In this age of digital cameras, it's nice to see that FujiFilm is still building new cameras and new film emulsions. Kurt Easterwood pointed us to the new Fujifilm Natura S, which is a 24mm f1.9 point-and-shoot. They also have a new film emulsion, a color negative 1600 ISO film, also branded Natura. No one knows too much about either yet, but as I am a sucker for wide-angle cameras, this one has caught my eye. I think it will be around $300 US.
Nice and all, but that wide-angle camera is a bit specialized. For that kind of cash, you could probably just find a pretty nice wide-angle for whatever camera you currently have (a 28 mm Pentax lens sits in front of my 60s-vintage Spotmatic SP when I get my wide-angle groove on).
The hot setup in point-and-shoot cameras a few years ago was the Yashica T4 or T5, both with a Contax-supplied prime lens of superb quality. They can be had for reasonable money on eBay these days.
New film? 1600 ISO negative? Odd. There's lots of cameras out there still, but does shooting high-grain color 1600 really play to the strengths of film?
The jawing on a lot of the serious photo sites now (Luminous Landscape, DPReviews, etc.) is that in the DSLR realm, picture quality is already a match for (or superior to) good 35mm slides. For maximum resolution, medium-format is where it's at. For snapshots, I'd happily recommend a Canon A70 or A75, and then it's the muddled middle for people who want nice pictures but don't want to pay $1000 for a digital camera.
Ryan,
With respect, you have missed the appeal of this camera.
You will not find a 24mm f1.9 available low-light shooter lens for this kind of money. Especially using the quality of optics Fuji make.
There is no point in making a camera which is not specialised in a digital market - digital can do most things. Wide-angle, and low light shooting - not so good.
Even a Yashica T4 or T5 - lens is 35-38mm. That is not even 'wide'.
The new film, Natura is different from other high speed colour film because of its colour balance. Shooting high speed finer grain 1600 like Natura S has its appeal.
Your websites crow about DSLR and digital. For 27,000 Yen, you won't get a digital camera or a medium format that can shoot as well at night, close-up. Except maybe a vintage folded camera. Some crow do bird dropping. Proof is in the picture, not the crowing.
does anyone know where I can get one of these cameras, prefer to buy in US
The Natura S seems like an interesting camera. The website www.unicircuits.com has two versions(Yen 32,000 or 37,000). I concure with Roger, is it being sold in Canada or the USA? Is there a website for detailed specifications in English?