Fujifilm Finepix HS20 EXR

The Finepix HS20 EXR replaces the HS10 and Fujifilm says its camera is ideal for ‘photographers who want the specification and picture quality of a SLR without the heavy camera bag and huge dent in their bank balance'.

Retailing for US $817 the HS20 EXR is the second cheapest camera here. Only Canon's EOS 1100D is cheaper at $654. In terms of bang for your buck the Finepix makes a strong case for itself; you get a 16-megapixel sensor, a tilt-capable LCD and a long range zoom lens.

With regards to day-to-day usability the HS20 EXR is hard to fault. The camera's controls are logically placed across the rear and top of the body while the interface, though not as intuitive as the interface found on Canon's cameras, is functional and gets the job done.

Like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 the HS20 EXR is best suited to those with small hands, owing to its compact dimensions. One niggle we have with the camera has to do with its LCD screen; while it is tilt capable, it can't be swiveled like the LCD fitted to Canon's EOS 600D and Panasonic's DMC-GH2.

The HS20 packs decent picture punch on the whole; shots we grabbed were easily comparable to the photos we grabbed with the other cameras in this grouptest. Colours were natural and photos, when shot with high ISO settings of 800 and even 1,600 were free from noise and grain.