Fujifilm FinePix F60fd with 12 megapixel "Super CCD" announced

In an announcement this morning, Fuji has shared details about a forthcoming addition to its FinePix F series of compact digital cameras – the Fujifilm F60fd.

Heir to the venerable FinePix F50fd, the F60fd continues to use Fuji's seventh-generation 12.0 megapixel Super CCD sensor seen in the F50, and not the eighth-generation version employed by the more advanced F100. Although Fuji's Super CCD cameras are not the undisputed low-light shooting leaders that they may have once been, the latest iterations of the manufacturer's unique imager technology still offer better than average high ISO performance in their current implementations.

A cosmetic overhaul moves the F60fd in the stylistic direction of Fuji's latest compacts, including the F100. Otherwise, however, much of the F60fd's physical technology comes directly from its predecessor: the new camera uses a familiar 3x optic and the Dual Image Stabilization seen on the F50fd.

Some new firmware-side technology, including Fuji's Face Detection 3.0, makes its way onto the F60fd. Fuji is also the latest manufacturer to get on board with a variant of automatic scene detection for its compact cameras, debuting its SR Auto scene recognition mode in the new camera. According to manufacturer, the technology "automatically identifies subjects, scenes and faces and adjusts exposure, focus, white balance and ISO accordingly to ensure clarity and sharpness, regardless of background."

At the other end of the spectrum, aperture and shutter priority modes should appeal to shooters seeking more user control in setting exposure values.

Of course, without the F100fd's eighth-generation Super CCD, the F60 can't offer its step-up sibling's reduced-res shooting at up to ISO 12,800. Instead the F60fd promises clean low-light performance at full resolution up to ISO 1600, with ISO 3200 and 6400 available at progressively lower resolutions.

Finally, single-slot compatibility with both SD/SDHC and xD-Picture Card memory types makes upgrading to the F60fd easy, regardless of whether you're coming from another xD-equipped Fuji camera or moving over from another brand.

Pricing for the new FinePix should hit around the $300 mark when the production version goes up for sale in September.

Fujifilm FinePix F60fd Specifications: