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| Category: | Compact Cameras |
| Product: | Fujifilm FinePix XP20 |
| Price: | £39.99 |
| Rating: |  
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Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Digital Camera Review - Daniel Bell reviews the Fujifilm FinePix XP20, a budget digital camera that is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof.
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Jargon Buster: OffHandling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
Front angled
The Fujifilm FinePix XP20 was released in January 2011 at the same time as the XP30, which is identical to the XP20 except it has GPS and is an upgrade to the XP10. The XP20 is available in black and blue for around £120.
Front
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Features
The XP20 has a 14.2 megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens, which is a 35mm equivalent of 28 - 140mm. To help take images with as little blur as possible there is CCD Shift Image Stabilisation and ISO up to 3200. The camera is waterproof to 5m, shockproof to 1.5m and freezeproof to –10°C.Motion Panorama mode makes it easy to shoot panoramic images, similar to Sony's method, you just press the shutter and sweep the camera in the correct direction. The camera then stitches the images together to create your panoramic image.
In SR auto the camera automatically selects the correct settings based upon siz scenes including Portrait, Landscape, Night, Macro, Night Portrait and Backlit Portrait. Other scene modes which can be selected by the user are Program, Natural Light & with Flash, Natural Light, Portrait Enhancer, Sport, Snow, Sunset, Night (Tripod), Beach, Underwater, Underwater (Wide), Underwater (Macro), Party, Flower and Text.
The XP20 is also armed with a range of features for taking pictures of people. Face Detection, recognising up to six faces, optimises peoples faced by automatically adjusting focus and exposure. Red-eye removal will also remove red-eye when detected.
Face Detection optimizes people pictures by identifying faces and adjusting focus and exposure to ensure bright, clear results. To take an automatic group shot there is Face Detection Timer Function which automatically releases the shutter when number and position of faces in a scene are detected. If there is just the two of you then there is Couple Timer, where you can select from Near, Close Up and Super Close.
Other features include One Touch Underwater Movie Recording, Tracking Auto Focus, Tagging Technology, Favorites Rank and easy uploading to Youtube & Facebook via MyFinePix Studio.
Videos can be recorded at 720p HD and 640 x 480 at 30 fps with the use of optical zoom.
Top
Key Features
- 14.2 megapixel resolution
- 5x wide optical zoom covering 28-140mm (35mm equivalent)
- CCD shift image stabilisation
- Waterproof to 5 metres
- Shockproof up to 1.5 metres
- Freezeproof to –10°C
- Dust/Sandproof
- Motion Panorama
- Available in 2 colours: Black and Blue
- 2.7 inch rear LCD with 230,000 pixels
Rear
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Handling
The XP20 has an unusual design as it is not rectangular like many compact cameras and it is quite tricky to stand the camera on its bottom, although it is possible to stand it on one of its ends as well. The buttons are generally easy to press except for the on/off button, it is a pain. You have to give it a really firm press and normally took two or three goes. The camera is very much made of plastic and doesn't feel as tough as other cameras such as the Olympus Tough TG-610 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3, which have more of a metal construction. Beginners to photography will have no problems navigating the XP20's menu system.The battery has a CIPA rating of 200 shots which is fairly good, although it may struggle to last a full day of shooting. Once you get the camera to switch on it is ready to take pictures within a couple of seconds. The camera is a little sluggish at focusing and has a modest continuous shooting rate of just 0.8 fps.
Battery
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Performance
Images taken by the XP are generally well exposed with good colour reproduction and not much signs of purple fringing. The images are let down by the amount of detail in the images. Macro images are good and the camera is able to focus closer than the 9cm stated by Fuji, but detail is lacking when shooting wide and even worse when using the lens at its longest.Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Lens test images
 Wide-angle | 1/300 sec | f/6.2 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 |  Full optical zoom | 1/400 sec | f/8.0 | 25.0 mm | ISO 100 |
 Digital zoom | 1/550 sec | f/8.0 | 25.0 mm | ISO 100 |  1/14 sec | f/3.9 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 |
Even at ISO 100 noise is clearly affecting image quality. It steadily worses through ISO 200 and ISO 400, with ISO 800 producing the kind of images you are only going to use for sharing on the web. Noise is terrible at ISO 1600 and it's amazing that Fujifilm included ISO 3200 as the images are awful even when viewed small.
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 ISO test images
 ISO 100 | 1/7 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm |  ISO 200 | 1/12 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm |  ISO 400 | 1/25 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm |
 ISO 800 | 1/50 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm |  ISO 1600 | 1/105 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm |  ISO 3200 | 1/210 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm |
Below are example images using some of the scene modes available. In sunny conditions the camera takes a very pleasant landscape shot, with superb blues and greens. The camera also takes good portrait shots and although there is some red-eye, it is quite dark.
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Scene modes
 Landscape | 1/480 sec | f/6.2 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 |  Landscape with building | 1/550 sec | f/6.2 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 |
 Portrait | 1/60 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm | ISO 100 |  Sport | 1/250 sec | f/4.5 | 8.6 mm | ISO 160 |
 Text | 1/400 sec | f/4.6 | 9.5 mm | ISO 100 |  Macro | 1/350 sec | f/6.2 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100 |
Panoramic | 1/500 sec | f/6.2 | 5.0 mm | ISO 100
Under our incandescent lighting in the studio the auto white-balance gives a slight magenta cast in the image, with the incandescent preset producing the better image. When switching to the fluorescent lights, the AWB performs much better than any of the fluorescent presets.
