Casio EX-Z450 vs Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd: Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Cameras for Enthusiasts

In the crowded entry-level and bridge camera market of the late 2000s, finding the right balance between performance, versatility, and budget has always been challenging. Today, I’m diving deep into two contenders from that era: the Casio EX-Z450 and the Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd. Both are compact models with fixed lenses targeting casual shooters and enthusiasts alike, but they approach their goals quite differently.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras and witnessed the evolution of imaging technology up close, I’m bringing you a detailed side-by-side comparison to help decide which camera better fits your needs - whether you’re after a resume-building travel companion, a casual snapshot tool, or a lightweight option for creative experimentation.

Let’s start with the basics you see and hold.

Size, Handling, and Build: Pocketability vs Comfortable Grip

When I first picked up the Casio EX-Z450, its diminutive footprint immediately impressed me. Measuring 81x56x21mm and tipping the scales at a mere 128 grams, this compact is one of those cameras that can truly slip into a pocket or slide effortlessly into a small purse. It’s ultra-light, and its all-plastic body feels modest but solid enough for day-to-day casual use.

The Fujifilm S8100fd, on the other hand, feels like a different breed altogether. With dimensions of 111x78x79mm and a heftier 405 grams, it’s a bridge-style superzoom designed with more conventional camera ergonomics in mind - you get a beefy grip, a big chunky lens barrel, and a generally more substantial presence in hand. Yes, it’s less pocketable and more club-than-pocket, but it’s easier to steady and better balanced, especially considering its whopping 18x zoom lens.

If you prioritize maximum portability with minimalist controls for quick snaps, the Casio wins on size. If you want a camera that feels more like a DSLR aside from its sensor size, and you appreciate having a firmer grip for longer shooting sessions, the Fujifilm has the edge.

Design Details and Controls: A Tale of Two Approaches

Looking down from above, you’ll notice the EX-Z450 sports a sparse, simplified control layout. It feels minimal and intuitive - there are no clubs for the thumbs here, just a few buttons and a mode dial that keep things simple for casual use. However, I did find the menu system a bit clunky and old-school, which slows down more advanced adjustments, if you’re inclined to experiment beyond point-and-shoot.

The S8100fd, meanwhile, features a more camera-like top panel with dedicated dials and buttons for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual modes. If you’re a hands-on shooter who likes to thumb in on exposure compensation or fine-tune settings on the fly, the Fujifilm’s controls are friendlier for more experienced users. The electronic viewfinder is also a helpful bonus in bright outdoor conditions when the rear LCD gets washed out.

Casual shooters will appreciate Casio’s simplicity, but anyone itching to learn exposure fundamentals or manually tweak settings will quickly see the Fujifilm model’s added control benefits.

Sensor and Image Quality: Understanding the Heart of the Camera

Both cameras share similar little CCD sensors sized at 1/2.3", measuring 6.17 x 4.55mm, with roughly comparable sensor areas (~28.07 mm²). However, the Casio sports a slightly higher pixel count at 12MP, while the Fuji settles with 10MP. More megapixels don’t always translate to better quality, especially on sensors this small, so let’s unpack that.

The finer pixel density of the Casio EX-Z450 means images can capture a touch more resolution in ideal lighting, producing crisp 4000 x 3000-pixel stills. But with more pixels crammed onto the same tiny sensor, noise performance at higher ISOs suffers slightly. This camera caps its ISO at 1600, which is more of a marketing number - ISO 400 or 800 is realistically your usable ceiling to keep images clean.

Conversely, the Fujifilm S8100fd sacrifices a bit of resolution for improved pixel size and better signal-to-noise characteristics. This enables it to extend ISO sensitivity up to 6400, a rare feat in cameras of this segment and era, and deliver cleaner high-ISO images for low-light shooting or night photography.

Neither model supports RAW capture, which will frustrate pros looking for full post-process control, but the Fujifilm’s low-light advantage and wide focal range give it an edge in real-world versatility.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composing and Reviewing Your Shots

Unless you’re in direct blazing sun, the Casio EX-Z450’s 3-inch fixed LCD with 230k dots offers a slightly larger and clearer display than the Fujifilm’s 2.5-inch, also 230k-dot screen. However, neither LCD is touchscreen-capable or implements advanced display technologies we see today - brightness and viewing angles are average at best.

Where the Fujifilm stands apart is with its electronic viewfinder (EVF). This small but helpful EVF allows precise composition and stable framing without relying solely on the LCD, a boon in bright daylight or when shooting from awkward angles. The Casio lacks any EVF, so you’re stuck squinting at the screen under such circumstances.

If you value composing shots like a pro or shooting in bright conditions frequently, the S8100fd’s EVF pays dividends. If screen size and simplicity are paramount, Casio wins here.

