Fujifilm

Fujifilm once again has one of the largest stands at the show, with several new additions to the FinePix range making their public debut. First up are two fairly conventional compacts built around standard CCDs; the 4 megapixel/3x zoom FinePix A345 and 5 megapixel/3x zoom FinePix A350. Slightly more interesting are the two new Super CCD cameras, the FinePix F10; a 6 megapixel, 3x zoom model, and the very nice Z1 Zoom, a camera that finally gives Fujifilm something to compete with the ultra compact models from Canon, Sony, Minolta et al. The Z1's all-metal 'wraparound' styling, 3x 'folded optics' zoom and ultra fast operation - plus 6.3 megapixel Super CCD sensor - should win it some friends. It's interesting that the new Super CCD cameras no longer use interpolation to boost output pixel counts, something Fujifilm should have done from the day the technology was launched - still, better late than never!

Elsewhere the FinePix S3 Pro is still getting lots of attention, and a new promotion for US customers (offering a free 256MB xD Picture Card) was announced at the show. The rest of the large floorspace is dedicated to Fuji's huge photofinishing business, though we did spot the first public outing of a 1GB xD-Picture card (something Olympus also recently announced).