Kyocera Finecam S4 4MP features into a digital camera that slips comfortably into your shirt pocket–it’s barely over 3 inches wide and weighs less than 6 ounces. The 4.3-megapixel sensor captures sharp and vibrant images with a resolution of up to 2,272 by 1,704 pixels, which means you can create prints up to 11 by 14 inches in size without compromising quality. The lens has a 3x optical zoom sufficient for most purposes, and the 2x digital zoom yields a total zoom of 6x and opens up more photographic possibilities.
Functions such as flash, exposure, focus, and white balance are fully automatic, but you can easily switch to manual for greater control. The Kyocera also captures full-motion movies in AVI format at a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. The included 16 MB Secure Digital memory card can hold 64 photos and about two 15-second movies. You can keep track of all your camera and memory settings using the large 1.5-inch LCD monitor. Quickly and easily transfer all of your work into any computer with a USB connection.
Helpful consumer’s review
I got the Kyocera S4 back in January 2003. Great “unkown” digital camera. For anyone who is doubtful of the quality, you should know that Kyocera makes digital cameras for Toshiba, and they are the parent company of Yashica and Contax, two of the most respected names in photography.
The design of this camera is simply beautiful. Gorgeous gun-metal aluminum body, solid zoom lens with built-in cap, simple button and menu layout, and overall, a very durable camera.
As this was my first ditial camera, I quickly learned the limitations of the unit. Some of the limitations can be corrected through simple upgrades, namely, the 16MB SD card included with the unit is not adequate for most users. You should get a 64MB or 128MB card so you can save more than 80 shots at a time. In fact, with a 128MB SD card, you can shoot over 170 photos at high resolution. It might be all the storage you’re going to need with a simple camera like this. Also, I recommend getting the deluxe leather case with belt-clip (available from Kyocera or other camera shops), as the pouch included with this camera will not provide enough protection – even for such a durable device.
This camera competes with the Canon Elph and other “credit card” sized cameras (the front of this camera is precisely the size of a credit or ATM card). And it competes with them very well. The resolution is incredible, and the optical zoom is rock-solid. However, using the digital zoom does result in a loss of resolution (which may not be known to first-time digital users). And this camera has useful manual exposure and CCD sensitivity seetings, but no true ISO or “traditional” shutter speed adjustment. Also, this camera does not perform well in low-light or in taking shots of fast-moving objects. As much as I have experimented with its settings, it is obvious that this camera cannot do what the high-end digital cameras can do in twilight settings outdoor and dim settings indoor. Even shots of hockey players on a brightly lit ice surface required precise manual adjustment (and a lot of patience). This is a camera for daytime landscapes and close-ups of people and objects. It cannot compete with digital SLR’s or rangefinders costing twice as much (or more). But having said that, I believe it is better than the Cannon Elph, and most other digital cameras of the same size.
