Today Kyocera US announced the Finecam S3, a camera we've covered previously. Dubbed as the "world's smallest 3.34 megapixel digital camera with a 2x zoom". The S3 weighs just 200 g (7 oz) and is actually slightly smaller than Canon's Digital IXUS (ELPH). Fitted out with an all metal case, a 1.5" LCD and several manual features it certainly looks competitive. Interestingly, Kyocera have also made the S3 EPSON Print Image Matching compliant.

Click here for our previous coverage of the Finecam S3

Kyocera Releases the World's Smallest 3.34 Megapixel Camera with 2X Optical Zoom Lens

SOMERSET, N.J., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Kyocera announces the Finecam S3 digital camera, the world's smallest high-quality 3.34 megapixel digital camera. The size of a credit card, the Kyocera Finecam S3 shoots incredibly crisp, sharp images in a sleek, state-of-the-art advanced digital device. The Finecam S3 utilizes the latest in digital technologies to captures images rivaling conventional 35mm film.

The 3.34 Megapixel CCD, the image capture element for the Finecam, works in conjunction with a high-resolution all glass, 2X zoom lens ensuring image quality that exceeds 200 line pairs per mm. The camera is equipped with a high quality Polysilicon TFT Color 1.5" LCD and offers a 35mm equivalent of 38-76mm. The lens itself is all glass and contains 3 aspheric elements offering the user the finest optical zoom available.

The Kyocera Finecam S3 records images on the postage-stamp sized 16MB MMC (MultiMedia) card, the latest in digital storage technology. The camera also comes with an SD/MMC USB reader, and the popular ArcSoft PhotoImpression(TM) 3.0 software, for easy-to-use photo editing and creative design on your PC. The Kyocera Finecam S3 features Epson's revolutionary new PRINT Image Matching technology, enabling it to work perfectly with the newest generation of EPSON Stylus Photo printers. With PRINT Image Matching, critical image specific parameters for printing are recorded by the Kyocera Finecam S3 and saved in each image data file. PRINT Image Matching-enabled Epson Stylus Photo printers use this information to ensure that they accurately reproduce the image created by the camera.

The Kyocera Finecam S3 offers an array of automatic and user selectable manual shooting and flash modes, including:

  • Macro, which allows photography 3.5" from the lens
  • Aperture Priority
  • Manual focusing
  • 4 Flash modes (Auto, Red-eye reduction, Fill-in or Flash Off)
  • Color modes (Color, Sepia or Black & White)
  • White Balance (Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Cloudy, Fluorescent, or
    Pre-set)
  • Exposure compensation (+ - 2EV, 1/3 EV step increments)

The Kyocera Finecam S3 digital camera is made of a durable stainless steel body. An additional 2X digital zoom allows for a maximum magnification of 152mm. The Finecam S3 also includes a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery with AC Charger/Adapter.

Kyocera Finecam S3 specifications

Body material Metal
Image Sensor 1/1.8" 3.34mp CCD GRGB CFA
Image Size 2048 x 1536
1024 x 768
Image Type TIFF, JPEG
Lens 38 - 76 mm equiv. (2 x zoom), F2.8 - F3.5, 7 pieces in 6 groups
Focus Modes Auto Focus, Manual Focus, Infinity Lock
Focus Range Normal: 30 cm - Infinity
Macro: 6 cm - 30 cm
Exposure Modes Auto Exposure, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority
Metering Center Weighted Average, Spot
Shutter Speed 1 - 1/2000 sec
(8, 4, 2 sec available in shutter priority)
White Balance Six modes plus manual preset
Image Processing Colour, Sepia, Black & White
Viewfinder Optical
Flash Built-In
Flash Range Wide: 0.9 - 2.5 m
Tele: 0.9 - 2 m
Storage SD card (MMC)
Movie Mode AVI limited only by storage
Self Timer +/-2EV in 0.3 EV
LCD Display 1.5" 110,000 pixel
Play Mode One Screen, Thumbnail (six), Slide Show, Zoom (2x), Rotation
Video Out NTSC / PAL (switchable)
I/O USB
Power Supplied Lithium-Ion 800 mAh rechargeable battery
Dimensions 30 x 87 x 55 mm
Weight 160 g (inc. battery and media)
Est. street price ~US$800 (unconfirmed)