Fujifilm launches the FinePix F31fd with the world’s fastest Face Detection technology


PHOTOKINA 2006, COLOGNE, GERMANY, September 26, 2006 — Fuji Photo
Film Co., Ltd. is proud to announce the launch of the FinePix F31fd, its first pocketable
digital camera to feature hardware-based Face Detection technology, which debuted
with the announcement of the FinePix S6500fd in July 2006. Face Detection has great
impact on people photography, ensuring the camera automatically focuses on and
exposes for faces, rather than details that can confuse other cameras. Coping with up to
ten faces in a frame, it ensures photos of friends and family are crisp, clear and perfectly
exposed no matter what the occasion. Fujifilm’s Face Detection technology is unique
because the technology is built-in to the camera’s processor, enabling it to identify faces,
optimise settings and take the photo within just 0.05 seconds.

The FinePix F31fd inherits its feature set from its older brother, the TIPA and DIMA
award winning FinePix F30. In particular its unrivalled low-light performance of ISO
3200 at full resolution, made possible by Fujifilm’s acclaimed Real Photo Processor II,
combines with Face Detection to make the FinePix F31fd the ultimate compact for
people photography. With Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens, 6 megapixel Super CCD HR
VI, 2.5 inch LCD screen and unique Fujifilm technologies such as Intelligent Flash, the
FinePix F31fd is perfect for anyone looking for a camera that will rise to any occasion.

The camera’s fast response times, 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.4 second start-up time,
ensure it will catch all the action and spell the end for missed photo opportunities. Its
580-shot battery life makes it an ideal constant companion for days out or weekends
away without the worry of missed photo opportunities thanks to a spent battery.

Face Detection
Fujifilm’s Face Detection technology was originally developed for the company’s
photofinishing division, where it was used for reproducing the fine detail in people’s
faces in print. In developing the technology for use in FinePix cameras, Fujifilm’s
Research & Development team’s challenge was to make it fast, otherwise the feature
would never be anything more than a novelty. In achieving a response time of 0.05
seconds, Fujifilm’s Face Detection becomes a genuinely useful tool for capturing photos
of friends and family that are perfectly focused and exposed to prioritise the people in
the frame.

Face Detection works by triangulating eyes and mouth, using an algorithm to optimise
focus and exposure for up to ten faces in a single frame. A green square surrounds the
face of the primary subject on the camera’s LCD screen, whilst white squares identify
up to nine other subjects. Movement tracking keeps the camera ‘locked on’ to its
subjects until they move out of the picture. The technology works irrespective of the
subject’s position in the frame, and is not confused by spectacles.

In Playback mode, Face Detection will automatically zoom in to subjects’ faces and trim
the shot for optimum portraits.

A low light landmark
The launch of the FinePix F30 set standards for low light photography, with sensitivity
at full resolution of ISO 3200. With the launch of the FinePix F31fd, Fujifilm’s compact
digital cameras remain leaders in their class for low-light performance. These qualities,
combined with the camera’s Anti-blur mode, mean that subject and camera movement
do not result in blurred images.

Fujifilm has identified low light photography as one of the true benchmarks of a digital
camera's performance, as most images are taken when the light is limited and flash often
leaves subjects looking bleached white, whilst rendering the background invisible. The
product of over 60 years’ accumulated sensor technology, Fujifilm’s Real Photo
Processor II enables the ISO 3200 sensitivity of the original FinePix F30, and now the
FinePix F31fd. This makes flash-free photography possible with natural illumination,
balanced foreground and background exposure and no subject blurring, in even the
dimmest conditions. Fujifilm’s Real Photo Technology means images taken at the
highest sensitivity of ISO 3200 suffer from less noise than some others at 1600.
Furthermore, because the camera requires no decrease in resolution at its highest ISO
setting, images can be printed at previously unachievable sizes with no loss of quality.

For those occasions when flash is required, Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system sets flash
power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background
exposure. Avoiding both the messy background blur of ‘slow-sync’ flash, and the stark
contrast of conventional flash, Intelligent Flash results in visibly more pleasing, natural
looking photos. For times when a decision about lighting could mean a missed photo
opportunity, the FinePix F31fd’s Natural Light & Flash mode takes two photos in quick
succession, one with flash and one without, then displays them side-by-side for instant
comparison.

2.5 inch LCD screen
The FinePix F31fd features a large 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD screen, which is coated
with Fujifilm’s proprietary CV film. This minimises glare and reflections so that images
can be viewed from any angle and even in sunny conditions, when glare would usually
be a problem. In addition, the screen’s brightness adjusts automatically, depending on
the amount of light available, to further enhance ease of viewing.

Special scene modes
The camera’s 15 scene positions include beach, snow and fireworks for optimum
photography, no matter what the event. Its underwater scene mode acts in the same way
as a red filter and, when teamed with the WP-FXF30 underwater housing, ensures
underwater images from diving and snorkelling are as colourful and vibrant as the
human eye sees them.

FinePix F31fd features at a glance

  • Face Detection Technology built-in to the camera’s processor
  • Real Photo Processor II and new Super CCD HR VI
  • ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution
  • 6.3 million pixels
  • 3.0x optical zoom
  • Long-life battery (up to 580 shots)
  • IR Communication (IrSimple™)
  • VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
  • PictBridge ™ compatible for direct printing without a PC
  • Quick response times (0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5second start-up)

* (Title) World’s fastest Face Detection technology at the time of research conducted by Fujifilm in July
2006.