Fujifilm HS20 EXR vs Sony RX1R II: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Photography Worlds

When I first set out to compare the FujiFilm FinePix HS20 EXR and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II, I knew this wouldn’t be a straightforward contest. These two cameras, although both shooters capable of pleasing images, occupy fundamentally different niches in the photography universe. The HS20 EXR is a bridge camera from 2011 designed as an all-in-one travel companion with a superzoom lens. Meanwhile, the RX1R II, launched in 2015, is a large sensor compact camera with full-frame image quality ambitions, targeted toward professionals and serious enthusiasts who demand uncompromising image quality in a pocketable form.

Over the years, I've tested thousands of cameras in controlled environments and in the field - from wildlife safaris and sports arenas to quiet street corners and dramatic urban landscapes. This experience highlights how specs and sensor size can only tell a small part of the story. Each camera creates a very different photographic experience, so let’s explore these two carefully, evaluating their image performance, usability, technical features, and value for various photography disciplines.

Size and Handling: Ergonomics Meet Design Philosophy

Handling is arguably the most personal aspect of camera choice. The Fujifilm HS20 EXR presents itself as a hefty bridge camera with clear DSLR-inspired ergonomics - a comfortable grip, protruding controls and a large zoom ring designed to feel familiar to DSLR shooters transitioning to a compact system. Its dimensions of 131x91x126 mm and weight at 730g (with 4 AA batteries) give it a solid, reassuring feel in hand, though it’s not something you’d want strapped to your belt all day for casual strolls.

In contrast, the Sony RX1R II is a much more compact and refined instrument. Its dimensions (113x65x72 mm) and 507g weight feel remarkably pocketable for a camera packing a 42MP full-frame sensor. The build quality feels robust and minimalistic, with a discreet, rangefinder-style body that invites quiet street shooting or professional use without calling attention to itself. The battery life is rated at 220 shots per charge, which is less than the Fuji’s AA batteries can offer in terms of redundancy but typical for compact mirrorless cameras.

Looking from above, the HS20 EXR offers more direct access to exposure modes, zoom control, and flash settings. The Sony RX1R II keeps the control layout sleek and uncluttered, prioritizing speed and manual precision over extensive automation - once you master these controls, it offers excellent tactile feedback and customizability for serious shooters.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The one-sided sensor comparison is a royal battle here. The HS20 EXR relies on a small 1/2-inch EXR CMOS sensor measuring 6.4 x 4.8 mm with a 16MP resolution, supporting native ISO 100 to 3200 with extended boosting up to ISO 12800. It’s built around Fujifilm’s EXR technology, emphasizing dynamic range and noise reduction through pixel groupings.

On the flip side, the Sony RX1R II stars with its 35.9 x 24 mm full-frame BSI CMOS sensor boasting a staggering 42MP resolution, native ISO range 50-25600 with extended ISO 102400. Notably, Sony removed the low-pass filter to maximize sharpness, a bold move to preserve incredible detail.

In real-world use, this translates dramatically: the RX1R II delivers exceptionally clean, highly detailed images, even when shooting at high ISOs in demanding low-light conditions like indoor events or night street scenes. The lack of diffraction issues at apertures around f/2 to f/5.6 further cements its standing in the image quality hierarchy.

Alternatively, the HS20 EXR, while capable of pleasing images in bright daylight, reveals limitations in noise and detail retention under moderate ISO settings. Its smaller sensor struggles with dynamic range, especially when dealing with challenging contrast scenarios like sunsets or stark shadow detail in landscapes. I recommend using RAW mode on the HS20 EXR to squeeze out the best possible latitude, but it can’t match the fidelity of the RX1R II.

Autofocus and Speed: Tracking the Moment

Autofocus performance can make or break shooting dynamic subjects. Fuji’s HS20 EXR uses contrast-detection AF with face detection capabilities and continuous focus, achieving up to 8 frames per second in burst mode. While this is impressive for a bridge camera, in practice, the autofocus can hunt in lower contrast or tricky lighting and isn’t as reliable in tracking fast-moving subjects such as wildlife or sports.

Sony’s RX1R II uses a hybrid autofocus system combining phase detection and contrast detection with 25 AF points, including various focus area modes and face detection. While its maximum continuous shooting speed is 5 fps, autofocus precision and lock-on performance are excellent for a compact. However, it’s not designed for rapid 3D tracking of erratic subjects - a limitation for serious sports or wildlife photographers. Still, for portraits and street photography, the precision and reliability of focus are excellent.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Toughness vs Portability

Neither camera offers comprehensive weather sealing, waterproofing, or shock resistance. Both require care when shooting in adverse conditions. The HS20 EXR’s robust build allows for a firm grip and general field use; however, the RX1R II’s magnesium alloy body provides a feeling of refined durability, more suited for professional fieldwork carried out with care.

