Fujifilm FinePix S2800HD 18x zoom camera priced $259

Record video at 720p, zoom 18x and pay just $259 for the super-small FinePix S2800HD

Photo: FujiFilm FinePix S2800HD digital camera offers 18x zoom

Good things come in small packages. And now Fujifilm has come up with the world’s smallest 18x optical zoom camera – the FinePix S2800HD, measuring 110 x 81 x 73mm and weighing just 437g. The new camera features a 14-megapixel 1/2.3” CCD, 3.0” high-contrast LCD and electronic viewfinder.

The FinePix S2800HD will be available by early September 2010 in the United States at a retail price of $259.95. For a little camera that offers 14 MP resolution and 18x zoom that is equivalent to 28mm – 504 mm, that price sounds like a great deal, if you ask us.

Along with 18x wide angle optical zoom lens, the Fujifilm FinePix S2800HD camera has a feature called Instant Zoom. Usin this, the photgrapher can keep their subject in a shot at long distance as the camera offers a wide viewing area around the frame. Once the photo is taken, the camera instantly crops to the subject.

Additionally, the Fujifilm FinePix S2800HD digital camera comes with features Face Detection, Smile Detection and Blink detection. Smile detection recognizes the precise moment your subject smiles and clicks immediately and if your subject has blinked, the Blink Detection tool indicates the user so that you can re-take the photo. Great tools for the amateur photographer for sure. We are sure even a professional photographer would like to have some notification if a subject has blinked.

It’s Tracking Auto Focus allows the user to track a moving subject automatically for still picture capture.  Another interesting tool is the Motion Panorama Mode with Auto Stitch, suitable for landscape, large buildings or even party shots.

Its SR Auto Mode intelligently detects the scene type you are shooting and automatically adjusts the camera’s focus, exposure and white balance, to give you the best results of photography.

Additionally, the product comes with Auto Picture Rotation that helps in rotating the image automatically in the screen for easy viewing. And its Picture Search tool allows you to find typical photos like portrait, landscape, etc quickly and easily.

The 3.0” High-Contrast LCD gives the best possible shot in bright light, while the Electronic View Finder provides even more flexibility for the user in terms of taking right angle and perfect shots.

Thanks to its Dual Image Stabilization, which reduces blur to a minimum with a mechanically stabilized CCD sensor and high ISO sensitivity (to ISO 6400).  Moreover, the camera also has a tool to correct red-eye and then saves both the original and the corrected image file automatically.

Moreover, its Photobook Assist helps the user to choose and organize images in the camera to create a digital photobook, which can be quickly downloaded to your computer using MyFinePix Studio software. Another unique feature in this camera is the star rating to the photographs. This helps the user to rate and then search photos by ratings.

In addition, users have a choice to opt for its HD Player Kit, which includes an HD Card Reader and a wireless Remote Control for video playback.

Fujifilm has also added a video recording mode, which records in video at 720p resolution. Also, a 1080p mode is included but only for still images. A mini-HDMI port is included on the camera that allows still images and video to be played back via any HDTV.

The product seems to be a good choice for amateur photographers who need an affordable digital camera, and a second camera for DSLR enthusiasts.