Fuji intros small two megapix digicam

FUJIFILM SAID it is ready to release a two megapixel small format digital camera in the next few weeks.

The Finepix F402 will snap 2304 x 1728 photographs, and fits into the palm of an average size hand, the firm said.

The tool for would be snappers uses Fujifilm's Super CCD sensory system, has measures 3 x 2.7 x 0.9 inches depth, and weighs 4.4 ounces without batteries.

The camera will also snap AVI digivideo with sound at 60 seconds for 320 x 240 movies with a 16MB picture card, and 240 seconds for 160 x 20 movies.

The suggested retail price of the camera is $350, a price which includes a USB cable, a handstrap, software, AC power cable and battery charger, and the 16MB XD picture card.

This is a new form factor created by a joint venture between Olympus and Fuji, about the size of a US penny. Densities will eventually reach 8GB for one single card. The 16MB card has a claimed data recording speed of 1.3MB/s, while a 64MB card will record data at 3MB/s and read it at 5MB/s, the firm claimed. As well as the 16MB card, Fujifilm said 32MB, 64MB and 128MB are already available.