Fujifilm FinePix S5200 Digital Camera Review

Color (10.34)
Fujifilm claims its Real Photo Technology yields accurate color. The technology consists of the 1/2.5-inch Super CCD, the Real Image Processor, and the Fujinon lens. We tested the accuracy of the color output from this technological trio by taking several pictures of a GretagMacbeth color chart in optimal lighting. The images were uploaded into Imatest Imaging Software, where the images were analyzed for saturation and accuracy. Below is a modified color chart output by the software program. The inner vertical rectangle shows the color of the original GretagMacbeth chart; this is what colors should look like. The outer square represents the color produced by the Fujifilm FinePix S5200 and the inner square shows the ideal color of the chart, but corrected for luminance.

To better show the margin of error on these colors, Imatest also output a graph that plots the 24 original and the corresponding produced colors from the S5200. The graph is shown below with the squares representing the ideal colors from the GretagMacbeth chart and the circles representing the colors produced by the Fujifilm S5200. The line connecting the two shapes illustrates the degree of variance between the two; the longer the line, the more erroneous the particular color.

The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 received an impressive overall color score of 10.34. This is much improved from the camera’s outdated sibling, the FinePix S5100, which scored a 7.76 on the same test. The new S5200 also scored a low mean color error of 5.8, which is also much better than its S-series counterpart. When the digital camera was custom white balanced, the colors were muted and quite under-saturated at 94.83 percent. Surprisingly, these colors were not as accurate as the ones produced when the incandescent preset was used. This process was repeated multiple times, suggesting some deficiency in the camera’s custom white balance setting.

The incandescent white balance over-saturated by 7.6 percent, which is normal for the auto or custom setting on digital cameras. Overall, the Fujifilm FinePix S5200 performed impressively by producing accurate and rich colors.

Still Life Scene
Below is a shot of our timeless still life assemblage, captured with the Fuji FinePix S5200.

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: the linked file is very large!)

Resolution / Sharpness (4.01)
We tested the resolution and sharpness of the Fuji S5200’s 1/2.5-inch Super CCD HR and Real Image Processor by taking a sequence of images of an ISO 12233 resolution chart. The chart has been traditionally used as one of the standard tests for measuring resolution. We shot several exposures at various aperture settings and focal lengths. The files were uploaded into Imatest to help observe how the setting adjustments alter the sharpness of the image.

Click on the chart above to view full res image

We found the Fuji S5200 to achieve its sharpest results at f/4.0 when shooting at a focal length of 18.9mm. Resolution results from this test are expressed as line widths per picture height (LW/PH). This unit is a count of how many alternating black and white lines of equal thickness the camera could theoretically read before it started blurring them together. Traditional measurements are expressed as line pairs per picture height (LP/PH), but since this unit does not account for various sizes of imaging sensors we use the LW/PH standard.

The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 received an overall resolution score of 4.01, which is quite respectable. The camera produced results comparable with digital cameras that advertise higher resolution counts. The S5200 read 1607 LW/PH vertically and 1639 LW/PH horizontally. This is right on par with the Kodak EasyShare P880, a SLR-shaped digital camera that advertises 8 megapixels. The Kodak produced scores of 1505 LW/PH vertically and 1627 LW/PH horizontally. (Keep in mind that resolution quality varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from model to model.) The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 advertises 5.1 effective megapixels – just like the Fuji S5200 – but reads 1835 LW/PH vertically and 1723 LW/PH horizontally. The Fuji S5200 will not be quite as sharp as the Sony, but still beats out the Canon PowerShot S2 IS. The PowerShot read 1373 LW/PH vertically and 1490 LW/PH horizontally. From all these figures, it appears that the Fujifilm FinePix S5200 performed well and ranks in the upper tier of 5-megapixel models in terms of sharpness and definition.

Auto ISO – Noise (3.55)
The older S5100 model produced ridiculous amounts of noise when the camera automatically assigned ISO settings, and received a score of 1.61 on this test. Fortunately, the Fujifilm FinePix S5200 greatly improved on that result with a 3.55 automatic ISO noise score. The digital camera produced the same amount of noise that it does when manually set to an equivalent ISO setting of 200 when tested in the strong lighting of our studio. So while a 3.55 score doesn’t give the S5200 bragging rights, it’s much more respectable than its predecessor.

