2 February 2010
By: Florin Panaitescu, Gadgets Editor
FujiFilm FinePix S1800 and S2550HD Embed 18x Optical Zoom Lenses
Impressive, and stabilized too

FinePix S2550HD FujiFilm

FujiFilm North America Corporation has announced today another two new cameras, this time in the company's S-Series line-up, the FinePix S1800 and FinePix S2550HD. These are what some people would call dSLR like, and come to think about it, they really are, not because they have increased in size, but because DSLRs have decreased in dimensions, with the most noticeable example being the silly Pentax K7. Leaving that aside, I should inform you that both cameras feature a high resolution 12-megapixel CCD sensor 1/2.3" in size (bravo, since FujiFilm is one of the few camera manufacturers that clearly state sensor size) that focuses subjects using a Fujinon high optic-power 18x zoom lens with an equivalent focal length of 28 to 504mm. Considering that very long telephoto end of the zoom range, FujiFilm packed both cameras with dual image stabilization, which we all know involves a mechanically stabilized CCD sensor and ISO speed increment for freezing the subjects. On the one hand, that's excellent since it will also stabilize the subject, impossible for mechanical stabilization; on the other hand, this is scary, since the maximum ISO of these is 6,400, and from my personal experience, most FinePix cameras will drive the ISO to the maximum even when there would be no need for that. Digital cameras would be of no use better than film ones, if it weren't for the built-in LCD that lets us review the images on site, and these cameras pack more than decent ones, 3 inches in size, 230k-pixel resolution and highly contrastive for bright light chimping. The thing that I have always disliked about bridge/dSLR-like cameras is the fact that they sport digital view finders that are dim-lit, but that's one of the compromises of cramming so much technology in compact bodies. Pricing for the above is $229.95 for the S1800, and $249.95 for the S2550HD.
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