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Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR Review |
Review
Date: Mar 28, 2009 |
Category: Beginner Amateur
Photoxels Editor's Choice Award - Beginner Compact
IMAGE QUALITY
The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is a digital
camera targeted to point-and-shoot and beginner
amateur photographers. It has 12MP resolution
on a 1/1.6 in. Super CCD EXR image sensor, and
a 28-140mm (35 mm equivalent) 5x wide-angle optical zoom
lens. Image stabilization is sensor-shift.
We find the overall image quality of the Fujifilm
FinePix F200EXR to be excellent, with low noise from
ISO 100 to ISO 200, and usable at ISO 400 and even 800. Images retain most
of the details though we can see noise reduction at work even at low ISOs. It is possible to capture images with wide dynamic range at 6MP resolution.
| 5.0x Wide-anle Optical Zoom |
 |
 |
Wide-angle
6.4mm
(28mm, 35mm equivalent) |
Telephoto
32mm
(140mm, 35mm equivalent) |
In the pictures above, we show the coverage
for 28mm (equiv.) and then 140mm (equiv). It takes about 1.5 sec.
to zoom from wide-angle to telephoto (I counted
14 steps).
Besides Auto mode and easy-to-use Scene Modes,
the Fujifilm F200EXR also has full Manual and a unique EXR mode that allows you to optimize the image capture depending on the scene.
The camera also provides exposure compensation
(no Auto Bracketing) and Custom (Manual) White
Balance. No Histogram is available.
| Macro |
 |
Macro
6.4mm, Programmed Auto, Multi-Pattern, Custom WB
1/4 sec., F3.3, ISO 400
Self-timer 2 sec., Tripod used |
The Fujifilm F200EXR lens allows you to focus as
close as 5cm (2.4 in.) at wide-angle. AF locks precisely
and fast, even in low-light thanks to an effective
AF -assist Illuminator Lamp. However, there is no AF Area mode
where you can manually move the AF Frame around
on the screen to where you want it to focus. Face-Priority AF works well but in low light, it can hunt a while before locking focus on a face; as well, if you set the self-timer on, Face-Priority AF can sometimes be a hit and miss proposition.
| White Balance
Indoors |
 |
 |
| AWB |
Preset WB |
The picture on the left shows auto white
balance (AWB) indoors under two artificial fluorescent energy-saving household bulbs. The Fujifilm F200EXR allows WB to
be set manually via the Menu: Preset WB allows
us to obtain accurate colors (picture on the right). AWB works
well in natural light.
| ISO
Comparisons |
 |
| ISO 100 |
| |
 |
 |
| ISO 200 |
ISO 400 |
| |
 |
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| ISO 800 |
ISO 1600 |
| |
 |
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| ISO 3200 |
ISO 6400 |
 |
|
| ISO 12800 |
|
You can set the ISO on the Fujifilm F200EXR from
100 to 12800. Images at ISO 100 to 200 are clean
and virtually noise-free (though we can notice slight loss of detail). Noise starts to be noticeable
at ISO 400 but is still usable up to ISO 800. I would suggest setting ISO Auto(800) for all shooting. ISO 1600 should be reserved for small prints and Web display. Higher ISOs produce high noise and loss of detail.
| B&W ISO Comparisons |
 |
 |
| ISO 1600 |
ISO 3200 |
| |
 |
 |
| ISO 6400 |
ISO 12800 |
As our image samples show, the availability of high ISOs does not imply usable images. I wondered if B&W photos at the higher ISOs would be usable but, as the above samples show, it's still very noisy and not quite like the noise we get using film.
| EXR HIGH ISO & LOW NOISE Comparisons |
 |
 |
| P, ISO 800 (12M) |
EXR HI&LN, ISO 800 (6M) |
| |
 |
 |
| P, ISO 1600 (12M) |
EXR HI&LN, ISO 1600 (6M) |
EXR High ISO & Low Noise applies only up to ISO 1600. In the shots above, we compare whether it makes a difference shooting in full 12M resolution or switching to EXR High ISO & Low Noise mode (6M resolution). There seems to be a slight advantage in using EXR High ISO & Low Noise, but I'll leave you the original images and let you be the judge.
| Chromatic
Aberrations |
 |
CA is minimal in everyday shots. In the high
contrast shot above, the area delimited by the
red square at top right, and reproduced at 100%
crop at bottom right, shows minimal purple
fringing, not enough to worry about.
| EXR
Comparisons |
 |
 |
EXR AUTO
2816 x 2112
ISO 100
(DR Auto) |
EXR Resolution Priority
4000 x 3000
ISO 100
(DR 100%) |
| |
 |
 |
EXR High ISO & Low Noise
2816 x 2112
ISO 100
(DR 100%) |
EXR D-Range Priority
2816 x 2112
ISO 100
(DR Auto) |
In the images above, it is obvious that I have chosen a scene where there are lots of shadows as well as a very bright sky. I would guess the camera set on EXR AUTO should automatically choose D-RANGE PRIORITY -- and it did!
In the series of pictures above, we compare the Dynamic Range from 100% to 800%. Note that in this scene, DR AUTO produced the most balanced picture between shadows and highlights. Increasing the DR percentage gives more priority to preserving details in the highlights.
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PROVIA/Standard |
VELVIA/Vivid |
ASTIA/Soft |
|
|
|
B&W |
SEPIA |
|
Film Simulation allows us to digitally simulate Fujifilm's popular 35mm films: PROVIA (Standard), Velvia (Vivid) and ASTIA (soft) modes. Two other modes are B&W and Sepia.
| Long Shutter
Speed |
 |
6.4mm, Manual, Multi-Pattern, 8
sec., F9.0, ISO 200
Preset (manual) WB, Macro, Self-timer 2 sec.,
Tripod Used, 100% Crop |
The Fujifilm F200EXR allows the use of a long shutter
speed of up to 8 sec. but only in Manual
mode. This allows us to take some very nice
night shots.
I take an extreme low-light indoors shot. To obtain a long exposure, I place
Bamm-Bamm under my desk in the shadows. I obtain
focus lock with the help of the AF-assist Illuminator. Some experimenting
and I eventually settle on 8 sec. at F9, and ISO to 200.
The noise reduction works well.
Overall, the F200EXR produces excellent images up to ISO 200, with ISO 400 and 800 usable. The availability of wide Dynamic Range is an exciting development that is much welcomed and may put an end to blown highlights forever.
The pictures in the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR Photo
Gallery page provide a good sample of what
the camera is capable of. I have provided samples
at 800x600 pixels (compressed to Quality 60/100
in Photoshop Elements) as well as the original
4000×3000 pixels version.
You can safely assume that most macro shots
and slow shutter speed shots required the use
of a tripod. Any image that is adjusted for levels
in Photoshop has "_adjusted" appended
to the file name.
I have defaulted the image size to 800x600 pixels.
For those who have their monitor resolution set
to 1024x728 pixels, everything should snugly fit
and you should not have to scroll to see the whole
image. If your monitor is set to 800x600 pixels
resolution, start the slide show and then scroll
to the right to position the image within your
screen width. Then, press F11 (if you are using
Internet Explorer) to switch to full screen mode,
and the image should fill your screen nicely.
Press F11 again at any time to switch your monitor
display back to normal mode.
To return to this page from the Photo Gallery,
click on the animated graphics of the camera.
Please open and download the original size version
only if you need to and only once
to your hard drive -- and save me some precious
bandwidth. Thanks!
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