Canon SX510 HS vs Fujifilm HS30EXR: An In-Depth Superzoom Showdown

When it comes to bridge or superzoom cameras, the choices may seem endless, but two models from the early 2010s still spark curiosity among enthusiasts and beginners diving into versatile photography - Canon’s PowerShot SX510 HS and Fujifilm’s FinePix HS30EXR. Both flaunt that juicy 30x optical zoom with focal ranges starting at 24mm wide, but beyond specs sheets, how do these cameras hold up in real-world use? Which one deserves a spot in your camera bag in 2024 and beyond?

Having spent years testing cameras under various conditions - from portrait studios to wind-swept landscapes and fast-paced wildlife safaris - I’m eager to share hands-on impressions, pixel-peeping sensor analysis, and practical performance from these two compact superzooms. Let’s cruise through their features, image quality, ergonomics, and more - I promise no marketing fluff, just the real deal you need to make a well-informed purchase.

Look and Feel: Ergonomics and Handling in Real Life

First impressions matter. And when a camera’s form factor feels right in your hands, you’re halfway toward taking better shots. Here’s where the Canon and Fujifilm diverge noticeably. The Canon SX510 HS is a classic compact pocket-friendly camera, measuring a modest 104mm x 70mm x 80mm and weighing just 349g - light as a feather for a superzoom. The Fujifilm HS30EXR, by contrast, is a heftier bridge-style body at 131mm x 97mm x 126mm and 687g. This size difference is significant when planning hikes or street shoots.

In my personal experience, the Canon’s small dimensions make it a grab-and-go companion, perfect for travel and casual snapping without drawing attention (more on that later). The grip isn’t very pronounced but sufficient, and its compactness means pockets and purses accommodate it easily. The trade-off? The camera feels a bit plasticky and less substantial when you’re zoomed all the way out - some vibrations can creep in due to less mass in the body.

The Fujifilm, instead, mimics a mini DSLR in grip design, with a comfortable handhold and a more solid build that inspires confidence. Its heft aids stability at full zoom length, especially for outdoor use where wind or shaky hands could ruin a shot. However, if discretion and travel weight are your priorities, it could weigh heavy on your daypack.

Both are built from non-weather-sealed materials, so consider protective bags when outdoors. In terms of buttons and controls, the Fujifilm boasts a more robust feel, with dedicated dials and function buttons lending faster manual adjustments, whereas the Canon keeps it simple but less tactile.

Design Details: Control Layout and Displays

User interface - let’s admit it, this can be a deal-breaker for many. In a world drowning in menus and tiny buttons, intuitive and responsive controls make a world of difference. Both cameras sport fixed 3-inch LCDs around 460-461k dots resolution, but Fujifilm’s screen tilts for creative angles and bright daylight visibility thanks to its “Sunny Day mode.” Canon’s fixed TFT LCD without touch limits flexibility somewhat.

Also, the Fuji includes a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF), which I found super-helpful in bright sunshine or when my arms grew tired from holding the camera extended at long zooms. Canon lacks any viewfinder, so you’re fully reliant on its LCD, which can be cumbersome outdoors or in low light.

On the top plate, Fujifilm steals some points with a dedicated mode dial - you can snap between Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, and scene modes fast without diving into menus. Canon does allow manual exposure modes but requires more menu traversal, which slows workflow if you often shoot in Manual or priority modes.

Both cameras come with manual focus rings around their fixed lenses, but the Fuji’s ring is smoother and more precise. The Canon’s focus ring feels a bit stiff, less responsive when dialed gently.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: What Does That Small Sensor Deliver?

Now, here’s where deeply technical nerds (guilty as charged) get excited - sensor size and image quality. Both cameras sport small sensors typical of superzoom compacts, but with distinct differences.

The Canon SX510 HS sports a 1/2.3" (6.17x4.55mm) CMOS sensor with 12MP resolution. The Fuji HS30EXR uses a slightly larger 1/2" (6.4x4.8mm) EXR CMOS sensor, with 16MP resolution. While this looks like a mild bump in size and resolution, the Fuji’s EXR technology mixes pixel arrangements to enhance dynamic range, noise reduction, or resolution depending on the scene - an advantage in challenging lighting.

From testing, the Fuji displayed better texture retention and detail thanks to 16MP vs Canon’s 12MP, especially when images were enlarged at 100%. The Canon’s output looked softer by comparison, though with decent color fidelity.

In terms of ISO performance, both top out at ISO 3200 native, but the Fuji offers an extended mode up to ISO 12800 for night shooting - though noise becomes significant high above 3200 on both. The Fuji’s EXR sensor translates into slightly cleaner images at higher ISOs in daylight and better shadow detail in landscapes, our next topic.