Manual ISO – Noise (6.32)
The FinePix S5200 has a wide range of ISO ratings from 64 to 1600. We tested the noise levels at each of these ratings and plotted it on the chart below. The horizontal axis shows the ISO ratings and the vertical axis shows the corresponding noise levels.

Once again, the Fuji S5200 vastly improved upon its predecessor. The older model scored a lackluster 4.05 overall score on this test and only offered a maximum sensitivity setting of ISO 800, while the S5200 extends up to ISO 1600 and handles noise much more effectively, earning a 6.32 overall manual ISO noise score. The chart shows a steady rise in the noise. ISO 64-800 settings on the Fuji S5200 have relatively low noise and outperform most similarly-styled models, while the ISO 1600 setting is a helpful inclusion for low light situations, but brings with it a sharp increase in noise.

Fujifilm includes these high sensitivity ratings and omits an image stabilization feature, encouraging users to select higher ISO settings when faster shutter speeds are desired. Unfortunately, high ISO ratings always bring more noise so the tradeoff isn’t exactly fair. Still, the Fujifilm S5200 produced less noise at ISO 400 than the Konica Minolta Z6’s ISO 320 setting as well as higher sensitivity settings on the Panasonic FZ5 and FZ30.

Low Light (6.5)
The Fuji S5200 has several features that optimize it for low light photography, such as its high 1600 ISO rating and slow 15-second shutter speed. We tested the digital camera in four situations of diminishing light levels of 60, 30, 15, and 5 lux. 60 lux is approximately equivalent to a living room after dusk with two soft lamps. A 40-watt light bulb emits the amount of light at 30 lux. The dimmest two situations are found in broom closets and under beds, but we tested them anyway to see how sensitive the 1/2.5-inch Super CCD is and how it handles longer exposures.

Low Light Tests
60 Lux	30 Lux
15 Lux	5 Lux

The modified color charts above show decreasing saturation and diminishing color accuracy as light levels dim, which is normal of course. Many compact models produce terribly dark images at 5 lux, but the S5200 is still quite bright due to its long exposure capabilities and high sensitivities. While users will be able to attain exposures with ample illumination, the images will bring with it a hefty amount of noise. Below is a graph exhibiting the increasing noise levels as the exposures are prolonged. The horizontal axis shows the exposure time in seconds and the vertical axis displays corresponding noise levels.

There is a sharp rise in noise from the 0.167-second exposure utilized at 60 lux and the longer 0.2-second exposure needed at 30 lux. The noise levels look steadier from the half-second 5 lux exposure to the dimmest 1.3-second exposure indicating that the most dramatic increase in noise occurs at about 1/5 of a second. With the manual settings available on the S5200, users will be able to control illumination (exposure) and noise; however, even at ISO 800 in low light, color vibrancy and image clarity will be an issue.

Speed / Timing
Start-up to First Shot (7.86)
The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 has an average start-up time of 2.14 seconds. This is slower than the single lens reflex cameras that the S5200 emulates but faster than most compact and point-and-shoot models.

Shot to Shot (9.46)
There are several burst modes available on the Fujifilm S5200. The First Burst mode takes 3 pictures at an average rate of 0.39 seconds; the camera takes about 8 seconds to write to the memory card before shooting its next set of pictures. The Last Burst mode shoots at a slightly slower 0.44-second rate for the clip and saves the last 3 shots taken before the shutter button is released. An Auto Bracketing mode shot 3 pictures at 3 different exposure values at an average rate of 0.35 seconds per picture. The Continuous burst mode can take up to 40 shots, but goes at a slower 1.7-second pace.

Shutter to Shot (8.32)
This digital camera takes about 0.34 seconds to take a shot after the shutter release button is pressed. So after the subject is posed and smiling, give them the 1-2-3 count and be sure to press the button on 2.