Canon G9 X vs Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR: An In-Depth Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing between compact cameras can be daunting, especially when balancing everyday usability with image quality and feature sets. Today, we’re placing under the microscope two noteworthy compacts from different eras and design philosophies: the Canon PowerShot G9 X and the Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR. Both appeal to enthusiasts seeking a portable tool for creativity, but they diverge significantly in sensor technology, zoom reach, and usability.

With over 15 years of extensive field testing and lab analysis of hundreds of cameras - including compacts and bridge cameras - we’ll guide you through their strengths, caveats, and ideal user scenarios. Whether your focus is landscape, portraiture, or casual video, this comparison will empower you to choose confidently.

First Impressions: Design, Size, and Ergonomics

When a camera sits comfortably in hand, you’re more inclined to shoot often and intuitively. Both the Canon G9 X and Fujifilm F500 EXR are compact, but their form factors tell different stories.

The Canon G9 X boasts a sleek and pocketable design perfect for travelers who prioritize light gear. Its magnesium alloy body feels solid, though the minimal grip can challenge those with larger hands or long shooting sessions. Meanwhile, the Fujifilm F500 EXR is slightly bulkier but offers a more substantial grip area, which provides confidence when using its long zoom.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch rear LCD screen. Handling-wise, the G9 X leans toward simplicity and compactness, while the F500 EXR emphasizes reach and versatility, clearly targeting a different photographic style.

Top Controls and User Interface: Finding Your Creative Flow

User interface and control layout dramatically influence your shooting experience. Having tested both, I appreciate subtle practical differences in how each handles photography’s demands.

• Canon G9 X:

  • Minimalist button layout
  • Dedicated mode dial offering PASM, creative filters, and custom modes
  • Touchscreen interface allowing tap-to-focus, menu navigation, and quick settings adjustments
  • Exposure compensation dial accessible, which is critical for fast manual tweaks

• Fujifilm F500 EXR:

  • More traditional button placement without touchscreen control
  • Mode dial includes EXR-specific scene modes optimizing ISO, dynamic range, or resolution depending on lighting
  • Larger zoom lever and shutter button positioned for stability during telephoto shots
  • Physical control focus aids like the zoom ring and manual focus ring are absent

The G9 X’s touchscreen offers a significant advantage for swift operation, especially in dynamic shooting scenarios. The F500 EXR’s reliance on physical buttons and EXR scene modes can be limiting but may appeal to users who prefer tactile feedback.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Image quality is paramount, and here the cameras diverge with big implications for your photography.

The Canon G9 X’s 1-inch backside-illuminated sensor delivers a major step up in image quality from traditional small sensors. Larger photosites, advanced DIGIC 6 processing, and good dynamic range translate to superior color depth, smoother gradations, and cleaner low-light performance. You get the benefit of RAW output for professional-grade editing flexibility.

In contrast, the Fujifilm F500 EXR’s 1/2” sensor is smaller with less surface area to capture light, resulting in more noise at higher ISOs and less latitude for heavy post-processing. Its unique EXR technology tried to optimize pixel usage for higher resolution, dynamic range, or sensitivity depending on mode, but it can’t match the inherent quality of a larger sensor footprint.

Practically, the G9 X produces sharper, cleaner JPEG images even in challenging indoor and evening conditions, while the F500 EXR performs adequately in bright daylight but becomes noisy and soft when pushed.

Lens Performance and Zoom Versatility

Your lens choice directly impacts composition freedom and creative possibilities.

The Canon G9 X’s bright lens starts wide at f/2.0, facilitating excellent background separation and performance in low-light. It's ideal for portraits and street photography where shallow depth-of-field and bokeh quality shine.

On the other hand, the Fujifilm F500 EXR’s significantly longer zoom enables you to reach distant subjects like wildlife or sports without switching lenses. At 360mm telephoto, however, its narrower apertures make low-light shooting tougher, even with its sensor-shift stabilization.

For close-up work, both cameras surprisingly achieve similar minimum focusing distances and good sharpness thanks to optimized macro modes, although the G9 X’s larger sensor yields finer detail capture.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus can make or break capturing decisive moments, from fleeting street scenes to action-packed sports.

The Canon G9 X’s touch-based single and continuous AF with face detection offer intuitive, rapid focus, especially useful for portraits and casual everyday use. Its autofocus is precise in normal lighting but tends to slow in low light, a typical challenge for contrast-detection systems.

The Fujifilm F500 EXR's AF system lacks face detection and touchscreen AF, slowing down speed and accuracy in fast-moving subjects. Its contrast-detection AF is serviceable outdoors or in good lighting but can struggle with low contrast or fast action.

For wildlife or sports photography, neither camera excels, but the G9 X’s faster burst rate and AF tracking offer a slight edge.

Burst and Shutter: Capturing Fast Moments

High-speed shooting aids action or wildlife photographers looking to seize the perfect frame.

The G9 X supports up to 6 fps burst shooting, doubling the F500 EXR’s 3 fps. While neither is designed for professional sports, the G9 X's faster frame rate gives you better chances at catching fleeting expressions or fast-moving subjects.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photography

If video is part of your creative vision, the video specs hint at versatility.

