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PRESS RELEASE: Kyocera Japan Introduces Finecam S3R
(This document was translated from the Japanese press release.)
November 19, 2003
Kyocera Corporation (President: Yasuo Nishiguchi) has announced that the Kyocera Finecam S3R compact digital camera with 3.17 million effective pixels is to be released on December 2, 2003. The camera provides high-speed, full-memory consecutive shooting at approximately 3.1 frames per second, and features high image quality. This release augments the lineup of the Kyocera Finecam series.
 Finecam S3R (Silver) |
Like the Kyocera Finecam S5R released last August and the Kyocera Finecam SL300R released last October, the Kyocera Finecam S3R incorporates the Company's proprietary image processing system, RTUNE, providing full-memory, consecutive shooting at approximately 3.1 frames/second and high image quality with fine gradations. The camera also features a full range of functions, such as a maximum 8.4x zoom (consisting of an optical 3x zoom lens and a digital 2.8x zoom) and a function for recording moving images in VGA size with audio. The new compact digital camera combines a high-speed drive that allows you to capture every photo opportunity and high-quality image reproduction.
| Product name | KYOCERA Finecam S3R | | Body color | Silver, red, blue
(* Red body color model and blue body color model are released only in Japan.)
| | Scheduled release date | December 2, 2003 | | Recommended retail price | Price set by outlet | | Sales target (total domestic and overseas sales) | 50,000 units/month | | Standard set | Body, PC cable with USB connection, video cable, lithium-ion battery pack, AC adapter, hand strap and CD-ROM (driver software and image management software) |
| | Finecam S3R ?Red? | Finecam S3R (Blue? | (* Red body color model is released only in Japan.) | (* Blue body color is released only in Japan.) |
Main Features
1. The Image Processing System, RTUNE
High-speed, full-memory consecutive shooting -- The Finecam S3R provides full-memory consecutive shooting at approximately 3.1 frames/second at a high pixel value. The liquid crystal monitor follows to display images in real time during consecutive shooting. If it is difficult to photograph the subject, such as children or pets with fleeting expressions or moving subjects at an athletics meet or in group photograph with a number of people, taking consecutive photographs enables you to select only the best shots afterward. Kyocera believes that this new photographic style is the great feature that digital cameras have over conventional cameras. * Full-memory consecutive shooting means shooting successive images until the capacity of the memory card is reached. It is available when using an SD memory card with a transfer speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. (The consecutive shooting speed differs depending on the shooting conditions, the camera settings and memory card status. Free capacity may remain in the memory card, depending on images to be photographed.)
Images with a fine array of gradations -- The high-speed processor of the image processing system, RTUNE, consists of an analog front end and a digital processor. It first adjusts the RGB color balance of the analog data received in the CCD at the analog front end, and then converts it to a digital signal (A/D conversion). The A/D conversion process provides 16-bit internal conversion of the data and sends it as 12-bit digital data to the next digital processor. The digital processor that receives the digital data produces the final image data and outputs it at high speed, creating low-noise digital data. By drastically reducing a wide range of noise generated in the digital images, it is possible to reproduce natural color and a fine array of gradations. To reproduce clear images, the image pickup device of the Finecam S3R uses a 1/1.8'' square pixel CCD with an original color filter, featuring 3,370,000 pixels in total.
2. A High-Resolution, Optical 3x Zoom Lens Providing a Maximum Zoom of 8.4x When Used with the Digital Zoom -- The camera incorporates a high-resolution optical 3x zoom lens, which provides a projected resolution of at least 200 lines/mm at the center of the image from a focal length of 7.3 mm (wide-angle) to 21.9 mm (telephoto). These focal lengths correspond to approximately 35 mm to 105 mm for 35-mm cameras. The lens combines a compact size and high performance through the technologies developed by the optical manufacturer, using a special low-dispersion glass and four aspheric lenses. By combining with the digital 2.8x zoom that minimizes the deterioration of images, you can photograph at a maximum of 8.4x zoom. You can also use a digital zoom up to 8x when playing back images.
3. A Scene Mode that Can Create Photographic Settings Easily According to the Situation -- The camera incorporates a scene mode that enables the camera to make the most suitable photographic setting according to the situation, based on six predefined settings. They are: Standard, Sport, Night View, Night View Portrait, Macro and Distant View. Each of the settings can be easily selected using the Scene button.
4. Close-Ups from a Minimum of Approximately 12 cm -- Setting at macro mode by using the Scene button allows you to photograph the subject from a minimum of approximately 12 cm from the front of the lens (in all zoom ranges). In the telephoto mode, you can fill the image area with a subject measuring just approximately 3.4 cm x 4.5 cm, allowing you to enjoy a very high level of detail.
