Fujifilm Announces Nine Series J/T Compacts!

Fuji today announced no less than 19 new cameras, updating its entire compact camera range. Among them are nine—yes nine—entry-level J-series and T-series budget snappers.


Ouch! Every year, Fuji seems to find a way of padding out its J series with even more models. For 2012, the FinePix A series (which uses AA batteries) seems to be stepping aside to make way for seven new cameras in the FinePix J range.

Last year, the T series replaced the JZ series of compacts with 10x zooms (the new JZ models only have 8x zooms). However, this year's T-series cameras have ditched their 'mini Fuji F-series' style design to resemble J-series models more closely. Still following? In a nutshell:

	Zoom	Sensor	Screen
JX500	26-130 mm	14 Mpx	2.7"
JX520	"	"	3"
JX550	"	16 Mpx	2.7"
JX580	"	"	3"
JX700	"	"	2.7"
JZ100	25-200 mm stabilised	14 Mpx	2.7"
JZ250	"	16 Mpx	3"
T350	28-280 mm stabilised	14 Mpx	"
T400	"	16 Mpx	"

Like last year, there are two practically identical models—the JX550 and JX700. These have exactly the same tech specs but the JX700 has a slimmer, more rounded body.

Technically speaking, all of these models are very similar, and the only real difference between them is their lenses. That's because there won't be a huge difference in quality between the 14- and 16-Megapixel CCDs, and the 3-inch and 2.7-inch screens have the same resolutions (270,000 dots according to Fuji, which means they must be new). Similarly, while the camera bodies vary in shape slightly, they're not radically different.

All of these new cameras share one great new feature—a video record button (HD 720p)—and one major drawback—a zoom control on the back of the camera instead of around the shutter release.





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