Fuji announce FinePix F601 Zoom

The FinePix F601 Zoom is the successor to the popular FinePix 6800 Zoom, one of the best selling cameras of 2001.

New features at a glance:

• New 3rd Generation Super CCD sensor and advanced LSI algorithm (3.1 million effective pixels) producing class-leading 6.03 million recorded pixels (2,832 x 2,128)
• Full photographic control including full manual exposure, aperture & shutter priority,
  advanced focus and metering options
• Ultra-high sensitivity of 160-1600 ISO
• All-new stylish, ultra compact & lightweight design
• High speed shooting at up to 5 frames per second
• New USB PictureCradle for fast and easy image download and battery recharge
• New easy-to-use Graphical User Interface

3rd Generation Super CCD and advanced LSI for stunning image quality
At the heart of the FinePix F601 Zoom lies the 3rd Generation Super CCD sensor. This latest incarnation of Fujifilms unique technology offers significant improvements in sensitivity (up to 1600 ISO*) and even lower levels of noise. The higher sensitivity of the new Super CCD system brings with it several significant benefits, especially in challenging lighting situations. Fujifilm has managed to overcome the most serious problem associated with higher sensitivity - that increasing sensitivity generally amplifies unwanted noise in the image. The the 3rd generation Super CCD system resolves this problem through the use of Fujifilms new Noise Reduction Technology, which utilises a new LSI to process both the luminescence and chroma information from captured images before removing the noise element.

As a result, the 3rd generation Super CCD system offers high sensitivity shooting while maintaining picture quality. Fujifilm has also newly developed a Pixel Data Coupling Technology that is applied by the new LSI to realise the higher sensitivities.
In addition, a new auto white balance algorithm guarantees perfect colour by incorporating focus distance information into the calculation, whilst a new digital signal processing system improves sharpness without increasing noise.

The 3rd generation Super CCD is not just a new CCD, but reflects a comprehensive improvement in overall image quality through consideration of the complete system, including the CCD and the new LSI featuring an advanced image-processing algorithm.

Powerful multimedia
The FinePix F601 Zoom has a greatly improved movie recording function and can record high quality VGA size (640 x 480 pixels) movies at 15 frames per second. The high sensitivity of the 3rd Generation Super CCD boosts low light movie capture significantly, meaning moving images are brighter and less noisy. The FinePix F601 Zoom also can record up to 33 minutes of audio on a 16MB card and up to 272 minutes using a 128MB card and offers 30-second voice captioning capabilities. Use of the supplied USB PictureCradle also allows the camera to be used as a PC webcam for video conferencing.

High style, high specification
The FinePix F601 Zoom takes Fujifilms signature upright styling - which has proved so popular in previous models, including the FinePix 6800 and 4800 Zoom cameras - to new heights. Ultra compact - yet offering excellent handling - the FinePix F601 Zoom is even more compact and portable than the FinePix 6800 Zoom. Like its predecessor, the FinePix F601 Zoom comes complete with a USB PictureCradle that charges the Lithium Ion battery and automatically transfers images from the SmartMedia card to the computer.

New to the FinePix F601 Zoom is the inclusion of a full range of photographic features, allowing the serious photographer to enjoy the portability of a stylish compact camera without compromising their desire for photographic control. Features of note include AF Area Focus, Manual Focus, Aperture and Shutter Priority Auto and Full Manual exposure. Of course not everyone wants to fiddle around with focus and exposure, so the FinePix F601 Zoom also features a fully automatic mode as well as four special scene modes (Portrait, Sports, Scene and Night Scene). A newly redesigned full colour Graphical User Interface (GUI) makes using the FinePix F601 Zooms plethora of features childs play.

The Super EBC Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens covers a range equivalent to 36-108mm on a 35mm camera - enhanced by a digital zoom of up to 4.4x - allowing photographers a great deal of shooting versatility.

The FinePix F601 Zoom is the most highly specified ultra-compact digital camera we have ever produced, comments Michelle da Gama, Fujifilms UK Digital Imaging Marketing Manager. Never before has such a powerful set of features been available in such a small, stylish and easy to use package.

Complete out-of-the-box solution
The FinePix F601 Zoom is supplied with a full complement of accessories PictureCradle USB docking/recharging cradle, long life Lithium Ion battery, 16MB SmartMedia card, strap, lens cap, case and all necessary cables. The supplied software CD includes USB drivers, Fujifilms FinePix Viewer for image browsing and corrections, DP Editor, and VideoImpression for movie editing.

Optional accessories include SmartMedia cards (4-128MB), Mains adapter, Memory card readers.