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Kyocera FineCam S3 Zoom Kyocera packs 3 megapixels into the smallest zoom-equipped digicam yet. Too cool! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet S3 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on S3 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 7/1/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The S3 records images to MMC (MultiMedia) or SD (Secure Digital) cards, which are currently among the smallest flash memory cards on the market (slightly larger than a postage stamp). A USB card reader and 16MB SD card accompany the camera, providing quick image downloading by simply plugging the card directly into the cable. SD cards are available from third parties in sizes as large as 64MB. (One supplier announced OEM sampling of 128MB SD cards just as this review was posted in early July, 2001.) While we're less than thrilled (an understatement) to see yet another memory card format invade the digicam space, we suspect many users will like the fact that the SD cards can be used in both a digicam and their SD-equipped MP3 music player.

The SD card features a write-protection switch, which slides downward to lock the card. Once locked, SD cards cannot be written to, nor can any information be deleted. Through the Playback menu, individual images can be write-protected, which prevents any accidental erasure (except from card formatting). The S3 saves images in folders, and allows you to create new folders through the Setup menu. When images are saved to a new folder, the file naming starts over at 0001.

The S3 offers an uncompressed TIFF file format, which saves images at the 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution. Three JPEG compression levels are also available, Superfine, Fine, and Normal. Both Superfine and Fine save images at the 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, while the Normal setting saves images at 1,024 x 768 pixels. Movie files are saved at the 320 x 240-pixel resolution, with a maximum recording time of 15 seconds.

The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images, which can be stored on the included 16MB memory card with each size/quality combination.

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality		Uncompressed	Super Fine	Fine	Normal
High Resolution (2048 x 1536)	Images	1	8	17	N/A
	Approx. Compression	1:1	5:1	10:1	N/A
Standard Resolution (1024 x 768)	Images	-	-	-	59
	Approx. Compression	-	-	-	9:1

Perhaps due to its diminutive size, the Finecam S3 doesn't have a built-in port for connecting to a computer. Instead, there's a very compact SD card reader and USB cable packed in the box. Unlike many card readers, this is a "storage class" device, meaning that Mac OS 8.5 and higher and Windows ME computers don't need any special drivers to recognize it. We tested its transfer speed on our G4 PowerMac, and found it very fast, transferring data at 714 KBytes/second. (Most USB-connected cameras are limited to transfer speeds of about 350 KB/sec.)