Fujifilm launches high-def FinePix S2000HD

Fuji has officially laid details out on the table for its new compact ultrazoom, the Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD, and several key updates showed up on the specs sheet this time around.

The S2000HD utilizes the same 10.0 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor seen in the S1000fd, but an expanded 15x wide-angle zoom range, sensor-shift image stabilization, and HD video capture all push the capabilities of Fuji's base model ultrazoom to new levels.

The S2000HD's 15x lens – up from the 12x range seen in the S1000fd – covers a 35mm-equivalent range of approximately 28-414mm. Mechanical image stabilization in the new model is also a first for Fuji's compact ultrazoom line: the S2000HD's predecessor used ISO boosting digital image stabilization only.

The "HD" in S2000HD denotes the new camera's high-definition video capture and A/V output capabilities. In an important first, the S2000HD is the first Fujifilm model to capture HD quality, 1280x720 movies. A new signal processor also allows 720p video output, simplifying the task of viewing capture clips on an HDTV.

Similarly, 1080i still image output and a 16:9 aspect ratio setting make capturing and viewing still images on high-definition home theater setups equally easy.

In addition to its key upgrades, the basic features set that made the S1000fd an attractive option – manual exposure control, a well-stocked selection of scene presets, and Fuji's one-touch Instant Zoom function – appear to return largely unchanged for another generation. Likewise, one of the FinePix S1000fd's primary advantages in the ultrazoom market was its compact size: to this end, measuring just 4.4 by 3.1 by 3.0 inches and sporting a similar (albeit slightly larger shape), the S2000HD can still lay claim to its forerunner's palm-able form factor in spite of its expanded zoom range.

The S2000HD advertises an impressive 6.8 fps capture rate for stills at reduced resolution, but no data in Fuji's official materials hints at whether the S1000fd's painfully slow full-res continuous shooting speed has been upped with the new model.

As with previous FinePix cameras in this line, the S2000HD is powered by a quartet of AA batteries. According to Fuji, the new model should be good for up to 300 shots on alkaline cells, or closer to 400 on NiMH rechargeables.

The S1000fd has consistently been one of the most searched cameras on our site since its announcement early in the year, and with the addition of image stabilization, more zoom, and potentially more battery life, the S2000HD looks to build on the earlier model's success with some crucial improvements.

The new model is scheduled to make its retail debut in September, with a suggested price tag of around $300.

Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD Specifications: