Fujifilm Finepix S200EXR 12MP Super CCD Digital Camera with 14. 3x Optical Triple Image Stabilized Zoom and 2. 7 inch LCD
Apr 10, 2010 Digital Cameras
- 1/1.6-inch, 12-megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor
- Optical Triple Image Stabilized Zoom 14.3x (30.5-436mm); F/2.8-5.3
- Pro Focus Mode using Fujifilm’s new Multi-Frame Technology; Pro Low-light Mode
- Dual Image Stabilization; Multi Bracketing
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included); powered by a Li-ion Battery (included).
Product Description
The 14. 3x zoom lens designed for the S200EXR comprises 13 elements in 10 groups including aspherical and low-dispersion glass elements. The aspherical elements ensure low distortion and superior light-gathering abilities, for outstanding performance despite the relatively small number of elements. To achieve true image quality, the S200EXR processor employs an advanced electric charge to control the output from the Super CCD EXR sensor. This simultaneously minimizes all forms of noise while allowing more natural colors, higher resolution, and quicker processing. This technology also makes possible rapid continuous shooting and the Multi Frame technology that allows the S200EXR to automatically align a number of separate exposures into one image. The Super CCD EXR provides superior picture quality, enabling a “3-in-1″ sensor combination of Fine Capture technology (high resolution), Pixel Fusion technology (high sensitivity & low noise), and Dual Capture technology (wide dynamic range). With an innovative color filter array and image processing technology, the EXR ensures an advanced reproduction in imaging with exceptionally balanced quality. With high resolution and expressive imaging abilities, the Fujinon Lenses and the next generation EXR processor outfitted in the S200EXR, will lead you to another level of imaging performance.
Fujifilm Finepix S200EXR 12MP Super CCD Digital Camera with 14. 3x Optical Triple Image Stabilized Zoom and 2. 7 inch LCD
Tags: Camera, Digital, Finepix, Fujifilm, Image, inch, Optical, S200EXR, Stabilized, Super, Triple, Zoom
April 10th, 2010 at 16:50
My first Fuji bridge camera was the excellent S7000 a couple of years ago. I bought it used, refurbished, and I was amazed what a fantastic imaging chip it had with 12MP, wonderful dynamic range, brilliant fuji film emulation JPEG, and ease of use. Some of my favorite shots were done using the S7000. One of my shots using that camera has gotten well over 8000 views in Flickr.
I also have the S2 and S3 Fuji SLRs using the Nikon 16-85mm lens for which I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the imaging chip (basically the same as the S7000) and the very sharp Nikkor lens. This is a great line of imaging chips Fuji has developed and continues with the EXR version and the JPEG software in-camera that brings out the best this remarkable imaging chip can do.
But the Fuji S2 and S3 are quite large and heavy, especially with a Nikkor zoom lens attached. So I was glad to see that a successor to the Fuji S100 was available at a reasonable price and with additional features.
This might become your preferred walk-about gear. You can do quite a lot with its features. The 435mm zoom is real. The 30mm wide-angle is about all you need for most situations. The sharpness varies according to how steady you hold the camera. Yes, there is vibration reduction, but at such an extreme zoom it never hurts to brace yourself against something on these long telephoto shots for optimum results.
This review is based solely on using the EXR setting. I wanted to see what it would do on its most touted super automatic mode. It pairs three ways of using the imaging chip’s two types of pixels along with six scene modes. The choices it makes are not always what I would choose. Too often it would select too low an ISO speed or shutter speed on a telephoto shot but it generally got good results. The color was excellent but not as exaggerated as I prefer in the Velvia film emulation mode. But certainly no complaints.
When in EXR mode it selected ISO 800 or higher, graininess or noise was visible on high magnification in Picassa 3, the editing software from Google. But this is only something you would see if you blew up a photo to print at 20″ by 30″ or greater. It is not noticeable on my 22″ monitor at full size. And certainly not on a snapshot or even 8″ x 10″ print. You would have to spend at least two to three thousand dollars more for an SLR and top lens to get better image quality. It is not the same quality I get with my S2 or S3 and a top nikkor lens.
