In common with the company's other S-series fixed lens cameras, the S6000fd has styling that's very reminiscent of a single-lens reflex model, although the lens cannot be changed, and an electronic viewfinder - for which we don't currently have a resolution specification - is used, rather than an optical viewfinder. The Fuji FinePix S6000fd shares the same 1/1.7" 6.3 megapixel Super CCD HR image sensor and second-generation Real Photo technology that's found in the other model announced today. Where that camera, the FinePix F20, had a maximum equivalent ISO sensitivity of 2000, the S6000fd boosts this to ISO 3200 equivalent, however.

The Fuji S6000fd couples its image sensor with a 10.7x optical zoom lens that's equivalent to 28- 300mm on a 35mm camera - a reasonable wide angle for such a long zoom lens. Apertures range from F2.8 - F4.9 across the zoom range, with a minimum aperture of F11. Fujifilm is describing the S6000fd as featuring "picture stabilization technology", but it should be noted that this is achieved by means of boosting the ISO sensitivity (at the expense of some image noise / detail), rather than by means of mechanically moving the image sensor or lens elements to correct for shake. As well as its electronic viewfinder, the S6000fd offers a 2.5" LCD display with a relatively high resolution 235,000 pixels. Other features of the Fujifilm S6000fd include a built-in five-mode flash with slow synch capability, NTSC / PAL and USB 2.0 High-Speed connectivity, xD-Picture Card storage plus 10MB of built-in memory, power from four AA alkaline or NiMH batteries (with alkaline disposables in the product bundle), and the ability to shoot photos completely manually if you're a creative type, or using one of 15 preset scene modes if you want the ultimate in ease of use.

The standout feature is undoubtedly Fuji's new Face Detection function. Achieved with a dedicated LSI chip in the camera, the feature can detect up to ten faces in the photo simultaneously, with Fujifilm rating the feature as capable of achieving this in just 1/20th of a second. With the feature enabled, the camera indicates the faces detected in the scene by framing them with rectangles in the display - white for all but the top priority face, which is framed in green. The locations of faces are then used to confirm the appropriate location for focus and exposure detection, so as to ensure that your subject is correctly focused even when off center. The mode can be disabled, as desired.

The Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd ships this September, with pricing set at $499.95. Product photos and specifications, plus a backgrounder document on the face detection technology, follow below.

Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd
CCD Sensor	1/1.7-inch Super CCD HR
Number of Effective Pixels	6.3 Million Pixels
Real Photo Technology	Yes
Picture Stabilization	Yes, Mode Dial
Number of Recorded Pixels	Still image: 2,848 x 2,136 / 3,024 x 2,016 (3:2 format) / 2,048 x 1,536 / 1,600 x 1,200 / 640 x 480 pixels Movie: 640 x 480 pixels (30 frames / sec.), 320 x 240 pixels (30 frames / sec.)
File Formats	Still image: JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2), Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG), (Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible)
Internal Memory	10MB
Lens	Fujinon 10.7x zoom lens, (F2.8 - 4.9)
Lens Focal Length (Rated) / (35mm Equiv.)	6.2 - 66.7mm / Equivalent to 28 - 300mm on a 35mm camera
Aperture Range	F2.8 ~ F11
Digital Zoom	2.0x
Focus - Auto / Manual / Macro	Auto Focus / Manual Focus
Focusing Range - Normal	Approx. 1.3 ft. to infinity (wide), 6.6 ft. to infinity (telephoto)
Focusing Range - Macro Close-up	Approx. 4 in. to 3.0 ft. (wide), 3 ft. to 9.8 ft. (telephoto)
Exposure Control	Programmed AE, 256-zone TTL metering
Color Control Modes	B&W, Chrome, Standard
Sensitivity	AUTO / Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200
Shutter Release Control	Press half way to set focus, all the way to release the shutter.
Shutter Speed	30 sec. to 1/4000 sec.
White Balance	Automatic, Manual (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light
Flash Mode	Flash mode: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro
Flash Effective Range (ISO Auto)	Effective range: Wide angle: Approx.1.0ft.- 18.4ft. Telephoto: Approx. 2.0ft - 9.8ft.
LCD Monitor	2.5-inch Amorphous silicon TFT (approx.235,000 pixels), approx. 100 % coverage
Camera Terminals	USB 2.0 high-speed, Video-out (NTSC/PAL)
Printing Interface	PictBridge, DPOF, and EXIF Print 2.2 Compatible
Power Source	4 AA type alkaline batteries (included), 4 AA type Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (optional) or AC power adapter AC-5VX (optional)
Dimensions	5.2 (W) x 3.8 (H) x 5.0 (D) in.
Weight	21.2 oz. (excluding batteries and xD-Picture Card )
Shutter Lag Time	1/100 sec. (with AE/AF locked)
Shooting Modes	Normal: Auto, Picture Stabilization, Scene Position, Macro, Movie, Continuous
Preprogrammed Scene Modes (SP)	SP: Natural Light, Natural Light & with Flash, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Museum, Party, Flower Close-Up, Text
Continuous Shooting Modes	1.Top-3 (max. 2.2 frames/sec., up to 3 frames) 2.Final-3 (max. 2.2 frames/sec., up to 3 frames) 3.Long-period (max.0.7frame/sec. Up to memory card size)
Movie Recording	640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames / sec. 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames / sec. With monaural sound, AVI format (Motion JPEG)
Voice Memo	Up to 30 seconds, WAV format
Video Out	NTSC/PAL
Playback	Single frame, 9 Multi-frame, Sorting by date, Image rotate, Post shot Assist window (3 frames), Voice Memo (up to 30 sec. WAV format), Trimming, Automatic playback
Memory Type	xD-Picture Card
Self-timer	Approx. 10 / 2 sec
Optional Accessories	xD-Picture Card: 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB Soft Case SC-FXS6
What's in the Box	4 x AA type Alkaline batteries Shoulder Strap USB cable A/V cable Lens cap Lens cap holder Lens hood CD-ROM FinePixViewer with new RAW file conversion software for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OSX ImageMixer VCD2 LE for FinePix
More Photos
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FACE DETECTION: THE LATEST ADDITION TO FUJIFILM’S REAL PHOTO TECHNOLOGYMEANS BETTER PEOPLE PICTURES – AUTOMATICALLY

