Back to the roots. A U-turn for the better?

It had me packed the photo fever again. After the first compact digicams I was in 2004 the desire to photograph again. Before long, I discovered the Bridge cameras for me. The "egg-laying Wollmilchsäue" just in case. With the Fujifilm S6500fd and the S9600, I made a very good experience. So good that I decided to re-enter SLR business. Analog to Canon and Nikon, I took time to Pentax. DSLR. First, the K100, the K10 and finally last the K20D was the accompanist for every day.
The equipment grew and grew, hundreds of dollars flowed into the hobby. Until now the reason I had caught up. I had very good optics acquired were delivering the absolute sharp images. However, upon reviewing my photos, I noticed on again, I was always satisfied with the pictures of the Fuji bridge cameras. My reject quota was contrary to the DSLR even lower. I had missed only manigfaltigen manual possibilities of SLR systems.
The effort I plant was very high. Here a backpack as a suitcase, there a tripod. In short, I made the decision, "downgrade", ie to perform a U-turn and return to the bridge camera. To me it was just too much.

Now I sit here and write the review for the brand-new Fuji S200EXR. Why Fuji? Well, as I had already noticed input may make very good experience with the Fuji Bridge models. The S6500 has the Super CCD sensor, which was built in the legendary F31fd, and their low resolution of just 6MP, in terms of image quality pretty much nailed to the wall that the big names. Even my DSLRs had very stretch. to nearly get the image quality as it has the Fuji delivered in low light conditions. The S9600 was indeed Equipment technically much better, but the image quality and low noise of the little sister she never reached. Nevertheless, were very very good pictures to break up with her. Angedacht was actually praised by many sides Fuji S100fs, but I was able to show the S200EXR after its announcement still expected.

The first impression: She's grown up the Fuji Bridge. Already looks unpack and feel the development. The feel is very good. The ergonomics has matured. The higher weight underlines this impression even more and give solidity. The controls for the Fuji act tidy and well thought out. Much is now a pressure to achieve (WB, ISO, AF adjustment, etc), which is particularly important in relation to the S6500 a huge progress. The battery compartment cover and the cover for the SD slot are made stable and high quality. All switches are labeled easily accessible and clean.
A highlight is the Exposure Compensation button in conjunction with the thumbwheel for me. That's like DSLR. The pop-up flash rises high, which prevents shadowing the flash through the lens. I welcome also the widened eyes to the camera, which allow the assembly of a reasonable belt. Even the hot shoe allows the option external flash. Unfortunately, the Fuji no longer can be fired with four 2A batteries. That's too bad for me and a small disadvantage because bottlenecks in energy supply were therefore practically impossible.

After switching sounds still the usual Fuji Gepiep. The 2.7 "large display with 100%" only 230,000 pixels shines bright, the picture is clear and sharp. The electronic viewfinder (EVR)) with its 200,000 pixels is very pleasant and no longer comparing two to EVRS the sisters of yesteryear. He also delivers a 100% view and is bright enough. A 100% prism finder, he can not replace.
Meanwhile at the Bridge standard, the new masters of the House of the Fujifilm raw format RAW. Excited I was also on the first images of the focal length still grown Fujinon lens. Unfortunately, the wide angle of the Fujinon has shrunk a bit, which was probably a concession to the focal length at the telephoto end. You prefer something less than WW distortions or other artifacts. That is also the classic problem field of bridge cameras. The compromise still usable Wide and powerful telephoto.
The 1 / 1.6 "Super CCD EXR sensor promises a significant gain momentum. A different arrangement of the pixels of Dynaikverlauf is increased significantly, according to Fuji, increased image quality. My first images have become very good. Even in the default and still without using the RAW format, conjures up the Fuji Bridge class images to the memory card. This promises good picture material for the future. Interestingly, the comparison was with 100/200/400/800 and ISO 1600. Up to ISO 400 is the Fuji no nakedness . At ISO 800 the noise is noticeable. At ISO 1600, of course, even more. In Low Light mode, the EXR sets 4 images over each other and calculates an image. Thus, the picture is even at ISO 1600 clearly and this feature reduces noise significantly. The allows to draw conclusions on their capabilities in low light and gives cause for optimism.

In terms of speed, the Fuji is under the Bridge models offered. The switch-on time, or the time to first image could be shorter. However, I am spoiled by my DSLR. You may save the files in RAW format is also relatively quickly vonstatten. The AF is fast and very accurate. The first series of pictures with AF-C looked good.
Thus far I have not found a right downer at the Fuji. However, I am a bit disappointed that now even Fuji, has adopted, among many other manufacturers of a print version of the manual. Unfortunately Kappdisplay fell to suffer cuts. Already on the S9600, I had come to appreciate this practical equipment feature. Even at a lens hood has been saved. As a bayonet on the lens is in place, I am assuming that this will be retrofitted. The time it gets to show.

My conclusion to Fuji: The S200EXR bridge camera is a very adult, continuing the fine tradition of Fuji Bridge series. It offers a lot of potential and versatility to resort to DSLR without. The Einstellmöglickeiten and the dynamics offered by the S200, make it a very interesting camera for demanding photography.