Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR review

Fujifilm revolutionises the compact market with a unique three-in-one camera that offers low noise and more dynamic range

The new Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is unlike any other digital camera on the market – and in a world of look-a-like upgrades with ever increasing megapixel counts, it’s not often that we get to say that. The innovative EXR sensor is the principal reason for all the excitement surrounding this particular model, as it provides not one, not two, but essentially three cameras in one.

Select the rather innocuous-sounding EXR mode on the new Shooting Mode dial, and you have the choice of three different EXR options. Resolution Priority mode uses all 12 megapixels from the EXR sensor to capture the highest resolution image. High ISO & Low Noise mode combines adjacent pixels to create larger photodiodes and improve the low-light quality, producing a six-megapixel image that makes dark scenes as bright and detailed as possible with minimal noise. D-Range Priority mode simultaneously takes two images at different exposures and then combines them to produce a single six-megapixel image with increased dynamic range (up to 800 per cent), preserving detail in the shadow and highlight areas that would otherwise be lost. If you can’t decide which is the best mode for the current situation, just set the camera to Auto EXR, which picks the right setting about 90 per cent of the time.

In practice, all of this technical detail essentially results in a camera that can record high-resolution 12-megapixel images, lower-resolution six-megapixel images with less noise, or lower-resolution six-megapixel images with expanded dynamic range. Side-by-side comparisons show that the difference between the Resolution Priority and High ISO & Low Noise modes is not as pronounced as we would have hoped, with the latter producing slightly less noise at the same ISO speeds. Unless you absolutely need the lowest amounts of noise possible, we would suggest sticking to the 12-megapixel Resolution Priority mode. The results of using D-Range Priority are much more spectacular, with detail retained in all areas of images that would normally show either blown-out highlights or blocked-up shadows. This makes the F200EXR a great camera for landscapes, city vistas and indeed any situation where there is a stark contrast between light and dark.

In addition, the Resolution Priority mode is a great performer too, with a very usable ISO range of 100-1600 – noise only really becomes objectionable at ISO 1600 and faster, which is very good for a compact. When you add few signs of unwanted chromatic aberrations and purple fringing, accurate colours and white balance, plus a reasonably powerful built-in flash and effective anti-shake system, it’s easy to recommend the F200EXR from an image quality point of view. Only the distinctly average 5cm Macro mode and inability to sharpen the slightly soft in-camera images detract from an otherwise outstanding performance.

Keen photographers will also be pleased to discover that Fujifilm have re-introduced some creative shooting modes on the F200EXR, which were notably absent from its predecessor. Although there’s no Shutter Priority mode, you do get Aperture Priority and full Manual, allowing you to take more control of the photographic process. Unfortunately, there are just two possible aperture settings on offer, wide open or fully stopped down, and the absence of a histogram in either the shooting or playback mode, any bracketing options and also a RAW mode may put some off what is otherwise a well-featured camera for the avid photographer.

The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is based on the previous F100fd model, offering the same body, versatile 28-140mm 5x zoom lens and a very similar control layout. It’s a fairly compact digital camera that just about fits into the palm of your hand, with dimensions of 97.7 x 58.9 x 23.4mm and weighing 175g. It’s quite pleasing on the eye too, with either the champagne or the more sombre black colour scheme and subtle curves on the top, left and right of the body. More importantly, it’s also extremely well built, retaining the excellent overall finish that we've come to expect from Fujifilm’s FinePix F-series. The 5x zoom lens in particular is a standout highlight, covering everything from wide-angle landscapes, head-and-shoulder portraits, and more up-close-and-personal candids. There is some quite noticeable barrel distortion at the 28mm setting, though.

The newest addition to the external design of the F200EXR is the Mode dial on the rear of the body. Just like the Mode dials found on most DSLR cameras, you can quickly choose from the eight different shooting modes. The Mode dial has a fairly positive action, but it can be inadvertently moved to the wrong position while stored in a pocket, so make sure to double-check before taking a picture in completely the wrong mode! The rest of the camera’s design is well-thought-out, if not particularly innovative, with a responsive push-and-pull zoom lever surrounding the large, tactile shutter button and an F-Mode button for quick access to key settings. The other noteworthy change on the rear of the camera is the large, recessed three-inch LCD screen complete with glossy finish, which a nice upgrade to the F100fd's 2.7-inch screen, but that still only has a merely adequate 230,000 dots. Both SD/SDHC and xD-Picture Card formats are supported, a welcome move by Fujifilm, although the rather limited battery life of 150 shots is less welcome – you’ll need to buy and carry a spare battery or two for longer ventures in the field.

The Film Simulation setting is something of a throw-back to the days of film, with five options - Provia, Velvia, Astia, Black & White and Sepia - mimicking the look of famous emulsions from the past. Perhaps recognising that most users won't know what those product names actually signify, the F200EXR also helpfully calls them Standard, Vivid and Soft. The Super Intelligent Flash feature is more useful, automatically reducing the power of the flash when taking macro shots so that the subject isn't overexposed by blinding white light. Also very welcome is the built-in image stabilisation system, which uses a combination of mechanical CCD-shift and high sensitivity settings up to ISO 6400 to help keep shutter speeds high enough to avoid subject blur in low-light conditions.

The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is a compact camera with a difference, taking an innovative approach to photography will please anyone who puts image quality before image size. More megapixels may result in bigger pictures, but that doesn’t usually translate into better pictures. The F200EXR bravely bucks the more-megapixel trend, producing fantastic out-of-the-camera JPEG images with low noise and amazing dynamic range – surely something that should be applauded.