Category: Prosumer
- Advanced Amateur
The Fujifilm FinePix S20 Pro is basically
a Fujifilm S7000 with the Super CCD SR image sensor
instead of the Super CCD HR. According to Fujifilm,
the Super CCD SR image sensor promises greater
dynamic range, permitting the capture of details
in shadows and highlights at the same time!
What's so great and exciting about the Super
CCD SR image sensor is that, unlike a standard
image sensor where one photosensor at a photosite
captures the light for one pixel, the Super CCD
SR has two photosensors at one photosite to do
the same job: one large photosensor (which Fujifilm
calls high-sensitivity S-pixel) exposes for the
shadows at that photosite; and a second, much
smaller, photosensor (which Fujifilm calls low-sensitivity
R-pixel) exposes for the highlights at the same
photosite. Since the R-pixel has low sensitivity
to light, it can tolerate highlights without "blowing
them." Firmware then combines the signals
obtained from the two photosensors to get the
information (with greater dynamic range than only
one photosensor could obtain) for that photosite.
It's a great idea that promises to mimic the tonal
characteristics of film.
Note that Fujifilm labels the image sensor in
the S20 Pro as 6.2 effective megapixels (3.1 million
S-pixels + 3.1 million R-pixels) though it would
be probably more correct to view it as really
3.1 effective megapixels (the S-pixel photosensor
and R-pixel photosensor at one photosite are capturing
data for only one pixel). This gets further complicated
in that due to the shape of the photosite (hexagonal),
the combined data need to be interpolated and
recorded as a 6 MP image. You can choose to either
save images at the 6M resolution or downsampled
to 3M. Best image quality seems to be at the 3M
output setting.
Results show that the Super CCD SR does better
than conventional CCDs to preserve details in
highlights -- though not as dramatically as Fujifilm
marketing would have us believe. This is because
the data from the low-sensitivity R-pixel is not
used unless the camera measures that there is
substantial overexposed highlights in a large
area of the image. Fujifilm provides a RAW Converter
EX software that allows the photographer direct
control over how much of the R-pixel data is to
be used in the final image.
The Fujifilm S20 Pro has a 6x optical zoom Super
EBC Fujinon lens, maximum aperture is F2.8 and
shutter speed ranges from 30 sec. to an ultra
fast 1/10,000 sec. (in Manual mode only). It has
a high resolution EVF (electronic viewfinder)
at 235,000 pixels, dual media slots for xD-Picture
Card as well as IBM MicroDrive, a manual focus
/ zooming adjustment lens ring, a hot shoe mount,
and the full range of exposure flexibility.
The Fujifilm S20 Pro promises ISO 1600 at 1MP
resolution with minimal noise. It supports CCD-RAW
and JPEG file formats and connects to a computer
via USB 2 or FireWire. It only includes 4 AA alkaline
batteries as standard, so do factor in the price
of 2 AA type Ni-MH rechargeable batteries (2HR-3UF)
and a battery charger (BK-NH/BK-NH2; In Canada:
Item # 190930). Other optional accessories include
an AC Power Adapter AC-5VH/5VHS, Wide Conversion
Lens WL-FX9B, and Tele Conversion Lens TL-FX9B.
An Adapter Ring AR-FX9 is required for attaching
filters and conversion lenses.
The Fujifilm FinePix S20 Pro should appeal
to advanced amateur and prosumer photographers
who desire an all-in-one advanced digital camera
with that extra edge that the Super CCD SR image
sensor provides.
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Fujifilm
FinePix S20 Pro |
QuickFact™
Sheet
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Image
Sensor |
3.1
effective megapixels
1/1.7 in. Super CCD SR (S-pixel: 3.1 million,
R-pixel: 3.1 million) |
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Lens |
Super EBC Fujinon |
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 Focal
Length |
35-210mm, 35 mm
equivalent |
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Aperture |
F2.8 - F11
13 steps in 1/3 increments |
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Optical
Zoom |
6x |
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Macro |
Macro: 10 cm /
3.9 in.;
Super Macro: 1 cm / 0.4 in. |
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Auto
Focus |
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TTL contrast type |
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Manual Focus available |
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Shutter
Speed |
Auto,
SP: 1/4-1/1,000 sec.
Night Scene Mode: 3-1/250 sec.
P/S/A: 3-1/1,000 sec.
Manual: 30-1/10,000 sec.
Bulb: up to 30 sec. |
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Exposure Control |
Programmed AE,
Shutter-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE,
Manual |
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Shooting Modes |
Normal: Auto, Scene
Position (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night
Scene), Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE,
Shutter Priority AE, Manual;
Movie: 640x480 Motion JPEG with sound, 30fps;
Voice Memo (30 sec.);
Continuous: Top-10 (4.5 fps, up to 10 frames),
Final-10 (4.5 fps, up to 10 frames), Long-Period
(max. 1fps, up to 40 frames, only at 1/2/3M
mode) |
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Exposure Compensation |
Exposure Compensation
available; Auto Exposure Bracketing |
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Light
Metering |
64-zone
TTL metering-multi, spot, average |
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White Balance |
Automatic (AUTO,
SP);
Manual: 9 positions selectable in P/S/A/M |
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Viewfinder |
0.44-inch
(approx. 235,000 pixels) EVF, built-in diopter
adjustment, approx. 100% coverage |
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LCD |
1.8
in. low temperature polysilicon TFT (approx.
118K pixels), approx. 100% coverage |
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ISO Sensitivity |
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Auto: equivalent to ISO
160-800 |
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Manual: equivalent to
ISO 200, 400, 400, 800, 1600*
*only in 1M mode |
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Storage
Media |
xD-Picture
Card (16 MB included) or IBM Microdrive |
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Battery |
4 AA alkaline batteries
(included), 4 AA type Ni-MH batteries or AC
power adapter AC-5VH/AC-5VHS (optional) |
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Included
Accessories |
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16MB xD-Picture Card |
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4 AA Alkaline Batteries |
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A/V Cable,
USB 2.0 Cable, IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Cable |
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Strap (Shoulder); Lens
Cap |
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Software CD-ROM (Image
Mixer VCD2, FinePix Viewer, RAW File
Converter LE). In Canada: HS-V2 software
with RAW Converter EX.
Note: Software offerred may differ depending
on country. |
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Dimensions (W
x H x D) |
121 x 81.5 x 97
mm /
4.8 x 3.2 x 3.8 in. |
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Weight (Camera
body only) |
500g / 17.6 oz. |
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MSRP |
US$799.99
/ CAD$949 |
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Product technical specifications (including MSRP and Included Accessories)
are as represented by the manufacturer and subject to manufacturer's change
without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer or of Photoxels.
Included Accessories may also differ by country or area. Please verify latest
specs from the appropriate manufacturer's site.
Before you buy, do your homework and verify a seller's reputation. One
source you may want to check with is Resellerratings.com.
And remember, if a price seems to good to be true, it probably is.
DISCLAIMER:
We strive for accuracy in reproducing these specs, but being human, we do occasionally make mistakes. Also, in the early stages of a product introduction, you can almost guarantee there will be some errors from the manufacturers themselves as they update their sites. If you see any mistakes, please contact us. We do appreciate your writing in with the corrections and thank you in advance!
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