I received this camera a week ago and have been very impressed with it so far. I had previously bought a Panasonic FX150 in December but returned it after 2 weeks due to horrible ISO400 performance and too much noise on the lower ISO settings as well. I had high hopes for this camera as I wanted a camera that could achieve good low light shots but thought something like the Panasonic LX3 was too big and too limiting with it's short zoom.Before going into the many positives of this camera I want to express my only major negative with this camera and that is its ability to select the correct ISO setting for each shot. When shooting indoors in low to average light or when shooting with the flash the camera tends to choose a much higher ISO then needed resulting in shots with more noise then there should be. There is no reason for an image stabilized camera to select ISO800 with a shutter speed of 1/80 or faster when there is no movement in the frame. While this happens across all modes on the F200EXR it is more extreme in EXR Auto. I did a quick test with the camera taking two shots in P mode, EXR SN and EXR Auto seconds apart. P mode and EXR SN selected ISO200 while EXR Auto selected ISO400. In reality ISO100 would have been fine for this shot but the ISO200 shots still looked very good. I have even had shots where ISO400 would have been adequate but EXR Auto selected ISO1600! Thankfully in most modes you can set a max ISO to keep the setting better under control, EXR Auto is unfortunately always stuck in full Auto ISO. The one good thing to keep in mind here though is that the F200EXR's ISO400 performance is better then almost any other P&S out there so while it still might show some noise it will look almost as good as ISO200 on most of the cameras in its class. If EXR Auto is the main selling point for you then skip this camera. If you want one of the best cameras on the market right now then keep reading.
Now there are a lot of positives to this camera, many of which have already been discussed in other reviews so I won't go on forever about them. The screen is great and the camera feels solid in your hands. The menu system is a little strange but it's pretty easy to figure out once you get used to it. I am really just going to focus on image quality though. One of the best things about this camera is its EXR sensor that allows for 6MP images to be taken with low noise or increased dynamic range. While some may think 6MP isn't enough, don't believe the marketing hype. For 95% of the people out there 6MP is plenty and lower noise or increased dynamic range are far more useful then 12MP images. This lower noise is apparent across the board but is especially noticeable in how clean and detailed ISO400 and many ISO800 shots turn out on this camera. For web and 4x6 printing you will be hard pressed to find much difference in shots taken between ISO100 and ISO400 while in a true rarity for the class many ISO800 shots as well.
In my use I have found the secret to the best quality images from this camera is to avoid the EXR mode entirely and use P mode with the image size set to 6MP. While the instructions make it seem like the EXR sensor is only used when the mode dial is on EXR my results indicate that EXR is used anytime the image size is set to 6MP. For instance ISO100 with a DR of 400 would only be possible if EXR is used and this is possible in P mode (or M mode for that matter) as long as image size is set to 6MP. The setting I use for most shots is P mode, 6MP, DR set to Auto and ISO set to Auto (400). This keeps the ISO in a reasonable range and still allows the camera to take advantage of the EXR sensor. When shooting at night or in low light I will just adjust the ISO to Auto (800) to allow for a greater ISO range.
Overall I can't say enough positive things about this camera. Sure it would be nice if it had HD video or a higher resolution screen but those aren't required to take fantastic pictures. The automatic ISO performance is disappointing and the EXR Auto mode even more so but as I stated above there are plenty of work arounds. Sure the camera isn't perfect but I think for anyone willing to adjust some settings themselves will discover a P&S with some of the best all around image quality around.
I followed this camera since announcement and have been eagerly awaiting its release here in Canada. After about a week, though, it's going back.
The big issues I have with the camera may not be of high priority to other people, but are particularly important to me. This camera, as others have said, is generally superb, and can take absolutely fantastic pictures with the best dynamic range available.
And one other positive which is important to me but not mentioned by a lot of other people is the flash recycling time is quite good, maybe 2 seconds.
Auto white balance is excellent too.
My issues:
* Because this is to be a family camera, it has to be easy to use without really being educated about its functions. The full auto modes are not good enough the EXR mode is loud and annoying, and both auto modes take pictures in ISOs that are not even remotely necessary. I don't need my wife taking ISO 1600 shots in decent indoor lighting at 1/60th of a second. That's not particularly helpful. It also prevents me from ever using most of the presets (snow, party, etc)
* While high ISO is obviously better than anything else in a compact, the camera needs it because the image stabilization is not as good as on Canons and Panasonics because it is sensor-based rather than lens based.
* I come from A series Canons, and the ability to set apertures and/or shutter speeds is sorely missed, particularly were auto ISO gives you 800 or 1600 more often than 200 unless outside in daylight.
