Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR Review

Fuji's FinePix S200EXR packs DSLR-caliber hardware into an easy-to-use package without the hassle of interchangeable lenses.

Summary

We’re big DSLR boosters because of their fast response and enhanced picture quality. Yet we’re the first to admit that carrying around a hefty DSLR all day with several lenses is a pain. That’s why compact point-and-shoots remain so popular (lower prices certainly help as well). The new FinePix S200EXR tries to carve a path in between the two types of cameras. It offers rapid, aim-and-forget shooting, and its built-in 14.3x manual zoom has a focal range of 30.5-436mm – something that would cost a small fortune if you bought comparable interchangeable DSLR lenses. The 12-megapixel digicam also has loads of tweaks to satisfy shutterbugs at all levels. The camera will set you back around $535, a tidy sum when you have many quality mega-zooms and high-quality point-and-shoots available for less, let alone entry-level DSLRs. Value, as always, is in the eye of the reviewer, so let’s put the S200EXR through its paces.

Features and Design

A quick look at the S200EXR and you’d swear you’re looking at a DSLR. It has a large all-black body and large grip. You don’t see the large pentaprism box on the top, since there is no mirror assembly, and neither will you find a lens release button: The protruding lens is yours forever. That’s not such a bad thing, since it offers a fairly wide-angle, powerful, optically-stabilized zoom rated 30.5-436mm. There are many mega-zooms with 20x, even 26x lenses, as well as wider-angle settings (28mm), but this one is still fine for landscapes and group shots. Photographers will appreciate the fact this is a manual zoom (there’s no wide/tele switch) so they can more accurately fine-tune their framing without over- or under-shooting the subject. This is just one of the DSLR-like features of this model, and we’ll get into the others in the performance section.

The camera measures 5.3 inches wide, 3.7 tall and 5.7 deep. It weighs 31 ounces with battery, so it’s pretty substantial, but not the four-plus pounds of the recently reviewed Sony A850 with “only” an f/2.8 24-70mm lens.

The S200EXR has very subtle logos, as well as a small metallic EXR stamp on the grip. The 14.3x zoom lens clearly is front and center. Of note is its f/2.8 aperture in wide-angle mode for shooting in low light; many others are f/3.5. Along with the knurled ring for zooming, there’s another for manual focusing when you decide to go that route. Like other digicams, while in AF you press the shutter halfway to focus, then click away. Also upfront is an AF Assist lamp, while on the front angle of the pistol grip is the power switch surrounding the shutter button.

On the top is a hot shoe near the manually-operated flash. A button to the left pops it open. To the right are mode and command dials, along with ISO and exposure compensation buttons; ISO hits a truly ridiculous 12,800. With the command dial, you’ll make menu adjustments while the mode dial gives access to the key operating settings. There’s auto, program AE, aperture- and shutter-priority along with full manual. There are two custom settings, SP (for scene modes) and movie. Surprisingly, this camera does not have HD 720p video; 640 x 480 is a good as it gets. This is a real blooper for a $599 MSRP digicam. Ouch. There’s also FSB (Film Simulation Bracket) which takes a shot and saves in three modes—standard (Provia), Velvia film and Astia, three classic Fujifilm film stocks. The final option is EXR. Here you can either let the camera optimize the settings (EXR Auto) or choose which you’d like depending on the subject—High Resolution (HR), High ISO/Low Noise (SN) and D-Range Priority (DR). The camera’s onscreen guide explains each and even shows a small thumbnail of the type of subject appropriate for the setting.

With SP (scene position, 16 options total) you get the classics such portrait, landscape as well ones unique to Fujifilm digicams such as Natural Light and Natural Light + Flash which takes one ambient light shot and another with the flash. We always liked these options. New for the S200EXR is Pro Focus and Pro Low Light, which use Multi-Frame technology to overlap images taken simultaneously for specific scenes.

The back of the camera has a .2-inch EVF rated an OK 200K pixels, surrounded by a rubber eyecup. Below it is a 2.7-inch LCD rated 230K pixels, which doesn’t handle direct sunlight well. We found ourselves using the eyepiece much more because of this. And that wasn’t such a bad thing due to the form factor: The camera is very DSLR-like, and holding it your face with your left hand supporting the lens makes more sense for most shooting situations. To the right of the LCD is a button to switch between the EVF and LCD, another to enable face detection, and another to toggle the display. The AE Lock/delete button is surrounded by a dial for choosing metering options. There’s also a playback button and the classic four-way controller with a center OK button. The four points give access to the flash, self-timer, macro and enlargement.

On the right side is an SDHC card compartment, while the left compartment has DC-in, A/V and USB outs. Near this door are keys to adjust the burst mode, white balance and AF type (manual, single shot, continuous). On the bottom of the Made-In-China camera is a tripod mount and battery compartment. The battery is rated 370 shots per the CIPA standard, an OK amount but less than the typical DSLR.

What’s In The Box

Along with the S200EXR, you get a battery, charger, lens cap with string, strap, USB and A/V cables. You’ll also get a 44-page basic manual and CD-ROM with a full 144-page owner’s manual. Another disk has FinePix Viewer for Windows and Mac. The program develops RAW files and helps you manage and edit your photos.