Kyocera FineCam S3 ZoomKyocera packs 3 megapixels into the smallest zoom-equipped digicam yet. Too cool!<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, SoftwareReview First Posted: 7/1/2001 |
Video OutUS and Japanese models of the S3 come with an NTSC video cable for connecting to a television set (European models come with the appropriate PAL cable, and the video signal is adjustable in the Setup menu). Once the camera is connected to the video source, images can be reviewed and composed using the larger screen. An automated slide show option, accessed in Playback mode, also provides presentation capability.
PowerThe S3 is powered by a single, 3.6v lithium-ion battery pack, which slides into the compartment on the bottom panel of the camera. Though the S3 is somewhat reliant on its LCD menu system, it does offer a real-image optical viewfinder that allows you to compose the image independently of the LCD monitor. There's also an automatic shutoff feature that turns the camera off after a specified period of inactivity (either one, two, or six minutes). Kyocera estimates that a fully charged battery pack should provide enough power to capture approximately 140 shots with the LCD monitor on, and about 170 shots with the LCD monitor off. Continuous playback time is specified at 50 minutes. These numbers seem to agree with our own measurements, but you'd have to be awfully fast with the shutter button to snap 140 shots in the roughly 36 minutes of power-on time we estimate the battery pack will provide in that mode. (Actually, our estimate of playback time was a bit more generous than Kyocera's.) The battery pack takes around five hours to fully recharge, so we highly recommend picking up a spare and keeping it freshly charged and on-hand. An AC adapter also accompanies the camera, and serves as the in-camera battery charger as well.
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(mA @5v) |
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| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
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| Capture Mode, no LCD |
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| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
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| Half-pressed w/o LCD |
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| Capture Mode, w/LCD, continuous AF |
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| Memory Write (transient) |
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| Flash Recharge (transient) |
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| Image Playback |
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| Sleeping |
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Based on our testing battery life looks like the Finecam S3's weakest link: It's possible there was something amiss with our test unit (production serial number 2908), but its power consumption was far higher than what Kyocera must have based its run time estimates on. Even with the LCD off, we estimate a capture-mode run time of only 60 minutes, dropping to just 36 minutes with the LCD illuminated. We calculated playback run time at 77 minutes. (We also noticed that the camera ran very warm after a few minutes of continuous operation, supporting the high power consumption we measured.)
These run times are a good bit shorter than average for the 3 megapixel category. Battery power is a frequent issue for ultra-compact digicams, due to the small amount of space available to stuff a battery into. The S3's power drain is above average (albeit not by a huge amount), while it's 3.6v 800mAh battery has less than half the power capacity of a set of premium NiMH AA cells. The net result is rather short battery life. Even more than we usually do, we strongly advise purchasing an extra battery when you buy your S3.
Included Software
A software CD packaged with the S3 contains ArcSoft’s PhotoImpression, Apple QuickTime, and USB driver software, for both Windows (98/2000/ME) and Macintosh (OS 8.6-9.1) platforms. PhotoImpression provides minor image correction and enhancement utilities, as well as printing capabilities, while QuickTime allows movie playback.
In the Box
- Kyocera Finecam S3 digital camera
- Soft case
- Wrist strap
- USB cable with noise reduction core
- Card reader and cable
- Video cable
- AC adapter and battery charger
- CD-ROM containing ArcSoft PhotoImpression, Apple QuickTime, and USB drivers
- User guides, Quick-Start Guide, and registration information
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