* Video is important for us because with small children it is nice to have a video capabilities at all times and we don't carry around a video camera. Video capabilities on this camera kind of suck.
* A critical point for me, though not much I'm sure for a lot of others, is continuous shooting. Rarely do kids look the right way, so to be able to burst shots until you get the right one is very important to me. This camera can only do quick bursts at full resolution for 3 shots (or at least it only keeps the first or the last 3), and the full continuous shoot mode is painfully slow, I would say one shot every 1.5 or 2 seconds as it refocuses between each shot. That is not nearly good enough, and while the camera does have a (very) quick continuous mode, that takes shots at only 3 megapixels.
* The battery cover keeps opening up in my pocket. Not a huge deal, but at the same time, maybe it is...
So like I said, the camera is great at what it does, but its limitations may be important depending on your needs. Video, as noted by others, is bad. Photos, as noted by others, are superb, IF you are expert enough to learn and use the camera. As a straight point and shoot, the camera is not particularly good, as it boosts ISO way too much. And continuous shooting is, for me at least, unacceptably slow.
I really wanted to like this camera, and dynamic range is something I always really wanted, but the F200 EXR just doesn't work for me.
I am inclined to try the new Panasonic super zoom next (the ZS3/TZ7). I don't need a super zoom, and I understand Panny is coming out with a similar 5x zoom at some point, but I don't want to wait. I understand the ZS3/TZ7's burst mode is faster, the lens is wider (and better), and the video is HD. I also understand the Panasonic has excellent lens-based image stabilization, and much better battery life (though I never had a problem with the F200's battery life). While the Panasonic has fewer manual controls, it is supposed to have the best auto in the business. While I would prefer more controls, it is more important for everyone to be able to pick up and use the camera to produce quality shots than for me to be able to (and have to) play to get pretty pictures.
I think Fuji really missed the strike zone on this one. This camera with a better lens, better auto intelligence, and better video (and better continuous shooting for me at least) could have been a huge smash success that reinvigorated the Fuji brand for cameras. As it is, the camera is a tiny small step forward but big step to the side from their previous compacts. It's really too bad.
Hope this helps.The short and sweet of it is this probably the sub-compact camera that will give you the best Image Quality (IQ) of any other camera in this category. I do not consider the Panny LX3 as being in this category as it is larger. If size is not an issue, then an interesting comparison can be drawn whereby they both produce excellent output with their own pluses and minuses. But, the LX3 was simply too large for my uses.
What it Is This is a specialty compact camera much like the F30 and F31fd before it. I owned both of those cameras. I call it "specialty" because you have to coax it a bit to get the best IQ from it, just like the F30 or F31fd. Just like the earlier Fxx series, you can't rely on "Auto" modes to yield the best pictures. This camera, just like the earlier Fxx series, hikes the ISO way too much for the shot at hand in most cases. I believe that this was done to absolutely insure that no blurry pictures occur. Anyone with decent technique can take crystal clear pictures at much lower ISO's and lower shutter speeds if the subject is still.
Advantages over the F31fd:
Better lens, MUCH less purple fringing
Sharper pictures even in 6MP mode
Wider and longer reach
Image Stabilization
Better Noise Profile Noise reduction is less aggressive thereby retaining more detail in 6MP mode. Noise may be a bit more prevelant, but it is much less bothersome on the F200exr. It is more film like in terms of grain, not that blotchy colored mess that can often be seen on cameras in this class.
12MP high resolution is there if desired and the subject is suited to it.
MUCH better WB. The F31fd was way too cool when doing typical shooting outdoors. I had to put it on the "cloudy" setting to get it to a more realistic balance even in sunny conditions. This is not the case with the F200exr. The white balance does a great job indoors and out. One less thing to fiddle with on the F200exr.
Dynamic Range, though not as high as billed, is better than the F31fd when in 6MP mode.
Disadvantages:
Shorter battery life
Lens is slower on the wide end, 2.8 vs. 3.3.
(I really hope they come out with an E900 update to address these issues)
Manual control, just like the F31 can be difficult when compared to the LX3 or the FZ28. There isn't the PASM modes on the selector dial, though a P mode and M mode are offered, but not at the level of control that you would get with a cam that gives you full control.
