Shutterbug Staff

Fujifilm has announced the new FinePix S6000fd, the first digital camera with
Fujifilm's Face Detection Technology. Also today, Fujifilm unveiled the FinePix
F20, a sister camera to the FinePix F30.



The
newest component of Fujifilm's Real Photo Technology, Face Detection Technology
operates exactly as its name implies, detecting up to 10 human faces regardless
of their position in the scene. Once identified, Fujifilm's Face Detection Technology
prioritizes the faces. Then, the FinePix S6000fd adjusts its focus and exposure
automatically so the intended subject is sharp, clear and exposed in the most
flattering manner. The photographer can easily disengage the Face Detection Technology
at the touch of a button.



Face Detection Technology is a complement to the other components of Real Photo
Technology, particularly the i-Flash system, which also is found on the SLR-styled
FinePix S6000fd. After the detection system identifies faces and the camera sets
focus and exposure, i-Flash adjusts its power intensity accordingly depending
on scene conditions. The end result of the two features working in concert is
a more life-like 'people picture' with natural tones and finer detail.
...

The Picture This! assignment for this month was High Sensitivity, pictures taken at ISO 800 and beyond. Readers sent in a host of images that took advantage of high-speed settings on their digital cameras and on high-speed film. At those speeds images made in very low light become available, and many more "chances" are taken with pictures that in the past might have...

ACD
Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA) has announced the release of ACDSee Photo
Editor -- a photo editing application that offers quick fixes, such as
lighting and red-eye correction, and creating fun projects like scrapbook pages,
CD covers, invitations, and more.



Some of the major features in the programs that make photo editing easy for
users include:

How-tos: Guided walk-throughs of projects that teach you how to be creative
with photos step-by-step. Users can easily create CD covers, albums, and other
great creative projects from the very first time they open the application.

Vignette Tool: Creates portrait-style photos in one simple action - streamlining
and facilitating a process for new users that would normally require more advanced
techniques.



Adjustment/Filter Variations: Simplifies the creative process
by displaying up to eight different previews of your original photo, right on
screen, each preview showing a different variation of the effect, adjustment,
or filter you're applying.

...

Samsung Camera has announced the NV3, one of three new camera models in their
new NV series of digital still cameras. The NV3 is a 7-megapixel digital still
camera that features Samsung's exclusive Digimax Converter software to play
movies and MP3 files. Samsung's new NV Series of digital still cameras all
have bodies in brushed black, stainless steel and a trademark Samsung blue ring
located around the lens.



At the heart of the NV3 is a 7-megapixel digital still camera measuring 3.7"
x 2.2" x 0.7" with a 2.5-inch, high resolution LCD display. The NV3
integrates a 3x optical zoom (equivalent to 38-114 mm in 35 mm format) capability
with Samsung's exclusive SHD lens technology. The NV3 is equipped with Samsung's
state-of-the-art Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR) technology to combat hand shake.
The ASR function provides enhanced image clarity by electronically compensating
for excess hand shake and improving color in environments lacking sufficient lighting
where the use of the flash is not desirable. The unique technology uses proprietary
algorithms to interpret sharpness and color information to deliver an image that
looks like it has been taken with the flash. As the flash is disabled, side effects,
such as red eye, are prevented.



For entertainment on-the-go, users simply use the included Digimax Converter software
to easily convert their favorite MP3 files or watch their favorite video content
on the large, 2.5-inch color display. The user-friendly software can convert MPEG,
AVI, MOV, WMV and ASF files for viewing on the NV3. For music on-the-go, the software
can also convert MP3 and WAV audio files in several simple steps. The innovative
software also allows users to view subtitles, adjust the screen size and crop
and stretch the image to fit the screen as desired. Users can listen to their
entertainment using the included ear buds or on the dual stereo speakers discreetly
located on the camera, and even listen to their music while taking photos.



In addition to playing video, the NV3 can also make movies using MPEG-4, the high-compression,
high-quality video format. The NV3 can record in VGA (640x480) at 30fps, for smoother
video and a bigger view of the movie on LCD and TV screens. For steady videos,
the NV3 includes a movie stabilizer function that automatically detects and corrects
minor lateral and vertical camera movement. For additional control the continuous
video recording function allows the user to pause and resume video recording at
any time, while the built-in movie editing function allows users to edit video
in-camera. The NV3 features several special effects functions for creative control
in-camera, such as Color Effect, Highlight, Photo Frame, Negative and Composite
Shot. Color effects include B/W, sepia, blue, green and red.



The NV3 features 11 scene modes including Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape,
Close-up, Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow and Text Recognition.
Text Recognition, a feature unique to Samsung digital still cameras, allows users
to shoot documents such as books, papers and magazines and then extract text from
the image taken using the bundled "Digimax Reader" text recognition
software.



The NV3 features 16 MB of internal memory and comes bundled with ear buds and
a powerful lithium ion battery.



The Samsung NV3 has an MSRP of $349.99 and will be available in Fall of 2006.