Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR digital camera

Those into wildlife photography or landscapes are spoilt for choice with the number of super zooms entering the market. These cameras may definitely not be a replacement for DSLRs but can surely provide consumers with ample features for taking these sort of pictures.

The 30x optical zoom is the main feature of this camera

Fujifilm launched the FinePix HS10, a superzoom camera not too long back and it performed well. The company has now launched the FinePix HS20 EXR, an updated version of the HS10, which comes with features such as a 30x optical zoom, 16MP EXR CMOS sensor amongst others. Read on to know if this camera did better than its predecessor.

Design and Build Quality
The Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR looks a lot like the HS10. The design of the HS10 was received well and Fujifilm has stuck to it while manufacturing the HS20. Like the HS10, this camera too has the bridge camera design. It is larger than the recently reviewed Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HS100V by around 30 percent, making it quite big for a point and shoot. It has a matte black finish and is made of plastic with rubber pads on the hand grip and a patch on the rear that assist in the handling of this large camera.

The first thing that one notices when they see this camera is the large lens that occupies the front. The lens too has a rubberized padding on the telephoto ring which helps in the handling. Located at the base of the fixed lens is a focal ring. The 3-inch flip out screen is located at the back and protrudes from the body a bit, adding to the bulky look of the HS20. Like the HS10, the various buttons are scattered all over the rear of the camera. This is not a bad design aspect as it makes it look more like a DSLR.

A flash mount is a nice addition to the camera

Fujifilm has added two dials at the top of this camera. This design is something that is common to high end DSLRs where there are multiple jog dials. The buttons located at the back are rounded and though the rear is cluttered with controls, they are all spaced out well. The mode dial as well as the jog dial can be easily turned making switching between different modes or settings an easy task. An interesting yet uncommon feature of this camera is that it has a flash mount. The pop up flash is very sturdy and can be deployed by pressing a small button next to it.

There is a sensor next to the electronic view finder (EVF) which helps in auto switching between the LCD and the EVF. The connectivity options found on this camera are mini HDMI, mini USB and an AV in. The flap that covers these connectors are made of plastic and has a sturdy build as well. The battery bay for the four AA batteries are located on the bottom of the HS20. A nice addition to this camera is the addition of a separate memory card slot that is located at the side of the camera. This slot is usually housed in the battery bay and makes it inconvenient if one runs out of storage space and wants to easily swap memory cards. The battery bay locks well. However, the flap does feel a bit flimsy. The overall build of this camera is good and it looks as though it can withstand a few accidental knocks as it is on the heavier side weighing at approximately 730g.