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SINGAPORE : Fujifilm's first long-zoom digital compact camera has arrived - the FinePix F70EXR (S$519).
Based on the company's award-winning Super CCD EXR image sensor technology, the 10-megapixel camera packs a 2.7-inch LCD screen and a jaw-dropping 10x (27-270mm of 35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens in a metal chassis.
Measuring 22.7mm thick, the F70EXR is thinner than its predecessor, the F200EXR, which has a 5x optical zoom lens.
Compared to its anorexic competitors, the F70EXR remains on the bulky side. But I love the thickness as it gives me a good grip, leaving my right digits in complete control of all the buttons and dial.
The camera inherited one quirk from its predecessor - the built-in flash sits on the front top right edge of the camera, making it susceptible to be blocked by your fingers.
Starting up the camera takes more than two seconds while shutting down takes around 1.7 seconds. Luckily, there is minimal shutter lag. But if you are shooting in Scene modes like Pro Low-Light, it will take up to three seconds to process the photos.
Nevertheless, the overall operation of the camera is responsive, with enthusiastic auto-focus performance even in low-light conditions. During video recording, the F70EXR will automatically lock onto a focus in double quick time when you zoom in and out. It can only record video clips up to 640x480 at 30 frames per second, but the video and audio quality is still decent.
With its EXR image sensor, you can switch among High Resolution mode, High Sensitivity and Low Noise mode and Wide Dynamic Range (DR) mode.
Many might be tempted to switch to the EXR Auto mode, but in order to fully utilise the camera, I recommend the DR mode.
The excellent details, natural skin tones and sharp pixel rendition of the F70EXR will put many of its contemporaries to shame. Colours are accurately reproduced with spot-on white balance.
Noise performance is equally outstanding. At ISO 400 and below, the image is devoid of any visible noise artifacts. Even at ISO 1,600 where noise is abundant, it is more film-like grains than colour moires.
- TODAY/il
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