Fujifilm F80EXR Image Quality

Review Date: June 28, 2010

Category: Beginner Amateur

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IMAGE QUALITY

The Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR is targeted to beginner amateur photographers and features 12MP resolution (on a 1/2.0-inch Super CCD EXR image sensor), 10x wide-angle optical zoom (27-270mm Equiv.135) lens with Sensor-shift image stabilization, and a maximum aperture of F3.3(W)-F5.6(T).

We find the overall image quality of the Fujifilm F80EXR to be very good at ISO 100 with low noise and good image detail. Image quality is good at ISO 200; at higher ISOs, images suffer from noise and loss of detail.

10x Wide Optical Zoom
Wide-angle 5mm (27mm, 35mm equivalent)	Telephoto 50mm (270mm, 35mm equivalent)

The Fujifilm F80EXR has a 10x wide-angle optical zoom lens. In the above pictures, we show the coverage for 27mm and 270mm. We love the 27mm wide-angle coverage that allows us to capture real wide landscapes! Sensor-shift image stabilization helps reduce camera shake at the long end of the telephoto and when using slow shutter speeds.

Macro can be as close as 5 cm (2 in.) at wide-angle.

AF is fast, works very well in good light and even in low-light, with the help of the AF-assist illuminator. There is only one metering mode: Multi-Pattern, which works very well in all lighting situations.

Auto White Balance Indoors
AWB	Custom WB

As the above two pictures show, the Auto White Balance (AWB) is not accurate indoors under artificial lighting [I have two energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling]. The Fujifilm F80EXR allows WB to be easily set manually and this brings out the real colors. AWB works very well in natural light.

ISO Comparisons
ISO 100
ISO 200	ISO 400
ISO 800	ISO 1600
ISO 3200 [5MP]	ISO 6400 [3MP]
ISO 12800 [3MP]

You can set the ISO on the Fujifilm F80EXR from 100 to 1600, plus the ability to “boost” to higher ISO settings equivalent to ISO 3200 [5MP], ISO 6400 [3MP] and ISO 12800 [3MP]. The 100% crops above (area delimited by the white square) demonstrate that noise at ISO 100 is under control. Noise starts to be visible at ISO 200 but is still very usable, perhaps even up to ISO 400. At ISO 800 and above, the presence of noise is visible at full image size and with visible loss of detail.

CA is visible in very high contrast shots. In the above photo, the bottom left area delimited by the red square, and reproduced at 100% crop at bottom right, shows purple fringing.

Our Long Shutter Speed test is a torture test for digital cameras. Here we test whether (and how well) a camera can lock focus, provide accurate WB and obtain a correct exposure in extreme low light situations.

The Fujifilm F80EXR allows the use of a long shutter speed of 8 sec. in M mode. This allows us to take some Night Shots. The picture came out slightly underexposed due to the 8 sec. limitation. Note that, at any focal length, the F80EXR has only 2 f-stops. There is noise reduction (NR) but you will not notice it working since there is no extra wait time.

There is no histogram either Live in Shooting Mode or in Playback mode.

Overall, good image quality and the various EXR, DR and scene modes can prove useful in certain situations. The amount of choice can also prove confusing and intimidating to the Point-and-Shoot photographer but thankfully EXR AUTO mode works very well. Advanced photographers will appreciate Programmed AE, Aperture-Priority AE and full Manual for more control over their camera.

View the Fujifilm F80EXR Photo Gallery [In the Photo Gallery, click on the picture of the camera to return here.]

Executive SummaryImage QualityPhoto GalleryHandling & FeelUser’s ExperienceQuickFact Sheet / Buy

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