Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR

A camera that is well adapted to the scenes you want to photograph (without flash and in low light with plenty of detail in both dark and light zones…), this is what is promised with the FinePix F200EXR that comes with a new EXR sensor.

Handling


The FinePix F200EXR is a relatively imposing camera for the compact category: it’s far larger than the current Canons (Ixus 110 IS) or Panasonic (FX40). Although it easily fits into a jacket pocket, it’s much more of a squeeze for a trouser pocket. In terms of design it's also fairly standard and banal. Fujifilm are clearly not counting on the look of the F200EXR to make sales, but rather on the technical spec.
At the back is the usual scroll for exposition modes, 4 rapid access buttons and a directional control. This directional control is a great improvement on the previous model. The priority mode only has two settings and we expect that most of the time the camera will be on auto. And indeed, there are two auto modes, (normal and EXR). This is symptomatic of the complexity of the camera. Although the F button gives you speedy access to some parameters (ISO, image size, image quality, white balance and film simulation), the way they are arranged doesn’t seem very logical. Image quality is no longer one of the most important parametres and it would have been better to give access to EXR mode. The new EXR mode has 4 options: auto, HR, SN and DR. HR mode (high definition) allows you to take photos in 12 megapixels. SN mode has been given special attention to reduce electronic noise and manage high sensitivity with a reduction in definition (6 Mpix max). DR mode (dynamic range) tries to give better detail in dark and light areas. EXR Auto mode selects the best EXR mode for the scene you are photoing.


You might be tempted to go straight for EXR auto mode, especially as scene detection works very well.
The three inch screen is disappointing in as much as it only has a 230,000 point display and becomes difficult to use when the sun is behind you. It is however fluid and remains so (more or less) in low lighting. The case of the F200EXR looks as if it might be a year out of date and on top of this the compact doesn’t have an HDMI out for visualisation of images on a standard tv, the video mode is limited to VGA (640x480 pixels) definition, there is no automatic image rotation and the USB connexion is unfortunately a proprietary one. It is also regrettable that the zoom lacks precision when you’re trying to frame your subject.

In terms of responsiveness, the Fujifilm F200EXR is the right side of average. Start-up is not particularly fast but this is made up for with a very nice autofocus. The face detection mode is probably one of the fastest for a compact. Note that the continuous focus in EXR Auto mode (you can’t disactivate this) is quite noisy and uses the battery up quickly. In burst mode, Fujifilm claims 1.4 i/s. Our tests show a better score of 3 views (high def) at 2.3 i/s

Image quality


The new sensor on the FinePix F200EXR is the fruit of over 10 years of research in the labs of the Japanese giant Fujifilm. With Super CCD EXR, the brand is aiming to recentre image standards by not only considering number of pixels but also looking to improve image quality through management of high sensitivies and a better rendering of light zones (dynamic range). To summarize, the new sensor can capture two different exposures with two sets of six million pixels handled independently to give independent image processing.

The first groups the pixels to give reduced electronic noise (SN mode). In this mode, definition is reduced to 6 megapixels but the results are truly convincing. Processing is in evidence but the images retain a good level of detail with an extremely discrete grain up to 800 ISO. Prints are useable up to 1600 ISO (A4 prints). In P mode, the F200EXR can go as high as 12800 ISO. This is above all a marketing advantage and although images are still acceptable at ISO 3200, it is not the case beyond this. Between two A4 prints at 6 Mpix (SN) and 12 Mpix (mode P), the EXR SN mode is easily the better at 1600 ISO. In P mode, the difference between F100fd and F200EXR is quite slight. On F100fd, smoothing is more marked, with F200EXR giving more detailed but also more grainy prints.


Whether the FinePix F200EXR is in P mode or EXR SN mode, processing of electronic noise is currently one of the best.



The second mode (DR) is supposed to improve the dynamic range of images (more detail in high luminosity zones). In our different tests, in EXR Auto mode (gain of 100% to 400%), the gain is quite slight but noticeable as of 200%. To truly appreciate the difference between to prints however, you often have to push up to 800%.

In HR mode (12 Mpix), the F200EXR easily competes with other 12 Mpix models. The images are nicely detailed and the definition allows to make large prints.
Overall, the images are of good quality. Coloured edges are better handled on contrasting subjects, a real black spot on previous models. The white balance also seems to be more faithful, above all in EXR mode, even though in the studio, there are some radical differences. Outside, results are much more convincing. Macro mode, with a focus at 5 cm, could be better. Other models such as the Nikon S620 do much better.



The flash gives good results and the mechanical stabilisation is effective with our Barbie sharp at ¼ s, but overall, mechanical stabilisation is not at the same level as optical stabilisation, in particular in comparison to the Canon SX200 IS. One disappointing element is the video. It is still at 640x480 pixels, not a definition worthy of a top end compact.