In our Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD review, we take this superzoom camera for a few photographic excursions. Will the image quality and video performance match its great handling?
Review summary of the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD:
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 For budget consumers and novice shooters, the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD might be a nice set of training wheels for a more advanced camera. While the S2000HD offers sufficient manual controls and Scene modes, the image quality just couldnt keep up. Whether it was noise, blue haloing or a lack of sharpness, the S2000HD produced images that left us wanting more. The camera handles like a miniature DSLR and is solidly constructed. The HD video quality is also better than most cameras that use Motion JPEG video recording. For under $300, the Finepix S2000HD offers a lot more than most cameras in its class and its certainly a great tool to learn on. Even so, advanced shooters and those who place image quality at the forefront will most likely not be interested in the Finepix S2000HD. Release: September 2008. Price: $300.
Pros: Solid miniature DSLR-esque handling. Decent Manual Controls. Good battery life.
Cons: Mediocre image quality. Half of the Mode dial options need to be revamped. Bland menu system.
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Full Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD Review:
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Design - Good
The Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD models itself after a cushy DLSR, and in many ways it feels like one on a smaller scale. The right hand grip is outfitted with a rugged, rubberized material to keep your hand in place even in the sweatiest of environments. There's also a smooth notch to rest your middle finger while the index finger rests atop the shutter button. Most ports and terminal covers are concealed nicely, though the SD/SDHC card slot door is poorly constructed and as flimsy as a drinking straw. The plastic portion has a tendency to pull off the metal hinge, so go easy on that bad boy. The zoom toggle is bold and chunky, one of the better controls we've seen in this class. Comfort is certainly not an issue with this camera, and the S2000HD will glide you through the shooting process via sound ergonomics.
On the downside, Fujifilm went with a 4-way directional pad. On most digital cameras, a d-pad is no big deal because a majority of shooters in this price range rely on the camera's Auto adjustments. Then again, the Fujifilm finepix S2000HD is a budget model and offers a lot of bang for the buck. In comparison, the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS has that trusty spinning Set wheel that makes Manual mode a fun-filled field day. Adjusting with the d-pad is not the end of the world, but it is a bit clunky.
The Finepix S2000HD has a convenient spring-loaded flash that deploys via a small button to its right. The electronic viewfinder is also a nice touch, and you can toggle between the LCD screen by pressing the EVF/LCD button. The 2.7" LCD screen is not the largest monitor, but for a camera this size it does the trick. The screen resolution is pretty darn weak though, and in certain playback images parts of the screen will flicker if there is a high contrast line pattern. Watch out for the lens cap as it mounts over the lens barrel rather than snapping into the filter threads. It will continuously pop off. The camera is surprisingly light for its size, tipping the scale at just over a pound. It will fit inside most small camera bags, but it's definitely too bulky to stuff in vest pocket. We tried.
Interface - Good
Functionally, there's nothing wrong with the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD's menu system. It's quick to respond and all options are categorized intuitively for the most part. For instance, the F-Mode menu consists of three common options: ISO, Quality, and Finepix Color to enable the shooter to quickly adjust those settings on the fly. Shutter Speed and Aperture are accessed by pressing the +/- button located below the d-pad. All other options are found in the main menu, which is two full pages long. It would have made sense to toss White Balance and Focus into the F-Mode menu so all image options aside from Shutter Speed and Aperture were grouped together to appease the manual control junkies.
Now although the Finepix S2000HD's menu system is a decent performer, it's just plain boring to look at. It has to be the intensity of the font or the rigidity of the boxy design, but staring at that LCD screen is like looking at security surveillance footage. For some shooters, this is a major issue because the overall package must be appealing in order for maximum creativity to be unleashed. If you are genuinely offended, utilize that trusty Display button, which allows you to view a grid, lines and a column consisting of the previous three shots taken.
The Mode dial is a useful tool, though we think Fujifilm got a little carried away with the options here. Manual, Auto, Custom, Shutter, Program AE, okay those shooting modes make sense. But then there's Natural, Natural with Flash, and Zoom, features that obviously could have occupied one slot in the main menu. Picture Stabilization even has its own freaking notch on the Mode dial! While we recognize the intended convenience factor, how many times are you going to actually shoot in these ancillary modes? It's just too many options to hold shooters back from the real goods. We'd rather see an F-Mode menu stocked with all manual controls, a Main menu containing all of the useless Mode dial modes and a Mode dial with half the options, or at least more useful ones.
Features - Good
The Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD has all the manual controls any intermediate shooter could ask for, along with a few custom controls that make the shooting experience a bit easier. In addition to Auto, there are two Natural Light modes. Standard Natural Light mode allows you to capture an image using ambient light rather than using the flash. Basically, all the Finepix S2000HD is doing is lowering the shutter speed significantly and opening up the aperture, which can be achieved manually. The second Natural Light mode captures one image with the flash and one without. This is actually a useful feature, as you can compare the difference between the natural and artificial light in order to pick the better image.