5. Continuous AF that Allows You to Seize the Moment and a High-Speed Drive that Does Not Let You Miss an Opportunity -- The camera incorporates a continuous AF that follows a moving subject, so it keeps it in focus while the camera remains turned on and allows you to seize the moment. The shutter delay time has been improved to 0.07 seconds, which is as fast as that of general, conventional film-based single-lens reflex cameras.
6. A Moving Image Recording Function with VGA Audio, which Can Be Viewed on a TV -- The camera enables you to easily shoot moving images with audio at 30 frames/second up to the maximum capacity of the memory card. The record file is in AVI format and you can play it back easily on the liquid crystal monitor of the camera, a television or a personal computer. (To play back your movies on a personal computer, it is necessary to install QuickTime 4.1 or later.) When it is connected to a television, you can view fine, smoothly moving images in VGA 30 frames per second on the entire television screen. * Moving image shooting up to the full capacity of the memory card is available when using an SD memory card with a transfer speed of at least 10MB per second for high-speed recording. (The shooting time differs depending on the shooting conditions, the camera settings and memory card status.)
7. A Function for Setting a Customized Start Screen Consisting of Your Favorite Image -- The camera incorporates a function for setting a customized start screen that allows you to set an image that you have photographed for start screen. The image appears whenever you turn on the power. So if you use a photo of yourself, your family or your pet, you can enjoy the digital camera in other ways than taking photos.
8. A Function to Resize Your Photos for Easy Handling -- It is possible to reduce the size of an image to 320 x 240 pixels or 160 x 120 pixels after it has been taken, and store it so that it can be handled by a portable terminal such as a PDA or via e-mail. You can select the new size of the photos from three options, whole image, quarter area and one-sixteenth area. You select the size using the selection button provided in the shape of a cross. Using this function in combination with a PDA that incorporates an SD memory card slot allows you to easily create an image size suitable for the liquid crystal screen of the PDA.
Additional Information
Using the Finecam S3R with a personal computer Windows requirements: OS: Preinstalled with Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition or Professional. Performance is not guaranteed if these operating systems are upgraded. 64MB memory or more, USB terminal and CD-ROM drive.
Macintosh requirements: OS: Preinstalled with MacOS9.0 to 9.2 or OS X v.10.3 (excluding the OS X server). Performance is not guaranteed if these operating systems are upgraded. USB terminal and CD-ROM drive.
* Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. * QuickTime, Macintosh and Mac OS are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States. * Other company names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Optional accessories
| Product name | Model | Recommended retail price
(plus tax) | Release date | SD/MMC reader (USB interface)
Components:
1) Reader body
2) USB cable (1 m)
3) Driver software CD-ROM
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP (not compatible with NT)
MacOS8.6 USB Version 1.33f2 or later (compatible with OS X)
| SDR-1 | 5,800 yen | Now on sale | | Lithium-ion battery pack | BP-1000S | 5,000 yen | Now on sale | Camera case
Black
Red
Blue
| - | 2,000 yen each | Now on sale | | Battery charger | BC-1 | 6,000 yen | Now on sale |
Main Specifications of the Kyocera Finecam S3R
| Camera type | Digital still camera with record, playback, and erase modes | | Recording media/ recording method | SD memory card/MMC (Multi Media Card), in compliance with DCF (*Note 1) (Exif Ver 2.2), in compliance with JPEG, DPOF compatible (*Note 2) | | Effective pixels | 3,170,000 pixels | | Image pickup device | 1/1.8'' square pixel original color filter interlace reading system CCD (total number of pixels: 3,370,000) | | Still image sizes | 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 | | Image quality | Two levels, F (fine) and N (normal) | Moving image sizes
| 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120 | | Moving image frame rate | 15 frames/second, 30 frames/second | | Lens | Kyocera zoom lens (7 elements in 6 groups), focal length: 7.3-21.9 mm (equivalent to approximately 35-105 mm in the 35-mm format), brightness: f2.8-4.8 | | Electronic zoom | x1.3, x1.6, x2.0, x2.8 | | Focal adjustment | Video feedback auto focus (wide AF or spot AF switchable) and manual focus (configurable distance) | | Range of shooting | Approximately 60 cm to infinity from the CCD surface, approximately 17 to 60 cm in macro
* Approximately 55 cm to infinity from the front of the lens, approximately 12 to 55 cm in macro
| | Exposure control | | - Control method | Programmed AE, aperture priority AE | | - Light metering system | Can be selected from three modes: Evaluative metering, center-weighted metering, spot metering system | | - Metering link range | LV6 to LV16 | | - Exposure compensation | +2.0EV to -2.0EV (1/3 increments) | | - Aperture | Fixed (f2.8, f9.6*), auto
* f-stop converted for brightness
| | Shutter | Using both CCD electronic shutter and programmed electronic shutter with independent aperture control, 1 second to 1/2000 second, can be set from one of 2 seconds, 4 seconds and 8 seconds due to the long exposure mode | | White balance | Auto, sunlight, incandescent light, cloudy weather, fluorescent, preset | | Color modes | Color, monochrome, sepia | | Sharpness | +3 to -1 (5 levels) | | Color saturation | +, 0, - (3 levels) | | Sensitivity setting | AUTO, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400, ISO800 equivalent | | Viewfinder | | - Optical viewfinder | Real imaging zoom viewfinder | | - Liquid crystal monitor | 1.6'' 70,000-pixel transmissive and reflective TFD color liquid crystal monitor
* The brightness of the liquid crystal is adjustable
| | Flash | Built-in system, range: approx. 60 cm to 2.5 m (in the wide mode), approx. 60 cm to 2 m (in the telephoto mode) | | Flash mode | (1) Auto flash, (2) Auto flash for red-eye reduction, (3) Fill-in flash, (4) Flash disabled, (5) Fill-in flash for red-eye reduction (only when set at the long exposure) | | Scene mode | (1) Standard mode, (2) Sport mode, (3) Night view mode, (4) Night view portrait mode, (5) Macro mode, (6) Distant view mode | | Moving image recording mode | File format: AVI, can be selected from with or without audio | | Moving image recording time | Up to full capacity of the memory card (When using an SD memory card with a transfer speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. Free capacity may remain in the memory card, depending on the shooting conditions.)
