FinePix S1800

CNET did not review the Fujifilm FinePix S1800, but we did review the Fujifilm FinePix S2550HD, which is very similar.

Both 12-megapixel models feature a Fujinon 18x zoom and 28-504mm-equivalent lens, HD movie recording (720p), mechanical sensor-shift image stabilization, and a 3-inch LCD and electronic viewfinder. The S2550HD, however, has a Mini-HDMI out for connecting directly to an HDTV or monitor, which will cost you roughly $30 more. However, the key components are the same, so we expect that the shooting performance and photo quality would be identical.

The S1800 does have a couple extras to make you think twice … Read more