Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR

The Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR (also known as the F85EXR in some countries) is the successor to last year's F70EXR. The new point-and-shoot was unveiled earlier in February and is one of the company's first few compacts using the Super CCD EXR sensor with HD-quality video-recording function. Its specifications receive minor upgrades over its predecessor, but there are several new features in the F80EXR that impressed us. That said, this FinePix faces tough competition from other brand though it holds up well against rivals.

Design

The design of the F80EXR doesn't deviate from the F70EXR. It retains the same block-like shape and the buttons are in the same position as the older camera. However, the new Fujifilm camera has more color options--black, silver, pink or red--which some users will take to.


The F80EXR fits well in our hands, though it's a little hefty. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
In our review of the F70EXR, we raised the issue of the onboard flash which was situated too near to the handgrip and was occasionally covered by our fingers when we were shooting. Unfortunately, the F80EXR doesn't resolve this problem, though we can see why. Most of the front estate of the shooter is taken up by the zoom lens, and that leaves little space for the flash. So users may want to take note of how they hold the snapper to avoid covering the flash.


Even with its zoom lens full extended, the F80EXR isn't too bulky. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
With the physical keys and dials all located on the right end of the shooter, it's easy to manipulate them with one hand. Even the power button, shutter and zoom control on the top are within reach, making the F80EXR a relatively easy-to-operate camera.

Features

The F80EXR image sensor has a 12-megapixel resolution compared with 10 megapixels on the F70EXR. Other than that, the rest of the hardware specifications remain pretty similar, such as the 10x optical zoom lens. However, there are a few new features which we will explore in greater details later. For now, let's take a look at how the FinePix stacks up against other compact long-zooms like the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS and Nikon Coolpix S8000.

Specifications/model	Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR	Canon PowerShot SX210 IS	Nikon Coolpix S8000
Image resolution	12 megapixels	14 megapixels	14 megapixels
Zoom range	10x optical (27-270mm)	14x optical (24-336mm)	10x optical zoom (30-300mm)
LCD size	3 inches	3 inches	3 inches
Max video resolution	1,280 x 720 pixels	1,280 x 720 pixels	1,280 x 720 pixels
Audio	Mono	Stereo	Mono
Shooting modes	Program, manual, auto and scene modes	Program, shutter/aperture priority, manual, auto, scene modes	Program, auto, scene modes
Dimension/weight	99.3 x 58.9 x 28.4mm/ 183g	105.8 x 59.3 x 31.9 mm/ 245g	103 x 57 x 27.3mm/ 183g
Related links		Review	Review

HD-quality video recording is available on the F80EXR. Its performance and quality are expected of point-and-shoots with such a feature--clips captured under daylight are clear, while those recorded in low-light situations tend to be noisier.

The F80EXR's face detection is now able to recognize faces and you can register profiles into the camera, so exposure and focus priority will be given to these subjects. This feature worked fairly well when we tested it, but as with most point-and-shoots with similar functions it tended to be wonky when used in low-light situation. This FinePix also has a Cat/Dog detection capability, as with the Z700EXR we reviewed earlier. It accurately recognized the canines and felines when we pointed the lens at them.


Pro-Focus helps to blur the background, which is good for portrait shots. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
Like the F70EXR, the F80EXR has Pro-Focus and Pro-Lowlight modes which makes takes multiple shots and combine them for a softer background (ideal for portrait shots) or less-noisy night photos, respectively. Other than these effects, there are also Film Simulation modes which shift colors to deliver softer tones or more saturated hues.

The F80EXR has a 3-inch LCD which is larger than that on the F70EXR. We found the new display to offer better contrast and improved viewing even under sunlight.


The aperture priority mode is hidden within the program mode, and can be accessed via the menu. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
The mode dial on the F80EXR shows a manual and program/aperture priority exposure option, which is great if you want to adjust these parameters for creative shots. However, we noticed the aperture has only two settings, which means it is controlled via a neutral density filter. Such an implementation won't affect the depth-of-field, though you can still achieve the blurred background effect by using the Pro-Focus function.

Performance

The F80EXR took about 2.5 seconds to start up. Time-to-first-shot, however, was reduced to 3 seconds on the new camera, compared with 4.3 seconds on the F70EXR. Shutter lag measured 0.1 second with prefocusing and 0.5 second without. These timings are on par with the F80EXR's competitors.

Focusing-wise, the FinePix performed well. It managed to lock onto our subjects quickly even in low-light situations. There is a continuous tracking AF mode which, when activated, will snap the focus to a subject and the lens will automatically adjust to keep the subject sharp. This feature worked well in our tests, even for active children running within the frame.

Image Quality

A shot taken with the High ISO & Low Noise mode. Note that fine details appear smudged. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
Fujifilm's F series point-and-shoots have typically delivered impressive shots in low-light environments, and the F80EXR doesn't disappoint. The EXR sensor's High ISO & Low Noise mode churned out 6-megapixel shots that looked free of noise, but we noticed the aggressive noise-reduction algorithm removed a good amount of fine details. However, if you're going to print only 4R-sized pictures, you probably won't notice the smudging.


ISO comparison chart for the F80EXR. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
The ISO range of the F80EXR is from ISO 100 to ISO 1,600, though it can be increased to ISO 12,800 at reduced resolution. From the ISO comparison chart above, we can tell that the Fujifilm performs quite well up to ISO 800. Images captured at this sensitivity have light speckles dotting them, though they do not affect the look of the pictures much. Also, there is no noticeable color shift at high ISO settings, which is quite impressive.


The automatic white balance didn't manage to adjust the hues here, making the scene look too warm for our liking. (Credit: Leonard Goh/CNET Asia)
One gripe we have with the F80EXR is the inconsistent white balance. We took some shots under tungsten lighting and the camera wasn't able to adjust the hues accurately, leading to unnatural-looking skintones in some of our shots. That said, the point-and-shoot worked well in our outdoor tests.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a compact long-zoom camera that gives good picture quality, you should seriously consider the F80EXR. Its automatic mode are clever enough to use the right scene or EXR modes to deliver the best pictures, though the lack of some manual exposure controls puts it at a disadvantage compared with the PowerShot SX210 IS. Still, this FinePix is one camera we've enjoyed using and are satisfied with the results it produced.