Canon A1100 IS vs Fujifilm F550 EXR: Compact Camera Showdown for Photography Enthusiasts

As someone who has spent the better part of two decades testing cameras spanning everything from full-frame beasts to compact point-and-shoots, I often get asked about how older compacts from different brands stack up - even in today’s digital age flooded by smartphone cameras. The Canon PowerShot A1100 IS and the Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR are two intriguing small-sensor compacts released a couple of years apart but targeting slightly different user priorities and budgets. Both shine with distinct strengths, yet they show their age and compromises in unique ways.

After putting these two through my usual real-world shooting scenarios, technical tests, and side-by-side comparisons, I’m sharing my comprehensive take on how they compare - from ergonomics to image quality, autofocus to video, and everything in between. Whether you want a nimble travel companion, a casual everyday shooter, or a budget-friendly backyard wildlife camera, this detailed comparison will help you pick the right tool for the job.

Let’s unravel what each camera delivers, their shortcomings, and who should consider each.

Getting a Feel: Size, Handling, and Controls

Before you even snap your first photo, how a camera feels in your hands can set the tone for all your shooting experiences. I found notable differences in the physical design and ergonomics between the Canon A1100 IS and Fujifilm F550 EXR.

The Canon A1100 IS is more compact and lightweight, measuring just 95 x 62 x 31 mm and weighing a mere 150 g (powered by two AA batteries). It fits easily into almost any pocket or purse, making it ultra-easy to carry on casual strolls or quick trips. Its somewhat simplified control layout and smaller 2.5-inch screen made it feel a bit basic but straightforward for beginners.

The Fujifilm F550 EXR, on the other hand, tips the scales at 215 g with dimensions of 104 x 63 x 33 mm - a bit chunkier but still very pocketable. That extra heft translates into a more substantial grip and a larger 3-inch, 460k-dot TFT color LCD that’s much easier to compose shots on and review images with. The Fujifilm also has notably more physical controls with dedicated exposure modes, manual options, and a more modern design language.

In practical use, I preferred the more confident grip and tactile buttons of the Fujifilm, especially for longer shoots where handling fatigue becomes a factor. The Canon’s simplicity is charming for pure point-and-shoot ease, but a little limited for more deliberate photo work.

The above image perfectly illustrates their size and build differences: Canon’s A1100 IS poses as a sleek, pocket-friendly compact, while the F550 EXR leans toward a mini superzoom with a bigger physical footprint catering to those who want extra features and better handling.

Top-Down: Layout, Status Displays, and Quick Access

A camera’s usability often hinges on its control placement and what exposure information you can access at a glance. The Canon A1100 IS opts for minimalism - focusing on ease of use rather than extensive manual control. Its top plate sports just the essential shutter release and zoom lever, alongside a small built-in flash but no dedicated exposure dials. It’s a no-frills design aimed squarely at the casual snapshot crowd.

The Fujifilm F550 EXR, by contrast, ups the ante with both a mode dial offering manual, aperture, and shutter priority modes, as well as exposure compensation. Its top panel arrangement is deeper and gives you quick access to creative controls, something that I appreciated when juggling varied lighting conditions.

If you’re someone who likes to tweak settings on the fly for portraits, landscapes, or even experimenting with aperture, the Fujifilm’s layout affords smoother workflow, especially for those who’ve graduated from full-auto compact cameras.

The Heart of the Image: Sensor Technology & Image Quality

When comparing these two cameras, the difference in sensor technology and resolution is a core factor influencing image quality, noise performance, and versatility.

The Canon A1100 IS uses a 12MP 1/2.3" CCD sensor, a traditional design common for compact cameras of its era. The maximum native ISO caps at 1600, but noise quickly becomes a limiting factor beyond ISO 400 due to the sensor’s smaller size and older tech. The CCD's color reproduction is slightly warm and can be appealing for skin tones but shows less chromatic fidelity and dynamic range compared to modern sensors.

The Fujifilm F550 EXR employs a 16MP 1/2" EXR CMOS sensor - a step up not just in resolution but in sensor design. The EXR technology enables Fuji to implement special pixel binning modes to optimize either resolution, dynamic range, or low noise depending on the scene. Tested through DXOMark, it scores 39 points overall - not spectacular by any means, but better relative to the Canon’s lack of official testing data, it's clear the Fuji has the edge here.

This increased dynamic range - important for landscapes and high contrast scenes - plus better noise handling at higher ISOs (native ISO extends up to 3200, boosted sensitivity reaching 12800) means the F550 is better equipped for diverse shooting conditions.

For practical photography, this translates to plumper files and more forgiveness with highlights and shadows on the Fuji. Canon’s output can look decent in bright daylight but noticeably softer and noisier as ISO climbs or lighting dims.

Viewing Your Shots: LCD and Viewfinder Differences

Do you rely mostly on the LCD for composing and reviewing images, or prefer an optical viewfinder (OVF)? This is where both cameras split.

The Canon A1100 IS comes equipped with a tiny, tunnel-type optical viewfinder with zero eye-level coverage or magnification specs. It’s a traditional compact style, but frankly, I found it too small and misaligned for accurate framing, especially close up or at telephoto focal lengths.

