Preliminary
Fujifilm put the FinePix S8200 out in 2013, sitting in that gap between a point-and-shoot and a real interchangeable-lens setup. 16.2-megapixel sensor, Full HD video, the usual stuff — but the 40x zoom is the actual reason to buy it. Go from a wide group shot to something happening across a football field, no lens change required.
Components of a Digital Camera
The Fujifilm FinePix S8200 is a digital camera that consists of various parts that work in cohesion for image capture. A quick enumeration of the primary components of a digital camera:
Lens
Gathers light and focuses it onto the sensor. The real draw is the zoom 40x optical, 24-960mm equivalent. Wide enough for a group photo, long enough to zoom in on a bird way out on the water.
Image Sensor
16.2 megapixels on a back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The megapixel number isn’t really the point, it’s the back-illuminated design that matters, since it lets more light reach each pixel. That’s what actually makes this camera decent in low light, not the resolution.
Processor
The EXR Processor II is what turns the sensor’s raw data into a usable photo, quickly enough that you’re not stuck staring at a “processing” screen between shots.
Display
A 3-inch, 460,000-pixel LCD. It does the job — framing shots, checking focus — without being anything to write home about.
Storage
SD, SDHC, SDXC. Standard cards, no proprietary nonsense.
Battery
Rechargeable lithium-ion. Standard stuff, no complaints, no surprises.
ISO Sensitivity
Runs 100 all the way to 12800. That top end is genuinely useful — it’s the difference between giving up on a shot in low light and actually getting something usable, even if it’s a little grainy.
Shutter Speed
Maxes out at 1/2000 of a second — plenty fast for freezing a running kid or a bird taking off.
Aperture
f/2.9 wide open, dropping to f/6.5 once you’re fully zoomed in. That wide-end aperture is decent for low light and a blurred background on close subjects, but don’t expect the same at full telephoto — it narrows a lot by then.
White Balance
Auto and manual modes, plus separate settings for different flavors of fluorescent lighting (daylight, warm, cool) a level of detail a lot of cameras in this class skip.
Autofocus
Contrast-detection, 99 points. Overkill for casual shooting, but it helps when you’re trying to track something moving.
Image Stabilization
Lens-shift stabilization, which earns its keep here — at 40x zoom, even a slight hand tremor gets massively amplified, so stabilization matters more on this camera than on one with a shorter lens.
Video holds up too: Full HD at 60fps, or 720p at the same rate, built-in mic, and manual exposure control while recording — not a given on bridge cameras at this price.
Apart from these, the camera offers its image-stabilization system, which suits its value. This lens-shift type image-stabilization system reduces the effects of camera shake and blurring, which is very useful for shooting with longer focal lengths and is even beneficial in low-light conditions. Also, the camera has an “Advanced Anti-Blur” function made for further reducing the effects of camera shake and blur.
FinePix S8200 16MP Black Digital Camera: Buy it now
Fujifilm FinePix S8200 16.2MP Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black) (OLD MODEL): Buy it now
The camera also supports a number of shooting modes and has creative filters that are helpful in taking pictures. Such shooting modes include scene-type modes and automatically adjust settings for shooting, such as “Portrait,” “Landscape,” and “Night.” In addition, it has creative filters, which include but are not limited to, “Toy Camera,” “Miniature,” and “Dynamic Tone” which can add very unique effects to pictures.
One feature that further increases the utility of the Fujifilm FinePix S8200 is that it can shoot in RAW format. This enables users to have more control over the image during post-processing because RAW files usually have more information compared to JPEG files.
The camera has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows very easy access to sharing images or videos on your smartphone or tablet using Fujifilm’s free Camera Remote app that can be downloaded. Aside from that, the app allows you to remotely control the camera while transferring directly to your device any photos or videos.
They are thus a versatile, very capable camera in terms of performance and include amazing zoom capabilities, a good performance at low light, various shooting modes, and creative filters. On a comparison, this may be inferior to some higher-end cameras, however, it will satisfy the needs for those in search of a good but simple camera at a reasonable price.
Related Posts
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.