Like most advanced cameras, the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD has a Program AE and Shutter Priority mode, but there's no Aperture Priority. Aperture Priority could have easily replaced one of the inane ancillary options on the Mode dial. In full Manual mode you get Shutter Speed, Aperture, White Balance, Focus and ISO control, though adjusting with the d-pad is inferior to joystick or wheel control. Manual mode has a digital light meter that aids most shooting environments and helps shooters dial the ratio in. Program AE mode features a small slider bar that allows you to set the exposure while the camera adjusts the Shutter Speed and Aperture based on the level of exposure you choose.
A barrage of Scene modes are available on the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD, including Fireworks, Auction and Snow. Most DSLRs toss popular scene modes like Sports and Portrait into the Mode dial, and that would have been nice to see on this camera. There's also the standard Face Detection, Red Eye Removal and a handful of rapid fire modes including exposure bracketing. The camera really doesn't show color a whole lot of love, as you'll only find Standard, Chrome and Black and White color filters within the F-Mode menu. Even Canon's entry-level point-and-shoots have decent color options.
Part of the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD's hype is its ability to record 720p high-definition video at 30fps. Files are compressed as MPEG4s, which are compatible with most non-linear video editing programs and are small in file size. We found the video quality to be surprisingly decent, especially when viewed on an HD monitor via Component cable. Every now and again you'll get a rogue frame flicker and the Auto adjustment is sluggish at times, especially when panning from a dark shooting environment to a light one. But overall, the detail is crisp and superior to MJPEG video.
Hardware - Good
Mounted inside the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD is an average size 10MP imager. This is the same size imager found on many lower-tier compact cameras, so the expectations for great image quality are quite low. On the bright side, the Finepix S2000HD is equipped with a 15x optical zoom Fujinon lens, which offers crystal clear optics. The big zoom is great, but many competitors can reach a 20x optical range these days.
The camera runs on four AA batteries that provide enough stamina to last throughout the day. This is great because it means fewer trips to the pharmacy. With all of our hyperactive manual controlling and zooming action, the Finepix S2000HD held its own.
Image Quality - Mediocre
The Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD's smaller imager held up in optimal lighting, but it just couldn't handle most low light shooting. Even at low ISO levels, there was a plethora of noise and some discoloration. Furthermore, we found some significant fringing in images that were captured at full light. The camera has a tendency to blow out whites as well, so you really have to keep an eye on this camera's settings. Granted, we were able to capture some great images with the S2000HD, but the overall mediocre performance plants this camera within the budget consumer crowd. Needless to say, it's a cheap way to learn photography from a hands-on perspective.
Scene Test Times Square
Scene Test Subway
Scene Test Buildings
Can you spot what the three of these images have in common? Uncannily, they all possess some form of blue fringing, whether along the helmets of the horse cops, the rings in the Target ad or the lights in the bottom right hand corner of the building image. This is a direct indication that we're dealing with a low-grade imager. In addition, all images have varying degrees of noise. In optimal lighting, we would have expected a better performance here.
Detail Test Germ Booth
Detail Test Hot Wheels
The Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD handles detail fairly well in these instances, but check out that neon blue border on the top right of the phone booth. We captured three different images in different modes and the fringing was present on each image. The sky is also significantly blown out. We begin to see much better detail in the lights of the car. But that blue fringing is still running rampant within the trees and Chase sign. Both images could stand to be a bit sharper and exhibit bolder colors.
Color Test Flowers
Color Test 99 Cents
There are minimal complaints here, other than minute levels of noise under the awning and slight fringing here and there. The colors are vibrant and avoid looking too saturated. This is a good performance and certainly the best image we've seen yet. We wish the S2000HD offered more color options though. Outside the 99 Cent store, the lighting is a bit more intense. As a result, the color lacks saturation. For such glaring light, the S2000HD performs well, but we still miss that punchy color present in the flowers image.
Macro Test Flower
This is probably the best image we were able to attain with the S2000HD. Noise is minimal, no fringing is attacking edges and the macro focus hones in beautifully. Perhaps every image should be captured using Macro with the S2000HD.
Zoom Test Wide Angle
Zoom Test Telephoto
This is an example of what a 15x optical zoom can do. We kept having to back further into the street, risking our lives to capture this shot. These are both mediocre images, wrought with fringing and an overall softness brought on by noise. But hey, at least you can zoom about a block's length.
Motion Test - Laundry
Despite the blurred nature of the tumbling laundry, you're able to tell which way the dryers are spinning. Unfortunately you can't pick out any specific articles of clothing, but with a quicker shutter speed you most certainly could. Of course you'd need a flash since the S2000HD is not the greatest low light camera. We'll get to that right now.
Low Light Test Under Canal Street
Low Light Test Under Canal Street
Flash Test Under Canal Street
This is a touchy subject for most cameras, and the Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD doesn't want to talk about it. We're seeing pumped up noise across the board, an overall lack of sharpness and flat colors. The second image displays a fair amount of blue noise specks and fringing in the wet area of the subway platform. Low light is just not the S2000HD's bag. The image is even worse using the flash as you can see tiny reflecting light orbs amidst the underexposed railway.
Candle Test Manual
Candle Test Night Mode
This is one of the better candle performances we've seen. There's really no fringing and the color gradation is smooth. The detail is great as well. Truly an underdog display here.
Price and availability
The Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD will start selling for $300 () in September 2008.
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