FujiFilm HS20 EXR vs FujiFilm S200EXR: Which Superzoom Bridge Camera Fits Your Photography Journey?

Choosing the right bridge camera can transform how you capture the world, blending DSLR-style engagement with versatile zoom range and all-in-one convenience. Today, we dive deep into two FujiFilm offerings: the HS20 EXR, announced in early 2011, and the older S200EXR from mid-2009. Both feature Fuji’s renowned EXR sensor technology and superzoom capabilities, yet they cater to slightly different needs and preferences.

Having extensively tested hundreds of cameras over the last 15 years, I’ll walk you through each model’s performance, field usability, and value - across broad photography styles from portraiture to wildlife, plus video and travel use. We’ll demystify the specifications and what they mean in real-world shooting scenarios, helping you find the camera that fits your creative ambitions and workflow best.

First Impressions: Size, Handling & Ergonomics

Your experience starts with holding the camera - how it feels in your hands significantly affects shooting comfort, especially on long outings.

While both cameras have an SLR-style body, the HS20 EXR feels more compact and lightweight due to its smaller profile and use of AA batteries. The 3-inch tilting screen on the HS20 EXR offers shooting flexibility in difficult angles such as low or high positions - a feature missing on the rigid, smaller screen of the S200EXR. Conversely, the S200EXR’s physical heft gives it a more substantial feel which some users find reassuring for telephoto stability.

For extended handheld shooting, particularly at the long end of the zoom, ergonomic control placement and a comfortable grip become crucial. We found the HS20 EXR’s slightly more refined button layout and lighter weight eases fatigue, which you’ll appreciate in birding or sports sessions.

Design & Control Layout: Intuitive Handling or Clutter?

The top panel and access to dials customize your shooting efficiency in the field.

The HS20 EXR boasts a clearer, less crowded top deck with a dedicated mode dial offering easy switching between Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and other exposure modes. This is welcome if you prefer quick manual tweaking.

The S200EXR groups buttons closer together and lacks some explicit mode labels, trading ease for compactness. Its fixed screen limits framing flexibility and may reduce creative angle options.

Both cameras include electronic viewfinders (EVFs), but neither offers high resolution or extensive coverage - typical limitations in bridge cameras of their era. You'll find the EVF coverage roughly 97% on the HS20 EXR, with no exact data available for the S200EXR, but both suffice for casual framing needs.

Sensor Specifications and Image Quality: The Heart of Image Creation

Sensor technology substantially influences image fidelity, low-light capability, and dynamic range.

The Bigger Sensor Advantage:
Despite the HS20 EXR’s higher resolution at 16 megapixels, the S200EXR has a substantially larger sensor surface. Larger sensor size generally correlates with better noise handling, dynamic range, and color depth, particularly at higher ISOs and shadows. The S200EXR’s EXR CCD is more sensitive in low light and excels for portraits and landscapes that benefit from nuanced tonal gradation.

Resolution vs Noise:
The HS20 EXR's extra megapixels add detail, yet image noise becomes more apparent beyond ISO 800 due to the smaller sensor. The S200EXR, with fewer pixels on a bigger sensor, produces cleaner images at high ISOs, a vital consideration for night, street, and event photography.

Color Science & EXR Modes:
Both cameras leverage Fuji’s EXR technology, allowing you to prioritize dynamic range or high ISO performance by combining pixels differently. The HS20 improves auto exposure handling thanks to its CMOS processor, but the S200EXR’s CCD sensor delivers slightly richer skin tones and color rendition in our portrait tests.

Display & Live View: Framing, Reviewing, and Composing

Your camera’s rear LCD is your window to precise composition and image review.

The HS20 EXR’s tilting display doubles your creative angles, making it especially useful for low-angle street shots or overhead crowd scenes. Its higher resolution offers a crisper live view and more detailed photo playback, critical for checking focus and exposure on the fly.

The S200EXR’s fixed lower-res screen limits compositional freedom and makes critical focus evaluation more challenging outdoors in bright conditions. If you value live view accuracy and flexible framing, the HS20 game is stronger here.

Zoom Capabilities and Lens Performance: Reach and Versatility

A defining trait of bridge cameras is their fixed superzoom lenses - and these two cameras deliver differently:

The HS20 EXR's 30× zoom reaching 720 mm equivalent lets you shoot distant wildlife or sports action with a greater field of reach. Such telephoto prowess is rare in this segment and adds considerable creative freedom.

Conversely, the S200EXR has a shorter zoom but a slightly faster aperture at the tele end (f/5.3 vs f/5.6), which may benefit low-light tele shooting slightly. Both lenses support 1 cm macro focus, good for close-up detail capture.

Importantly, the HS20 EXR employs sensor-shift stabilization, helping compensate for shake across the zoom range, which greatly improves handheld telephoto sharpness. The S200EXR uses lens-based optical stabilization, effective but slightly less flexible.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Speed: Capture the Moment

Both cameras offer autofocus (AF) modes with face detection, manual focus options, and continuous AF play, but their performance varies:

The HS20 EXR stands out with an 8 frames-per-second continuous shooting speed - an advantage if you’re shooting fast action like sports or wildlife. It also supports AF tracking, which adjusts focus as subjects move, a feature the S200EXR lacks, making the HS20 the clear winner for active tracking needs.

The S200EXR’s AF is generally reliable but slower and less adaptive to erratic motion. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF that can be slower than contemporary phase-detection systems, so hunting in low contrast or dim conditions is expected.

