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Home / Review Center / Digital cameras / Performance compact cameras
Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR First LookBy Mike Perlman, Wednesday 22 July 2009
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Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR
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Fujifilm EXR technology meets the Super Zoom world. Read about the new 12-megapixel Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR here.

Fujifilm has finally funneled their impressive EXR technology into a fixed lens Mega Zoom body, resulting in the Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR. It looks to us like the new Finepix S200 EXR will inherit the Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR's 12-megapixel 1/1.6-inch Super CCD EXR sensor and many features that coincide with the EXR technology. However, the Finepix S200 EXR's large body enables the lens to achieve a 14.3x zoom optical zoom range. Fujifilm is going hogwild over the comparison between their new EXR models and high-end DSLRs, and the company insists on comparing the Finepix S200 EXR to superior interchangeable lens systems that seem preposterously out of a compact's league.

The company is doing the same with the newly announced Fujifilm Finepix F70 EXR, claiming the new ultra compact rivals high-end DSLRs in terms of image quality. We were impressed with the Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR's image quality, but this recent assault on models like the Canon Eos 5D Mark II, Pentax K-7 and Nikon D5000 are a trifle batty if you ask us. But then again, who knows? We'll be the first to tell if there is even a shred of validity to these claims, but for now we'll get back to the new Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR.

Like the new Fujifilm Finepix F70 EXR, the Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR will feature the new Pro Focus and Pro Low-Light Modes. Pro Focus Mode is geared toward creating low aperture portrait images by combining two or three images caught in a burst succession and suspending the crisply focused image between a soft background and foreground. Pro Low-Light Mode functions similarly, only the camera captures four images and superimposes them in order to create a bright exposure without having to jack up the ISO at the sacrifice of heightened noise levels. We do wonder if a tripod will be needed for these new modes, for we experienced ghosting with the Pentax K-7's HDR mode, which functioned very similarly.

The Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR also gets the new 2.7-inch High Contrast LCD with a 160-degree viewing margin vertically and horizontally. The Finepix S200 EXR is equipped with Fujifilm's Super Intelligent Flash and boasts a 50% battery life improvement over the Finepix S100FS. The Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR also shoots in RAW and is equipped with timeless EXR classics including EXR Priority modes (High Sensitivity Low Noise, High Resolution and Wide Dynamic Range) and EXR Auto. We also get the five Film Simulation modes, consisting of Velvia/Vivid, PROVIA/Standard, ASTIA/Soft, Black & White and Sepia.

The Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR will feature a full manual mode with an f/2.8 – f/11 aperture range and 30 – 1/4,000 second shutter speed. We like the fact that we'll be able to set the color, noise reduction, tone and sharpness of our images. The Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR has a 30.5mm – 436mm focal range, so be aware that wide-angle shooting will be fairly limited. The Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR will shoot standard-definition video and feature an electronic viewfinder. From the pictures, it appears as though the Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR has a few extra dials and controls, and we're eager to get our hands on a review unit within the near future.

The Fujifilm Finepix S200 EXR will be available in August for $600.
Best Performance compact cameras
Name Score Price
C
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 84% $670
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 80% $350
Canon PowerShot G10 80% $400
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 73% $400
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS 73% $600
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS 71% $335
Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 70% $1000
Olympus Stylus SP-565UZ 70% $400
Nikon Coolpix P90 70% $400
Olympus SP-590UZ 69% $450
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 68% $300
Canon PowerShot SX200 IS 68% $350
Canon PowerShot SX110 IS 66% $200
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H10 65% $230
Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD 64% $300
Click here to see full and advanced chart »
 
 
 
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