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(Credit: Fujifilm)

Fujifilm's FinePix Real 3D W1 camera and system is hitting the U.S., the company announced Wednesday. Introduced globally over the summer, the FinePix Real 3D system appears to be the world's first 3D digital imaging system that captures 3D still photographs and movies, providing images that users can enjoy without special 3D glasses.

You can read a hands-on review here by CNET's Leonard Goh.

Also Wednesday, Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer of Nvidia, declared the FinePix Real 3D camera "Nvidia 3D vision-ready" during the company's GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, Calif. Nvidia 3D Vision is a combination of high-tech wireless glasses and advanced software that lets users view 3D pictures and movies in full HD on a PC, as well as automatically transforms hundreds of PC games into full stereoscopic 3D.

(Credit: Fujifilm)

With Polaroid killing off its instant-film business in favor of its Zink printing technology, Fujifilm saw a hole it could fill with its instant-film cameras. The first Instax camera arrived in November 2008, and Wednesday the company announced the arrival of the Instax Mini 7S.

The 7S features:

• Automatic built-in flash for low-light shooting
• 1/60-second electronic shutter
• LED exposure indicator
• Silken white finish
• Measures 5 inches by 5 inches by 2.5 inches (HWD)

The camera uses Fujifilm's Mini Instax 2-inch by 3-inch film with a printed area of 1.8 inches by 2.4 inches. It's an ISO 800 speed with a glossy finish and, at that size, hopefully very little visible graininess. A 10 pack runs $19.99, though, which is kind of prohibitive for regular shooting.

I'm pretty sure it's the same camera that was being sold at Urban Outfitters earlier this year, but regardless, this one will be available at more than one retail location in September for $95.99 (which again seems like a steep price for a niche market).

(Credit: CNET Asia)

Apart from announcing the Super CCD EXR technology at the Cologne-based Photokina imaging trade show last year, Fujifilm also showcased a prototype of a 3D digital camera. In the past, you would have needed stereoscopic shooters which are typically film-based. Digital versions of such snappers require you to fix two similar cameras side-by-side and press the shutter at the same time. You then need to print the pictures and use special accessories such as 3D glasses or dedicated computer programs to view the images in 3D. All that is about to change with the FinePix Real 3D W1, possibly the world's first consumer 3D digicam.

The W1 is one large point-and-shoot, measuring 123.6 x 68 x 25.6mm. In fact, it's even bigger than the Samsung Omnia II handphone. It weighs 304g with the lithium-ion battery and SD memory media, which is about the same as the Olympus E-P1. Before you shun this camera for its physique, bear in mind that the W1 requires a lot more electrical circuitry and components than conventional shooters to meet its unique 3D imagery function.

The W1 features a front sliding lens cover which protects the two lenses when not in use. It slides open and shut with an assuring clunk. The dual-lens design is eye-catching and each optic is flanked by a microphone (for stereo audio capture). An interesting aspect of the glasses is that they are spaced approximately the same distant apart as the human eyes, so the view you see on the LCD is a good representation of the actual scene.

The camera's build is solid and probably designed to be held with two hands. The wide berth of the W1 allows the controls to be spaced far apart with the 2.8-inch screen in the center.

The controls of the W1 are reminiscent of the FinePix Z33WP. Both point-and-shoots have the same grid-like button layout and are covered with a soft, rubbery finish. The top houses the shutter button and a zoom lever which tilts left and right. There is also an infrared port which we presume is for sending pictures to other compatible Fujifilm FinePix cameras or accessories.

For more, see CNET Asia

The new Fujifilm S200EXR megazoom

(Credit: Fujifilm)

Fujifilm and Olympus have separately announced several new cameras. All of the new models are previewed below.

