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Fuji today announced five new digital cameras for their FinePix line. The new digital cameras include the E500 (spec sheet), E510 (spec sheet), and E550, (spec sheet) and add a new arm to the Fuji digital camera lineup. Fuji also announced the S3100 (spec sheet) (replacing the S3000) and the S5100 (spec sheet) (replacing their S5000) (spec sheet). Fuji's concentrating on upping their digital camera resolution as they fight the megapixel war.
The E series of digital cameras are a new 'arm' of the Fuji digital camera lineup, which includes S series, F series, and A series. The E digital cameras are designed to deliver megapixels and manual control at an affordable price. According to the press release, the cameras feature 'fully automatic features [to] provide point-and-shoot simplicity, while manual and customizable feature settings provide additional control, particularly when combined with the power of optional telephoto and wide-angle lenses. Providing flexibility for multiple users or budding photographers, the FinePix E500, E510 and E550 offer a minimum of 4.1 megapixels and can be used with an optional cradle system.'
The biggest change to the S3100 and the S5100 is an upgrade of their megapixel count. Both the S3100 and the S5100 have been upgraded to 4.0 Megapixel CCDs, compared with the 3.1 Megapixels of their predecessors.
'Our commitment to quality, and to our consumers, is evident in the caliber of our cameras, while our new line ensures that we offer a true range of choices available to digital photographers of every skill and interest level. We're pleased to continue our tradition of providing best-quality digital imaging products to our consumers with the FinePix E-series and the new S-series models,' said Walter Haug, Vice President of Fuji's Photo Imaging Division.
The S3100 features a 6x optical zoom (39 - 234 mm equivalent), a 1/2.7-in. 4.0 megapixel CCD with 4.23 gross megapixels, manual focus, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and white balance. The camera includes a 1.5-inch LCD screen. The S5100 adds a 10x optical zoom (37 - 370 mm equivalent), a high speed shooting mode, and continuous focus mode.
The E series cameras feature compact silver bodies. The E500 includes a 4.0 1/2.5-in. Megapixel CCD with 4.23 gross megapixels. The camera includes a 3.2x optical zoom (28 - 91 mm equivalent) and a 2 in. LCD screen. The E510 adds 5.2 megapixels. The E550 Fuji includes a 6.3 megapixel Supper HR CCD that records 12.3 megapixels to the Flash media. The E550 also includes a 4x optical zoom (32.5 - 130 mm equivalent). The cameras each are powered by two AA batteries and record stills to XD Flash cards.
The S3100, E500, E510, and E550 will be available in August, and the S5100 will be available in October. The S3100 will sell for $349.99 and the S5100 will sell for $499.99. The E500 will sell for $299.99, the E510 for $349.99, and the E550 for $499.99.