Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR [printer-friendly] • reghardware

Original URL: http://www.reghardware.com/2009/11/18/review_camera_fujifilm_finepix_f200exr/

Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR

Extra sensory perception?

18th November 2009 13:03 GMT

Review The Finepix F200EXR is the replacement for the Finepix F100fd [1], which we looked at last January. Although there are a number of similarities between the two cameras – they have the same sized image sensor, optical zoom and camera body – there are some differences too, not least the Finepix F200EXR’s new EXR image sensor.

Fujifilm’s Finepix F200EXR features an upgraded sensor and advanced processing tricks

This being an F-series camera, the Finepix F200EXR is what Fuji calls an “advanced compact,” and is thus aimed at the user who wants to do more than just point-and-shoot. It has a 1/1.6-inch Super CCD HR CCD with 12Mp, a 5x optical zoom lens in the form of an f=6.4-32.0mm, F3.3-5.1 Fujion lens, equivalent to a 28-140mm lens on a 35mm camera. The standard ISO range of 100-3200 can be increased up to ISO 12800, with the shutter speed range of ¼-1/1500sec, extendable to 8-1/1500 sec in some modes.

This camera supports xD, SD, and SDHC cards, has 48MB of internal memory and comes with a lithium-ion battery. In a throwback to the days of film, you can select several film simulation types, including Fuji’s standard Provia and vivid Velvia. The battery has a CIPA rating of 230 shots per battery charge, which is disappointing; we’d expect the figure to be closer to 300 shots for a camera of this type.

There are a few more disappointments, such as the lack of a RAW shooting option, no HD movies – you get VGA and QVGA video in AVI Motion JPEG format – and manual aperture setting is limited, more on this later.

That said, the Finepix F200EXR still has plenty to offer, including the rather nifty new EXR sensor. This has several operating modes. Set it to EXR Resolution Priority and the camera will take full resolution 12Mp images. However, when set to EXR High ISO and Low Noise mode, the camera combines signals from adjacent pixels to create what is effectively, an extra large photodiode that can absorb more light. On paper, at least, this means less noise in low light conditions, although the trade-off is a loss of resolution.

Too big for the shirt pocket, but easy on the trousers

The third EXR mode, Dynamic Range Priority, takes two 6MP exposures and combines them to enhance the detail normally lost in shadows and highlights. Four DR strengths are available – 100, 200, 400 and 800 per cent, and if you’re not sure which EXR mode to use, switch to EXR Auto and the camera will do all the thinking for you; selecting the mode best suited for the shooting conditions. If you want to know more about how the EXR sensor works, check out Fujifilm's Finepix page here [2].

In terms of handling, the Finepix F200EXR seems a tad large when compared with the super-slim compacts on the market, and while it won’t easily slip into a shirt pocket, it will fit in a trouser pocket. Its dimensions are 99.7 x 58.9 x 23.4mm and it weighs 180 grams with battery and card.

A new mode dial improves navigation of the various functions within

Power-on to first shot is about two seconds. You get a large 3in LCD display, although only composed of 230,000 dots. Fujifilm has replaced the scroll wheel controller on the Finepix 100FD with a mode dial, which is an improvement.

Shooting modes consist of EXR, Auto, Program (with the option of Program AE or Aperture Priority AE), Scene Priority, Natural Light, Natural Light + Flash (the camera takes two consecutive shots with and without flash), Movie and Manual.

Manual mode lets you adjust the shutter speed and aperture by using the multi-controller, but aperture settings are limited to just two f-stops: f/3.3 and f/9 in the wide angle setting, and f/5.1 and f/14 when using the extreme telephoto setting. This limits your options when it comes to adjusting exposure or depth-of-field. Note: there is no shutter priority setting.

The Finepix F200EXR uses a dual menu system, which can take a little getting used to. Press the main menu button in say, Program mode, and you get a shooting menu that lets you adjust parameters such as continuous mode, AF mode and the camera’s Dual Image Stabilisation system (this consists of a shift CCD system combined with a high ISO setting).

5x optical zoom and a range of image processing features will satisfy most enthusiasts

One of the good things about the menu system is that you can simply select the setting you want, and then touch the shutter button to confirm it and exit the menu screen. The Function menu is used for changing most parameters, such as ISO speed, dynamic range, image size and white balance.

Sample Shots

Click for a full-resolution crop [3]

Click for a full-resolution crop [4]

Click for a full-resolution crop [5]

Click for a full-resolution crop [6]

Click for a full-resolution crop [7]

Click for a full-resolution crop [8]

Click for a full-resolution crop [9]

Click for a full-resolution crop [10]

Film emulation mode: Standard Provia

Film emulation mode: Velvia

Sample Shots

Wide angle

Tele-photo
Click for a full-resolution crop [11]

Close-up
Click for a full-resolution crop [12]

Intelligent Flash combine two images, one with flash one without.

