Fujifilm annmounce FinePix E550 Zoom - a combination of form and function

The FinePix E550 Zoom heads up Fujifilm's new, no-nonsense 'E' range of digital cameras. Featuring manual controls and boasting major sensor refinements, the 6.3 megapixel FinePix E550 Zoom is a competitively-priced digital camera with tremendous hidden strength, giving the ideal balance of form and function.

Fujifilm has made great strides to develop its celebrated Super CCD HR sensor and processor technology for the FinePix E550 Zoom. This latest sensor enhancement gives the camera the capability of low sensitivity and a higher signal-to-noise ratio, both contributing to superb image quality.

Alongside powerful sensor improvements, the FinePix E550 Zoom features a 4x zoom lens, which gives a focal length equivalent to 32.5mm - 130mm on a 35mm camera, and a 6.3 million effective (12.3 million recorded output) pixel count. The high pixel output ensures that picture enlargements maintain exceptional sharpness and detail.

The FinePix E550 Zoom is housed in a sturdy metallic casing and has a 2" screen. The larger screen makes it easier to view photographic subjects, and also benefits those photographers that wish to view and edit their images on the move, without needing to preview them on a PC screen.

The new camera is also PictBridge compatible, which means that images can be printed directly from the camera, without the need for a PC.

The FinePix E550 Zoom will fit into your coat pocket and has a robust, easy-to-grip design that is great for photographers who find smaller cameras a little fiddly. The camera is perfect for enthusiasts and more serious photographers alike, with its range of manual features and uncompromising image quality.

Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm's Director of Consumer Products, said, "The E550 Zoom is something of a dark horse in that it combines major sensor refinements in a modest, pleasing design. We are continuing to improve and refine our cameras' sensor design and functions, which means that consumers are getting greater value for money than ever before. The new E range cameras are designed to be reliable and easy to use, yet powerful enough to give unrivalled performance."

FinePix E550 Zoom features at a glance

• Newly-developed Super CCD HR sensor with 6.3 million effective pixels (delivering 12.3 million recorded pixels)
  
• 4x optical zoom lens equivalent to 32.5mm - 130mm on a 35mm camera
  
• High resolution 2" LCD screen for extra clarity and detail
  
• Multiple exposure modes including aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes
  
• RAW file format enabling unprocessed file saving
  
• Low sensitivity setting of ISO 80 for photography in bright conditions with low noise
  
• High quality 640 x 480 movie mode at 30 frames per second with sound
  
• A/V socket for playback on a compatible TV
  
• Powered by 2 x AA batteries
  
• xD-Picture Card providing large storage capacity, lower power consumption and fast write speeds (16MB to 512MB capacities currently available)
  
• PictBridge compatibility for direct printing without a PC
  
  

Specifications of Finepix E550 Zoom

Number of effective pixels	6.3 million effective pixels
CCD sensor	1/1.7 inch Super CCD HR Number of total pixels: 6.63 million
Number of recorded pixels:	Still image: 4,048 x 3,040 (12.3 million) / 2,848 x 2,136 / 2,048 x 1, 536 / 1,600 x 1,200 / 640 x 480 pixels Movie: 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per second with monaural sound
File formats	Still image: JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2) Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG) (Design Rule for Camera File System Compliant / DPOF compatible)
Storage media	xD-Picture Card (16MB to 512MB capacities currently available)
Lens	Fujinon 4x optical zoom lens f/2.8 - f/5.6
Lens focal length	7.2 - 28.8mm. Equivalent to 32.5 - 130mm
Focus	Auto focus (Area, Centre, Multi) / Manual focus / Continuous AF
Focus range	Normal: 60cm to infinity Macro: 7.5cm - 80cm
Shutter speed	3sec. - 1/2000 sec depending on exposure mode
Aperture	Wide-angle: F2.8 - F8 (1/3 EV steps) Telephoto: F5.6 - F8 (1/3 EV steps)
Exposure control	64-zone TTL metering-multi, spot, average
Sensitivity	Auto: equivalent to ISO 80 - 640 Manual: equivalent to ISO 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 (resolution fixed at 3M / 2M / 0.3M for shots taken at ISO 800)
White balance	Automatic Manual (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent Light (Daylight), Fluorescent Light (Warm White) Fluorescent Light (Cool White), Incandescent Light, Custom
Flash	Auto flash using flash control sensor Effective range: wide angle 0.6m - 4.5m Telephoto 0.6m - 2.2m Flash Mode: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction + Slow Synchro
Viewfinder	Real image optical, approx. 77% coverage
LCD monitor	2.0-inch low-temperature poly-silicon TFT (approx. 154,000 pixels) Approx. 96% coverage
Self-timer	Approx 2/ 10 sec
Video out	NTSC/PAL selectable
Digital interface	USB 2.0 (High Speed)
Terminal	Multiple connector (for USB & AV cables, cradle - included with camera), power input socket
Power source	2 x AA batteries
Dimensions	105 (W) x 63 (H) x 34.4 (D) mm
Weight	200g (excluding batteries and media)
Camera functions
Digital zoom ratio (shooting / playback mode)	4,048 x 3,040: Shooting -, Playback 21.1 2,848 x 2,136: Shooting 1.4, Playback 14.8 2,048 x 1,536: Shooting 2.0, Playback 10.7 1,600 x 1,200: Shooting 2.5, Playback 8.3 640 x 480: Shooting 6.3, Playback 3.3
Shooting modes	Normal: Auto, Scene Position (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night Scene) Continuous: " Top 4: Max. 3 frames / sec. up to 4 frames " Final 4: Max. 3 frames / sec. up to 4 frames " Long period: Max. 1.6 frames / sec up to 40 frames. Only at 2M mode (1,600 x 1,200 pixels) Auto bracketing
Playback	Single frame (with max. 30x playback zoom), 12 multi-frame, displayed by date
Colour modes	B&W / Chrome / Standard
Voice memo	Up to 30 sec. WAV format
Accessories included	16MB xD-Picture Card 2x AA batteries Battery charger Hand strap USB cable AV cable Cradle Adaptor for FinePix E550 Zoom CD-ROM containing: - USB driver - FinePix Viewer - ImageMixer VCD2 for FinePix - RAW File Converter LE
Optional accessories	xD-Picture Card: 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512MB capacities currently available AC power adaptor: AC-3V (cannot be used as battery charger for this model) Battery Pack NH-10 (can be charged with PictureCradle CP-FXA10) PC Card Adaptor (DPC-AD) CompactFlash Card Adaptor (DPC-CF) USB Pen Drive/xD-Picture Card Reader (DPC-UD1) Fujifilm 7-in-1 Memory Card Reader (DCR-71) xD-MP3 Card Reader/MP3 Player PictureCradle CP-FXA10 - Includes AC-3VW and rechargeable battery NH-10 - NH-10 (included): charged in PictureCradle CP-FXA10 Tele conversion lens (TL-FXE01) Wide conversion lens (WL-FXE01) Adaptor ring (AR-FXE02) Soft case