Fujifilm brings EXR sensor to its megazoom line
The replacement for the FinePix S100FS has the same lens but incorporates Fujifilm's latest version of its Super CCD.
(Posted in Crave by Lori Grunin)
July 21, 2009 9:01 PM PDT

Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR: Souped-up pocket megazoom is mode-alicious
The 10x zoom FinePix F70EXR gets new shooting features thanks to its Super CCD EXR sensor.
(Posted in Crave by Joshua Goldman)
July 21, 2009 9:01 PM PDT

Fujifilm rolls out four tiny cameras with tiny prices
While a lot of the exciting new features and designs come to point-and-shoots above $200, most of the buying happens at and below that price points. So while these four new models from Fujifilm aren't exciting, they are inexpensive, look decent, and have the requisite specs and features for their class.
(Posted in Crave by Joshua Goldman)
July 21, 2009 9:01 PM PDT

The Olympus FE-5020 shows off its slim profile

(Credit: Olympus)

Latest Olympus FE cameras use microSD
Olympus' trio of Fall FE cameras, the company's budget snapshooters, don't break any new ground but they're shiny and come in bright colors. Most notably, they all offer dual card slots so you're not forced to use Olympus'/Fujifilm's xD-Picture cards.
(Posted in Crave by Lori Grunin)
July 21, 2009 9:00 PM PDT

What's long, wide, and thin and takes xD cards? (Answer: The Olympus Stylus-7010)
In case you haven't been paying attention, the gotta-have-it trend in compact cameras is a wide-angle, long-zoom lens, such as the one in the 1-inch-thick Olympus Stylus-7010. Available in August in a choice of dark gray, silver, or pink, the 7010 has just about every feature we look for in a pocket camera in its class.
(Posted in Crave by Joshua Goldman)
July 21, 2009 9:00 PM PDT

(Credit: Fujifilm Corp.)

A bit lighter, a bit smaller, and with an improved sensor, the Fujifilm S200EXR replaces the S100FS at the top of the company's megazoom line. Though it uses the same lens as its predecessor--the effective focal lengths differ because of the differences in sensor size--the new model incoporates Fujifilms latest generation of sensor, dubbed Super CCD EXR, which debuted in the F200EXR. (The S200EXR has the same sensor-related features, such as High Resolution Priority, D-Range Priority, High ISO & Low Noise Priority, and Auto EXR modes, which you can read about in the F200EXR review.)

Here's how it stacks up to some of the competition:

The body remains very similar to the S100FS. Fujifilm takes a leaf out of Sony's book with its Pro Low-light mode, which snaps a burst of frames and combines them into a single lower-noise image, plus adds a Pro Focus mode which merges several photos and defocuses the background to simulate a shallow depth of field. The newer model also supports raw+JPEG shooting.

(Credit: Fujifilm Corp.)

Given the relatively high price, you're paying a lot for the sensor performance, because the S200EXR can't keep up on the other features. Though it has a full set of manual and semimanual exposure options like its predecessor, its movie capture specs are pretty disappointing--monoaural VGA without zoom capability--and the LCD is fixed.

Still, photo quality has traditionally been the weakest aspect of megazoom cameras, so it'll be interesting to see how it compares in that respect to the current crop.

Click for larger view

(Credit: Fujifilm)

The 10-megapixel Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR is only 1.1 inches thick when closed, but tucked in its belly is a long-and-wide 10x f3.3-F5.6 27-270mm lens. And as its name implies, it features the company's Super CCD EXR sensor that debuted in the FinePix F200EXR.

With that sensor comes some unique shooting modes for improving low-light shooting and dynamic range, as well as traditional Scene, Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, and Manual modes.

This model, as well as the S200EXR announced Wednesday, include new Super CCD EXR modes using Multi Frame Technology. One of the modes, Pro Focus, creates a shallow depth of field by combining a focused shot of the subject and out-of-focus background and foreground shots. The other mode, called Pro Low-light, uses bursts of four, high-sensitivity photos and then overlaps them creating a single photo with lower noise. It's all very exciting.

