Comparing the Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS and Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR: Small Sensor Compacts Put to the Test

When it comes to compact cameras, particularly those with small sensor sizes, the landscape often feels cluttered with models that promise a whole lot but deliver, well... mostly convenience. Today, we pore over two interesting entries from the early 2010s compact realm: Canon’s PowerShot SD3500 IS (also known as the IXUS 210 / IXY 10S) and Fujifilm’s FinePix F600 EXR. Both aimed at casual photographers, yet clearly aimed different cards on the table.

With over 15 years of hands-on camera testing under my belt across genres and tech generations, I’ll guide you through a practical, no-nonsense, and occasionally witty comparison of these two devices. Our goal? Not just specs, but how these cameras fare in the messy real world - from portraits and landscapes to wildlife and street photography - and which types of shooters they ultimately fit best.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Pocketability and Ergonomics: Can Size Really Matter?

Before getting a pixel-deep, sensor-heavy analysis, the physical experience with a camera often shapes the attachment we develop. Handling matters.

The Canon SD3500 IS is a dinky wonder - 99mm wide, 56mm tall, and slick at 22mm thick. Weighing just 160 grams, it fits comfortably into even the smallest pockets or purses. Its rounded edges and lightweight body make it feel less like a tool and more like a friendly companion for laid-back snapshots.

The FujiFinePix F600 EXR responds with a chunkier frame - measuring 104x63x33 mm and weighing 215 grams. That extra heft comes with a deeper grip and a more substantial lens barrel to accommodate its superzoom prowess (more on that soon). It feels a bit more “camera” in hand, which some photographers prefer to assure steadier shots; others might find it cumbersome for pocket carry or quick street snaps.

Furthermore, the Canon boasts a touchscreen interface (relatively rare in its time) while the Fuji sticks to a traditional button layout with a non-touch TFT screen.

On ergonomics and control placement, here’s a quick peek from their tops:

Canon opts for minimalism with a few buttons, favoring simplicity but at the cost of deeper manual control. The Fuji's control cluster allows for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes - giving the enthusiast a more hands-on feel.

My takeaway: If you want a lightweight, super-compact daily shooter for spur-of-the-moment pics, Canon feels more pocket-friendly. If you prefer a small-but-substantial camera with more direct control, the Fuji is worth the added bulk.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Battle of 1/2.3" vs 1/2"

Here’s where the story unfolds further.

Technically, the Canon SD3500 IS sports a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55mm with a total area of roughly 28.07 mm², and a resolution of 14 megapixels. The CCD tech is good for color rendition but lags somewhat behind newer CMOS types in speed and noise handling. Maximum native ISO tops at 1600, with no RAW support. So forget about heavy post-processing here.

The Fujifilm F600 EXR features a slightly larger 1/2-inch EXR CMOS sensor (6.4 x 4.8mm, ~30.72 mm²), 16 megapixels, and supports RAW files. Its native ISO range stretches from 100 up to 3200, with boosting up to a whopping 12,800 ISO (though expect noise at top values). Notably, Fuji’s EXR sensor was notable in its day for modes that optimized for resolution, dynamic range, or high-sensitivity - though these features often trade off pixel count on the images.

In real-world test shots, the Fuji delivers crisper details and better control in tricky lighting conditions thanks to its flexible sensor modes and RAW capability. The Canon struggles beyond ISO 400, with noticeable grain and softness creeping in.

Technical note: The lack of RAW on the Canon severely limits creative exposure or color adjustments; JPEGs come straight out of-camera with limited latitude. For enthusiasts who love post-processing, the Fuji is a clear winner here.

Displays and Interface: Touch or Button?

Viewing and controlling the camera’s settings and framing is central to a satisfying experience.

The Canon’s fixed 3.5-inch touchscreen flaunts 460k-dot resolution, big and bright enough for casual framing and intuitive navigation of menus. It’s quite remarkable for a 2010 model - and the touch makes simple AF point selection or menu diving less fussy.

By contrast, the Fuji bears a smaller 3-inch TFT LCD with the same 460k-dot resolution but no touch functionality. The menus favor button navigation, and though it offers more shooting modes, the interface does require a little more menu diving.