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 White-balance test images
 AWB - incandescent lighting | 1/10 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |  Tungsten preset - tungsten lighting | 1/10 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |  AWB - fluorescent lighting | 1/4 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |
 Fluorescent preset 1 - fluorescent lighting | 1/4 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |  Fluorescent preset 2 - fluorescent lighting | 1/4 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |  Fluorescent preset 3 - fluorescent lighting | 1/4 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |
As well as Standard, the XP20 can shoot pictures using Chrome, Sepia and Black and White filters.
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Digital filters
 Chrome | 1/10 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |  Black and white | 1/10 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |  Sepia | 1/10 sec | f/4.2 | 6.2 mm | ISO 100 |
Video Mode
Videos can be shot at 720p HD and 640 x 320 VGA, both at 30 fps. Optical zoom is available during recording, an example can be seen on the ePHOTOzine Youtube page.Value For Money
The XP20 is one of the cheapest waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof compact digital cameras on the market. The XP30 is more commonly available, and only costs around an extra £10 and has GPS.| Camera |
Waterproof | Shockproof | Freezeproof | Price |
| Fujifilm FinePix XP10 | 3m | 1m | -10°C | £108.99 |
| Fujifilm FinePix XP20 | 5m | 1.5m | -10°C | £119.99 |
| Olympus Tough TG-310 | 3m | 1.5m | -10°C | £128.99 |
| Fujifilm FinePix XP30 | 5m | 1.5m | -10°C | £128.99 |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT10 | 3m | 1.5m | -10°C | £149.99 |
| Ricoh PX | 3m | 1.5m | n/a | £159.95 |
| Olympus Tough TG-610 | 5m | 1.5m | -10°C | £188.00 |
| Canon PowerShot D10 | 10m | 1.2m | -10°C | £214.99 |
| Olympus Tough TG-810 | 10m | 2m | -10°C | £224.99 |
| Pentax Optio WG-1 (GPS) | 10m | 1.5m | -10°C | £208.99 (£228.99) |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 | 10m | 2m | -10°C | £248.99 |
| Sony Cybershot DSC-TX10 | 5m | 1.5m | -10°C | £294.99 |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3 | 12m | 2m | -10°C | £298.99 |
| Ricoh G700 | 5m | 2m | -10°C | £449.00 |
| Ricoh G700SE | 5m | 2m | -10°C | £649.00 |
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Verdict
If you are on a budget but want a camera that is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof, the XP20 ticks the box. You can spend a little more and get the XP30 which has GPS. The camera isn't going to win any prizes for image quality, and if this is important to you then look elsewhere. But for your money, the XP20 offers images with good colour reproduction which are going to look great on Facebook and Flickr, as long as they haven't been taken using ISO 3200.Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Pros
Good colour reproductionWaterproofShockproofFreezeproofGood value for moneyFujifilm FinePix XP20 Cons
Difficult to switch onPoor noise performanceDetail in images isn't good| FEATURES |  |
| HANDLING |  |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| VALUE FOR MONEY |  |
| SPECIFICATION | |
Fujifilm FinePix XP20 Specifications
| Manufacturer | Fujifilm | |
| Lens | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.9 - f/4.9 | |
| 35mm equivalent | 28mm - 140mm | |
| Optical Zoom | 5x | |
| Image Sensor | ||
| CCD pixels | 14.2Mp (Megapixels) | |
| Pixels (W) | 4320 | |
| Pixels (H) | 3240 | |
| Sensor Type | CCD | |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.3 inch | |
| Sensor Size (width) | 6.16mm | |
| Sensor Size (height) | 4.62mm | |
| Aspect Ratio |
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| LCD Monitor | ||
| LCD Monitor | 2.7in | |
| Screen resolution | 230,000 dots | |
| Touch Screen | No | |
| Focusing | ||
| Min Focus | 9cm | |
| Focusing modes |
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| Exposure Control | ||
| Shutter speeds shortest | 1/2000sec | |
| Shutter speeds longest | 4sec | |
| Exp modes |
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| Metering |
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| ISO sensitivity | 100 - 3200 | |
| White balance |
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| Exposure Comp | +/-2 | |
| Shooting Options | ||
| Continuous shooting | 0.8fps | |
| Video | ||
| Movie mode | Yes | |
| Video Resolution |
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| Video FPS | 30 fps | |
| Stereo Sound | No | |
| Optical Zoom with Video | Yes | |
| Other Features | ||
| Image Stabilisation | Yes | |
| Interface | ||
| HDMI | No | |
| USB | USB | |
| Wi-Fi | No | |
| Storage | ||
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| Power Source | ||
| Battery Type | NP-45A rechargeable battery | |
| CIPA Rating | 200 | |
| Box Contents | ||
| Box Contents | Battery NP-45A, Charger BC45B, USB cable, Hand strap, Manual booklet, Warranty card, CD-ROM | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 165g | |
| Width | 99.2mm | |
| Height | 67.7mm | |
| Depth | 23.1mm | |
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Comments
Another stupid-looking camera from Fuji. Cannot understand why Fuji spends so much resources developing cameras that look really queer, in this case, like a bar of soap. Come on who wants to buy this ? Probably only attracts toddlers under age of two. Looks nice to bite, to ease teething blues!
With 1/2.3" sensor, why on earth is there a need to cram 14MP into it and destroy the image quality? go back to basics, the F31 had a 6MP sensor of size 1/1.6". Why not improve on that sensor without increasing the pixel density ?
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