Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR – Pocket Superzoom With Super CCD EXR Sensor

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Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR Digital Camera With 10x Zoom and Super CCD EXR SensorFujifilm brings their award-winning EXR sensor technology to the pocket-sized superzoom digital camera category. The new Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR has a 10-megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor and a 10x Fujinon 27-270mm wide-angle zoom lens. Fujifilm introduced the FinePix F200EXR – their first camera with EXR sensor technology – at PMA, this spring. The F70EXR announced today doubles the zoom range of the F200EXR and takes a shot across the bow of Panasonic’s popular Lumix ZS3 / TZ7 pocket superzoom.

Compare the new F70EXR to Panasonic’s Lumix ZS3, the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS and the new Casio Exilim EX-H10 – all pocket-sized cameras with 10x or longer zooms. The pocket superzoom category is starting to take off because there are plenty of photographers who want the versatility of a long zoom but still want a camera that can be carried in a pocket. These cameras are all a tight fit in a pants pocket – but they will fit. We’ll have to wait to give it the pocket test but the new F70EXR is the smallest and thinnest of the lot, which makes it that much more desirable.

Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR digital camera

With the exception of the new 10x zoom lens and a little less resolution, the new Fujifilm F70EXR is the same as the F200EXR camera. The main feature of both cameras is the Super CCD EXR sensor. The EXR sensor offers three special modes: HR (High Resolution), SN (High Sensitivity and Low Noise) and DR (Wide Dynamic Range). The HR mode uses all the F70EXR’s pixels to capture a 10-megapixel, maximum resolution image. The SN mode combines two pixels for low-noise, 5-megapixel images in low light. And the DR mode makes two quick, bracketed exposures and merges them into one 5-megapixel image with increased dynamic range. We haven’t had an F200EXR camera to test but reports in magazines and on the Web have been very positive about the Super CCD EXR sensor’s image quality. At 10-megapixels, the F70EXR has slightly less resolution than the 12-megapixel F200EXR. Lower resolution means bigger pixels so the F70EXR might actually have better image quality because larger pixels usually mean less noise.

Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR - Rear LCD

The F70EXR includes Fujifilm’s EXR Auto shooting mode, which analyzes a scene and automatically chooses the most appropriate of six scene modes and the three EXR sensor modes (HR, SN or DR). For pros and photography enthusiasts, the F70EXR also has aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual exposure controls. Those manual controls show how serious Fujifilm is about this camera -most point-and shoot cameras only offer a program mode with exposure compensation. The camera also has Dual Stabilization with Picture Stabilization and mechanical CCD Image Stabilization to help freeze action and compensate for camera shake. Mechanical image stabilization is an invaluable feature that really makes a difference in the number of usable photos – especially for cameras with long zoom lenses. Film simulation modes let you choose from Velvia/Vivid, PROVIA/Standard, ASTIA/Soft, Black & White and Sepia for in-camera creative image quality control. Two new shooting modes utilize Fujifilm’s Multi Frame Technology to offer more creative options and better image quality. The Pro Focus Mode replicates the look of a large aperture lens by combining multiple exposures for a sharp subject and soft background – standard for portraits and generally difficult with small-sensor point-and-shoot cameras. The Pro Low-light Mode combines four high-sensitivity exposures to create one low-noise image in low light.

I’ve enjoyed the Panasonic Lumix ZS3′s long lens and easy functionality but I’m always on the fence about the image quality. The combination of a 10x zoom lens, the smallest body in its class and the Super CCD EXR sensor makes the F70EXR a really exciting camera announcement. If the Super CCD EXR sensor offers real image quality benefits then the Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR could be the new king of pocket point-and-shoots.

The new Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR will be available in August of 2009 for a suggested retail price of $279.95.

Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR Press Release >>

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About the author: Photo-John

Photo-John, a.k.a. John Shafer, is the managing editor of PhotographyREVIEW.com and has been since the site launched back in 1999. He's an avid outdoor enthusiast and spends as much time as possible on his mountain bike, hiking or skiing in the mountains. He's been taking pictures for ever and ever, and never goes anywhere without a camera.


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  • Sue Cornwell says:

    just wondering how I can delete all pics from sd card without having to do them one at a time

    • Photo-John says:

      Is this a Fujifilm F70EXR question or just a general digital camera question? All digital cameras have an option in the menu to “Format” the card. That will remove all content from the card. It’s a good way to remove all images and keep the card from getting corrupted.

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