Fujifilm FinePix F20 6.3 Megapixel Compact Camera

Excellent low-light performer

Strengths: Excellent high ISO images, nice LCD, variety of user adjustments, solid body

Weakness: Occasional purple fringing, uses less popular xD memory

After much research, I purchased a Fuji F20 in order to shoot in low light conditions without flash. The F20 (and its virtually identical sibling the F30) includes Fuji’s 6th generation SuperCCD sensor that promises high sensitivity in low light conditions without the usual image noise associated with conventional digital camera sensors. The F20’s ISO range of 100-2000 turns out to be quite...
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After much research, I purchased a Fuji F20 in order to shoot in low light conditions without flash. The F20 (and its virtually identical sibling the F30) includes Fuji’s 6th generation SuperCCD sensor that promises high sensitivity in low light conditions without the usual image noise associated with conventional digital camera sensors. The F20’s ISO range of 100-2000 turns out to be quite useable throughout the range. I’ve taken hundreds of pictures in low light at ISO 800, 1600, and 2000 and the images are simply unmatched for their clarity, color fidelity, and lack of noise. There is no other point-and-shoot camera that can hold a candle to the Fuji sensor’s low light capabilities. The noise “grain” at high ISOs has none of the multicolored pixels that dominate the high ISO images from competitive cameras. In addition, the Fuji comes wrapped in a nice, solid body with good ergonomics and features for its small size.

Prior to purchasing the F20, I’ve been using a Canon A610 (an excellent camera all around) and have been spoiled by the fine Canon image quality under normal lighting conditions (using ISO 50-200). It’s hard to beat the Canon in daylight using its low ISO settings. When pushing the Canon to its ISO 400 limit, the images are very good but the multi-colored pixel noise is obvious if not distracting. The Fuji F20, on the other hand, produces images at ISO 800 that are easily comparable to the Canon’s ISO 400 and, in many cases, even its ISO 200 setting. The Fuji can snap photos under low, natural lighting that the Canon can’t even attempt without using its flash. At normal print sizes, I find the F20’s ISO 1600 images completely printable and useable. Several professional reviews have compared the Fuji F20/F30 image quality at ISO 800/1600 against digital SLR output at similar ISOs and found the Fuji output to hold its own remarkably well. Now that I’ve used the F20 in a variety of shooting conditions I can say that its low light output indeed sets a new industry benchmark. The Fuji F20/F30 has opened up a whole new range of shooting modes that have simply not been possible without investing in high-end SLR equipment.


For those who’ve been wondering whether to go for the F30 or save some dough with the F20, here’s my take. First, the F20 and F30 share the exact same 6MP sensor, processor, and lens. There will be no difference in image quality between the two cameras. What the F30 offers is aperture or shutter priority modes, a higher resolution LCD monitor, ISO 3200 instead of 2000, and a longer battery runtime. However, the F30’s pseudo-manual mode may only be marginally satisfying to those craving full manual control since, like most point-and-shoot digitals, the f-stops are limited by the zoom setting you’ve chosen. I have seldom relied on using aperture or shutter priority modes in my point and shoot cameras since the program modes are excellent for most of my shots.

As for the LCD, I have compared the F20 and F30 side-by-side and there’s little to differentiate them especially since the F20 includes a 153,000 pixel LCD that is already at a higher resolution than most other 2.5-inch screens on competitive cameras. The LCD alone should not be the deciding factor.


Battery life is very good on the F20 and typical of most consumer cameras at about 250+ shots per charge; however, the F30 nearly doubles the capacity per a single charge and this can be significant for many users who don’t wish to have a spare battery on hand. Personally, I like to have a spare battery handy since I may not always have a full charge on the in-camera battery when I go shooting. That’s just my preference to safeguard against being totally stuck. Finally, the F30 has an ISO 3200 at its top end compared to the F20’s ISO 2000. But nearly everyone is of the opinion that the F30’s ISO 3200 is much less useable than the F20’s ISO 2000 (and this may explain why Fuji reduced the F20 setting to something more realistic).
All the other controls such as ISO selection, focus modes, scene modes, LCD refresh rates, and low-light (“anti-blur” as Fuji likes to call it) are the same between the F20 and F30.


To summarize: The F20 and F30 are identical cameras in terms of image quality. The F30 comes at a competitive price with some nice additions (though not quite deal-breaking if image quality is your goal). But the F20 value is simply remarkable and the price difference goes a long way towards buying you a 512 MB xD memory card and spare battery.

By lindguini - Oct 6, 2006

Can't judge this book by its cover

Strengths: Picture Quality, Speed, Amazing Natural Light mode and low light pictures approaching SLR quality.

Weakness: Clunky looking. Not for the vain. Plethora of warnings in manual about doing the wrong thing and damaging your xD card inspires 0 confidence.