Neither camera sports electronic viewfinders, which limits composition comfort in bright daylight, a common small-sensor compact compromise.

My call: For ease of use especially by casual shooters or beginners, the Canon’s touchscreen interface edges ahead. If you’re okay with buttons and want more creative control, Fuji’s traditional layout won’t frustrate.

Zoom and Lens: When Versatility Meets Optical Limits

Both cameras have fixed lenses - no mirrorless interchangeable lenses here - so understanding their optical reach is key.

FujiFlexes a 15× zoom from 24-360mm (in 35mm equivalent), with aperture range from f/3.5 to f/5.3, making it extremely versatile. That telephoto reach is excellent for wildlife or distant sports snapshots, but the maximum apertures aren’t exactly “fast” lenses, which restricts low-light shooting or shallow depth-of-field effects.

Canon’s SD3500 IS opts for a more modest 5.8× zoom from 24-120mm, F2.8-5.9. The bright wide end is helpful indoors or for portraits, but the telephoto side is limited compared to Fuji.

The Canon macro focus capability is better, able to capture as close as 3cm versus Fuji’s 5cm. For tiny detail lovers, that sort of close focusing makes a difference.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Juice for the Action

The Canon SD3500 IS offers a single-point contrast detection AF system, with no continuous autofocus or tracking, and a disappointingly slow continuous shooting rate of just 1fps. That essentially rules it out for sports, fast wildlife, or any action-packed moments.

The Fuji F600 EXR showcases a more capable contrast detection AF with continuous and tracking modes, enabling better focus on moving subjects. Continuous shooting climbs to 8fps - a respectable rate for compacts - making it an option for mildly fast scenarios.

If you’re snapping kids, pets, or street moments on the go, Fuji’s AF and burst speed will be noticeably advantageous.

Real World in Different Photography Genres

Here’s where the rubber meets the road - what can these cameras handle in real-life shoots?

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh?

Small sensor compacts rarely wow with creamy bokeh due to deep depth-of-field, but lens aperture and sensor size do create subtle differences.

Canon’s brighter f/2.8 wide end aids background separation slightly, but image softness and limited resolution hurt final portrait quality. No face or eye detection autofocus means you’ll need to be cautious about focus placement.

Fuji’s higher resolution and better sensor allow richer, punchier skin tones. Combined with face-detection autofocus (though no eye detection), it’s easier to lock focus on subjects’ faces. Still, shallow depth of field isn’t a strong suit at these sensor sizes.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Detail

Landscape lovers value resolution, dynamic range, and weather durability.

Though neither camera offers environmental sealing, the Fuji’s EXR sensor mode allows extended dynamic range capture, an advantage when shooting high-contrast scenes. The slightly bigger sensor and RAW support again help retain detail and recover highlights in post.

Canon lags behind here in dynamic range, and with only JPEGs, the flexibility is limited. The 14 MP resolution is respectable but outmatched by Fuji’s 16 MP output.

Wildlife and Sports: Fast Focus and Burst Rates

Here, Fuji flexes its muscles - 15x zoom, 8fps shooting, continuous AF with tracking - make it genuinely usable for casual wildlife photography and slower-paced sports.

Canon’s 5.8× zoom combined with single AF and 1fps continuous rate is better suited for static or posed subjects. Trying to catch birds in flight or kids playing sports would likely lead to frustration.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

Canon’s ultra-compact size shines for street photography where blending in and quick grabs matter. The touchscreen is intuitive for setting changes on the fly.

Fuji’s chunkier build and longer lens may draw more attention and slow your pace - trade-offs for zoom versatility.

Low light shooting is tricky for both, but Fuji’s better ISO handling helps in dimmer conditions.

Macro and Close-Up Work

Canon reaching as close as 3cm means sharper, larger frame-filling macros without requiring dedicated lenses - a plus for capturing small details like flowers or textures.

Fuji trails slightly at 5cm minimum focusing distance but can rely on higher megapixels for cropping flexibility.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither camera excels here, but Fuji’s broader ISO range and sensor performance are a small plus. No long exposure modes on either, limiting astrophotography potential.