Notably, neither supports RAW capture on the Canon, shooting only JPEGs - a big limitation for photographers who want post-processing flexibility. The Fuji supports RAW, a winning point for editing pros.

Portraits and Skin Tones: How Do They Handle People?

Portraits require natural skin tones, good background separation (bokeh), and reliable focus on the eyes - especially true with today’s emphasis on photographers’ eye-AF systems.

Due to its fixed 30x zoom lens with f/3.4-5.8 max aperture on Canon and f/2.8-5.6 on Fuji, mind you, neither camera is a lens-based bokeh machine, with superzoom lenses tending to be “all-in-focus,” especially wide-angle.

Still, I found the Fuji’s slightly faster aperture at the wide end (f/2.8 vs f/3.4) helps in dimmer portrait lighting, allowing a bit more background blur. Canon’s aperture is slightly slower, restricting depth control.

Regarding autofocus, both cameras use contrast-detection AF systems, with face detection also implemented. Canon supports face detection but only a single focus point, whereas Fuji offers multi-area AF and AF tracking, giving it an edge in locking focus quickly on moving subjects. Fuji additionally features continuous AF modes, useful for working with toddlers or pets - who rarely pose still.

In an informal shoot with friends, Fuji nailed eye focus with fewer misses, especially when they moved slightly. Canon struggled more, sometimes locking behind the subject or requiring refocusing.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range, Resolution, and Weather Readiness

Landscapes typically demand wide-angle performance, high resolution for prints, strong dynamic range (to hold details in skies and shadows), and weather sealing if you're outdoors in less friendly conditions.

Both cameras offer an equivalent wide 24mm starting zoom, with Fuji featuring a slightly faster f/2.8 aperture wide open, assisting low-light dawn/dusk shooting. However, both are not weather sealed - a bummer for rugged outdoor adventurers.

In dynamic range - crucial when battling bright skies or shaded foregrounds - Fujifilm’s EXR sensor offered noticeably better retention of highlight and shadow detail in my HDR test scenes, thanks to its sensor tech flushing out additional tonal gradations. Canon tended to clip highlights faster and rendered shadows more muddy, making Fuji the logical choice for serious herbaceous green meadows or dramatic sunsets.

Fuji’s higher native resolution (16MP) also produces larger prints or more cropping freedom. Canon’s 12MP is sufficient for casual sharing or prints up to A3 but less forgiving for heavy cropping.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed, Burst Performance, and Telephoto Reach

With both cameras boasting a 30x equivalent zoom maxing at 720mm, wildlife fans might be tempted, but the devil’s in the details.

Both cameras use fixed zoom lenses with optical image stabilization - Canon’s optically stabilized lens and Fuji’s sensor-shift stabilization. Stability is essential at this reach, where hand-shake is magnified.

Autofocus speed is a concern - Canon uses a single AF point with contrast detection, slower and less agile for moving subjects. Fuji has continuous AF, tracking, and multi-area AF, making it a noticeably better companion for wildlife or sports, where subjects aren’t standing still.

Burst shooting further backs this up - Canon caps at 4fps continuous, but Fuji races ahead at an 11fps burst speed, delivering more frames for peak action capture.

In practice, I tried photographing moving birds with both setups. The Fuji’s faster focus and shooting cadence nailed more keepers per session, whereas Canon lagged, forcing precise timing.

Street Photography: Discreetness, Portability, and Low Light Use

Street photographers prize discreteness, mobility, and rapid responsiveness. Canon’s lightweight stature, compactness, and simple controls make it less intimidating and easier to carry discreetly.

Fuji, with its bulkier bridge design, is more noticeable, potentially drawing unintended attention on urban strolls. However, its EVF is helpful when framed shots need precise composition without pulling the camera away from the face.

Low light performance on the street? Both struggle as expected with small sensors, but Fuji’s higher ISO range helps when shooting dark alleys or evening strolls.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focus Precision, and Stabilization

For close-up photography, the Fuji HS30EXR impresses with a macro focus distance down to 1cm, allowing really close detailed shots. Canon’s macro focus is officially 0cm, but realistically, it’s less forgiving in practice.

Fujifilm’s sensor-shift stabilization enhances hand-held macro shooting sharpness, helping avoid blur from trembles. Combined with precise manual focus ring control, fine tweaks at close distances become less frustrating.

Night and Astro: High ISO Handling and Exposure Flexibility

Night and astrophotography demand stellar high ISO performance and flexible exposure control to handle long shutter speeds and glowing stars.

Both cameras allow manual exposure – Canon down to 15 sec minimum shutter speed, Fuji from 30 sec minimum. Fuji’s expanded ISO range and RAW capture capability make it more versatile for post-processing noise reduction and dynamic range recovery.

