Fujifilm FinePix XP20 review: Fujifilm FinePix XP20

Just about every major camera manufacturer has at least one rugged camera in its lineup now. Not just waterproof, but shockproof, dustproof, freezeproof, and, in some cases, crushproof. Fujifilm has two, the FinePix XP20 and XP30, with the only major difference between them being a GPS receiver; the XP30 has one, the XP20 doesn't. Both cameras are tested to survive underwater depths of 16 feet for up to 2 hours; drops from 4.9 feet; and temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

6.4

Fujifilm FinePix XP20

$105 at Amazon

The Good

The <b>Fujifilm FinePix XP20</b> is an easy-to-use rugged point-and-shoot.

The Bad

The XP20 has sluggish shooting performance and produces poor low-light photos.

The Bottom Line

The Fujifilm FinePix XP20 is a decent extra point-and-shoot for when you need a camera to take some abuse. But if it's going to be your one and only pocket camera, look elsewhere.

Probably the best part about these cameras is that you can get this kind of protection fairly inexpensively; rugged cameras generally aren't cheap. However, it seems there are trade-offs in photo quality and shooting performance, so if the XP20 is going to be your one and only point-and-shoot you should probably keep shopping. But, its price is low enough that it might be acceptable--depending on your needs--as a second camera for the beach, hiking, or the slopes.

The overall photo quality from the XP20 is merely passable considering its price and rugged construction. When used outdoors in bright lighting, photos are OK; good enough for Web use and 4x6-inch prints or smaller. The main issue is noise. At and below ISO 200, noise isn't very visible unless you view photos at full size. But go above that sensitivity and you end up with noticeable noise, color shifting, and soft and smeary details. That basically means that shooting indoors or in low-light conditions will not turn out good photos.

The XP20's photo quality is OK with plenty of light, but this is not a camera you'll want to use indoors without a flash.

Colors aren't accurate, but they're bright and pleasing. At least, they are at and below ISO 200 before color noise kicks in. Also, many of my test shots were overexposed. There's some minor barrel distortion at the wide end, but otherwise, given its protective glass, the lens is reasonably sharp at the center and consistent edge to edge.

Video quality is on par with a basic HD pocket video camera; good enough for Web use. Panning the camera will create judder that's typical of the video from most compact cameras. There is also a lot of smearing when shooting in bright sunlight, which appears as purple or white streaks in movies. The zoom lens does function while recording, but you will here it moving in your video.

As for shooting features, the XP20 is a fairly standard point-and-shoot. Really the only shooting options that differ from one of Fujifilm's basic ultracompacts are the three underwater modes. There's a Program mode if you want a little more control over things like ISO and white balance, but I found the SR Auto mode reliable enough to use most of the time when shooting in sunlight. White balance is warm under incandescent light, so you may want to switch out of it then and use Program or subject-specific scene mode.

Shooting performance is fairly slow, so I can't recommend this for regularly shooting active kids and pets. From off to first shot is 2.4 seconds. The average shot-to-shot time is 2.2 seconds; with the flash it's 3 seconds. Its shutter lag--the time it takes from pressing the shutter release to capturing a photo--is 0.8 second in bright light and 1.3 seconds in dim, low-contrast conditions. That means even if you're shooting in full sun, your subject will need to remain still for nearly a second to get the shot you want. About the fastest thing it does is shoot a burst of three photos in 1.3 seconds.

Of course, the major reason to consider the XP20 is its rugged build quality. Despite all its promised protection, the camera is small and attractive. Its controls are simple: power and shutter release buttons and a zoom toggle on top, and on back, a directional navigation pad with a menu/OK button, and movie record, playback, and display buttons. All shooting modes and setting changes are done through the menu button, which makes them easy to find and operation simple.

The camera is designed to take some abuse, but, like all rugged devices, you have to follow some guidelines to keep it up and running. Even then, things can fail. I read a lot of user reviews saying the XP20 failed after getting wet two or three times. In my testing, which included use in both surf and still water as well as drops onto 2-inch plywood, this was not my experience; the XP20 held up. However, I wasn't impressed by the little latch that secures the door protecting the battery, SD card slot, and Micro-USB port. It's small, and even if you press the door firmly closed, it's difficult to tell if the door is really locked unless you try to slide the latch. It's just too easy to mistake a click from the door latching for it actually being secured.

Conclusion
As a primary point-and-shoot, I can't recommend the Fujifilm FinePix XP20. Its photo quality and shooting performance just are not good enough. However, as a secondary camera for those times when you need a pocket camera that can get wet, dusty, or cold, or might need to survive a drop, it's an OK option. That is, as long as you're shooting in good lighting and your subjects are not moving.

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