Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR

Wide-angle lens and new sensor combined

Straight from the outset, this camera looks different to other models in its class and price range. It has a sleek, professional gloss finish that makes you proud to hold it in your hands while out and about. While looks aren’t everything, the fact that this small form hides a whopping 10x optical zoom lens is impressive. The gold EXR badge also screams quality, referring to the camera’s Super CCD EXR sensor for better image quality.

Ergonomically, it has pretty much everything right, but for us there is one flaw – the Mode dial. It is in its usual place at the top of the right-hand side, however we’re used to moving it with our right thumb from the side. Here the side is encased in plastic, so you can only turn it from the top near the zoom lever. It takes too much getting used too, and we presume that the decision was made to prevent accidental turning. Otherwise, all the buttons and selections are easy to use, not too small and plentiful.  

When you get to playing around with the camera, you realise that there are shortcuts to almost everything, so it does take a little while to learn the best way to adjust camera settings. After a while, however, you get used to it and can make changes very quickly. The Mode dial lets you select from a variety of shooting modes, including normal Auto, EXR, which is an automatic scene selection option, Manual, Program, two Natural Light settings and scene modes. The Natural Light mode retains natural ambience without the Flash and the Natural Light with Flash mode takes two continuous shots, one with flash and one without. The usual scene modes are present and correct, with a couple of notable additions: Pro Focus, which gives sharp focus on your subject and a softly blurred background, and Pro Low-Light which enhances the clarity of still subjects in very low-light conditions. Both of these are designed to give professional photographic effects without any effort.

Also on the back of the camera is an F button, for quick access to ISO, Image Size and Film Simulation adjustments, a Face Detection on/off button and the Menu button for more in-depth enhancements.

We gave the camera a thorough testing on a trip to Las Vegas, which gave loads of opportunities for low-light shooting, wide-angle views and super-zoom focusing. The lens allows for some very creative shooting thanks to its long and wide options. The performance of the lens is aided by the Super CCD EXR, first introduced in the F200 EXR model, which is modelled on the human eye and switches between HR (High Resolution) in strong, even lighting, DR (Wide Dynamic Range) in strong, contrasty lighting and SN (High Sensitivity and Low Noise) for low lighting. In EXR mode you can select to set the sensor to Auto (which also selects a scene mode automatically from six options), or pick one of the above modes.

The range of shooting modes can seem overwhelming at first, but you can easily leave it in EXR Auto or standard Auto and still get great results. As you get more comfortable with the camera, then you can start to experiment with the other options in your own time, making this a great tool for all levels of user.

Image quality is superb, but the really shinning light is the low-light performance. It is simply out of its class, with less noise than similar models and great natural results. The camera does a great job in all situations, and even the Film Simulation modes look authentic and realistic.

Composition is easy using the 2.7-inch LCD, which is a little smaller than the one of the F200 EXR, but it has been improved since then and is high contrast for better results in bright light, as well as offering a super-wide viewing angle.

There really is very little that you can complain about here; the flaws are negligible and it’s quite frankly the best compact that we have seen in this price range in quite a while.

Final Verdict This is a fantastic little camera for both day-to-day shooting, as well as more creative endeavours. Punches well above its weight in terms of low-light performance. OVERALL

Julie has a reputation for always having a camera to hand for those opportune moments and candid snaps, therefore she has a preference for compacts that pack a punch yet still offer creative, manual controls. She’s been reviewing cameras for around four years, putting all manner of compacts, ultrazooms and bridge models through their paces.