FujiFilm S200EXR vs. S2500HD: A Deep Dive into Two Small Sensor Superzooms

Choosing the right camera often feels like walking through a jungle of specs and hype - especially when two cameras come from the same brand and similar categories but are released a year apart, promising slightly different experiences. Today, I’m putting the FujiFilm FinePix S200EXR and the FinePix S2500HD head-to-head, weighing their strengths and weaknesses, and helping you decide which one suits your photography ambitions and budget.

Having spent over 15 years hands-on with hundreds of cameras, I know that the best choice depends on your shooting style, priorities, and often, your wallet. Both the S200EXR and S2500HD are small sensor superzooms aiming at the entry-level enthusiast market. Although their specs look similar on paper, the devil’s in the details - and in how those details translate to real-world use across different photography genres.

Let’s unravel the story behind these two FujiFilm bridge cameras, and I’ll share what I’ve learned from shooting portraits to landscapes, wildlife to astrophotography with them.

Size and Handling: Who’s More Comfortable to Carry?

First impressions matter, and that often starts with how a camera feels in your hands.

The FujiFilm S200EXR is noticeably chunkier and more substantial - measuring 133 x 94 x 145 mm and weighing 865 grams (including battery). It feels solid, giving you confidence during extended shoots but at the price of portability.

The S2500HD, a newer model introduced in 2010, cuts down drastically on bulk. It’s 110 x 73 x 81 mm with a featherweight 337g - less than half the weight of the S200EXR. If you harbor fantasies of a lightweight grab-and-go kit to stash in a backpack or jacket pocket, this one will charm you.

On the control front, both cameras adopt the classic SLR-like bridge camera design with plenty of clubs for thumbs and fingers. However, the S200EXR edges ahead with more responsive manual focus and dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority modes. Meanwhile, the S2500HD sacrifices some manual control for simplicity, evidenced by its lack of manual focus capability.

If you appreciate having tactile control wheels and don’t mind the heft, the S200EXR offers better ergonomics for manual operation. Conversely, if your focus is casual shooting or travel, the lighter S2500HD offers less arm strain.

Sensor Essentials and Image Quality: Bigger Isn’t Always Better, But It Helps

Both models sport 12-megapixel CCD sensors, but their sensor sizes tell an interesting story with notable implications.

The S200EXR’s sensor size is a generous 1/1.6" with a 8.0 x 6.0 mm active area, roughly 48.00 mm². The S2500HD opts for a much smaller 1/2.3" sensor, measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm (~28.07 mm²).

From my testing experience, sensor size correlates strongly with image quality, especially in terms of dynamic range, noise control, and color depth. The significantly larger sensor on the S200EXR translates to noticeably cleaner images at higher ISOs and better performance in scenes with a wide contrast range - think bright skies and deep shadows in landscapes.

Interestingly, the S200EXR employs FujiFilm’s proprietary EXR sensor technology, designed to optimize pixel identification for high dynamic range or low noise depending on shooting conditions. This isn’t just marketing fluff - I’ve seen the EXR sensor hold onto highlight details better than conventional CCDs on similar bridge cameras.

The S2500HD, while competent in good lighting, struggles more noticeably in low light because of its smaller sensor and lower maximum native ISO (1600 vs 3200 on the S200EXR). If image cleanlines are paramount to your work, the S200EXR deserves strong consideration.

LCD and Viewfinder: How You See Your Shot Matters

Both cameras feature electronic viewfinders and fixed LCD screens - a given for their category.

The S200EXR’s LCD measures 2.7 inches with 230k dots while the S2500HD offers a slightly larger 3-inch screen but with the same resolution.

On paper, the S2500HD’s bigger LCD might seem preferable, but both lack touchscreen functionality and have basic brightness. Neither is particularly usable under intense sunlight without a shading hood.

The electronic viewfinder on the S2500HD claims 99% coverage, slightly better than the S200EXR’s unspecified coverage rating, although neither has a high-resolution EVF by today’s standards.