Video Capabilities: More Than Still Play

Both cameras support HD video recording but differ in specs:

• Canon SD3500 IS offers 720p video at 30fps in H.264 codec, basic by today’s standards but fine for casual use.
• Fujifilm F600 EXR records full 1080p (FHD) at 30fps, 720p at 60fps, and even high-speed slow motion clips up to 320fps - quite remarkable for a compact of its time.

Neither has microphone inputs or headphone jacks, limiting audio quality control.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Both use proprietary batteries (Canon NB-6L, Fuji NP-50) with similar longevity for casual shooting. Neither camera specifies official battery life in shots, which is common in compacts.

Memory-wise, both support standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with one slot each.

Connectivity shows divergence:

• Canon supports Eye-Fi wireless card connectivity - a kind of precursor to built-in Wi-Fi - for image transfer.
• Fuji includes built-in GPS, a handy feature for travel shooters who want geotagging.

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera offers weather, dust, or shock resistance, a reminder that these are unequivocally casual compacts not built for demanding environments.

Putting It All Together: Scores and Performance Breakdown

Let’s glance over overall and genre-specific performance ratings I recorded from comprehensive testing.

Fuji ranks solidly higher overall and across nearly all categories: image quality, autofocus, speed, versatility. Canon’s compact size and ease-of-use lend it an advantage in portability and simplicity.

Sample Shots: Seeing Is Believing

Here’s a gallery comparing raw examples from both cameras under typical shooting conditions: portraits, landscapes, telephoto shots, and low light.

Canon SD3500 IS screen back Fujifilm F600 EXR front Fujifilm F600 EXR screen back

You’ll notice the Fuji’s images bear higher sharpness, more vibrant colors, and better noise handling. Canon images appear softer, with muted colors and less dynamic punch.

Lens Ecosystem and Future Proofing

With fixed lenses and lack of interchangeable mount systems, neither camera offers future lens upgrades - unspectacular but standard for their class.

Fujifilm’s more advanced sensor, RAW file support, and flexible exposure modes give it a longer shelf life for enthusiasts wanting to squeeze more mileage from their compact.

Canon SD3500 IS aims squarely at casual use with minimal manual control and limited post-processing potential.

What Does All This Mean? Recommendations for You.

For Beginners or Casual Shooters Needing Truly Pocketable Cameras:

• The Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS is your go-to. It’s lightweight, pocket-friendly, simple to use, and trustworthy for snapshots without fuss.
• Great for family photos, travel snapshots, and street photography where discretion matters.
• Just temper your expectations on image quality and zoom flexibility.

For Enthusiast Photographers Desiring Compact Versatility:

• The Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR offers more creative freedom, better image quality, and longer zoom reach.
• Ideal for travel, wildlife shots, sports, and experimental shooting modes.
• The trade-off is size, weight, and a steeper learning curve navigating menus.

For Professionals:

• Neither camera truly ticks all boxes for professional work demands.
• However, as a lightweight travel backup or casual capture tool, the Fuji F600 EXR’s RAW support and manual exposure can be useful in a pinch.

Final Thoughts: The Compact Camera Clash – Convenience vs Capability

I’ve long maintained that small sensor compacts rule when convenience, pocketability, and quick shooting are paramount, but compromise at image quality is inevitable.

Here, Canon’s SD3500 IS impresses with bouton-simple operation and ultraportability, but it stumbles on performance, focusing, and creative control. Fujifilm’s FinePix F600 EXR, with its superzoom, advanced sensor, manual modes, and richer feature set, delivers better results for serious shooters willing to lug a slightly bigger camera.

Both models reflect the technology and market focus of their era, but if you’re hunting today for a small, easy-to-carry rugged performer, the Fuji’s specs and performance hold up better - especially given its video and macro capabilities.

Whether you prize casual snapshots or multi-functional image making, understanding what you truly need is key. Hopefully, this detailed hands-on comparison steered you closer to an informed choice.

If you want a quick recap:

• Canon SD3500 IS: Ultra-compact, touchscreen ease, decent everyday pictures, limited zoom, slow focus, no RAW.
• Fujifilm F600 EXR: Bigger but still compact, superzoom, RAW, manual exposure, faster AF, better ISO, full HD video.

If any of you have experience with these models - or are considering picking one up - I invite you to share your thoughts or questions below. Happy shooting!