Digital camera makers are coming up with new “intelligent” features to compete in a fierce marketplace.
Unlike previous efforts in the camera industry to improve the hardware functions of the devices, such as the number of pixels, manufacturers are now focusing on features that will appeal to less professional photographers, by increasing the convenience of picture-taking.
Korea Fujifilm Co. unveiled its new digital camera model S6500 yesterday at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul. This model can store up to 10 faces and has a “face detection” function that identifies the faces everywhere in the scene and brings them into clear focus. The function works even if the subject is not in the middle of the frame, overcoming conventional automatic focus.
“About 90 percent of the flaws in photos of people are caused because the focus and exposure are not right,” said Iwata Haruto, an executive at the electronic visual team in Fujifilm Japan.
Yoo Chang-ho, president of Korea Fujifilm, said the functions work even when trying to take pictures of moving people. “You can get professional, clear photos, even when you’re photographing pictures of children, who are always busily moving,” he said.
On Tuesday, Sony Korea released its Cyber Shot DSC-N2 and DSC-T50 digital cameras. The models come with a “paint pen.” When viewing photos through the screen, users can write on the camera’s liquid crystal display screen with this pen in various colors like a digital paintbrush tool. The extra embellishments can be saved on the photos. The cameras also support an automatic focus function.
The focus of the photo can be reset to a certain point that the user designates by touching the desired location on the LCD.
Sony offers a GPS detection device that stores information about the location of the camera every 15 seconds.
Samsung Techwin also offers convenient features that include “photo frames” and easy-to-use touch screens.

by Kim Chang-woo, Wohn Dong-hee