My practice with these cameras revealed that the EVFs are primarily useful in bright conditions or when you want to steady your shooting posture. But for nitty-gritty focusing or checking exposure, the rear LCD is where you’ll spend most time.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Not Just Numbers on Paper

Lens specs are where these two cameras diverge most drastically.

The S200EXR sports a 31-436 mm equivalent zoom (14.3x), starting off slightly telephoto but with an impressively bright aperture range of F2.8-5.3. That bright wide end aperture helps in low light and offers more control over depth of field - a boon for portraits and selective focus.

In contrast, the S2500HD pushes a longer zoom range, 28-504 mm (18x), meaning more reach for wildlife or distant subjects. However, it starts at a slower F3.1 aperture at wide-angle, stepping to F5.6 at telephoto. The smaller sensor and slower lens make it less adept in dim environments or when you want creamy bokeh backgrounds.

One big plus for the S200EXR’s lens is the macro focusing ability down to 1 cm, compared to 2 cm on the S2500HD. If you’re into close-up photography or want more detail in macro shots, the S200EXR opens more possibilities.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Keep Up or Miss the Moment

Neither camera is designed to deliver professional sports speed, but autofocus performance can make or break wildlife or street shooting.

The S200EXR offers manual focus and has center-weighted and multiarea autofocus modes with face detection. It shoots at a 2 fps burst, which is modest but at least usable for casual action shooting.

The S2500HD lacks manual focus entirely and offers a slower continuous shooting of 1 fps with just contrast detection autofocus and no face detection.

In practice, I found the S200EXR’s AF to be more accurate and quicker to lock in good light. The S2500HD’s AF can hunt in dim or complex scenarios, frustrating when shooting fast-moving subjects or impromptu moments.

Image Stabilization and Low Light Handling

The S200EXR incorporates optical image stabilization integrated into the lens system, while the S2500HD uses sensor-shift stabilization.

Optical stabilization generally has an edge in effectiveness because it physically moves lens elements to counteract shake. The S200EXR’s optical IS notably helped keep handheld shots sharp at telephoto and slower shutter speeds.

Despite the S2500HD’s sensor-shift design, its smaller sensor and slower lens aperture compound low-light challenges. When lights dim below 200 lux, images show more noise and blur, especially with the camera’s max ISO 1600 ceiling.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Stills

If video is part of your creative toolkit, the S2500HD has a clear advantage.

It supports 720p HD video at 30fps with Motion JPEG encoding and also captures VGA and QVGA video.

The S200EXR is limited to VGA (640 x 480) video at 30fps, which feels dated for anyone wanting to shoot decent quality clips.

Neither camera has microphone inputs or headphone outputs, which constrains audio quality and monitoring - a common limitation in this class.

For casual family videos or YouTube clips where ease and resolution matter, the S2500HD fits better. But if video is a minor concern, stick with the S200EXR and focus on stills.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Until You Recharge?

Battery life is a tale of two power approaches.

The S200EXR relies on a proprietary NP-140 lithium-ion battery, which you can recharge via USB 2.0. While I don’t have exhaustive shot count figures, proprietary batteries tend to offer longer lifetimes and more consistent power delivery than AA cells.

The S2500HD uses four AA batteries - which means you can easily swap in alkalines or rechargeables anytime in the field. This is perfect for extended travel or trips where power outlets are scarce.

However, the AA format adds weight and bulk, offsetting the camera’s design slimness somewhat.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC cards with a single storage slot.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, dustproofing, waterproofing, or shock resistance.

The S200EXR’s heavier build feels more robust but is still plasticky in parts.

The S2500HD, while lighter, exhibits more flex under pressure and feels less durable.

Neither is ideal for harsh conditions, but gentle care and a padded bag keep them safe.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras are missing wireless features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC, and none have GPS.

The S2500HD stands out with an HDMI output port, allowing direct playback on HD televisions - a small bonus if you want to quickly showcase photos or videos.