What it isn't Fuji has billed this as the ultimate point and shoot. While it can certainly function in that role, you will not get the best IQ out of it that way. This is why you will see the occassional 1 and 2 star reviews with this camera, just like with the F31fd. The F31fd in knowledgeable hands could produce photographs of spectacular quality as does the F200exr. But, don't expect it to do that in auto point and shoot mode including the exr auto mode (jumping to high ISO's way too fast). Pannies don't do that and the LX3 may be better choice for this kind of shooting. It's auto mode tends to peak at ISO 400 until very low shutter speeds are encountered, and then it will increase the ISO from there. This is similar to the FZ28, which I do have. Great zoom cam btw. Panny also accounts for movement in the frame too. The LX3 also has that awesome F2.0 lens offering over at least a 1 stop advantage over the Fuji. This would be great if you didn't have to pocket the thing. The menus on the Fuji just aren't as easy to use as some other cams in this class and don't seem to offer the level of features either. This has not changed from the F31.
In summary, this camera, like the F31fd before it, is all about the sensor. You will have to put up with some annoyances in terms of camera features, but the output really is spectacular for a camera of this size. Know what this camera is and is not before you buy it, and you won't be dissappointed. If it is IQ in a pocketable compact you are after, then you have reached your destination.
The FujiFilm F200EXR is a very compact camera that packs a lot of advanced features into a "Point & Shoot" format camera body. This camera is capable of taking outstanding photos in all of it's modes, including the "Auto" Mode for everyday picture taking (not to be confused with "Auto EXR Mode", see below). We are avid photographers and own several other digital cameras, including Point & Shoot, Compact, and a dSLR that we use for family photos and taking product pictures for our small business.
This is somewhat of a lengthy review, so I will summarize my findings here:
If you are looking for a "Point & Shoot" camera for taking the occasional casual picture, this camera is probably overkill for your needs and you would be better off with a less expensive alternative. That being said, if you are looking for a very powerful, feature rich camera that can be made to perform well in almost any setting and for any application, all in a very small "Point & Shoot" format, then this camera is well worth the investment! This camera packs more features and often takes better pictures than our much more expensive dSLR camera.
Now for my overview and full review:
The F200EXR is truly packed with many top of the line features, including -
* 12 Megapixel Super CCD EXR Sensor
* 3" LCD Screen
* Wide Angle (28 mm) through 5x Optical Zoom (140 mm)
* Dual Image Stabilization
* Wide Range of Preconfigured Modes (see below)
* Face Recognition with automatic in camera Red Eye Removal (works well!)
* Support for SD, SDHC, and xD cards
* Includes 48 meg of internal memory, enough space for about 10 pictures in the highest quality mode
* Long lasting Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery (NP-50)
What's in the Box -
* F200EXR Camera
* Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery (initial charge took just under 2 hours)
* Home Battery Charger
* Wrist Strap
* Proprietary USB/Video Cable (standard video/audio only, a HD cable is available but not included)
* Printed Basic Manual Booklet (in several languages)
* CD with Owner's Manual (Full) in PDF
* CD with FinePixViewer Software (not bad image management, basic editing, and linking to Fuji web content)
* Plastic Sleeve for Battery Storage
* Miscellaneous Warrantee and Warning Pages
The Controls on the small camera body are generally well placed and easy to use, with a "rose" type interface for selecting and navigating the many menu options, selecting Flash, Macro, Self Timer, Delete, and Exposure Compensation settings. In addition to the Power Button, there are also four small buttons for selecting Playback, Photo Mode (F), Face Recognition and Red Eye Removal, and Display.
Pressing and holding the Playback button while the camera is off will turn on the camera and allow for viewing your pictures without extending the lens.
The Photo Mode (F) sets many options that will affect your pictures, like ISO, Dynamic Range, Image Size, Image Quality (jpeg compression, I turned mine from the default "Normal" to "Fine"), White Balance, and Film Simulation. Interestingly enough, this important mode is not covered in any detail in the printed "Basic Manual" so you must look at the Owner's Manual on the CD or download it from the Fuji web site.
The numerous shooting modes are accessed through the Dial and include:
* "Auto" (Red Camera Icon) mode allows the F200EXR to be used as a "Point & Shoot" and usually produces truly outstanding quality pictures
* EXR Mode (EXR Icon, White Letters with Red Background) -
Fine Capture Mode (High Resolution), produces very crisp detail of intricate subjects and is useful in product photography The Camera will display HR when in this mode.
Pixel Fusion Mode (High Sensitivity and Low Noise), produces low-light shots with minimal noise The Camera will display SN when in this mode.
Dual Capture (Wide Dynamic Range), takes two pictures and merges them in-camera to provide great detail in highlights and low lights. The camera will display DR when in this mode.
Auto EXR Mode, tries to select between several presets (many found in the SP Mode, see below). This is very Hit & Miss, as the camera will "hunt" around a lot I will avoid using this mode and use the regular "Auto" mode or manually set the SP mode when possible.
