NEW -fuji F200EXR is out

[ziploc]

Someone caught this at dpreview...

F200exr does not have an iris diaphragm for aperture control... it uses a constant aperture and stops down via ND filter...

Which means, no DoF control. See user manual for proof:

http://www.fujifilm.com/products/di...00exr/pdf/index/finepix_f200exr_manual_01.pdf

no real aperture = fixed DoF at given focal length = deal breaker for me...

Well on page 38 of the manual, it says:

"Mode P offers a choice of program AE (autoexposure), in which the camera sets exposure automatically, and aperture priority AE, in which you adjust aperture to soften background details or bring both background and foreground into focus while letting the camera control shutter speed for optimal exposure."

What is disappointed to me about this camera is the battery life, it's only 230 frames, compare to 500 frames of my f11.

 

[drake336]

yeah contradicts the specs page at the end...

I would think the manual writer got the specs correct but didn't understand the implications of using ND filter to substitute for iris diaphragm type aperture blades..

 

[Cannotanyhowonela]

Well on page 38 of the manual, it says:

What is disappointed to me about this camera is the battery life, it's only 230 frames, compare to 500 frames of my f11.

Bro, unfair comparison la.. Our F11 is so fat, bulky and ugly... I rather carry 2 batteries lo...

I still love it though hehe, it has been serving me well for the past 3 years

 

[ziploc]

Actually I seriously doubt aperture control will be done with ND filters. Unless they can vary the ND level on the fly, there is no way you can achieve various aperture values. Imagine F3.3 to F9.0, how many ND filters do you need? It would be much easier to just use an iris instead.

 

[ziploc]

Bro, unfair comparison la.. Our F11 is so fat, bulky and ugly... I rather carry 2 batteries lo...

I still love it though hehe, it has been serving me well for the past 3 years

Haha actually I don't mind the fat and ugly look. The F11's long battery life is very important to me as I trek a lot. One charge on the F11 will last me more then 1 week of shooting most of the time.

 

[drake336]

errrmmm... see pg 108 of the manual... under specifications:

"Aperture F3.3/F9.0 (wide angle), F5.1/F14 (telephoto), uses Neutral Density (ND) filter"

Note it says F3.3/F9.0.... not F3.3 - 9.0... so it only needs 1 ND filter...

I for one am a Fuji fan had really hope this will be a LX3 killer... but as it stands...

Bringing this up as i thought the forummers here should know before plonking down their cash...

 

[bpribadi]

Well, seems with F200EXR we just can't have it all... I would like to have HD 720p video in F200EXR, but Fuji doesn't put it there

After pic by pic observation, I would say F200 image quality improves over F31.
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/review/2009/02/13/10199.html

I'm a F11 and F31fd owner, and really like those 2 cams. I prefer Fuji compacts over other brands' compacts (I was previously Canon fanatic, and haven't tried Pana LX3 though...)

Improvement in F200 over F31 is not dramatic, but quite significant to me.
It is true that Fuji let us down with the battery capacity... come on Fuji, what's wrong with you..? Give us a bigger battery please...

Significant improvement:

1. Wide angle lens, which even though with noticeable barrel distortion, but still acceptable, and retains good details at corners.

2. Noise, about the same, maybe F200 a little bit noisier, but it has more detail, and the noise looks more natural than the 'a bit blotchy' F31 noise.
http://bpribadi.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/16/3?xurl=/photos/photo/16/3
Look at the sample above, you can notice on the flat gray area, the F200 noise looks more natural, and the F31 noise has dark 'blotchy' spots.

