Fujifilm X20 Advanced Compact: First Impressions And Sample Image Gallery

Fujifilm's highly-coveted advanced compact offers a refreshing shooting experience, but how does the image quality hold up?

By Dan Bracaglia | Published Mar 21, 2013 2:15 AM EDT

Gear & Reviews

Tech Specs: ISO 1600, 1/220 sec, f/2.5. Dan Bracaglia

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The X20 looks almost identical to its predecessor the X10. But don’t let that fool you. The engineers at Fujifilm improved quite a few features in their newest iteration of this advanced compact, namely, a completely re-designed AF system, featuring phase-detection pixels on the sensor.

We put this little camera through the wringer, exposing it to a whole variety of situations from a night out in New York City to a day snowboarding in Vermont. Not only was it durable, but it was just a very fun camera to shoot with despite maintaining some of the limitations involved with a compact camera.

A couple of notes about the sample images that follow: All were shot as RAW files and converted to JPG’s using Lightroom Release Candidate 4.4. Other than that, nothing has been done to them. Furthermore, because I shot in RAW, the maximum ISO I could test the camera at was 3200 (it does go all the way up to 12800 in JPG mode).

Stay tuned for out full lab test on the X20 coming very soon.

d03.12x20fuji020.jpg — Noise is kept pretty in-control at ISO 1600. **Tech Specs:** ISO 1600, 1/220 sec, f/2.5.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji035.jpg — A longer focal length with a longer shutter speed to test image stabilization **Tech Specs:** ISO 1000, 1/17 sec, f/2.8.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 105mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji036.jpg — Again, even in a bumpy cab, the X20 was able to pull off a clear image at 1/17 sec. **Tech Specs:** ISO 1000, 1/17 sec, f/2.8.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji047.jpg — Shot in Aperture Priority on “Multi” exposure mode (which is essentially the middle ground between the spot meter and the full evaluative meter), the X20 did a terrific job balancing the two very different areas of the frame. **Tech Specs:** ISO 640, 1/1000 sec, f/2.8.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 80mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji052.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 400, 1/1000 sec, f/2.8. Exposure compensation of -0.7.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 90mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji060.jpg — Noise started to become pretty noticeable around ISO 2000. **Tech Specs:** ISO 2000, 1/50 sec, f/2.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji066.jpg — At ISO 800, there is some impressive detail to be found in the shadows. **Tech Specs:** ISO 800, 1/15sec, f/2.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji073.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 800, 1/75 sec, f/2.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji089.jpg — While fairly noisy, even at ISO 2500, it’s subjectively above average for a camera with a true compact sensor. **Tech Specs:** ISO 2500, 1/30 sec, f/2.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji091.jpg — ISO 3200 seemed to be pushing the X20 a bit too far in terms of noise. I personally found ISO 1600-2000 to be the max I set for myself while shooting. **Tech Specs:** ISO 3200, 1/30 sec, f/2.2.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 45mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji096.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 3200, 1/60 sec, f/2.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji103.jpg — The X20’s 28-112mm equivalent zoom range with an aperture range of f/2-2.8 is really pretty terrific. **Tech Specs:** ISO 3200, 1/60 sec, f/2.8.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 112mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji107.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 640, 1/800 sec, f/2.5. Exposure compensation of -1.0.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 74mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)**

d03.12x20fuji124.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 400, 1/1700 sec, f/11. Exposure compensation of -0.3.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 65mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji129.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 400, 1/500 sec, f/11. Exposure compensation of -0.3.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji136.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 400, 1/900 sec, f/11. Exposure compensation of -0.3.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 28mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

d03.12x20fuji144.jpg — **Tech Specs:** ISO 2500, 1/15 sec, f/2.5.
**Focal Length Equivalent:** 40mm
**(CLICK FOR FULL-RES)** *Dan Bracaglia*

Dan Bracaglia

Dan Bracaglia, the News & Features editor at Popular Photography, has been covering imaging and camera technology for 13 years, with work appearing—both written and photographic—in publications including American Photo magazine, Digital Photography Review, Popular Science magazine, the Star-Ledger, Sound & Vision magazine, and of course, Popular Photography. Contact the author here.

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