Its back LCD is a modest 2.5 inches with only 115k dots resolution - enough for basic composition but frustratingly low-res for reviewing focus and detail critically.

Meanwhile, the Fujifilm F550 EXR does away with any viewfinder entirely but compensates with a LARGE, bright, and sharp 3-inch LCD screen with 460k dots, making it comfortable to frame both daylight shots and dim scenes with confidence.

The Fuji’s fixed TFT color LCD is dramatically better for assessing images on the spot - an important feature if you’re shooting on locations without a laptop or want to share immediately.

How They Handle Different Photography Genres

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Eye Detection, and Bokeh

If portraiture is your thing, skin tone reproduction and focus accuracy matter a great deal. The Canon A1100 IS offers face detection autofocus, helpful but limited by its slower single AF mode and absence of eye detection. Its lens reaches an effective 35-140mm focal range at F2.7-5.6 aperture range - not super fast but workable for casual portraits, especially with decent light. The optical image stabilization helps reduce blur at telephoto. However, background blur (bokeh) is minimal due to small sensor size and fully electronic aperture control.

The Fujifilm F550 EXR lacks face detection but compensates with a faster and more accurate contrast-detection AF system that supports continuous AF and tracking modes, helping in dynamic portrait situations. Focal length out to 360mm (24-360mm equivalent) provides more framing flexibility and slightly wider aperture at F3.5-5.3 helps in light control. Bokeh is still limited by the sensor size but perhaps a notch better due to higher resolution and sharpness.

If you want simple, automated portraits with acceptable skin tones, Canon’s more simplified approach works. But the Fuji’s agile AF and flexible zoom range make it better for varied portrait styles, including candid and outdoor sessions.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscapes demand maximum detail, wide dynamic range, and good environmental resistance.

Both cameras lack official weather sealing, so care must be taken in harsh conditions. The Canon’s modest 12MP CCD sensor at 1/2.3” can capture decent daylight scenes but struggles with shadows and highlights, offering less headroom for post-processing. The maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels suits casual printing and web use but not large prints.

The Fujifilm wins hands down here with 16MP resolution at 4608 x 3456 pixels, enhanced dynamic range via its EXR sensor pixel grouping mode, and built-in exposure bracketing for HDR-style shooting. It doesn’t match APS-C or larger-sensor cameras for ultimate landscape fidelity and dynamic range, but it offers pleasant detail and tonal gradation for its class.

Moreover, Fujifilm’s shutter allows speeds up to 1/2000 second compared to Canon’s 1/1600 second, marginal but useful in bright daylight with wide apertures.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Speed, Tracking, and Frame Rates

When chasing fast or erratic subjects, autofocus speed, accuracy, and burst frame rates become critical.

The Canon A1100 IS is hampered by its single shot autofocus only, with no continuous AF or tracking. Its burst shooting rate languishes at a sluggish 1 frame per second - frankly not conducive for wildlife or sports capture.

Conversely, the Fujifilm F550 EXR sports continuous autofocus plus AF tracking and can shoot bursts up to 8 frames per second at full resolution - a significant advantage for freezing action and following subjects.

The 15x zoom (24-360mm equivalent) on the Fuji also makes it more versatile for wildlife photography where telephoto reach is essential and image stabilization helps mitigate camera shake.

If you frequently pursue sports, wildlife, or fast-moving subjects, you’ll be frustrated by the Canon’s limitations and much happier with the Fuji.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion, Portability, and Versatility

Street shooting favors discreet, lightweight cameras with responsive controls and quiet operation.

Canon’s A1100 IS benefits from its small size and inches-light weight, making it easily concealable and convenient for wandering cameras-free. The optical viewfinder, while simple, can help in bright street scenes when LCDs might be hard to see.

On the other hand, the Fujifilm is bigger, a little heavier, but offers a significantly wider zoom range - a big plus for travel, reducing the need to swap lenses or carry extras. Its silent shooting modes and faster autofocus also enhance street shooting capabilities.

Battery life on both is average for compacts - Canon runs on common AA cells (good for quick replacements anywhere), while Fuji relies on a proprietary NP-50 lithium-ion battery that requires charging but lasts longer per charge.

The Fuji’s built-in GPS adds an edge for travel photographers wanting automatic geotagging - something missing on the Canon entirely.

Macro and Close-Up Photography: Focusing and Magnification

I tested both cameras with close-up subjects to evaluate their macro performance.

The Canon can focus down to 3 cm, good for extreme close-ups but with limited field of view due to fixed lens construction.

The Fujifilm’s minimum focus distance is 5 cm, a bit less close but the longer zoom and sensor-shift stabilization aid handheld shots. The Fuji’s EXR sensor works nicely with fine detail capture, making it more versatile for casual macro work even without a dedicated macro mode.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO and Exposure Options

Night scenes and astrophotography are tough on compact cameras like these.

