Product Summary
Very good
The good: Excellent picture quality; RAW image capture; effective noise reduction control. 7.4
out of 10View score
The bad: Lens not as wide as S100FS'; no HD video option; no tilting LCD; size of camera not suitable for everyone.
The bottom line: The S200EXR is an ideal shooter for enthusiasts who demand the best picture quality and can forgo features such as high-resolution video recording.
Read full review of the Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR »
Average User Rating
from 1 users
Very good
7
out of 10CNET Asia Review
Fujifilm's EXR sensor has received good feedback since its implementation in the FinePix F200EXR earlier this year, and the company has introduced the technology into some of its latest shooters. The S200EXR succeeds the S100FS, which has also garnered positive feedback. While the new sensor improves picture quality, we wish Fujifilm had retained some of the predecessor's useful features such as a tilting LCD and wider-angle optics.
The controls are evenly spaced with buttons on the rear easily accessible with the thumb. The power switch is located around the shutter button, which makes turning on the camera a fuss-free affair. The command dial has ample resistance so you won't rotate it accidentally. Along the left side of the snapper you will find a knob for toggling between focusing modes as well as a white balance and continuous shooting buttons. Although they are clearly labeled, their location can make it difficult for first-time users to find.
Handling the S200EXR is akin to handling a dSLR. To zoom, you turn the ring around the lens. There is a supplementary ring near the body of the camera for adjusting the focus if you choose manual focus. Overall, the user experience was quite smooth, though we think the menu interface could be improved. For example, we expected the image stabilizer and RAW capture options to be in the main menu, but it was found in setup instead.
Fujifilm has added a nice touch to the S200EXR by providing a lens cap latch which can be attached to the camera strap. This solves the problem of losing your lens cap as you can fit the cover securely onto the strap once it is removed.
Here's a comparison table between the S200EXR, S100FS and FZ35.
While the S200EXR gets a slight resolution bump from 11 to 12 megapixels, the 28mm wide-angle lens seen on the S100FS is replaced by a 30.5mm one on the new camera. The 2.5mm difference may not sound like a big deal, but it is always better to have a wider glass because you never know when it will come in handy, such as taking group shots in space-constrained areas.
As with other EXR-fitted cameras such as the F70EXR, the S200EXR has modes like High Resolution, Wide Dynamic Range, High Sensitivity/Low Noise, Pro-Low Light and Pro Focus modes. These options utilize the new sensor and change the way it works with different settings.
One aspect we like about the S200EXR is that the shooter is able to capture RAW images. However, it is limited to normal shooting modes, which means users who want to use EXR settings have to contend with only JPEGs. Also, RAW files from this Fujifilm cannot be processed with the Fujifilm FinePix Viewer software included with the shooter. But an update coming in November will enable the program to convert the S200EXR's RAW pictures to other formats such as TIFF and JPEG.
The S100FS has a 2.5-inch tilting LCD which we liked. While the S200EXR has a slightly larger 2.7-inch display, it is fixed and we really miss being able to tilt the LCD, which was useful for taking pictures overhead or at waist-level angles.
Like most superzoom shooters and dSLRs, the FinePix has a wide range of exposure modes ranging from manual to full automatic. There are also several bracketing options besides exposure. We could choose Film Simulation where the snapper would take three shots of the same scene with different color settings.
One gripe we have with the S200EXR is the lack of HD video recording which is absent in the current FinePix lineup except for the S2000HD. Although we are not fans of such a feature, we think consumers will appreciate having the option to capture higher-resolution clips.
Tags: DSLR, TIFF, Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR, Command Dial, Fujifilm FinePix S100FS
Design
The S200EXR has kept most of the design of the S100FS, which means it looks like a dSLR minus the option to change lenses. The camera has a nice chunky handgrip which has a groove for you to latch your middle finger onto when operating the shooter.The controls are evenly spaced with buttons on the rear easily accessible with the thumb. The power switch is located around the shutter button, which makes turning on the camera a fuss-free affair. The command dial has ample resistance so you won't rotate it accidentally. Along the left side of the snapper you will find a knob for toggling between focusing modes as well as a white balance and continuous shooting buttons. Although they are clearly labeled, their location can make it difficult for first-time users to find.