All of this excitement comes at a cost, though. Though the camera is capable of 10-megapixel stills, the EXR functions require splitting that resolution in half, with the exception of the High Resolution mode. Then there's the actual cost that comes in at $279.95 when it's available in August.

Of course, if it performs as well as the FinePix F200EXR, it'll probably be one of the better pocket megazooms available.

FinePix Z37

(Credit: Fujifilm)

While a lot of the exciting new features and designs come to point-and-shoots above $200, most of the buying happens at and below that price points. So while these four new models from Fujifilm aren't exciting, they are inexpensive, look decent, and have the requisite specs and features for their class.

The A170 and A220 are 10- and 12-megapixel cameras, respectively, each featuring a 3x zoom lens, 2.7-inch LCD, and are AA-battery powered. They have Fujifilm's brand of auto scene recognition called SR Auto as well as face detection and panorama shooting with in-camera stitching. There's only a $10 difference between the two, with the A170 at $89.95 and A220 at $99.95.

The FinePix J38 drops the AA batteries in favor of a slimmer, more fashionable design. Available in black only, it's a 12-megapixel ultracompact with a 3x zoom lens, and a 2.7-inch LCD, and it too has SR Auto and face detection for less than $130.

Lastly, the FinePix Z37 is basically a nonwaterproof version of the Z33WP, which itself is a nice little camera once you adjust to the squished controls on back. (Check the slide show below to see what I mean.) Kind of a competitor to Nikon's S220, it's a 10-megapixel ultracompact with a 3x zoom lens, 2.7-inch LCD, and, you guessed it, SR Auto and face detection and available in blue, green, or violet. It also has a Blog mode, which just scales down the resolution of stills and video so you don't have to think about it, making posts to the Web easier. Its starting price is $149.95.

The A170 is available late July, while the A220, J38, and Z37 arrive throughout August.

Photos: Fujifilm Fall 2009 point-and-shoot cameras

LAS VEGAS--It's probably the least stylish digital camera on display here at PMA 2009, but it's also one of the most unusual.

The 3D prototype camera from Fujifilm sports two lenses.

(Credit: Erica Ogg/CNET)

As a result, Fujifilm is getting a lot of attention at its booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center with its FinePix Real 3D camera, even though it first showed the unit at Photokina last fall. It's just a prototype, but the point-and-shoot camera is capable of taking and displaying 3D photos.

The camera has two lenses, which take two different images. Then Fujifilm's RP Processor 3D takes the two images and combines them to create a single image on the fly. When you want to review the photo, you click the 3D button and the camera's internal backlighting system on the display will make the image 3D. The lighting system is Fujifilm's own light direction control module, which controls how light hits a person's right and left eyes individually.

Fujifilm has been working on getting 3D technology into its camera products for five years, according to Shizuo Habuta, a manager in the electronic imaging products division at Fujifilm. Besides, the point-and-shoot also has a system for printing 3D photos as well as a 3D viewer in the works.

The viewer will display pics in 3D using a special backlighting system.

(Credit: Erica Ogg/CNET)

The question, of course, is whether there's any consumer-level need for 3D digital photos.

"We don't know yet," Habuta said Tuesday. "But 3D is the most interesting technology for entertainment right now." He pointed to the increasing variety of movies being distributed in 3D, as well as an anticipated move toward 3D gaming. Fujifilm is assuming digital still photos will be next.

Even if not, the company is using the prototype to show what it's capable of developing in its labs, he added. "This is a challenge for us."

(Credit: Fujifilm)

The FinePix Z33WP from Fujifilm is pretty much the same as the Z30 digital camera the company announced Tuesday as well. The key difference being the Z33WP is waterproof down to 10 feet. What's nice is the extra protection only adds $20 to the price.

The 10-megapixel camera also features a 2.7-inch LCD and 3X optical zoom with shooting options including face detection, automatic scene recognition, a Blog Mode that automatically resizes things for Web sharing, and separate still photo and movie shutter buttons.

The camera, available in green, pink, and black, hits stores in late March for $199.95.