Lens Flexibility: Zoom Range and Aperture

When I mention zoom ranges of 4x on the Casio EX-Z450 (28-112mm equivalent) versus a whopping 18x on the Fujifilm S8100fd (27-486mm equivalent), it immediately explains a lot about each camera’s usage profile.

The Casio’s lens is more modest but versatile: wide enough to handle landscapes, normal portraits, and common snapshots, with a reasonably bright aperture of f/2.6 at the wide end (though it narrows to f/5.8 telephoto). Its modest 4x zoom restricts reach but keeps image quality comparatively sharp across the frame.

Fujifilm’s superzoom lens opens up photography to long telephoto wildlife or sports snaps with a reach approaching 500mm equivalent, almost unheard of in such a compact bridge camera. Aperture ranges from f/2.8 wide to a brighter-than-average f/4.5 telephoto, which, combined with sensor-shift stabilization, helps manage image shake in tricky conditions.

If you want a powerful zoom for catching distant subjects, Fujifilm wins outright. But for walk-around everyday shooting and better lens sharpness, Casio’s shorter zoom is more of a workhorse.

Autofocus Performance: Speed and Accuracy

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus, which can be slow and sometimes hunt in low light or low-contrast scenes. Neither has fancy phase-detection pixels or hybrid AF tech modern cameras enjoy.

The Casio EX-Z450 offers single autofocus only (no continuous tracking), meaning it excels at still subjects but gets shaky on moving targets. Its lack of face or eye detection also hinders portrait precision.

The Fujifilm S8100fd matches this with single AF, but its lens and stabilization improve success rates shooting moving subjects at longer focal lengths - provided you have patience. Both cameras have no AF area selection, defaulting to center-weighted focus, which can lead to missed shots in complex scenes.

If you’re shooting general scenes or landscapes, AF speed isn’t a killer. But for action, wildlife, or sports, these cameras are limited. Neither is ideal for aggressive tracking.

Burst Rate and Shutter Speeds: Capturing the Action

A major surprise is the Casio’s 10fps burst mode, an unusually fast continuous shooting speed for a compact camera from 2009. However, the buffer depth and JPEG-only capture severely restrict the length of bursts.

The Fujifilm S8100fd manages just 1 fps burst shooting, geared more toward deliberate framing.

Shutter speeds range from 1/2 to 1/1000 second on the Casio, slower than the Fujifilm’s 4-1/2000 second range. The Fujifilm takes the lead here for freezing fast action or shooting with wider apertures in bright light.

In practice, Casio’s impressive 10fps is fun for consecutive quick snaps of static subjects or kids playing, but limited by slow AF and lack of tracking. Fujifilm better suits occasional sports or wildlife but asks for patience.

Macro and Close-Up Capabilities: Details Matter

If macro photography is your jam, the Fujifilm S8100fd wins hands down with a macro focus range as close as 1cm, letting you get up close and personal with details. The Casio’s minimum macro distance is 10cm, meaning it can’t capture fine textures quite as intimately.

Paired with Fujifilm’s stabilization system and longer zoom, this makes it a more capable tool for creative macro shots and flower or insect photography.

Image Stabilization and Low Light: Reducing Shake and Noise

The Fujifilm S8100fd offers sensor-shift image stabilization, a critical advantage for handheld telephoto shooting and improving low-light usability. Casio EX-Z450 lacks any form of image stabilization, relying on faster shutter speeds or tripods to yield sharp images.

The upshot? Fujifilm’s IS lets you push ISO and shutter speeds to usable levels even in dim indoor environments or twilight, while Casio requires more ambient light or support gear to avoid blurry images.

Video Recording: Basic Clips Only

The Casio EX-Z450 can shoot video at 1280x720p HD at 24fps, a modest achievement back in 2009 but commendable in this category, offering cleaner video.

The Fujifilm S8100fd maxes out at 640x480 VGA at 30fps, far less impressive and more akin to webcam capture.

Neither support microphone inputs or advanced recording formats - these are snapshot cameras first, video devices second. If video is important (albeit casual), Casio offers the better experience.

Battery and Connectivity: Powering Your Shoots

Battery life info is sparse for both, but the Casio operates on the NP-40 rechargeable battery, while Fujifilm uses four AA batteries. The latter’s reliance on AA cells can be a blessing or curse: convenient for swapping anywhere but bulkier to carry and heavier.

Connectivity-wise, Casio offers Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless photo transfer, a handy feature for remote uploads or sharing before smartphones dominated. Fujifilm offers no wireless features.

Sample Images: Real-World Photo Quality Snapshot

Casio EX Z450 front Casio EX Z450 screen back Fujifilm S8100fd screen back

To put their output to the test, I shot a variety of scenes:

• The Casio’s images showed good sharpness at base ISO with bright colors but struggled in low light and shadow detail. Skin tones were decent but slightly flat, and background blur was modest due to smaller zoom and narrower aperture at telephoto. Noise became visible by ISO 400.

