Tech Blog

[#1]

I guess you can call me Fuji-san. Over the past four months I have shot with and tested three different Fuji cameras. First the extra terrestrial F200 EXR, then the F70 EXR, and now the DSLR-like S200 EXR. Pretty sweet deal.

↑ F200 (l), F70 (m) and S200 (r ). All EXR, baby!

Sporting the EXR sensor, the F200 quickly became a favourite of mine, and a top-recommend anytime friends or family asked for advice on what pocket camera to buy. Well, technically I haven't reviewed the F70, but I sure have shot a lot with it. I purchased the camera for myself as a lightweight alternative to always logging around my DSLR and lenses . Essentially a F200 in a small body (and with 10MP instead of 12MP) the F70 has a lot going for it. In November, Fuji lent me the S200 to test. I was super excited to try out this half-pocket camera half-DSLR, as I have never shot with this type of camera before.

↓ Half pocket camera, half DSLR.

So what 'blood is the thickets'? The pocket camera's or the DSLR's? In other words, what does the S200 EXR resembles the most, a pocket camera or a DSLR?

↑ Walkthrough of some of the S200's top features.

Ergonomics and operation (DSLR genealogy)

It's comfortable. I mean, really comfortable. Having shot with the S200 over a couple of weeks, I was surprised to find how comfortable the form factor was. Frankly, it is even more comfortable than most entry-level DSRLs, such as the Canon XSi, Sony 330 and Nikon D3000. Strangely enough, you would expect that current DSLR makers know how to make a comfortable camera.

↓ It's especially the grip that makes the S200 so comfortable to shoot with. But on top of that the camera has a reassuring heft and robustness to it without being too heavy.

The buttons on the back, top and side of camera are also pretty well laid out. The four-way selector is sorta like the one found on Canon's XSi model. The only 'beef' I had was with the metering selector, just above and to the left of the playback button. The selector was too recessed resulting in I need to use my fingertips/fingernails in a combined effort in turning it. That could have been a tad better implemented. But other than that the rest made perfect sense and worked well.

Read more in part 2.