Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR

Shooting Modes (15.00)

The shooting modes on the F200EXR require some explanation. There are quite a few here, some of which are more complex than others.

First, there’s a Manual mode, which we greatly appreciate, an it lets you set the shutter speed across the entire range of the camera, but limits the aperture to minimum or maximum. Program mode lets you access all the controls of the camera, but sets the exposure for you. Through the menu system, while the mode dial is set to Program, you can switch over to Aperture priority, but once again you can only set it to maximum or minimum.

Natural Light mode is auto mode, but with the ISO boosted and the flash suppressed. Natural and Flash mode takes two shots, one after the other, the first without flash and the second with. Auto mode removes most user control, but lets you cap the maximum ISO that it automatically selects to 3200, 1600, 800, 400; set image size and quality; film mode; image stabilization; burst; timer; macro and flash. Finally, there’s EXR mode, which is the center of much of the interest in this camera. While in EXR mode, it can be set to one of four modes: EXR Auto; HR (resolution priority); SN (high ISO and low noise); and DR (D-Range priority).

High resolution EXR mode will use the camera’s sensor at its maximum 12-megapixel resolution. The two other modes lower the resolution down to six megapixels, and attempt to provide image enhancement benefits. SN mode (low noise), works by ‘pixel binning’, or combining the information from adjacent pixels on the sensor to create slightly larger pseudo-pixels, which is supposed to produce lower noise. However, when we tested this facet, the noise improvement wasn’t huge over shooting at 12-megapixels. The noise performance at 6 megapixels in Program mode was identical to what we found in EXR SN mode. We checked with Fujifilm, who confirmed that while in Program mode at 6-megapixel resolution, the camera will employ the EXR mode to produce lower noise.

DR mode works by taking two images simultaneously at slightly different exposures, using alternating pixels. This boost can be set to 100%, 200%, 400% or 800%, though if you’re just shooting in Program mode, if you lower the resolution to six megapixels, you can also set it to 100%, 200% or 400%. We discuss dynamic range in greater detail below, but in brief, it’s far better at bringing information out of over-exposed areas rather than the shadows.

Finally, Auto EXR mode analyzes the scene you’re about to shoot, and chooses the best of the three modes.

Auto Mode Features

The focus mode can be set to one of three settings: center, which just looks at the middle of the image; multi, which tries to find the best focus area over the entire frame; and continuous, which constantly refocuses at the very center of the image, for as long as the shutter button is half-pressed. If face detection is turned on, it’ll pay attention to people over any other focus mode.

Generally, focusing feels relatively speedy, even at low light levels (thanks to the bright autofocus assist lamp). Tucked away in the energy saver menu option is the ability to turn on ‘quick autofocus,’ which we assume uses more power than the normal mode. It seemed to speed things up marginally, but wasn’t a breathtaking improvement.

The exposure compensation range of ±2 EV is a bit lower than we would have liked. The camera does not offer exposure bracketing.

On Fujifilm cameras, Metering is labeled Photometry. It has the usual set of options: Multi, Spot and Average.

Though the camera lacks a dedicated shutter priority option, the shutter speed range ( 1/1500-8 seconds) is respectable, though a maximum speed of 1/2000 would have been a worthwhile improvement.

The F200EXR has two self-timer modes, 10 second and 2 second. Unfortunately, the self-timer setting is cancelled after each shot, which which makes it a pain to repeatedly shoot using the timer.

Scene Modes

Scene mode has 15 presets: Portrait, Portrait Enhancer, Landscape, Sport, Night, Night (tripod), Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater, Museum, Party, Flower, and Text.

Picture Effects (2.00)

The F200EXR doesn’t have any dedicated picture effects, but its Film Simulations work in a similar fashion. These mimic the effects of various brands of Fuji’s 35mm film.

Picture Samples
Provia/Standard Velvia/Vivid Astia/Soft Black and White Sepia More...

Manual Controls (8.15)

The F200EXR has white balance presets for sunlight, shade, daylight fluorescent, warm white fluorescent, cool white fluorescent, incandescent and underwater. There is also an auto mode, and the ability to take a custom white balance, which is often missing from compact cameras and certainly worth having.

The lens isn’t particularly fast, with a maximum aperture of just f/3.3, and has a minimum of f/14.

Drive/Burst Mode (5.50)

The F200EXR’s burst mode is frustrating, and overly complex. There are three speeds: three-shot (1.4 fps at full size), 12-shot (5 fps at 3MP), or long period. 12-shot and three-shot can be set to final or top modes. In final mode, you can up to 40 photos, but only the final 12 or 3 are saved (depending on which speed you’re shooting at). Top mode will take either 12 or 3 shots, then stop. Long period will continuously take photos as long as the shutter button is held, but is slower than any other mode.

Shot to Shot (0.49)

We tested the F200EXR in long period mode, as our testing involves shooting at the highest burst resolution, for at least five frames. Thus, both 12-shot and three-shot modes were inappropriate. In long period mode, it took 0.5 frames per second, which is very slow.