Finally, a compact digital camera that delivers. This little brother of the benchmark Fuji F30 compact digital camera is only has a few downgrades (slightly less powerful battery, lower resolution LCD, slightly smaller size, no aperture controls) yet shares the same SuperCCD circuitry. It is unmatched in low light picture taking unless you find yourself a SLR, and even then the difference is not...
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Finally, a compact digital camera that delivers. This little brother of the benchmark Fuji F30 compact digital camera is only has a few downgrades (slightly less powerful battery, lower resolution LCD, slightly smaller size, no aperture controls) yet shares the same SuperCCD circuitry. It is unmatched in low light picture taking unless you find yourself a SLR, and even then the difference is not too great. In outdoor pictures, it is on par with the new Canon SD700is (a worthy competitor in its own right, the first Canon elph worthy of its reputation, and much cooler looking than the Fuji).

This camera is half the price, but looks a bit of a clunker to my taste.

Things that are worthy of note:

- 3x zoom is adequate.. 4x like the Canon SD700is would have been nice.
- Natural light mode is amazing for low light pictures. Backgrounds do not get washed out by bright flashes.
- 2* Natural mode gives you both natural mode and regular flashed pictures, so you can press the button once and get both at the same time and decide what you like later (super!)
- 640x480 30fps video looks pretty nice.
- xD memory is 2x more expensive. (doh!)
- pretty fast operation throughout
- very inexpensive (can be found less than $200 with some coupons)
- up to ISO 2000 (Fuji F30 goes to ISO 3200). In reality, you'd probalby use up to 400-800. VERY low noise at those ISO ranges, which is pretty amazing for a camera this size.

Pictures below are undoctored.. only reduced in size:

By creativesmurf - Sep 8, 2006

Fuji FinePix F20 - Great Camera

Strengths: Very good photo quality, excellent low light performance, battery life, fast start up

Weakness: Feels flimsy/not sturdy, not as user friendly as other comsumer cameras, weak flash, plastic I/O port cover.

I purchased this camera as an upgrade to the Fuji FinePix F10 that I've had for almost a year. Although the F10 took great pictures it was very fickle about its settings. You had to constantly change the settings. This camera fixes a lot of those quirks, like bumping up the ISO too high for no reason. The F20 has an Auto mode that caps ISO to 400. I decided on the F20 rather than the F30 because...
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I purchased this camera as an upgrade to the Fuji FinePix F10 that I've had for almost a year. Although the F10 took great pictures it was very fickle about its settings. You had to constantly change the settings. This camera fixes a lot of those quirks, like bumping up the ISO too high for no reason. The F20 has an Auto mode that caps ISO to 400.

I decided on the F20 rather than the F30 because I wanted a simple point and shoot camera and didn't need the extra manual features of the F30. The F20 is also a bit smaller than the F30. Both cameras have the same lens, SuperCCD image sensor, and Real Photo II Processor. This means that the F20 offers great low light capability and takes very good pictures. For the price, this camera is amazing at higher ISO and low light (indoor) pictures compared to other point and shoot cameras.

I mentioned that the F10 was not that user friendly, the newer F20 fixes a lot of those problems and makes it a lot easier to use as a point and shoot camera. It is a whole lot easier to use, but it still is not as user friendly as other cameras on the market. The AUTO mode of the F20 is a major improvement and is easily learned.

The camera is light so it is easy to take around but it feels flimsy and not sturdy.

The plastic cover that covers the USB and charging ports is also very annoying. Not only is it poorly designed but it looks easily breakable.

The camera takes great pictures and although it has some quirks, I have no regrets about buying it and recommend it. For the price, the pictures are amazing, especially in low light. Nothing comes close to it.

By steven_t06 - Sep 19, 2006

good product, but has some shortcomings

Strengths: powerful battery, large LCD view window

Weakness: use XD card

This camera uses XD card, which is really terrible. I don't think having their own memory card standard is a good idea. Here is the thing: XD card is easily destroyed when you use a card reader . I almost lost all my important pictures when transfering pictures from XD card using a card reader. It showed as unrecognized disk, and you can't do anything on it, even format it. I googled and found...
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This camera uses XD card, which is really terrible. I don't think having their own memory card standard is a good idea. Here is the thing: XD card is easily destroyed when you use a card reader . I almost lost all my important pictures when transfering pictures from XD card using a card reader. It showed as unrecognized disk, and you can't do anything on it, even format it. I googled and found many people had this problem. This is the lesson: NEVER use card reader for this kind of weird camera that use XD card!
As for the picture quality, it's really good.

By mikeyu - Feb 26, 2007

works well!

Strengths: doesn't need the flashlight when the room is not bright

Weakness: no

this camera works very well all the time.It's good to use it to take pictures for the baby.Because we don't need to use the flashlight and the pictures are clear.

By leopardli - Dec 7, 2006