The difference is that the RX1R II’s compactness and lower weight encourage taking it everywhere – even on city explorations or travel shoots where the Fuji’s bulk might deter some users from spontaneous photo opportunities.

LCD Screen and Electronic Viewfinders: Composing Your Shots

Both cameras use a 3-inch tilting LCD, but the differences in resolution are stark.

The Fuji’s 460k-dot TFT LCD does an adequate job for composing shots outdoors but can struggle with contrast under direct sunlight. For framing, its electronic viewfinder covers 97% of the frame but lacks resolution specs, resulting in a less crisp viewfinder image that may not fully satisfy fine manual focusing.

Sony’s RX1R II excels here with a high-resolution 1.23 million-dot LCD and a 2.35 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder covering 100% frame with 0.74x magnification. This combination enables precise manual focusing, critical for a high-resolution sensor that demands pixel-level accuracy in focusing to produce sharp images.

Lens and Zoom: Flexibility vs Optical Excellence

Here lies a fundamental difference: the HS20 EXR sports a fixed 24-720 mm equivalent superzoom (30x) lens with an aperture range from f/2.8 to f/5.6. This makes it a versatile tool for everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife. The lens features macro focusing down to 1 cm, excellent image stabilization via sensor-shift mechanisms, and a relatively bright aperture at wide angles.

In contrast, the RX1R II opts for a singular, premium 35 mm f/2.0 Zeiss Sonnar lens that offers superb sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and excellent flare control. The fixed focal length limits compositional flexibility but encourages creativity through movement and cropping in post-processing. Its macro focus is limited to about 14 cm minimum focus distance, less convenient for extreme close-ups but wonderfully sharp where used.

This contrast illustrates the intent behind each model: HS20 EXR is all about zoom reach and flexibility, ideal for travel and wildlife on a budget. The RX1R II prioritizes optical excellence and sensor potential in a compact package.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

The HS20 EXR runs on 4 AA batteries - a practical choice, especially for travel photographers who may find it easier to replace batteries on the go without relying on charging. Battery life is generally excellent, but the trade-off is the relatively heavy battery compartment adds bulk and weight.

Sony’s RX1R II uses a proprietary NP-BX1 rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a rated life around 220 shots per charge - typical for a high-performance compact mirrorless camera. The limited battery life means carrying spares is essential for extended shoots, especially outdoors.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC storage cards, but Sony’s additional Memory Stick Pro Duo compatibility offers some flexibility for those invested in Sony storage media systems.

Connectivity and Extras: Modern Conveniences

Connectivity is modest on both cameras. Fuji got no wireless features; the only data outputs are USB 2.0 and HDMI. Sony includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for on-the-go image transfer and remote camera control through mobile apps, a marked advantage for modern workflows.

Neither camera sports touchscreen functionality or articulating LCDs suited for vlogging, but the RX1R II offers a microphone input jack, catering to enthusiasts shooting video who’d want higher audio quality than the built-in mic. The HS20 EXR has a built-in flash with a 3.2 m range, which is convenient when shooting in low light but less powerful than external options.

Video Capabilities: Basic vs Advanced

Video is not a primary forte for either camera, but their offerings differ.

The HS20 EXR can shoot 1080p video at 30 fps and 720p at 60 fps, employing MPEG-4 compression - adequate for casual use but limited manual control and lack of microphone input limit professional video use.

Sony’s RX1R II shoots Full HD 1080p video at 60p, 30p, and even slow motion up to 120 fps at 720p, with support for a variety of professional codecs (MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264). The presence of a microphone input further elevates video potential, although the absence of in-body image stabilization makes handheld video challenging without accessories.

Real-World Performance: How They Shape the Image

How do these technical differences translate in real photography scenarios? Here’s what I’ve experienced across multiple genres:

Portrait Photography

The RX1R II shines with its full-frame sensor and fast f/2.0 lens delivering creamy bokeh and remarkably accurate skin tones. Eye detection autofocus facilitates sharp focus on subjects’ eyes, crucial for professional portraiture. Its exceptional color depth helps render subtle skin tone gradations beautifully.

The HS20 EXR’s face detection autofocus assists beginners but can feel hit or miss in difficult lighting. The long zoom lens allows creative framing, but bokeh quality is less pleasing due to smaller sensor size and slower aperture at telephoto range.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras offer tilting screens helpful on uneven terrain. The RX1R II's full-frame sensor produces images with rich tonality and wide dynamic range (DxO Mark scores confirm 13.9 EV advantage), essential for detailed, shadow-to-highlight landscape shots.

