Fujifilm Finepix Z300: only for Japan?

Fujifilm has launched its first ultra-compact digital camera with a touch screen the Z300. There's just one problem, though: for the time being, it's only available on the Japanese market.

The new Z300 has the look and feel of the rest of the Z series from Fuji: an ultra-thin 18 mm camera, with a slighting door to protect the lens.

There is a 10 Megapixel sensor, a 5x zoom, but still no real wide-angle lens, starting at 36 mm and going up to 180 mm. Fujifilm are banking on the inclusion of a touch screen on the Z300, which is as big as the one on the Canon Ixus 110 IS (an odd choice, given that the video here is in 4/3 VGA format). In particular, the Z300 will be the first camera where using the shutter release button will be optional: you will be able to take a photo just by tapping the subject on your screen.

Available at the end of this month at an estimated price of 40 000 yen (around £250), it should be a little cheaper than the current leading touchscreen camera, the Sony T900, which is available in Europe. Let's hope that some other people will be able to get their hands on the Fujifilm, or at least a similar model.

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