Playable environment in personal computer: QuickTime 4.1 or later (Windows, Macintosh)
| | Other shooting modes | Long exposure mode (can be selected from Off, 2 seconds, 4 seconds or 8 seconds), self timer mode (can be selected from 2 seconds or 10 seconds), manual focus setting, on/off switch for REC review, on/off switch for electronic zoom | | Consecutive shooting | Approximately 3.1 frames/second, up to full capacity of the memory card
(When using an SD memory card with a recording speed of at least 10 MB per second for high-speed recording. It differs depending on the shooting conditions, camera settings and memory card status)
| | After-recording for still image | Up to 30 seconds for one image | | Resize | Images can be reduced to a size of 320 x 240 or 160 x 120. The area to be resized can be selected. File format: JPEG | | Playback mode | Multi image display (six images), single display, after-recording (audio memo for still image), protect, erase (single image), erase all images, rotate, slide show, resize, DPOF setting, close-up playback, thumbnail playback, playback of moving images shot by this camera, information display | | Setup function | AF mode (SAF, CAF), brightness adjustment of the liquid crystal, date setting, date insertion, card format, auto power-off setting, mode lock, shutter sound/operational sound setting, language selection (Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese), video output switch (NTSC, PAL), consecutive file number reset, setting reset, change of selected color, start screen selection, on/off switch for REC review | | Input/output terminal | DC input (using a dedicated AC adapter), video output (NTSC/PAL), USB terminal (mini-B) | | Power source | 3.6V lithium-ion battery 1000 mAh,
Dedicated AC adapter
| | Number of images that can be taken | Approximately 130 images* (when using the liquid crystal monitor)
Approximately 160 images* (when not using the liquid crystal monitor)
* When using the attached new lithium-ion battery, at room temperature, based on the Kyocera measurement standards: 50% flash, 2048 x 1536, normal image quality
| | Dimensions | 92 mm width x 57.5 mm height x 33 mm depth, excluding protrusions such as the liquid crystal and the lens | | Weight | Approximately 175g, excluding battery and the recording media | | Operating temperature | 0 - 45 degrees Celsius (no condensation) |
* Note 1: DCF is an abbreviation of the Design rule for Camera File system, the standard of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). The standard is intended to facilitate the use of image files primarily of digital cameras in related equipment.
* Note 2: DPOF is an abbreviation of Digital Print Order Format established by the companies, Canon Inc., Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. This standard is for recording specific information from images taken by digital camera, such as printed images and number of images, in recording media.
Estimated number of images to be shot and recording pixels
| 2048 x 1536 | Approx. 184 images (fine), approx. 319 images (normal) | | 1600 x 1200 | Approx. 249 images (fine), approx. 498 images (normal) | | 1280 x 960 | Approx. 395 images (fine), approx. 756 images (normal) | | 640 x 480 | Approx. 1386 images (fine), approx. 2628 images (normal) | | Moving images 640 x 480 | Approx. 1 minute 50 seconds (30 frames/second), approx. 3 minutes 39 seconds (15 frames/second) | | Moving images 320 x 240 | Approx. 7 minutes 12 seconds (30 frames/second), approx. 14 minutes 12 seconds (15 frames/second) | | Moving images 160 x 120 | Approx. 26 minutes 45 seconds (30 frames/second), approx. 50 minutes 45 seconds (15 frames/second) |
* When using a 256-MB card and recording in the same mode only. The number of images to be shot differs depending on the subject and the type of card.
(First posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 at 11:45 EST)
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