Otherwise, USB 2.0 connectivity is a standard fare on both.

Real-World Photo Samples and Performance Scores

To gauge real-world output, I put both cameras through various shooting scenarios indoors and outdoors. Here’s a snapshot of sample images side-by-side:

FujiFilm S200EXR front FujiFilm S200EXR screen back FujiFilm S2500HD front FujiFilm S2500HD screen back

In portrait shots, the S200EXR delivered nicer skin tones with smoother background blur thanks to its brighter aperture and larger sensor. Eye detection autofocus helped nail focus on faces more consistently, a boon for new portrait shooters.

For landscapes, the S200EXR’s better dynamic range preserved more detail in cloud highlights and shadowed foliage.

When shooting wildlife at a distance, S2500HD’s longer zoom came handy, but autofocus struggles made capturing sharp images a gamble.

Sports or action sequences were a weak spot for both given their slow burst rates and limited autofocus tracking, but the S200EXR again edged ahead with more responsive AF and continuous focus.

Street photography found the S2500HD’s smaller size less intrusive, ideal for candid shots. However, its poorer low-light sensitivity limited available time slots to shoot after dusk.

For macro enthusiasts, the S200EXR’s close focusing down to 1cm captured detail better and with less distortion.

For night and astrophotography, neither camera shined due to sensor limitations, but the S200EXR’s higher ISO ceiling helped eke out more usable images.

Video-wise, the S2500HD’s HD recording was miles better than S200EXR’s VGA-only.

How Do They Stack Up Overall? Let’s Score Them Fairly

Bringing all these factors together, here are the overall performance ratings I’d assign based on hands-on testing and technical analysis:

Genre-Specific Performance Highlights

The following graphic illustrates how these cameras perform relative to each photography type:

Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Who Should Buy the FujiFilm S200EXR?

If your photography leans toward portraits, landscapes, macro, or you value higher image quality and manual controls, the S200EXR is the more serious tool. It’s a better fit for enthusiasts who want to experiment with exposure and focusing precision, and who don’t mind carrying a heavier camera.

Its EXR sensor and optical image stabilization make it stand out in this price bracket (if you find one used at a good price). The ability to shoot RAW files also means more post-processing flexibility.

Who Should Consider the FujiFilm S2500HD?

Are you a cheapskate on a tight budget who wants the longest zoom range possible in a compact package? Maybe you want an HD video mode and easy, point-and-shoot style operation for casual snaps or travel.

The S2500HD’s lightweight design and expandable zoom make it a perfect starter camera for families, tourists, or street photographers who prioritize fun and simplicity over precision.

Just don’t expect clean images in challenging light or fast autofocus for action.

Wrapping It Up: Which FujiFilm Small Sensor Bridge Camera Wins?

Both cameras serve their niches well.

The FujiFilm S200EXR brings bigger sensor advantages, superior image quality, better manual controls, and more versatile shooting modes (including RAW and face detection autofocus). It’s a better option for new enthusiasts and budget-conscious hobbyists serious about photography.

The FujiFilm S2500HD cuts weight and price tremendously, adds longer zoom telephoto reach, and upgrades video resolution - all while simplifying the user interface at a cost of image quality and control.

Your choice boils down to what you shoot most and your willingness to compromise:

• Choose S200EXR if you want better image quality, manual controls, and more creative flexibility, especially for portraits, macros, or landscapes.
• Choose S2500HD if you want a lightweight, budget-friendly camera for casual use, travel, and HD video, don’t mind slower AF, and crave longer zoom reach within a tight price.

If you’d like to explore other FujiFilm cameras beyond these superzooms or compare similar models rivals offer, I’m happy to help with more recommendations or testing insights. But for now, this FujiFilm tandem shows us well how even within a brand and category, cameras can cater to very different kinds of enthusiasts.

Happy shooting!

Author’s note: Continuous testing across environments, lighting, and genres over dozens of sessions informed this guide. Actual experience may vary slightly by firmware version and lens condition - your mileage may differ.