Mini Digital Camera
Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR

The FinePix F200EXR comes with three exceptional different modes among other common camera modes: high resolution, high ISO/low noise and dynamic range. The high resolution mode is as it says, used to produce high resolution photos, but with high resolution also comes larger file size which in turns takes the camera longer to load and display on the LCD screen. What this camera has in technical power, it lacks in processing power.

And even though the high ISO mode is supposed to be low noise, the noise at high ISO levels remains visible to the eye. The dynamic range automatically shifts priority to highest resolution, low light and exposure level, for taking photos depending on scene. The camera recognizes a scene automatically and selects what it thinks is the best shooting mode. With older cameras, most users rarely depend on their automatic modes since they usually turn out pretty crappy.

But with the FinePix F200EXR, users are finally able to trust their automatic modes, at least some of the time. The fact remains that the camera misjudges the scene requirement half of the time so it’s best for you to decide if you know what you’re doing. The camera also has 5 film simulation options and 15 presets for you to change to quickly when you have gain enough experience with the camera.

The FinePix F200EXR has 2 wonderfully useful features that you will definitely use very often regardless if you’re an amateur or a professional. The face detection function in the F200EXR functions like other similar technology, but it goes one step further by zooming in on the faces after the shot is taken for a close up. You can quickly check if anyone blinked; moved; or wasn’t captured in the shot, and if someone did, you can know it immediately and take a second shot right away. The other feature that is very useful is its Natural Light and with Flash mode. This mode takes two photos in rapid fire, one shot with the flash and the other without. Most people try to not use flash in their photos because the flash tends to overexpose the foreground and ruining the colour. But there are many situations where having a flash or not having one is pretty grey. So the camera captures both and lets you decide which you like better.

But to keep its size small, the F200EXR doesn’t come with an optical viewfinder. Most people don’t think that a viewfinder is necessary with the LCD screens on digital cameras today. None of us ever use the viewfinder anymore. But the true professionals will tell you that the only way to take a good picture is actually with your elbows fully bent. That way, your camera is a lot more stable (explains why you take blur photos if the flash is not used) and the picture turns out better. You can’t see the LCD screen that way since the camera is too close to your face; that then leaves the viewfinder, which you can’t find on the F200EXR.

The camera controls are fairly cramped, so it takes some getting used to with the buttons. Furthermore, there it fairly limited manual controls, which means creative photo taking skills is somewhat stifled. There is also no high definition video functionality on the camera despite its 12 megapixels resolution; although it does have a 5X optical zoom. But this optical zoom is not available in video mode.

The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR offers something for both the novice user and more experienced users who want some control over the settings. With its Super CCD EXR technology, the FinPix F200EXR is recommended the as the best mini digital camera for shooting in indoor, especially low-light conditions.