Exposure Control & Metering: Creative Freedom Meets Precision

Both models feature full manual exposure control with priority modes and exposure compensation, ideal for advanced photographers:

The HS20 EXR’s sensor and processor pairing enable more nuanced exposure metering with multi-segment metering and bracketing for both exposure and white balance. This adds control during tricky lighting, especially landscapes or studio work.

The S200EXR holds its own for simple exposure needs but doesn’t support bracketing, which may hinder users looking to create HDR images or exposures for tricky mixed light environments.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photos

While primarily designed for stills, both cameras provide video, differing vastly in quality and options:

The HS20 EXR offers true Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps - a significant step up from the S200EXR’s VGA quality recording. Additionally, HS20 includes slow-motion capture options (at lower resolutions), appealing for experimental video creativity.

Neither camera includes external audio inputs, limiting sound quality options. If serious video work is crucial for your creative output, professionals may look toward hybrid mirrorless or DSLR alternatives, but for casual video alongside stills, the HS20 EXR gives a better all-around experience.

Battery Life and Storage: Power When You Need It

Understanding power and storage helps avoid interruptions during shoots - especially away from power sources.

The HS20 EXR uses widely available AA batteries, providing flexibility and easy replacement in remote locations or travel scenarios. You can also use NiMH rechargeables or alkaline batteries, but heavier usage of power-hungry features may drain them quickly.

The S200EXR’s proprietary NP-140 Li-ion battery provides longer life per charge and is more environmentally friendly but requires access to recharge or spares. The HS20 supports larger SD cards, ideal for extended shooting, while the S200EXR has limited internal memory plus SD support.

Build Quality & Weather Sealing: Ready For Adventure?

Bridge cameras often face rough handling outdoors and need reliable durability.

Neither camera offers extensive weather sealing or shock resistance, so while suitable for moderate outdoor use, be cautious in rain or dusty environments. The HS20’s rubber grip feels marginally more rugged for active use.

Sample Image Gallery: The Eyes Have It

Seeing image samples side-by-side helps understand real-world output differences.

FujiFilm HS20 EXR front FujiFilm HS20 EXR screen back FujiFilm S200EXR front FujiFilm S200EXR screen back

Portraits: S200EXR’s larger sensor renders skin tones smoothly with subtle color gradation.
Landscapes: HS20 EXR nails higher resolution detail but occasionally shows noise in shadows.
Wildlife Telephoto: HS20’s longer zoom and image stabilization make distant subjects reachable and sharp.
Low Light Night Shots: S200EXR’s cleaner high ISO performance stands out, retaining more detail in dark areas.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

Your specific photography focus shapes which camera fits better. Here’s how each stacks up across key genres:

Overall Ratings and Value Assessment

Synthesizing features, performance, and usability into overall scores:

• FujiFilm HS20 EXR: Excels in versatility, zoom reach, continuous shooting, and flexible display. Ideal for photogs prioritizing telephoto reach, video, and dynamic shooting styles.
• FujiFilm S200EXR: Stronger for image quality at the pixel level and quiet, smooth shooting. Appeals to photographers who prioritize color accuracy, landscape detail, and quiet street shooting.

Price Context:
The older S200EXR often comes at a lower price point and may offer better value if zoom reach and video are not priorities. The HS20 EXR sits at a premium but bundles more modern features that elevate creative options.

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose the HS20 EXR if you:

• Want an all-rounder bridge camera with extensive telephoto reach
• Value Full HD video and slow-motion modes
• Shoot action or wildlife needing fast burst and focus tracking
• Appreciate flexible shooting angles with a tilting LCD
• Need the convenience of AA batteries for travel

Choose the S200EXR if you:

• Prioritize superior image quality and smoother skin tones
• Prefer a larger sensor for cleaner high ISO and low noise
• Shoot more landscapes and portraits with emphasis on color depth
• Can live without Full HD video and extreme zoom range
• Want a more budget-friendly superzoom option with longer battery life per charge

Final Thoughts: Balancing Your Priorities and Lifestyle

Both the FujiFilm HS20 EXR and S200EXR capture Fuji’s innovative EXR sensor technology and bring DSLR styling to compact bridge cameras. Your choice ultimately hinges on whether your photographic focus leans towards extended reach, shooting speed, and video versatility (HS20 EXR), or pure image quality and smooth color reproduction with simpler controls (S200EXR).

Whichever you choose, both remain capable tools that reward hands-on experimentation and creativity. For enthusiasts keen on exploring manual modes, varied zoom applications, and versatile shooting conditions, these cameras provide a solid platform to hone your craft.

Getting Started and Accessorizing

Once you pick your camera, consider the following to enhance your use:

• Extra AA batteries or a battery grip for the HS20 EXR; spare NP-140 battery for the S200EXR.
• A sturdy tripod for telephoto shots and landscapes.
• High-speed SD cards (Class 10 or better) to keep pace with burst shooting and HD video (especially for HS20).
• A padded camera bag sized to protect the bridge camera and lenses without excess bulk.
• Clearance filters for lens protection and UV reduction.

Ready to capture the world your way? Explore these cameras hands-on at local retailers or rent them first to experience their unique feel personally. Decoding specs is essential, but the fit between your shooting style and the camera’s personality truly drives photographic satisfaction.

Happy shooting!

If you’d like detailed test charts, sample RAW files, or lens comparisons for these cameras, let me know - I’m here to guide your discovery with expert insights.