3. CA / PF has been reduced a lot in F200. This is what I think as the best improvement Kudos to Fuji!!!
I analyze some pics, and took some side by side comparison from:
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/parts/image_for_link/165035-10199-32-1.html
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/parts/image_for_link/165036-10199-32-2.html

And this is the side by side comparison in 100%:
http://bpribadi.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/16/5?xurl=/photos/photo/16/5
http://bpribadi.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/16/7?xurl=/photos/photo/16/7
Look at the tree branches, looks much better on F200

4. SDHC over xD card.

Improvement List for Fuji F300 (...or whatever number...):
1. Bigger battery, NP95 kind of battery please.
2. Brighter and better lens (less distortion).
3. HD video, minimum 720p, or at least a less compressed video like those on Canon's.
4. Normal 3.5 mm jacks for AV out, and normal USB port.
5. Battery charging from USB port.

 

[weixiang1900]

those f30/f31 owners, better start selling your old cameras... before they dun worth anything... :bsmilie:

 

[bpribadi]

F30/F31 is a keeper, always usefull as a spare pocket Don't think they will sell their F30/F31 because of F200... my guess

 

[playst]

F200EXR advantage over F31FD add on

F200EXR has Mechanical CCD shift which is much better for sharper picture !!!

F200EXR is slim and sleek and I rather carry 2 batteries then carry the bigger F31FD with a big battery !!!

F200EXR has EXR AUTO - Just “As Your Eye Sees It” suitable for newbie user who want everything to be automatic

F31FD is already so old school, so it is time for it to step aside for the new king :lovegrin:!!!!

 

[SNAG]

errrmmm... see pg 108 of the manual... under specifications:

"Aperture F3.3/F9.0 (wide angle), F5.1/F14 (telephoto), uses Neutral Density (ND) filter"

Note it says F3.3/F9.0.... not F3.3 - 9.0... so it only needs 1 ND filter...

I for one am a Fuji fan had really hope this will be a LX3 killer... but as it stands...

Bringing this up as i thought the forummers here should know before plonking down their cash...

Based on the specs, there is no difference from the F100fd (also uses the ND filter).
It'll be a deal breaker for me too.

 

[weixiang1900]

F30/F31 is a keeper, always usefull as a spare pocket Don't think they will sell their F30/F31 because of F200... my guess

then ur f30/f31 spolit... it will be an expensive brick. :bigeyes::bsmilie:

 

[weixiang1900]

Based on the specs, there is no difference from the F100fd (also uses the ND filter).
It'll be a deal breaker for me too.

dun be crap lah... as long as it can take good photos who cares!!!! :bsmilie:

look at SX1IS, supposed to be CMOS sensor.. end up lousier than its poor cousin SX10IS... :bsmilie:

 

[SNAG]

dun be crap lah... as long as it can take good photos who cares!!!! :bsmilie:

look at SX1IS, supposed to be CMOS sensor.. end up lousier than its poor cousin SX10IS... :bsmilie:

well, I'm saying that because I'm a owner of the f100fd - so given that the F200 uses ND filters as aperture stop-downs, there's no reason for me to upgrade, no?

 

[weixiang1900]

well, I'm saying that because I'm a owner of the f100fd - so given that the F200 uses ND filters as aperture stop-downs, there's no reason for me to upgrade, no?

i was an ex-f100fd user... i gave it up coz there were no aperture and shutter priority.... it was really a PnS camera for me..

the pixel bining concept is good... macchiam like f31fd coming back alive... :sweatsm:

 

[hummer]

Anyone knows if the camera will be hitting the shops this week?

 

[armadillo]

I hope will be out during IT Show 12 Mar 2009, looking forward to try too

 

[airconvent]

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/fuji_f200exr_beta_samples/

From these pre-prodcution samples taken from dpreview, I can make 4 conclusions:

1. CA performance is decent
2. Wider dynamic range works
3. Image noise very well controlled up to ISO400. At 800, noise very obvious especially during low light shots. (I wonder if there is a direct comparison between LX3 and this one).
4. Not much Bokeh achievable.

I'm still looking for a premium PnS that is actually small and compact. This 200EXR may be it! ;p

 

[airforce1]

Latest detail is available in april just check with the stores.

 

[weixiang1900]

The samples are out in dpreview. :thumbsup:

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/fuji_f200exr_beta_samples/

F31fd can stand one side.. :bsmilie: