Digital Camera Home > Digital Camera Reviews > Fuji Digital Cameras > Fuji FinePix S20 Pro

Fuji FinePix S20 Pro Fuji's latest electronic SLR offers a high dynamic range Super CCD (6.7 million photosensors in a 3.4 megapixel array) that interpolates to 6.0 megapixels, plus an external flash sync connection! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet S20 Pro Photo Gallery! S20 Pro Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Fuji's "SR" Sensor Technology 7. Exposure & Flash 8. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 9. Operation & User Interface 10. Camera Modes & Menus 11. Image Storage & Interface 12. Video, Power, Software 13. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on S20 Pro Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 11:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 04/27/2004

Image Storage and Interface
The FinePix S20 Pro is relatively unique in that it features two media slots that accept xD-Picture Cards as well as CompactFlash Type II memory cards (including Microdrives). The camera comes with a 16MB xD-Picture Card, which won't hold very many high resolution images. Given the S20 Pro's large maximum file size (2,832 x 2,128 pixels), I highly recommend buying several large memory cards, or possibly a Microdrive. In addition to the Fine and Normal JPEG quality settings (only for 6.0-megapixel images), the S20 Pro also offers a RAW format, enabled through the camera's Setup menu.

The LCD display reports the number of available images at the current resolution/quality setting, so you always have an idea of the remaining image capacity. The table below shows the number of images of each size that can be stored on a more useful 512MB memory card (vs the puny 16 MB card included in the box), and the approximate level of JPEG compression used for each. (Note that this is NOT the size card shipped with the unit, but rather a typical and fairly useful size many owners may end up using. Divide the image capacities shown by four, and you'll see why I say you really have to plan on buying an extra card or cards with the camera: The included 16MB card really isn't very useful with files this large.)

NOTE: While it has a large, Type II CompactFlash card slot, the S20 Pro does NOT support the FAT32 file system, so it will only work with memory cards 2GB in size or smaller.

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 512MB Memory Card		RAW	Fine	Normal
Full Resolution 2,832 x 2,128	Images (Avg size)	38 13.5 MB	84 6.1 MB	167 3.1 MB
	Approx. Compression	1.3:1	3:1	6:1
High Resolution 2,048 x 1,536	Images (Avg size)	-	319 1.6 MB	-
	Approx. Compression	-	6:1	-
Medium Resolution 1,600 x 1,200	Images (Avg size)	-	399 1.3 MB	-
	Approx. Compression	-	5:1	-
Low Resolution 1,280 x 960	Images (Avg size)	-	537 0.9 MB	-
	Approx. Compression	-	4:1	-

As you would expect, the memory card should never be removed while the camera is in operation to avoid damaging the media. An LED lamp next to the memory card compartment lights when the camera is accessing the card. A steady orange light indicates that the camera is writing to the card, while a flashing orange and green light means that the camera is writing to the card, but is ready to capture another image. A blinking red light indicates a problem with the card.

The S20 Pro's Playback menu offers write-protection for individual images or all images on the card, preventing files from being accidentally erased or manipulated. The Erase menu option under the Playback menu lets you erase individual or all images while in Playback mode. (Note that formatting a memory card erases all files on the card, even those with protection.)

Both USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 FireWire cables and a software CD accompany the camera, for connection to a computer. Like many USB-equipped cameras these days, the S20 Pro is a "storage class" USB device, meaning that it will show up on the desktop of Mac OS 8.6 and higher machines, as well as those of Windows Me, XP, and 2000 computers, without having to load driver software. This is a really handy feature, since it makes it a lot easier to connect the camera to computers other than your own, without having to worry about special driver software, etc. Thanks to its Super CCD technology, the S20 Pro can also function as a "webcam," streaming video imagery over the USB connection to a host running the appropriate software. It also supports the PictBridge standard, allowing the camera to be connected directly to PictBridge-compatible printers, and prints made without the need for a computer. A particularly nice touch for anybody planning to use the camera in a studio environment is the fully-featured remote control functionality offered over the FireWire connection. Most camera settings, include optical zoom and manual focus, can be set remotely and the shutter triggered from a PC or Mac. Alternatively, the computer can be used as a storage device, with most camera controls able to function as normal, but files immediately downloaded to the computer's hard disk when you press the camera's shutter button.

The S20 Pro transfers data quite rapidly over its USB 2.0 connection, as I clocked it at a download rate of 1594 KBytes/sec (1.6 Megabytes/sec) when connected to my Sony VAIO 2.4 GHz Pentium-IV computer running Windows XP. The FireWire connection isn't available for file transfers, but instead works only for controlling the camera from a computer.