The Fuji’s dynamic range is limited, and image quality degrades significantly when pushed beyond ISO 400 or in low light. However, its 24mm wide-angle setting and zoom flexibility make it a lightweight solution for those needing versatility over ultimate quality.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The HS20 EXR comes into its own with the superzoom lens and faster continuous shooting speed (8 fps) - essential for unpredictable subjects at a distance. Its sensor-shift image stabilization assists with handholding long zoom shots.

The RX1R II, although boasting outstanding image quality, limits sports and wildlife uses due to slower 5 fps max burst and less advanced continuous autofocus. Yet, for detail-rich portraits of slower subjects or editorial wildlife images, it excels.

Street Photography

The RX1R II’s stealthy size, quiet shutter, and sharp 35mm lens make it an excellent street camera, allowing discreet, high-quality shots without attracting attention.

Fujifilm’s bulkier HS20 EXR can be cumbersome for candid shooting but offers rapid framing flexibility due to zoom, useful in certain scenarios like markets or events where subjects may be at varying distances.

Macro Photography

The HS20 EXR’s ability to focus down to 1 cm and sensor-shift stabilization enable interesting macro images without needing dedicated lenses.

RX1R II’s minimum focus distance of approximately 14 cm presents some constraints, but its image quality at close focusing distances is superb for flower or food photography where extreme magnification isn’t necessary.

Night and Astrophotography

Sony’s RX1R II delivers superior ISO performance (rated low-light ISO of 3204 at DxO) with much less noise, critical for astrophotography or night portraits. Although not purpose-built for long exposures, its full-frame sensor’s dynamic range helps to salvage highlight and shadow information in post-processing.

The HS20 EXR’s high ISO noise and limited dynamic range make night shooting a challenge, best restricted to stabilized, low ISO shots in well-lit scenes.

Video for Creators

The RX1R II is the better choice for those dabbling in serious video - higher frame rates, better codecs, and microphone input combine for polished results.

The HS20 EXR streamlines basic Full HD capture but lacks professional features; suitable for casual home videos or travel clips.

Travel Photography

HS20 EXR’s wide zoom range means less gear to carry – I’ve found it convenient for vacations when packing light and wanting one camera for all occasions.

RX1R II’s compactness and image quality motivate thoughtful shooting and post-production but require carrying spare batteries and adapting to manual controls on the fly.

Professional Workflows

With RAW support from both, the RX1R II edges out due to a richer, more flexible file that integrates well into professional workflows requiring color grading, retouching, and large prints.

The HS20 EXR RAW files are serviceable but limited in latitude and dynamic range for demanding professional applications.

FujiFilm HS20 EXR front FujiFilm HS20 EXR screen back Sony RX1R II front Sony RX1R II screen back

Summary of Test Results: Scores & Analysis

An industry-level benchmarking resource like DxOMark has not tested the HS20 EXR, but its small sensor confines it to entry to enthusiast levels. The Sony RX1R II scores an impressive overall 97 points, including top marks for color depth and low-light ISO performance.

Below, a detailed genre-specific chart underlines how the RX1R II dominates in image quality and portraiture, while the HS20 EXR performs well particularly in zoom reach and burst shooting.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Style?

• Choose the FujiFilm HS20 EXR if:

  • You want an affordable, all-in-one zoom camera for travel or casual wildlife photography.
  • Battery availability and easy swapping matter during long outdoor adventures.
  • You value zoom range over ultimate image quality.
  • You appreciate DSLR-like handling without investing in lenses.

• Choose the Sony RX1R II if:

  • You prioritize uncompromising image quality, especially in portraits, landscapes, and low-light scenes.
  • You want a discreet, compact camera with outstanding optics.
  • You need a camera that fits professional workflows with RAW support and excellent dynamic range.
  • You are comfortable with limited zoom and slightly less forgiving autofocus in fast action.

Both cameras fill important roles but come from different eras and philosophies. The HS20 EXR is a reliable, enthusiast-targeted superzoom offering flexibility at a reasonable cost. Conversely, the RX1R II is a premium compact marvel aimed at image quality perfectionists willing to invest substantially.

I encourage photographers to audition these cameras if possible - the feel, user interface, and shooting experience can be as decisive as specs when committing to a tool that will capture your vision.

This comparison was compiled from extensive hands-on testing in varied environments, benchmarking lab data, and practical shooting experience. No direct affiliations with manufacturers influenced the assessment.