The HS20 from Fujifilm is a well-specified bridge compact, designed to offer a versatile, all-in-one solution. With a whopping 30x optical zoom spanning 24-720mm in traditional terms, it’s a direct replacement for the HS10 and offers many new features.
Though the zoom range remains the same, the 16Mp EXR CMOS sensor on the Fuji FinePix HS20 is completely new and is married with a triple-core EXR processing engine that permits 7.6fps shooting at full res (16Mp) and 11.2fps at 8Mp.
For focusing, the HS20 uses a Contrast-detect AF system, with Area, Centre, Multi and Tracking modes featured. These are all easily accessed from the vertical arrangement of buttons beside the 3in tilting screen, which is sharper than the HS10’s, thanks to the improved 460k-dot resolution. There’s a built-in electronic viewfinder that’s activated as it’s raised to the eye but it’s a lower resolution (200k dot) than the main screen, making this an easier route to composition.
As is now standard on bridge compacts, both JPEG and RAW formats are supported and for anyone keen on video, Full HD movies can be captured at 1920x1080 @ 30fps. There are also five film simulation modes, SDXC media support and compatibility with the Fujifilm RR-80 remote (£29). TTL flash metering is another first to be seen on the HS20 and it’s supported by two external flashguns – the EF-20 (£109) and the EF-42 (£159), so there are plenty of D-SLR-style upgrade options to choose from.
Performance
The HS20’s 7.6fps burst rate sounds impressive, but in our tests it was limited to 8 JPEGs (6 RAWs) before it slows. That’s not as many as entry-level D-SLRs, but the frame rate at full-res is still impressively fast. AF speed was sprightly at the wide end but slightly slower at full telephoto, and we enjoyed the way you can zoom rapidly to the lonest setting via a quarter turn of the zoom ring. The MF ring is a bit tricky to operate as it’s right up against the body, but we did find the on-screen magnification focus check and electronic level very handy features. Pushing beyond ISO 800 we noticed that results were less saturated and softer than those at the lower end of the ISO scale, while some fringeing was also noted from the lens.
In all, though the handling and image quality can’t match a D-SLR, it’s a mighty fine bridge compact that’s a great solution for those after an all-in-one.
AT A GLANCE
Street Price: £343
Resolution: 16Mp
Lens: 30x optical (24-720mm,f/2.8-5.6)
Image Stabilisation: sensor-shift type
Focusing: Area, Centre, Multi, Tracking
Burst rate: 7.6fps or 11.2fps @ 8Mp
ISO range: 100-3200, expandable to 6400 (M) and 12,800 (S)
Battery: 4xAA (NI-MH,Alkaline or Lith)
Dimensions:130.6x90.7x126.0mm
Weight: 730g (with battery & SD card)
Visit: www.fuji.co.uk