But fortunately, the camera does not cost nearly as much or weigh as much! The results from my use so far in my limited use are encouraging, to say the least. This is a great bridge camera. The F2. 8 lens is fast at wide angle settings. On automatic modes it will even jump to ISO 6400 if needed to get the shot. I don’t think there are many amateur photographers who would regret buying this.
The battery, right out of the box, had some charge. You can load it in the well designed battery compartment (when you flick the yellow tab it falls right into your palm) and take a few test shots to get some familiarity with the features. But charge it for a couple of hours and you will get over three hundred shots. It is a good idea to buy the AC power input unit for doing your upload to your computer lest the battery give out during the process. Also, the external power unit is good for studio type work where you are shooting many hundreds of shots daily. You can find aftermarket batteries and power bricks for this on Amazon at very good prices.
The feel, the ergonomics, of the S200EXR are excellent. On manual, you use the control dial to change the shutter speed, but hold the +/- button on top while using the control dial to change the aperture. On photo review mode, use the up and down on the main dial to magnify the reviewed image. It has no front control wheel as some cameras of this type do.
I’d recommend keeping it on continual autofocus. It hunts a bit on single autofocus. In general, I was pleased with the focus I got. There are three modes you can choose so experiment to find what suits your needs.
The latches for the memory card, battery, and I/O connections are sturdy and fit perfectly, avoiding accessory compartment rage a few cameras engender. The lens takes a 67mm filter. I noticed no vignetting on wide angle, but a thin filter is always a good idea. Just get lens protection, not UV or warming or anything like that. The editing software in your computer is what does those things now. If you want motion blur, get an 8X neutral density filter. Another good one to have is the polarizing filter which brings out the sky, cuts through reflections, and reduces the shine on skin in portraits.
Rating: 4 / 5
April 10th, 2010 at 18:19
Let me say for starters I have been dabbling in photography for years and have always had Nikons. F100, D100, D90. I wanted something to carry around without the huge camera case and lenses so I tried the Canon Sx10is which in itself is a nice little camera, then Panasonic FZ35, which again is a nice little camera, both of which feel like toys in comparison to Nikon D90, but their results are very good, but Pany was just too small for my hands. Then comes the SX200EXR. All the feel of an SLR without the motorized zoom, which I hated, and so far results that are very impressive. The colors and resolution are IMHO on par with any DSLR I have used without even trying to get it right. Although you can go full manual if you want to, all the programs from shutter priority to auto EXR are showing great results. Auto EXR is very impressive and I usually wouldn’t say that about any “auto” mode!
There has been alot of talk about the fringeing problem that it’s predecesor, the S100SF has and I have yet to see any with this camera. I love it.
Rating: 5 / 5
April 10th, 2010 at 20:04
I have shot about 40 pictures so far with the camera and love it! I have yet to take a poor picture with it. The three bracketing shots with their different film emulations works great. So do the macro modes for clear close-ups with very blurred backgrounds. I have owned four Fuji cameras, if you count the one that I gave my wife, but used when my S9100 bit the dust. This fifth one takes the cake. Noise is visibly reduced and usually non-existant. I did get some dots on a hummingbird’s tummy, but I don’t know if that was the camera or the bird. The hummingbird was in shadow with strong backlighting. The learning curve is a little steep, because there are so many bells and whistles on it. I need to keep reading the manual until I figure out all that it does. But, then again, I never did use some of the features on the S9000 and the S9100. I recommend the S200EXR to anyone who wants a very capable super-zoom digital. No, it isn’t an SLR. I seriously considered buying the cheapest Canon so I could use the lenses from my old film camera. I am happy I didn’t. I can get all the telephoto and wide-angle effects that I would have gotten with the Canon and my lenses, but I don’t have to swap lenses and I don’t have to worry about dust on the mirror and sensor like an SLR owner does. Check it out on Fuji’s website and here for more information.
Rating: 5 / 5
April 10th, 2010 at 22:11
I will not cover areas by others, just low light.
1) EXR Low noise setting works fairly well at ISO 1600
2) Pro Lo light takes four shots and then merges the images and this works.
The low light functions are actually doing a brightness boost and it is amazing how much additional light is captured. I tested this in many areas of a church that had stained glass, metal, wood, textiles, tapestries, marble, paintings, low light, medium light and high light. There are numerous settings and I spent about 4 hours time.
