Fujifilm spits out crazy number of FinePix cameras

I guess all the talk that smartphones are killing off point-and-shoots really isn't true. Or, maybe, someone just forgot to mention it to Fujifilm.

Along with bringing its latest X-series camera, the 26x zoom X-S1, to the U.S., the photographic and imaging company announced 18 new FinePix models for its 2012 lineup.

Several of the cameras are variations of other models (e.g. one with GPS, one without). It's no different than what Fujifilm did the past few years for CES, but I expected fewer cameras than this simply because of the seemingly diminished demand for pocket cameras (nonenthusiast ones, anyhow).

What isn't unexpected is the concentration on long zoom lenses and rugged models, the areas smartphones can't really touch at the moment. Even the very bottom of the line has a 5x optical zoom.

Without any hands-on time, I can only really give you the specs and some canned product photos. You can also hit Fujifilm's CES site for more details. We've been told the models will be available for groping at CES, so I'll follow up with some more in-person stuff after I hit the show floor.

• 16-megapixel EXR CMOS
• 30x, f2.8-5.6 24-720mm lens
• 3-inch, 460K-dot resolution tilting LCD and 960K-dot resolution electronic viewfinder
• 1080p at 30fps movie capture (.MOV)
• Burst shooting at up to 8fps at full resolution and high-speed (slow motion) movie capture at up to 320fps
• FinePix HS30EXR and HS25EXR will be available in March 2012 and will be priced at $499.95 and $399.95, respectively.

The HS30EXR and HS25EXR are updates to 2011's HS20EXR. They keep the same lens, but get a redesigned manual zoom for smoother movement. Despite also having a 16-megapixel EXR CMOS sensor, the new models get improved sensors and processors for better performance and image quality. So what's the $100 difference? The HS30EXR shoots raw or raw plus JPEG and uses a long-life rechargeable lithium ion battery; the HS25EXR shoots only JPEG and uses AA-size batteries.

• 14-megapixel CCD
• S4500, SL300: 30x, f3.1-5.9 24-720mm lens; S4200: 24x, f3.1-5.9 24-576mm lens
• 3-inch and electronic viewfinder
• 720p at 30fps movie capture
• The FinePix S4200 and S4500 will be available in February 2012 and will be priced at $229.95 and $259.95, respectively. The FinePix SL300 will be available in March 2012 and will be priced at $299.95.

These are Fujifilm's more-affordable full-size megazoom options. The lens is all that separates the S4200 from the S4500. The SL300 gets the same lens as the S4500, but also gets a higher-resolution LCD, a hot shoe for an add-on flash, a secondary zoom lever on the lens barrel, and uses a lithium ion rechargeable battery; the S4200 and S4500 use AA batteries.

• 16-megapixel EXR CMOS
• F770, F750: 20x, f3.5-5.3 25-500mm lens; F660: 15x, f3.5-5.3 24-360mm lens
• 3-inch, 460K-dot resolution LCD
• 1080p at 30fps movie capture (.MOV)
• Burst shooting at up to 8fps at full resolution and high-speed (slow motion) movie capture at up to 320fps
• The FinePix F770EXR and F750EXR will be available in March 2012 for $379.95 and $349.95, respectively. The F770EXR will be available in black and red, and the F750EXR will be available in black, red, and white. The FinePix F660EXR will be available in March 2012 for $279.95 in black.

The F770EXR and F750EXR are basically the compact versions of the HS30EXR, as they feature the same sensor and processor and the same shooting options, too. For the $30 premium over the F750EXR, the F770EXR can shoot in raw or raw plus JPEG and has built-in GPS. The F660EXR looks like its the same as the F750EXR, but with the 15x ultrawide-angle lens found on 2011's F600EXR.

• 14-megapixel CMOS
• 5x, f3.9-4.9 28-140mm lens
• 2.7-inch LCD
• 1080p at 30fps movie capture
• XP150, XP100: waterproof to 33 feet, shockproof to 6.5 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and dustproof; XP50: waterproof to 16.5 feet, shockproof to 5 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and dustproof
• The FinePix XP150 and XP100 will be available March 2012 at $279.95 and $249.95, respectively. The XP150 will be available in black and orange, while the XP100 will come in black, blue, orange, silver, and green. The FinePix XP50 will be available in March 2012 for $199.95 and will also come in black, blue, orange, silver, and green.

The shooting features and specs are the same across all of the cameras. The only thing that separates the XP150 from the XP100 is GPS. The XP150/XP100 are meant for "adventurers" whereas the XP50 is designed for occasional use at the pool, beach, or ski slope.

• T400: 16-megapixel CCD; T350: 14-megapixel CCD
• 10x, f3.4-5.6 28-280mm lens
• 3-inch LCD
• 720p at 30fps movie capture
• The FinePix T400 and T350 will be available March 2012 at the price of $179.95 and $159.95, respectively, and will be available in black, red, and blue.

Outside of the 10x wide-angle lens being packed into an ultracompact body, there's not much here to get excited about. The only difference between the two models is some meaningless megapixels.

• JZ250: 16-megapixel CCD; JZ100: 14-megapixel CCD
• 8x, f2.9-5.9 25-200mm lens
• JZ250: 3-inch LCD; JZ100: 2.7-inch LCD
• 720p at 30fps movie capture
• The JZ250 and JZ100 will be available in March 2012 for $149.95 and $129.95, respectively, and in black.

Pretty much the same as the T-series models, but with an 8x zoom. Yawn.

• JX580, AX550: 16-megapixel CCD; JX500: 14-megapixel CCD
• JX580, JX500: 5x, f3.5-6.3 26-130mm lens; AX550: 5x, f3.3-5.9 33-165mm lens
• JX580: 3-inch LCD; JX500, AX550: 2.7-inch LCD
• 720p at 30fps movie capture
• The FinePix JX580 and JX500 will be available in February 2012 at the price of $119.95 and $99.95, respectively, in black, red, and blue colors. The AX550 will be available in March for $89.95 in black.

Say "buh-bye" to 3x zoom compacts. I guess that's just not enough of an incentive to use this over your smartphone or camera phone. You can now get a 5x wide-angle lens, a 3-inch LCD, and HD movie capture for just more than a Benjamin. Oh, and the big selling point for the AX550 is its AA batteries.