The Fuji Finepix S5200 is a great ultra-zoom camera which lacks a few features to achieve excellence. Notably, it doesn't have image-stabilization, a live-histogram or completely accurate LCD displays. These features are found in most of its competition. The S5200 partly compensates for its lack of stabilization with low-image noise and ISO settings up 1600. Also, this ultra-zoom camera has a brighter lens at the telephoto end than most of its competition except for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20. On the other hand, the wide-end of its lens is not as bright as most other ultra-zooms. The result is an ultra-zoom camera that pleases action shooters more than typical low-light shooters.

Compared to other ultra-zoom cameras, the Fuji Finepix S5200 offers an interesting compromise. Nearly all of its ultra-zoom competitors show higher-image noise but improve in other areas. The nearly twice as expensive Fuji Finepix S9000 for example shows even less image noise but lacks stabilization. Another expensive ultra-zoom, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 features an excellent stabilized lens but shows a much more limited dynamic-range. As for cameras in the same price-range, the Konica-Minolta Dimage Z20 is a bit limited compared to the S5200 while the Konica-Minolta Dimage Z5 and the Canon Powershot S2 IS both feature higher image noise and soft-images. Overall this shows that the Fuji Finepix S5200 provides excellent value relative to other ultra-zoom digital cameras.