My conclusions are:
Both EXR low noisw and Low lite pro are valuable and produce good results. . . . if you have a steady hand. . . . I do not, so even though the images were much brighter without having to use a flash , they are still blurry because I could not hold the camera steady enough for it to cycle through 4 shots, it was bright, color was good but blurry. There was more blur than there was noise, so the lower noise claims are true.
I could not use these features on the fly without a tripod at a certain level of low light, they worked but too fuzzy. They do work very well, and if I were only about 25% more stable they would be bright, clear and mild noise.
It is very hard to hold this camera by hand for it to take the 4 shots in a row it has to take for low light as they are not immediate, there is a lag and you shake between the individual shots.
The balance between the larger lens and the camera body itself is awkward, therefore it is hard to hand hold the camera for low light situations. The design is lobsided, as the lens is not centered. It seems to be designed for right handed people.
Next week I will try the camera in regular mode at ISO 3200, for the exact same museum objects and lighting I used for test my Canon SX20 IS ( which so far I think I like better) Since I have not tried the Fuji in ISO 3200 mode, I cannot do a fair comparison until this weekend.
I suspect the Fuji in ISO 3200 for low light will be as good as the Canon SX20, but will have less noise, but it is a much larger camera to carry around.
Compared to the telephoto, the Canon SX20 will win because it is 20X vx 14X.
Be aware that the focus on the Fuji is auto, but the zoom is manual whereas on the Canon the zoom is auto as well.
The Fuji uses lithium instead of AA, but it looks like at high resolution the Fuji will handle at least 200-300 images on one charge. I quit before the battery did.
I think this is a good camera, but I did get better results with my Canon SX20 in ISO 3200 mode, even if the Fuji does better at ISO 3200, I do not know if it will be worth the price and size bulk difference, unless you are rock steady in low light.
One thing I did notice about the Canon SX20 was that give the normal amount of shaking I do hand held in dark light, the pictures were acceptable (not great, acceptable). I am inclined to think that the image stabilization on the SX20 might be a little better than the Fuji. In both cameras the final low light ISO images are not full size as they would be for normal use. . . they would have more resolution.
SO for either camera in low light more you wont be able to do much of an enlargment, the resolution isnt there, even if the noise isnt there.
The Canon 20SX in ISO 3200 mode tended to be more stable for the low light shots, but the price you pay is more noise than the Fuji.
So Fuji = cleaner low noise low light image
Canon = Better stability and better balance for low light shots, but more noise than the Fuji.
In rapid fire shots the Canon would win in telephoto because of auto zoom and auto focus, but the Fuji batteries will last longer in manual telephoto.
If you have a tripod the Fuji would probably win in low noise low light.
I still have to test Fuji in 3200 and 12000 ISO.
Normal picture modes in the Fuji are very nice, set the camera for sharpness and toned down colors.
If you are doing movies the Canon 20SX will take higher resolution video, the Canon SX video is not great but certainly not bad.
Fuji was way better than Canon for color saturation for stained glass but if the light was too bright the sensor bloomed out in white highlites.
The objective was to determine which camera holds better for stained glass without using a tripod because stained glass has so much light variation.
THe Fuji had better color saturation but tended to bloom, the Canon colors were acceptable but didnt clip out on the white highlites as bad, but did still clip.
But put this in context, the objective was “hand held” , normally on a tripod you would not shoot a bscklit window at that high of an Iso setting so the setting itself would cause wild highlites, again the whole exercise was 100% handheld use.
I like them both, so far the Canon SX has a slight edge as an all around tourist camera.
For normal outdoor scenes I did like the further zoom range of the Canon.
The Canon Super Macro is better than the Fuji macro in low light for stability.
On a tripod in low light the Fuji would probably make a cleaner image.
Fuji supports raw (viewer will not have that until November), Canon SX20 was jpeg only.
Rating: 4 / 5
April 11th, 2010 at 00:57
I have to say ,this is the best camera ive owned to date. My previous camera the Fuji S9000 was great,but something was missing. now that im using the S200 exr i discovered what it was,The wow factor of the picture quality. the S200 exr is giving me tack sharp pics.
I do alot of landscape pics,so i want as much detail as poss.
This camera seems to have great depth of feild. Im still learning the camera
Exr modes are great this camera gives you so many options to use out in the feild
highly recommended
Rating: 5 / 5