3. Fujifilm Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

Fujifilm introduced several new point and shoot cameras at PMA 08, highlighted by the Fuji FinePix S1000fd and S8100fd, both with impressive optical zoom capabilities. Each of these cameras also has red eye removal, face detection (which automatically adjusts focus and exposure), image stabilization, and the both operate on four “AA” batteries.

• Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd

The S1000fd has an impressive 10 Megapixel resolution and equally impressive 12x optical zoom. In fact, Fujifilm states that it’s the world’s smallest digital camera with a 12x optical zoom.

The S1000fd also has an impressive set of features, including a panorama shooting mode, full manual control (enabling manual adjustment of ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and more), 14 one touch scene modes (including Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Party, and Flower), and a slightly larger than usually 2.7” LCD display.

“With the FinePix S1000fd, Fujifilm is offering advanced amateur photographers an affordable, step-up digital camera,” said David Troy, of Fujifilm, U.S.A., Inc. “...The FinePix S1000fd is packed full of high-end features and priced at a level consumers can afford.”

The FinePix S1000fd will be available in April for $249.95. The 10 Megapixels, 12x optical zoom, manual control, and scene controls make this an impressive camera at a reasonable price.

• Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd

Advanced amateur photographers can take another step up with the Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd. Like the S1000fd, the S8100fd offers 10 Megapixels of resolution, and it offers a remarkable 18x optical zoom, an optical zoom level almost unheard of in point and shoot cameras.

The FinePix S8100fd includes a unique feature called “i-Flash” (lets hope Fuji copyrighted the term before Steve Jobs sees it). The term means “Intelligent Flash”: the camera detects subtle lighting differences and adjusts the intensity of the flash accordingly. With most cameras having a flash that either turns on or doesn’t turn on, a flash that can adjust its intensity truly is an intelligent concept. Another smart flash concept is the S8100fd’s Dual Shot Mode, in which the camera quickly shoots two images in succession, one with flash and one without. When shooting in scenes where you’re not quite sure if a flash is required, Dual Shot Mode enables you to take and save a photo with and without flash, so that you can decide which produced the best shot.

The FinePix S8100fd also enables full manual settings control, 13 one touch scene modes, and “Super Macro Mode” (which allows the photographer to get as close as 0.4” from the scene or subject that’s being photographed). "This is a work-horse camera for photographers who want the convenience of an SLR-like model, a powerful zoom, and the ease of use that is often relegated to more compact models" said David Troy of Fujifilm.

The FinePix S8100fd will be available in March for $399. Considering the camera’s 10 Megapixel resolution and particularly the 18x optical zoom, the S8100fd unquestionably sits among the higher end of point and shoot cameras. As with the FinePix S1000fd, I feel the FinePix S8100fd is an impressive camera at an appropriate price.