Colorful, retro point-and-shoot digital cameras from the early 2000s are back in style! Just check out any camera store or online retailer and you’ll see a good selection of preowned compact models for purchase. Digital Imaging Reporter’s Flashback Friday posts bring back these fashion-forward models that promise a “different imaging experience” from today’s high-tech cameras. These fun family P&S make great little imaging companions. Check out all our Flashback posts to see early digicams from a variety of manufacturers. This week we highlight the Fujifilm FinePix Z70 point-and-shoot camera that debuted in February 2010.
Fujifilm FinePix Z70
The Z70 bolstered Fujifilm’s fun and fashionable range of Z series compact cameras with a 12-megapixel CCD sensor; a Fujinon 5x optical zoom lens; HD image capture; as well as a YouTube/Facebook web upload function.
Sporting a sophisticated metal body with a cool vertical sliding lens barrier, the Z70 is slimmer than previous Z models. At a mere 0.7-inch thin, it weighs just 5.1 ounces. The truly portable gem is at home in any handbag or pocket. Hidden away within its ultra-slim body is a Fujinon 36–180mm-equivalent zoom lens. The optics operate internally to protect it against bumps and scrapes. And it works with digital image stabilization to reduce image blur.
The camera also features LED illuminated keys that make it easy to navigate its functions in dark conditions. Plus, a one-touch movie button makes it simple to create 720p HD video clips. Moreover, a movie edit function lets you add finishing touches to your footage by making them B&W, sepia or even adding a backlight correction. Further, blog mode enables you to add special effects to your photos: sepia, contrast, brightness, crop or face mosaic.
Social Media Forward
What’s more, a Facebook/YouTube easy web upload function saves time. Instead of trawling through the photos on your computer to decide which ones to upload, get in the F70’s playback mode and there’s a menu option to “mark” a picture for Facebook or YouTube. Connect to a computer and access the MyFinePix Studio software (included in the box), and press “upload”!
Other helpful features are tracking autofocus and Scene Recognition Auto technology. It intelligently detects the scene type and shooting conditions and optimizes camera settings accordingly. So, whether you’re photographing a group of friends in a nightclub or shooting at a beach, the Z70 will produce balanced photos at the press of a button. It also features low-light capabilities of up to ISO 1600 at full resolution and Face Detection technology with automatic red-eye removal.
Rounding out its features is a 2.7-inch LCD screen for composing and playing back photos/clips. Plus, an auto picture rotation function rotates images on the screen dependent on whether you’re viewing them in portrait or landscape.
Available in five color choices, the Z70 was meant to appeal to a wider demographic than its predecessors. At launch, SRP: $150.
Be sure to visit every Friday for more cool, retro P&S cameras!
