Fujifilm FinePix S200EXR / S205EXR, Updating The FinePix S100FS

Combining the pin-sharp 14.3x Fujinon optical zoom lens (30.5mm-436mm equivalent) so popular in its predecessor, the award-winning FinePix S100FS, with Fujifilm's latest 12-megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor, the FinePix S200EXR is aimed at top-end camera enthusiasts looking for excellent picture quality without the hassle, bulk and expense of a DSLR system.

Users of the FinePix S200EXR will find their results equal or superior to DSLRs, principally due to the revolutionary design of Fujifilm's EXR CCD sensor technology. The key improvements of the FinePix S200EXR over the FinePix S100FS are:

• 1/1.6-inch, 12-megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor
• EXR Priority modes and EXR Auto
• Pro Focus Mode and Pro Lowlight Mode
• 5 Film Simulation Modes (Black & White mode and Sepia mode is added)
• A new 2.7-inch high contrast 230k-pixel LCD
• New 'Super Intelligent Flash'
• Improved battery life--almost a 50% increase on the FinePix S100FS
• Combined CCD-RAW (EXR)/JPEG shooting

The massive 14.3x Fujinon manual zoom lens is truly a delight to use in such a compact, lightweight design. The ultra-high precision Fujinon lens achieves maximum resolution at all focal lengths of 30.5mm-436mm equivalent with maximum aperture of a bright F2.8 (wide angle) to F5.3 (telephoto). Because of the composite body and lens structure, there is no need to worry about dirt or dust on the Super CCD EXR sensor and they are perfectly aligned for the very best results. The manual zoom offers faster image framing with fingertip precision as well as offering a user experience that closely matches the use of a high-end DSLR.

• 1/1.6-inch, 12-megapixel Super CCD EXR sensor
• 14.3x Optical Triple Image Stabilized Zoom
• Pro Focus Mode using Fujifilm's new Multi-Frame Technology; Pro Low-light Mode
• Dual Image Stabilization; Multi Bracketing
• Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included); powered by a Li-ion battery (included).

The EXR sensor on the FinePix S200EXR was built to perfectly match the optical qualities of the 14.3x lens. The goal was to produce a sensor/lens combination that works as close to that of the human eye as possible. The EXR sensor is essentially a switchable sensor; changing its complex electronic behavior to suit the subject, changing its characteristics as the photographer demands, and producing the very best picture without making compromises.

This sensor has already won great acclaim with the FinePix F200EXR. Combined with the much bigger, more powerful 14.3x lens, it delivers quite astounding results. The FinePix S200EXR offers 3 switchable modes in one sensor:

• High Resolution (HR) mode, which deploys all 12 million pixels, and is designed to offer the finest detail of intricate subjects when light is full and even;
• Wide Dynamic Range (DR) mode, which captures different exposures with two sets of 6 million pixels, which, when combined, gives an excellent level of detail in highlights that would otherwise be lost.
• High Sensitivity and Low Noise (SN) mode, which caps two adjacent pixels together to produce 6 million large photodiodes, which are big enough to absorb light in the darkest of conditions, to produce low-light shots of extraordinary quality with minimal noise and grain.

The FinePix S200EXR also offers EXR Priority Mode, which is the most efficient mechanism yet invented to quickly opt

New to the FinePix S200EXR is the ability to shoot both a RAW and JPEG shot simultaneously, like the award-winning S5Pro digital camera. RAW is for ultimate quality shots via post processing, JPEG is for great quality with no need for further work.

In all EXR cameras, the EXR Processor and the Super CCD EXR sensor work closely together to guarantee exceptional image quality. In the latest models including the FinePix S200EXR, newly researched Multi Frame Technology has been added, and along with it Pro Focus Mode and Pro Low-light Mode.

Pro Focus Mode works by taking a burst of 2 or 3 frames, and analysing the distance between the subject and the background. The camera then is able to take the main subject and crisply matt it against a defocused foreground and background.

Perfect for portrait or nature photography, Pro Focus Mode should be used when professional results are desired, with minimal adjustment to the camera, and without the need to edit your photos afterwards on a PC. The results from the FinePix S200EXR will look as good as those from a DSLR, or better!

Pro Low-light Mode should be used when you are trying to avoid noisy low light shots. With conventional camera models, it is possible to achieve relatively blur-free low light shots using high ISO and CCD shift (or optical image) stabilization. But this comes at a cost, as the ISO 1600 setting will invariably produce distracting and ugly noise.

Once switched to Pro Lowlight Mode, the camera will take burst of 4 high sensitivity images using Pixel Fusion Technology in quick succession. It will then deploy Multi Frame Technology to overlap the 4 images to create one, single image with extremely low noise.

One of the more popular features on the award-winning FinePix S100FS that is carried over and extended on the FinePix S200EXR. The FinePix S200EXR offers five modes as follows:

• Velvia/Vivid mode for rich and luscious landscapes
• PROVIA/Standard mode for excellent, sharp, standard photography
• ASTIA/Soft mode for soft, fine, smooth tonality
• Black & White mode captures the dramatic honesty of your image in black and white
• Sepia mode creates a sense of nostalgia with the warm brown "antique" tones of Sepia

In Provia, Velvia and Astia modes, the dynamic range can be now be set to 800% to improve and highlight details further.