01.jpg (28.41 KB. 530x298 - viewed 2 times.)Fujifilm is about to release its first rugged digital camera to feature GPS geo-
tagging of images, the FinePix XP30. In addition to being water-, dust-,
shock- and freeze-proof, the compact camera can guide you from your
current location to a point where you snapped a particularly interesting
shot, and use collected data to create a travel map, using your photos as
illustrations. The camera can also record high definition video and includes a
number of user-assist features to help capture the best shots without too
much effort.
Like the FinePix XP10 before it, the XP30 benefits from dustproof sealing and
the ability to operate in chilly 14ºF (-10ºC) temperatures. The improvements to
the new model start with the waterproofing (you can now take the XP30 to a
depth of 16.5 feet/5 meters), and then move on to its being able to withstand
a drop from 5 feet (1.5 meters). The FUJINON f5.0-25.0 mm (28-140mm
equivalent), 5x wide angle refractive optical zoom lens has a reinforced hardened
glass lens barrier, and the camera benefits from a durable metal uni-body
chassis with riveting to the front panel.
There's a 14 megapixel CCD sensor with ISO100 to ISO3200 sensitivity and sensor
shift Dual Image Stabilization, which combines a mechanically stabilized sensor
with high ISO to counteract camera shake.Tracking autofocus locks onto a
fast-moving subject when the shutter is depressed half way, which places
the in-focus subject in the center of the frame when the shutter is released.
02.jpg (45.33 KB. 530x438 - viewed 2 times.)When a photo is taken, it is tagged with location information supplied by the
built-in GPS. If you take a snapof a particularly impressive view and want
to return later but can't remember how to get there, you can locate the photo
in the image library and use a function called Photo Navigation to find out how
far away you are and get directions back to where the photo was taken. An
embedded list of around half a million places of interest located around the
globe is included, and the camera's GPS Tracking Data function periodically
stores location data which can later be used to generate a map of your travels,
illustrated with photos taken along the route.
The XP30 can also record high definition video in Motion JPEG format at 30 frames
per second, albeit at 720p resolution and with mono audio. Recorded video and
captured images are stored to a SD/SDHC/SDXC media card, and in-camera
editing or viewing is undertaken via the 2.7-inch, anti-reflective, high contrast,
230,000 dot LCD display to the rear.
The Facebook/YouTube Automatic Upload feature allows you to tag an image
for upload to social networking sites once the camera is connected to an
internet-enabled computer. The camera can auto-stitch up to three images to
create one modest panorama shot, and user assist features such as auto scene recognition, face detection and auto red eye removal are included