* Program (P) and Manual (M) modes are standard modes enabling the user to set Shutter/Aperture priority or to take full control of settings, respectively
* Natural (N) is an interesting option for capturing images with the natural scene lighting
* Natural + Flash (N+ Lightning Bolt Icon) option takes two pictures, one as the "Natural" mode and another with the flash, to ensure a good picture is captured.
* Movie Mode (Movie Camera Icon) is a really useful video (with audio) clip capture mode that allows for 320 or 640 resolution at 30 Frames/Second. The clips are saved in standard AVI format and are surprisingly good! The one main complaint is that you cannot use Zoom while filming, so you must select the Zoom you want before starting.
* Scene Position (SP) Mode allows you to select between 15 presets, including:
Portrait, Portrait Enhancer, Landscape, Sport, Night, Night (Tripod), Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater (for use with the optional Underwater Case, this camera is not waterproof), Museum (turns off sound, flash, and Focus Assist Light), Party, Flower, and Text
There are far too many options and combinations to cover much more deeply, so I'll wrap this up with my major likes and dislikes:
Likes -
* Great Point & Shoot "Auto" Mode takes impressive 12 MP pictures (file size is roughly 4.3 MB in Large 4:3/Fine resolution)
* Very low "Shutter Lag", even when not pre-focused
* Impressive Wide Angle and 5x Optical Zoom Lens
* Clear description of Shooting Modes displayed on LCD when changing dial settings
* Fantastic EXR Modes allow for capturing outstanding pictures that would have been unusable with lesser cameras. In particular, the Pixel Fusion (SN) and Dual Capture (DR) modes are very useful for solving difficult photography problems.
* Outstanding "Super Intelligent Flash" produces great illuminated scenes without washing out the subject, a feature that is very useful in Macro Mode which we use heavily for our business product photography needs.
* Accurate Face Recognition with automatic in-camera Red Eye Reduction This feature assures people are in focus, helps with in-camera Slide Show playback, and can automatically remove Red Eye. It is also very cool to watch it work!
* Large ISO range of 100 to 12800, without much noise or grain when using SN mode
* Decent battery life of about 180 200 or so shots without flash, drops fairly quickly if flash is used a lot. I recommend buying an extra battery or two.
* Lots of user selectable options Spending a little time reading the Owner's Manual is a good investment to learn about all of the features packed into this camera.
Dislikes -
* Steep Learning Curve (reading the Owner's Manual is absolutely required to take full advantage of all the features this camera offers)
* Auto EXR Mode is really "Hit or Miss", we will not be using this option as the camera makes a lot of noise and does not always select an appropriate mode.
* No Zooming while filming in Movie Mode
* No Remote Control
* HD Cable is not included
This is a very powerful camera that can be made to outperform almost any other consumer grade camera currently on the market if you spend a little time reading the Owner's Manual and do a little experimenting with the extensive options.
We have been able to take absolutely beautiful pictures in the standard "Auto" mode and have produced some photos that we would not have been able capture, because of tricky lighting, by using the EXR modes. We will likely make the F200EXR our primary camera for taking our business product pictures (using the EXR "Fine Capture" mode), as the results are truly outstanding!
The F200EXR is "Highly Recommended"! The positive elements of this camera significantly outweigh the few negative items, making this an easy choice for those in need of the advanced features and functionality this camera delivers in a very compact Point & Shoot form factor, 5 out of 5 Stars!I consider myself to be a photo enthusiast / semi-professional as I do some commissioned portrait work on the side. I primarily work with the Nikon D300 DSLR for all of my photography and once I switched over 100% to DSLR's a few years back, I never thought I'd find a "pocket sized point and shoot" camera that I'd be "unashamed" to carry around with me. Well, I was wrong. I recently got my hands on the F200EXR, and it is a beautiful thing! It's got plenty of resolution (12MP) to satisfy any and all photographic needs, but even more important and impressive is its ability to capture clean (very low noise) images in low light (particularly when you boost the ISO to 6400 at a reduced resolution of 6MP). Another wonderful benefit not typically found in digital, let alone point and shoot cameras, is its wide dynamic range. Digital sensors have had a difficult time dealing with high contrast scenes, and losing detail in the shadows and highlights. The EXR sensor does a tremendous job of handling these situations with ease. I keep my details in the shadows without totally blowing out my highlights. Is the camera going to replace my D300...of course not, but it's absolutely my camera of choice for my everyday needs and will always be with me to capture lifes moments...especially with a newborn on the way! I'm not even worried about when the baby really gets moving either because between the high sensitivity, and the 5fps burst rate...I'll catch all the action.
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