The Canon G9 X supports 1080p at smooth 60 fps, making it better suited for capturing fluid video. Its optical stabilization system also helps reduce shake. The Fuji offers 1080p only at 30 fps, which can feel less smooth, and no dedicated audio inputs limit customization.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing and Composing Your Shots

Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder, focusing all framing through their LCD screens.

The high-resolution touchscreen of the Canon G9 X provides sharp, bright, and responsive controls, key when shooting outdoors or reviewing images quickly. The F500 EXR’s TFT screen has noticeably lower resolution and lacks touch, making navigation slower and less intuitive.

Battery Life and Storage: Ready to Shoot Longer

Good battery life keeps you shooting without worrying about recharging mid-trip.

Both cameras offer comparable battery life, slightly below DSLRs but typical for compacts with large sensors and bright zooms. Carrying extra spare batteries is recommended for all-day shooting.

Real-World Photography: Strengths by Genre and Use Case

Let’s explore how each camera stacks up across popular photography niches.

Canon G9 X front Canon G9 X screen back Fujifilm F500 EXR screen back

Portrait Photography

• Canon G9 X: Superior skin tone rendition thanks to large sensor, face detect AF, and bright lens enabling soft background bokeh. Excellent for casual and artistic portraits.
• Fujifilm F500 EXR: Sharper at mid zoom but limited bokeh potential due to small sensor and narrow aperture. Lacks face AF, less ideal for close portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Canon G9 X: Larger sensor captures better dynamic range and color gradients. Good resolution for prints. Limited zoom means you’ll miss extreme telephoto views.
• Fujifilm F500 EXR: Massive zoom reach allows compression effects and distant subjects. Smaller sensor limits shadow recovery and detail.

Wildlife Photography

• Fujifilm F500 EXR: 15x superzoom excels for distant subject reach.
• Canon G9 X: Faster autofocus and burst rate, but shorter zoom restricts framing.

Sports Photography

• Neither camera is a pro sports shooter, but G9 X’s higher fps and faster AF give it the slight advantage.

Street Photography

• Canon G9 X: Compact size, silent-ish operation, and subtle controls fit street work.
• Fujifilm F500 EXR: Larger size and slower AF make it less discreet.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras have 5cm macro focusing distances; G9 X’s sensor size renders finer detail.

Night and Astro Photography

• Canon G9 X: Higher ISO ceiling and cleaner noise profile make it more capable.
• Fujifilm F500 EXR: Limited high ISO performance and no RAW restrict editing latitude for night shots.

Video and Vlogging

• Canon G9 X’s 1080p60 support and touchscreen make it preferable for smooth, quick video capture.

Travel Photography

• G9 X’s portability, Wi-Fi/NFC, and better image quality support diverse travel shoots.
• F500 EXR’s zoom reach suits wildlife or distant landscapes but trades off compactness.

Professional Work

• Canon’s RAW support and color fidelity better integrate with post-processing workflows.

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, shockproofing, or waterproofing. Both are designed for careful use and casual photography rather than rugged conditions.

Connectivity and Extras

Wireless connectivity on the Canon G9 X caters to easy image transfer and remote control, valuable for modern workflows. The Fujifilm, lacking this, relies on traditional cable transfers.

Performance Ratings Overview

*Note: The Fujifilm F500 EXR was not tested by DXOMark, but based on sensor size and technology, scores would be significantly lower across the board.

Genre-Specific Performance Summary

This graphic illustrates the Canon G9 X’s superiority in image quality-intensive genres like portraits and night photography, while the Fujifilm excels in zoom-dependent wildlife and telephoto travel applications.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Canon PowerShot G9 X?

• You want top-tier image quality in a pocketable compact.
• You shoot portraits, street, travel, and low-light situations.
• You appreciate touchscreen control, wireless connectivity, and RAW exposure.
• You value faster AF and burst rates over zoom breadth.
• Budget-conscious but desire a modern, well-rounded camera for enthusiasts.

Who Should Opt for the Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR?

• You prioritize an extended zoom range for wildlife, sports, or distant subjects.
• You shoot mostly in bright daylight and don’t mind lower image quality in low light.
• You prefer a larger grip and physical controls over touchscreen interfaces.
• You seek a versatile superzoom within a compact form and can accept compromises.

Getting the Most Out of Your Camera Choice

To maximize your camera:

• For the G9 X, invest in spare batteries due to modest battery life and explore compatible cases that enhance its grip.
• For the F500 EXR, focus on sturdy tripods for telephoto stability and be prepared to leverage scene modes for the best automatic results.
• Consider supplementary accessories like SD cards with high write speeds to leverage burst modes fully.

In Conclusion

Choosing the right compact camera is about matching your priorities with strengths. The Canon G9 X shines with its large sensor delivering superior image quality, agile autofocus, and modern interface - ideal for photography enthusiasts seeking quality and ease of use.

The Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR’s defining feature is its hefty 15x zoom, which is highly versatile but comes at the cost of image quality and slower handling, appealing more to users needing telephoto flexibility in a compact package.

We encourage you to handle both models in person if possible, to test their ergonomics and shooting style to your preferences. Both offer distinct creative possibilities and can support your photographic journey in different ways.

Ready to explore more?

Check out sample image galleries, read hands-on reviews, and find the right lenses and accessories to unlock the potential of your chosen camera.

Happy shooting!