14 DAY TRIAL // Since camcorders capable of shooting videos in full high-definition resolution tend to become the standard nowadays, it was to be expected that HD recording would soon be implemented in digital cameras as well. And one of the first companies to go down this road is FujiFilm, which has just announced the FinePix S2000HD, a bridge/long zoom digital camera whose main points of attraction include the 10 megapixel CCD sensor, the 15x optical zoom lens, as well as the HD movie recording and output capabilities.
Before going deeper into the issue of HD recording, let's take a look at the imaging system of the S2000HD. The digital camera has been equipped with a 10 megapixel CCD sensor and RP Processor, accompanied by a Fujinon zoom lens, covering the 27.6-414mm range (equivalent to a 35mm camera) and providing a 15x magnification level.
The digital camera also offers a Dual Image Stabilisation mode, which combines mechanical image stabilization with high ISO 1600 (up to ISO 6400 at 5MP) in order to provide clear images, with as little blurring as possible. Like many other devices of its kind released lately, this model also includes Face Detection Technology, the camera being able to identify and prioritize up to 10 faces in a frame and then adjust the focus and exposure accordingly.
Other useful available features include Zoom Bracketing (three shots are taken at the single press of the button, at different degrees of magnification - original, 1.4x and 2.0 x), for easier, in-camera editing, as well as the Dual Shot Mode, in which the FinePix S2000HD quickly shoots two images in rapid succession - one with the flash and one without - and saves both.
As mentioned earlier, probably the most important selling point of the new digital camera from FujiFilm is represented by its capacity to capture true HD movies (at 1280 x 720 pixels). The FinePix S2000HD has the ability to shoot continuously at up to 13.5 frames per second with max 33 frames (3MP mode), in 16:9 format, and then display them directly on a widescreen HDTV, via the special output cable (available separately).
The FinePix S2000HD is slated to arrive at some point in September 2008 and will sell for around 300 US dollars, a price point that will make it quite competitive on the bridge digital camera market (especially since the final retail price will probably be even lower).