Click for a full-resolution crop [13]

Dynamic Range Priority, takes two 6MP exposures and combines them to enhance the detail normally lost in shadows and highlights. If you look at the sky at the very top of the frame, you’ll see that, with a DR 100 percent setting, it’s overexposed, because it should actually be blue. As we bump up the DR setting, the blue sky returns, and the exposure is slightly increased for objects in the shadow. The main penalty is a slight increase in noise, as the ISO speed is raised from 100 to 200 at the maximum DR setting.

Dynamic Range at 100 per cent

Dynamic Range at 200 per cent

Dynamic Range at 400 per cent

Dynamic Range at 800 per cent

ISO Tests

ISO 100
Click for a full-resolution crop [14]

ISO 200
Click for a full-resolution crop [15]

ISO 400
Click for a full-resolution crop [16]

ISO 800
Click for a full-resolution crop [17]

ISO 1600
Click for a full-resolution crop [18]

ISO 3200
Click for a full-resolution crop [19]

ISO 6400
Click for a full-resolution crop [20]

ISO 12800
Click for a full-resolution crop [21]

Night Shots

ISO 1600
Click for a full-resolution crop [22]

ISO 1600 in EXR High ISO Low Noise mode
Click for a full-resolution crop [23]

ISO 3200
Click for a full-resolution crop [24]

ISO 6400
Click for a full-resolution crop [25]

ISO 12800
Click for a full-resolution image [26]

8 second exposure at ISO 200
Click for a full-resolution crop [27]

To get to grips with this camera, you really do need to study the instruction manual, which exists only as a PDF file – groan. It’s not that you can’t use the Finepix F200EXR as a point-and-shoot camera, but that it does have its operating quirks.

Simple enough to operate, but there's plenty to explore

A case in point is that you can only set the dynamic range to the maximum 800 per cent when in the EXR Dynamic Range Priority mode. But even then, if the film simulation mode is set to Velvia, you’ll be limited to a 400 per cent maximum. If you’re in Program mode, the maximum Dynamic Range setting is 400 per cent and the top figure corresponds to the ISO speed, i.e. if the ISO speed is 200, the maximum Dynamic Range setting is 200 per cent. Quirky indeed.

We also found the zoom lever a tad sensitive and it was hard to fine focus. But in terms of results, the Finepix F200EXR pretty well delivers the goods. The 28mm lens makes the camera ideal for landscape shots and the 5x optical zoom pulls in the action. Resolution, colour and exposure were generally impressive, although there was a slight tendency to over-expose in Auto mode.

The film simulation mode (which can’t be switched off) gives a slight grainy appearance to the shots. Noise levels are low until around ISO 800, but then they rapidly increase as you bump up the speed. The image stabilisation system is not as effective as others we’ve used, but it does help a little to reduce the effects of camera shake.

There are several options for shooting in low light including, a Night Tripod setting, ISO speeds of 6400 and 12800, plus a slow shutter speed of up to 8 seconds. In testing these, we found that the slow shutter speed gave the best results. The high ISO speeds produced very poor results, with very high levels of noise and extremely low resolution. In a word: useless.

Optically, this compact delivers

We admit to being a bit sceptical about Fuijifilm’s claims for the EXR sensor, but it really does a good job in most cases. The High ISO and Low Noise setting did help reduce noise a little, but was not that impressive. What’s more, it’s limited to a top ISO speed of 1600, which seems odd for a camera offering an ISO 12800 setting. And judging from the results above ISO 1600, these settings certainly need some help, because it's difficult to see why Fujifilm offers them in the first place, as they detract from a good overall performance.

More impressive was the Dynamic Range priority mode, which really does help to improve detail and contrast. Its effects are often more subtle than spectacular, but it does make a difference to the finished result, helping to tame overexposed areas and lift detail out from the shadows. This feature should be filed under godsend, rather than gimmick.

Some new features worked well, others seemed like work in progress

Verdict

All in all, were impressed with the Finepix F200EXR. The EXR sensor is a step forward in camera technology and really does help improve image quality, especially in terms of dynamic range. We were disappointed by the lack of RAW, HD movies and more comprehensive manual aperture control - and some of the camera’s operating quirks can take a little getting used to. But these don’t detract from the fact that the Finepix F200EXR offers the more adventurous compact user some handy features to deliver fine results. ®