The Canon’s max ISO of 1600 helps, but noise levels rise sharply beyond ISO 400. Slow shutter speeds down to 15 seconds enable night shots but without manual ISO control or exposure priority modes, you lack flexibility. Low resolution and file quality limit heavy post-processing.

Fujifilm’s 3200 ISO native and 12800 boost ISO combined with available manual, shutter, aperture priority modes, and exposure bracketing allow longer exposures and more control. Its sensor-shift stabilization helps for handheld low-light shots.

If you want to experiment with nightscapes or astro shots, the Fuji’s more advanced exposure control and higher ISO capability make it the clear winner.

Video Capabilities and Stabilization

Video is often a secondary consideration on compacts, but still relevant.

Canon shoots in low-res 640 x 480 pixels @ 30 fps with Motion JPEG encoding - a relic by any modern standard, offering minimal usability today beyond casual social media clips.

Fujifilm’s video is much stronger: 1920 x 1080 Full HD at 30 fps, 1280 x 720 HD, and even high-speed slow-motion modes at 80, 160, or 320 fps. The sensor-shift stabilization helps smooth handheld footage, and HDMI output supports external monitors or recorders.

Neither has external microphone or headphone jacks, so audio is limited.

For anyone interested in casual video, the Fujifilm is significantly more capable.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera offers any significant environmental sealing, waterproofing, or ruggedization. These are lightweight, plastic-bodied compacts aimed at casual users, so don’t expect durability against dust, moisture, or drops.

If your photography adventures demand weather resistance, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Canon’s use of two AA batteries is a mixed bag - excellent for travel ease but less energy dense, plus potential issues with battery leakage or inconsistent performance.

Fujifilm’s NP-50 rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides longer use per charge; however, you’ll need access to power for charging.

Both cameras use SD card storage - Canon supports SD/SDHC/MMC variants, Fuji supports SD/SDHC/SDXC, so Fujifilm gives you slightly more modern card compatibility.

Connectivity, Wireless Features, and Extras

Neither camera has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC connectivity.

Fujifilm includes a built-in GPS for geo-tagging images - a handy feature for travel photographers keen on organizing their shots by location.

Canon has no GPS or wireless features whatsoever.

Both support USB 2.0 data transfer, but only Fujifilm offers HDMI output for external displays.

Price-to-Performance Assessment

At their most recent street prices - Canon A1100 IS around $160, Fujifilm F550 EXR around $450 - these cameras occupy quite different market segments.

The Canon offers basic image quality, simple operation, and superb portability for a beginner or casual snapshooter on a budget.

The Fuji justifies its higher cost partly through its vastly superior sensor, zoom versatility, exposure control options, burst capabilities, better display, and video features. It targets enthusiasts who want a travel-friendly “superzoom” with more creative control and better overall performance.

Canon A1100 IS screen back Fujifilm F550 EXR front Fujifilm F550 EXR screen back

Here you can see real-world sample images from both cameras side by side. Notice the finer detail, richer tones, and dynamic handling from the Fujifilm files compared to the softer, noisier Canon shots.

This graphic summarizes their overall performance scores across my test criteria, showing Fujifilm clearly leading.

Looking at specific photography types, you can see where each camera excels or falls short - Fuji dominates in sports and landscapes, Canon holds modest ground in portraits and street due to compact size.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Canon PowerShot A1100 IS if:

• You want an ultra-compact, pocketable camera for casual snapshots
• Your budget is tight and you need a simple point-and-shoot workflow
• Battery availability (AA cells) and basic features appeal more than image quality or controls
• You primarily shoot in good light and don’t demand fast AF or burst shooting
• Portability and straightforward operation trump advanced features

Opt for the Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR if:

• You want a versatile small sensor camera with a powerful 15x zoom
• Image quality, dynamic range, and higher resolution are priorities
• Manual exposure modes, continuous autofocus, and faster burst speeds matter to you
• You shoot diverse subjects – wildlife, sports, landscapes, or travel – and want more creative control
• Video capture in Full HD and GPS are appreciated bonuses
• You can accommodate its larger size and higher cost

Wrapping Up

Comparing the Canon A1100 IS and Fujifilm F550 EXR taught me that even older compact cameras carve out meaningful niches in today’s digital landscape. The Canon is a classic lightweight simplicity champion suited for budget-conscious casual users. Meanwhile, the Fujifilm impresses with its more advanced sensor, features, and overall capability, appealing to enthusiast photographers who desire more from a pocketable superzoom camera.

My hands-on experience shows the Fuji surpasses the Canon substantially in most technical aspects and shooting versatility, but it comes at a higher price and slightly bigger size. Neither replaces a DSLR or mirrorless system for professionals, but as compact companions, they still have value for beginners and travelers on budgets or with specific niche needs.

If image quality, zoom range, and flexibility matter most, the Fujifilm F550 EXR is the clear pick. If sheer portability, simplicity, or budget dictate your choice, the Canon A1100 IS remains a reliable, if no-frills, option.

Feel free to ask if you want my thoughts on compatible accessories or sample files - I’m always happy to help fellow photography enthusiasts navigate the vast camera jungle!

Happy shooting,

• • Your camera reviewer friend*