)
Handling the S200EXR is akin to handling a dSLR. To zoom, you turn the ring around the lens. There is a supplementary ring near the body of the camera for adjusting the focus if you choose manual focus. Overall, the user experience was quite smooth, though we think the menu interface could be improved. For example, we expected the image stabilizer and RAW capture options to be in the main menu, but it was found in setup instead.
Fujifilm has added a nice touch to the S200EXR by providing a lens cap latch which can be attached to the camera strap. This solves the problem of losing your lens cap as you can fit the cover securely onto the strap once it is removed.
)
Features
Besides the new imaging sensor, the S200EXR has similar features as its predecessor. However, the FinePix has carved a niche for itself in the realm of superzoom shooters with its larger 1/1.6-inch sensor. Most other long-zoom snappers, such as the Lumix DMC-FZ35, employ a 1/2.33-inch sensor. Hence, the FinePix has an advantage of gathering more light and theoretically this improves image quality which we will discuss in a later section.Here's a comparison table between the S200EXR, S100FS and FZ35.
| Specifications/model | Fujifilm FinePix S100FS | Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 |
| Sensor resolution | 11 megapixels | 12 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Dimension/weight | 150.4 x 93.6 x 133.4mm/918g | 133.4 x 93.6 x 145mm/820g | 118 x 76 x 89mm/367g |
| LCD size | 2.5-inch tilting | 2.7-inch fixed | 2.7-inch fixed |
| Viewfinder | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic |
| Zoom/focal length | 14.3x/ 28mm to 400mm | 14.3x/30.5mm to 436mm | 18x/27mm to 486mm |
| Max. video resolution | 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps | 640 x 480 pixels at 30fps | 1,280 x 720 pixels at 30fps |
| Image stabilizer | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| File formats | RAW + JPEG | RAW + JPEG | RAW + JPEG |
| Memory media | SD/SDHC or xD-Picture Card | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC |
| Related links | Review | Review |
As with other EXR-fitted cameras such as the F70EXR, the S200EXR has modes like High Resolution, Wide Dynamic Range, High Sensitivity/Low Noise, Pro-Low Light and Pro Focus modes. These options utilize the new sensor and change the way it works with different settings.
)
One aspect we like about the S200EXR is that the shooter is able to capture RAW images. However, it is limited to normal shooting modes, which means users who want to use EXR settings have to contend with only JPEGs. Also, RAW files from this Fujifilm cannot be processed with the Fujifilm FinePix Viewer software included with the shooter. But an update coming in November will enable the program to convert the S200EXR's RAW pictures to other formats such as TIFF and JPEG.
The S100FS has a 2.5-inch tilting LCD which we liked. While the S200EXR has a slightly larger 2.7-inch display, it is fixed and we really miss being able to tilt the LCD, which was useful for taking pictures overhead or at waist-level angles.
)
Like most superzoom shooters and dSLRs, the FinePix has a wide range of exposure modes ranging from manual to full automatic. There are also several bracketing options besides exposure. We could choose Film Simulation where the snapper would take three shots of the same scene with different color settings.
One gripe we have with the S200EXR is the lack of HD video recording which is absent in the current FinePix lineup except for the S2000HD. Although we are not fans of such a feature, we think consumers will appreciate having the option to capture higher-resolution clips.
Tags: DSLR, TIFF, Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR, Command Dial, Fujifilm FinePix S100FS
Rate It Now
User Reviews
Disappointed S100fs user
Jan 5, 2010Rating: 7 out of 10 (Very good)
Pros: Great picture quality I guess
Cons: No tilting screen, lower wide angle ability, no RAW software
Opinion:
What are Fuji doing! I've used a S9600 & S100fs for a number of years and however good the pictures are from the new S200 I don't want to do without the folding screen (the envy of some of my slr owning friends). I'm also not happy that the wide angle ability has been reduced. Add to that, no software to process RAW files! Come on Fuji, I want a camera that does everything the S100fs does AND A BIT MORE. Not a bit less!
I look forward to the replacement for the S100fs in due course!
User Discussion
olafurd:
Hello
Can someone give me a brief comparison between the Finepix S200EXR and the Canon EOS 500D.
I am new to ...