A Technology Backgrounder

Valhalla, NY, July 12, 2006 – The advanced Face Detection Technology system built into Fujifilm’s new FinePix S6000fd digital camera is based on the Image Intelligence technology found in Fujifilm’s Frontier Digital Lab Systems, used by photofinishers to produce large volumes of top-quality photo prints. Face Detection is a selectable option the camera user can turn on whenever human subjects are the focal point of a picture.

Once Face Detection is activated, it automatically identifies faces in the scene and prioritizes them in as little as 0.05 seconds. It simultaneously displays a green rectangle around the top-priority face, and a white one around other faces before the picture is taken. Using this information, the FinePix S6000fd is able to focus more precisely on the main subjects and execute the best possible exposure.

The end result is sharper, more natural looking people pictures. Since Face Detection is an integral part of Fujifilm’s Real Photo Technology system, it also is linked to Fujifilm’s i-Flash intelligent flash system, for the proper exposure of flash pictures taken indoors and in low light.

How does Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology differ from other such systems?
Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology is distinguished by its advanced structural design. There is an LSI (large-scale integrated circuit) embedded within the FinePix S6000fd for the sole purpose of running the Face Detection Technology. This hardware-based set-up provides several advantages over a separate, peripheral program within the camera, most notably the ability to quickly identify up to 10 faces simultaneously.

What are the application advantages of Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology?
Even if the subject is off to one side, the FinePix S6000fd, with Face Detection Technology activated, will automatically focus on the person rather than trees in the background or objects in the foreground that may happen to fall in the center of the frame. Since the system is capable of evaluating and scoring up to 10 faces at once, it will automatically provide the best possiblefocus.

Fujifilm’s Face Detection Technology also helps in delivering the most flattering exposure of the main subject by basing the exposure on the priority faces. No more dark, underexposed faces just because the main light happens to be behind the subjects or the background is too light or too dark.

Advanced Face Detection and i-Flash: A perfect combination
What happens when flash is needed? The sophisticated i-Flash system built into Fujifilm’s FinePix S6000fd works together with Face Detection Technology to deliver more accurate flash exposures too. First, the Face Detection system identifies the priority subject and calculates its distance from the camera. Then it hands off the automatic flash exposure decision to the i-Flash system, which adjusts the power output accordingly. Result: Fewer occurrences of washed-out faces of people positioned close to the camera or underexposedpictures of subjects farther away.

Real Photo Technology: Better pictures all the time
Face Detection is just the latest addition to Fujifilm’s Real Photo Technology. This integrated system includes Fujifilm’s 6th generation Super CCD sensor, the state-of-the-art Fujifilm RP II image processor, Fujinon lenses optimized for outstanding performance in capturing digital images, Picture Stabilization that combines higher light sensitivities with faster shutter speeds to reduce blur, and the i-Flash system.

About Fujifilm
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and delivers technology solutions to meet the imaging and information needs of retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers. As a global leader in digital imaging, Fujifilm pioneered the development of digital medical systems, and today is the leader in digital minilab systems. The company was ranked number 15 for U.S. patents granted during 2004, employs more than 75,000 people worldwide and in the year ending March 31, 2006, had global revenues of $22.8 billion.

In the United States, Fujifilm is a leader in delivering high quality, easy-to-use imaging and information solutions in the following categories: Digital Imaging Systems, Film and Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage Media, Motion Picture Film, Graphic Arts and Printing Systems and Medical Imaging and Diagnostics Systems. Fujifilm is an environmentally friendly, humane enterprise and an exemplary corporate citizen.

For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilmusa.com.

Consumers also can receive news and information direct from Fujifilm USA via RSS. Subscription is free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

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