Facial-detection technology popular in Japanese compact digital camera market

Face detection-equipped digital cameras are selling very well in the Japanese market, reports JPEA International PEN News Weekly. The Canon IXY Digital 900IS launched on Oct. 5 promptly topped the bestseller list at major specialty chains, says the article.

"It took over the Casio EX-Z1000 that had been in the limelight since last May," says a manager at a large-scale chain store, continuing, "It certainly takes better pictures. Figures after all are the most frequented subject of snapshooters and face detection is more convenient than a 10-megapixel count. The face-detecting 900IS sells better than Canon's 10-megapixel sibling IXY Digital 1000."

The Fuji FinePix F31fd that debuted on Nov. 16 with face-detection feature jumped into the top 5 cameras in the bestseller list. Fujifilm added 6.3-megapixel FinePix Z5fd in early December, which took the 7th position in the first week of debut and forwarded to the 3rd the following week, reports PEN News Weekly.

"Most customers do their homework and name a camera with a face-detection feature. It's not only the outcome of effective advertisement, but they apparently read relative articles in papers and magazines and thought it would be a desirable feature," says the manager.