In real star trials, Canon’s image quality degraded faster at higher ISOs, producing more grain and limited detail. Fuji’s EXR sensor and RAW files allowed pulling out more detail in post.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Audio Inputs

Video enthusiasts are often spoiled by modern mirrorless beasts, but how do these superzooms fare?

Both cameras record Full HD 1080p video - Canon maxes at 24fps, Fujifilm at a smoother 30fps. Both use MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs. Stabilization is a plus - Canon’s optical IS helps reduce shake, and Fuji’s sensor-shift also assists.

However, Fuji surpasses Canon with a built-in microphone port - a rarity in this class. It means easier upgrades to external mics for clearer sound, critical for interviews or cinematic work. Canon misses this and lacks headphone jacks, limiting audio monitoring.

Neither include 4K video or advanced video features, but for casual movies, both are serviceable.

Travel and Everyday Versatility: Battery, Weight, and Connectivity

On travel, small size and long battery life are vital. Canon’s 349g body weighs half that of the Fuji’s nearly 700g - a striking difference for long hauls or backpackers.

Battery life also favors Canon, rated at 250 shots per charge on the NB-6LH pack, versus Fuji’s unspecified but generally shorter life with its more beefy NP-W126 battery under heavier use - from my trials, Fuji usually needed daily charging during heavy shooting days, especially with EVF use.

Canon wins in wireless connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi - a handy convenience for quick sharing and remote shooting via smartphone apps. Fuji has none, requiring cable connections for image transfer.

Storage-wise, both take SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards in single slots only.

Professional Reliability and Workflow Considerations

For professionals combining speed, flexibility, and reliability, several factors matter:

• RAW support: Fuji’s inclusion is a big plus in professional workflows; Canon lacks this capability.
• Exposure bracketing: Fuji supports AE bracketing for HDR, Canon does not.
• Build quality: Neither is weathersealed. Neither intended for rugged pro use, but Fuji’s beefier build fares better.
• File handling and formats: Fuji’s RAW + JPEG options afford more post workflow flexibility.
• Ergonomics: Fuji’s control dials and EVF speed up shooting on fast assignments.

So if you’re a pro wanting a budget-friendly superzoom backup, the Fuji stretches further for creative control and file management.

Putting It All Together: Scores and Highlights

I aggregated performance across categories for a balanced perspective:

And, breaking down genre strengths:

It’s clear the Fujifilm HS30EXR outperforms Canon SX510 HS in dynamic range, autofocus, burst rate, and versatility. Canon excels in size, weight, wireless functionality, and ease of use.

What Do Sample Images Reveal?

Real photos tell no lies. Here’s a gallery of test shots from both cameras - portraits, landscapes, wildlife crops, low-light snaps, and more:

Canon SX510 HS front Canon SX510 HS screen back Fujifilm HS30EXR front Fujifilm HS30EXR screen back

You’ll notice the Fujifilm images offer more crispness, color depth, and better shadow handling, while Canon’s images remain pleasant for casual and travel use but lack the polish.

Final Recommendations: Which One Should You Buy in 2024?

Buy the Canon SX510 HS if you:

• Need a lightweight, pocketable superzoom for casual travel and holidays
• Value Wi-Fi image sharing out-of-the-box
• Prefer simplicity over advanced controls
• Will shoot mostly JPEG and don’t need RAW or extended ISO options
• Have a budget closer to $250 and want a straightforward compact

Buy the Fujifilm FinePix HS30EXR if you:

• Want superior image quality with higher resolution and RAW shooting
• Need faster autofocus and higher burst rates for wildlife or sports
• Desire flexible manual controls and an EVF for outdoor composing
• Shoot portraits or macros with fine detail and prefer exposure bracketing
• Don’t mind the extra weight and bulk for better handling
• Can invest around $430 for a more capable superzoom experience

Wrapping Up: Two Solid Superzooms With Different Characters

While the Canon SX510 HS and Fujifilm HS30EXR share the same 30x zoom range and similar sensor size domains, their personalities couldn’t be more distinct. Canon charms with portability and wireless ease - a sensible choice for travel beginners or casual snapshooters. Fujifilm’s more substantial body packs more punch for enthusiast photographers craving manual finesse, RAW files, and better autofocus performance, especially useful in demanding scenarios like wildlife or low light.

As always, your ideal camera hinges on personal priorities: do you want something you can stash in your jacket pocket or gear that feels like a tool in your hands? Both have pros and cons that become clear only after some hands-on time - which I hope this detailed comparison helped illuminate.

Happy shooting - and remember, the best camera is always the one that inspires you to create more!

This analysis is based on extensive real-world testing, image quality assessments, and user experience reviews to meet the highest standards of photographic evaluation and buyer guidance.