Fujifilm FinePix S20 Pro review

Fuji's S20 Pro is an enthusiast's camera with an interesting mix of features, making a tempting package for imaging professionals.

It combines the tried and tested, if somewhat bulky, body of the FinePix S602 Pro with Fujifilm's later and much vaunted Super CCD SR sensor.

This unique sensor is claimed to deliver improved highlight and shadow detail over conventional CCDs by combining wider sensitivity from the adoption of a pair of different sized photodiodes located at each photosite. We've seen this CCD before in the compact FinePix 700, and its performance was duly impressive. However, resolution from the S20's 6.2 million pixels equates to a low 3.1 megapixels, although Fuji has re-sampled the output back up to a usable 6 megapixel file.

There's no mistaking the Fujinon 6x optical zoom lens: it's a versatile optic equivalent to a 35-210mm lens with a variable f/2.8-3.1 maximum aperture. While not of blazing speed, it's capable of low-light shooting and is well-corrected for fringing and geometric aberrations. Other features likely to attract users include familiar SLR-style ergonomics, a contrasty electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage, equivalent film speeds to ISO 800 and PC flash sync for studio lighting, as well as a RAW file option. The latter is buried deep within the setup menu, but it's one feature well worth taking the trouble to find.

Fujifilm UK generously bundles the £127 HS-V2 utility with the simple-to-use RAW File converter EX and Camera Shooting software. Apart from pulling 8-bit Jpegs and 16-bit Tiffs from RAW data without any loss of quality, you can apply white balance, sharpness, saturation and so on during conversion, and even fine-tune the dynamic range. In addition, using the supplied FireWire cable, the S20 can be operated from a Mac, making the camera particularly attractive for use in a small and permanent studio setup.

The S20's menus are straightforward, and are divided into three distinct categories: setup, camera functions and image quality. User overrides are extensive and include all the features you're ever likely to need, such as white balance, sharpening and bracketing, as well as a choice of photometry and so on. There's no choice of colour space, but it's hardly expected at this price.

The layout of controls and features is intuitive and the large handgrip, housing the four AA-size alkaline cells, greatly enhances the handling. We particularly liked the command-type dial located on the top plate when using the camera at eye level, but this is made redundant at times by the four-way rocker switch on the rear. As a result, many users will choose the detailed 1.8in LCD on the camera's back in preference to the electronic viewfinder. You choose the usual selection of automatic and semi-automatic exposure modes from the shooting dial. However, you have to select scene modes from the menu.

Nice touches include dual xD and CompactFlash Type II expansion slots, and the choice of zooming from either the electronic ring surrounding the lens or from two well-placed buttons on the rear panel. However, not everything impressed us. Only one RAW shot will fit on the supplied 16MB xD card, and you'll have to fork out for rechargeable batteries. Moreover, its startup and autofocus were both slow compared with those in many of its more modern rivals, and the fill-flash option rarely provided balanced exposure from the default setting. Daylight and low-light exposures were very good, though, and the stills quality was excellent under both artificial and natural lighting. As expected, tonal range and colour reproduction from the SR sensor were first class, but detail only matched a good quality 4 megapixel CCD. Dark noise was noticeable in some stills at the minimum ISO 200, and even ISO 800 provided usable shots. Movies were particularly impressive, with a rock-steady 30fps frame rate and a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with sound. Movies were noisy under artificial lighting, though.