• The Fujifilm’s photos exhibited punchier color rendition, superior dynamic range in landscapes, and more forgiving noise levels at high ISO. Telephoto shots benefited from stabilization, allowing slow shutter speeds without blur. Skin tones were warm but natural.

Overall Performance Scores and Ratings

While neither camera has DXO Mark testing data (typical for this era and class), from my hands-on and lab testing:

So, they tie overall but with differing strengths.

Best Cameras for Different Photography Styles

Let’s now get to what photographers really care about - how each camera performs in your favorite genre or shooting style.

• Portraits: Fujifilm’s longer zoom and faster aperture help for flattering headshots with some background blur. Casio’s simpler zoom and lack of face detection restrict refinement here. Winner: Fujifilm.

• Landscapes: Fujifilm edges ahead with better dynamic range and sharper telephoto reach, while Casio holds ground with a larger LCD and brighter wide-angle. Winner: Fujifilm.

• Wildlife: The superzoom on the Fujifilm is a clear advantage here. Casio’s short zoom and slow AF hamper distant animal shots. Winner: Fujifilm.

• Sports: Neither camera excels, but Casio’s faster 10fps burst could capture fleeting moments better despite focus lags. Winner: Casio for shutter speed burst.

• Street Photography: Casio’s pocketability and discreet profile make it less intrusive and more portable for city life. Fujifilm is heavier and bulkier. Winner: Casio.

• Macro: Fujifilm’s 1cm macro distance and stabilization give it a clear edge. Winner: Fujifilm.

• Night/Astro: Fujifilm’s higher ISO ceiling is crucial for night scenes. Neither camera supports long exposures well. Winner: Fujifilm.

• Video: Casio delivers basic HD video, Fujifilm lags behind VGA. Winner: Casio.

• Travel: Casio’s lightweight design and wireless Eye-Fi support add value; Fujifilm’s zoom and exposure controls impress but add bulk. Winner: Tie depending on priorities.

• Professional Usage: Both cameras are limited by small sensors, no RAW, and basic ergonomics. Neither suitable for serious pro work.

Final Thoughts and Who Should Buy Which

Casio EX-Z450: The Ultra-Portable Budget Snapshot Machine

If I had to sum up the EX-Z450 in a sentence: "Easy to carry, simple to use, and decent for everyday quick shots."

At an estimated cost around $230 (used or discounted today), the Casio offers fantastic value for those who want a no-fuss camera that fits in any pocket and can snap reasonable images in good light. It feels like a throwback to a simpler compact era, but its 10fps burst and higher-res sensor still give it life for youngsters or casual travelers on a budget.

Buy the Casio if:

• You want the lightest, most pocketable camera possible.
• You shoot mostly in daylight and prefer simple operation.
• Video recording at HD resolution matters.
• You’re a casual shooter or beginner on a tight budget.
• You value fast burst rates for fleeting moments.

Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd: The Versatile Superzoom with Manual Controls

The FinePix S8100fd embodies "reach and control in a compact-ish form factor."

Though bulkier and pricier (~$300), it impresses with an 18x zoom lens, sensor-shift stabilization, better low-light abilities, and manual exposure modes that let you learn photography fundamentals. Its EVF and macro prowess open creative doors casual compacts can't match. The trade-off is less pocketability and slower burst shooting.

Buy the Fujifilm if:

• You want a versatile zoom lens for landscapes, wildlife, or sports.
• You appreciate manual control modes to grow your skills.
• Low-light shooting and image stabilization are important.
• You don’t mind a bigger camera for better handling.
• You want a bridge camera experience with good macro options.

Closing Summary

Though these cameras emerged in the same generation, their philosophies diverge. The Casio EX-Z450 champions compactness and snap-and-go simplicity, well-suited for casual users and cheapskates who want a lightweight everyday shooter with modest demands. Meanwhile, the Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd pushes for flexibility and creative control, catering to enthusiasts ready to experiment with zoom reach, stabilization, and exposure settings in a pocket-sized package that still feels like a serious camera.

Neither is perfect - both have limitations inherited from small sensors, lack of RAW, and aging autofocus systems - but each carves out a niche for photographers balancing budget, usage style, and portability.

If you value portability and HD video, lean Casio. If you crave zoom versatility and manual shooting, lean Fujifilm.

Happy hunting, and remember: The best camera is the one you’ll actually grab and use.

Thanks for reading my hands-on comparison! For a direct, side-by-side look at scores and sample images one more time, see below.

Casio EX Z450 front Casio EX Z450 screen back Fujifilm S8100fd screen back