Fuji F200EXR vs. F70/72EXR

[CplBadboyUK]

Hello all!

Well as the title suggests im torn between the above models......

Has anybody had any dealings with the EXR's?

I briefly had a 200EXR a few months back and simply couldnt get to grips wit te EXR settings so i (stupidly) sent the camera back. in hindsight i should have kept hold and persisted more as Im sure everyone is aware that in fact the 200 is great camera.

So im wanting the 200EXR but now i have came across the new 10x zoom 70EXR and wit a slightly smaller form factor im hoping someone on these forums can recommend one above the other.

Im not too bothered about the 10x zoom as the 5x zoom is more than enough. im aware that the sensor is almost 2x the size on the 200EXR as opposed to the 70EXR but will this really make a massive difference in real world usage??

The 70 seems to have the edge on start up time, a new couple of modes pro light and pro portrait and that smaller form.

Any help welcome and appreciated, these forums are a real gem!!!!!!

Regards

Stu

[chris-p]

Hi Stu

The difference in sensor size is about two thirds. The 200 has the larger sensor but it isn't twice the size.

The biggest differences, as far as I can see are the focal lengths, the fact that the 200 has a larger screen and hi sensitivity resolution. The 70 doesn't seem to have to downsample to 3MP for ISO 6,400 and 12,800 (as far as I can tell at least). Having said that these sensitivity levels, even combined with the clever EXR technology, are going to be pretty nasty so how much of a difference that makes in reality is difficult to say.

The 70 should offer better discrimatory resolution but the longer zoom range might make the lens more of a compromise than that of the 200.

The 70 doesn't take xD cards so if you invested in those then the 200 might be the better option. I'm not sure about the smaller form factor as DPReview has them listed as almost identical. In fact the 70 is (according to them) 1mm larger.

I'd consider the 70 as the more flexible camera if only because of it's extra zoom range but it depends on price as well...!

[CplBadboyUK]

Hi Chris,

As always mate i can rely on you for a good lead on a decision!

Regarding the sensor Chris i thought the 70's was 1/2" and the 200'2 1 1/6"?????

Probably me mis reading the specs. ive just ordered both the cameras for a hands on. Should get them tomorrow morning all being well.

As i mentioned before i had the 200 and wish i had of kept it. Im in the market for a nice new P&S and having looked at the lumix line up (particularily the FX550) ive decided upon the Fuji. Wise choice do you think or is the 550 a better choice?

Thanks again Chris for your help! I'll post on here what I decide (most likely the 70 though).

Best Regards

Stu

[chris-p]

Ah, I see what you've done with the sensor sizes. The 200 has a sensor size of 1/1.6" not 1/6".

The Panasonic has an even smaller sensor than the 2 Fujis with even more pixels crammed onto it. I suppose it really depends on whats most important to you. Low light performance should be best with the Fuji's (lower pixel density and that fancy EXR pixel binning array).

The Panny is much better for video and it's a bit wider and a bit faster in terms of aperture. I've not seen much in the way of back to back sample images from these cameras but I'm generally a fan of Panasonic compacts - they're usually well spec'd and well built. I have used the 200 EXR in a shop and was pleasantly surprised with it's handling and general operation though.

[CplBadboyUK]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the advice!

I received the cameras this morning from Amazon and they are like for like construction wise.
Ive been playing around with both and made a decision to go for the F70EXR. The 10x zoom is a nice addition and the buttons are slightly easier to navigate the menus etc.

Pro Portrait mode and Pro low light mode are actually a useful tool. Picture quality is around the same to the untrained eye. The .3" difference in screen size aint no biggy either. As discussed at length arould the net the EXR Auto mode is sometimes to uick to jup straight to ISO1600 resulting in noisy noisy pics. But hey its a compact!

The weight of this little camera is quite amazing reflecting the build quality of it. It really is a joy to hold and use, really feels solid.

Im still confused about the sensor sizes though. Ive came to te conclusion that the sensor on te F200 must be 1/2.6" as opposed to 1/ 1.6". Surely a sensor on a compact is not over an inch????!

EDIT: Just had a look on another site and indeed the sensor is just over an inch across the diagonal!!

So, decision made Chris and thanks again for your input, as always (Im sure a lot of Forum users would agree) its much appreciated. All the best.

Regards

Stu

[chris-p]

Glad I could be of some help!