Casio EX-ZR400 vs Fujifilm SL1000: The Ultimate Small Sensor Superzoom Shootout

When you're scouting for a compact superzoom camera, the temptation to chase numbers - the zoom range, megapixels, or video frame rates - is hard to resist. But as someone who’s handled hundreds of cameras in the small sensor superzoom category, I can assure you there’s more to the story. It’s the harmony of ergonomics, real-life autofocus behavior, image quality nuances, and the little things - like how the controls feel during a wildlife hike or how the stabilization performs handholding a 1200mm equivalent telephoto - that truly count.

Today I’m comparing two 2013-era contenders: Casio EX-ZR400 and Fujifilm FinePix SL1000. Both promise handheld superzoom versatility without breaking the bank, but they embody very different philosophies and trade-offs. Let me take you through my hands-on testing, technical deep dives, and most importantly - how they perform across the photography styles that matter.

First Impressions: Size, Shape, and Handling - How They Feel In Your Hands

One of the first big differences jumps out before you hit the shutter. The Casio EX-ZR400 is a pocketable compact, while the Fuji SL1000... well, let’s just say it's a mini-DSLR lookalike that feels like you mean business.

At 105x59x29 mm and 205 grams, Casio fits nicely into your jacket pocket or a small bag - perfect for travel or street photography when discretion counts. Fujifilm’s bridge-style body spans 123x89x123 mm and weighs 659 grams - nearly triple the Casio’s heft and volume. This bulk brings a more substantial grip, arguably better suited for long telephoto shots and stability, but it’s clearly less portable.

Ergonomically, the Casio’s compactness means fewer dedicated physical controls and less surface area for a confident grip. The Fuji’s button layout and larger handgrip make for a more familiar experience if you’re coming from an SLR or DSLR background, especially for tasks requiring zoom control at long focal lengths.

Takeaway? If size and portability are paramount, Casio’s EX-ZR400 wins hands down. For extended telephoto use and better physical handling, the heavier Fuji SL1000 earns respect.

Control Layout and Interface: Finding Your Way Without Getting Lost

Having a camera that’s great to hold is one thing - but controlling it intuitively is another story. The top and rear controls reveal how these brands thought about user interaction.

Notice that the Casio’s controls are minimalistic and more targeted toward quick point-and-shoot operation, with a simple command dial and few dedicated buttons. Fujifilm’s SL1000 confidently mimics an SLR-style control scheme, complete with aperture and shutter speed dials and a larger mode dial, inviting more manual input and quicker parameter adjustments.

On the rear, Casio opts for a fixed 3-inch, 461k-dot Super Clear TFT LCD - crisp, but understandably less sophisticated. Fuji boasts a 3-inch, 920k-dot tilting LCD, adding flexibility for low or high-angle shooting - a real boon in tight scenarios or when shooting video.

Both lack touchscreen capabilities - unsurprising for their era - so menu navigation relies on physical buttons and dials. For photographers who appreciate tactile feedback and quick access - say, adjusting ISO or exposure compensation on the fly - I’d say Fujifilm’s more extensive control set gives it an edge.

Sensor Talk: Are 16 Megapixels on a 1/2.3” Sensor Enough for Great Image Quality?

Here we enter the heart of any camera: the sensor.

Both cameras share a 16MP BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm - a small sensor by any modern standard, but par for the course in superzoom compacts. Similar sensor sizes mean they’ll face the same inherent limitations: noise climbing steeply at ISO above 800, limited dynamic range relative to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors, and optical compromises impacting sharpness across the zoom range.

Casio’s EX-ZR400 tops out at ISO 3200, albeit not with stellar low-light performance, while Fujifilm pushes sensitivity further to ISO 12800, though noise becomes objectionable well before that ceiling.

Interestingly, Fuji supports RAW capture, a significant plus for enthusiasts who want the latitude to dial in exposure, white balance, and noise reduction post-capture. Casio shoots JPEG only, which restricts editing flexibility.

From my practical experience, relying on these sensors means managing expectations: shoot in good light for quality JPEGs, lean on proper exposure, and embrace JPEG sharpening or noise reduction tuned by the camera makers.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: The Fast and the Not-So-Furious

Small sensor superzooms are notorious for wandering autofocus (AF), especially at long focal lengths or in low contrast scenes. So you’ll want to know which of these cameras actually nails focus reliably under pressure.

Casio’s EX-ZR400 employs contrast-detection AF with face detection, no continuous AF during burst shooting, but does offer an impressive 30 fps continuous mode for brief spurts, making it surprisingly nimble for tracking fast subjects - at least up to a point.

Fuji's SL1000 uses the older contrast-detect system without face detection or continuous AF during burst mode and limits continuous shooting to 10 fps.

Both cameras perform decently in bright daylight for static subjects but struggle with fast-moving wildlife or sports action. Casio’s higher burst rate is enticing but watch out for focus hunting at full zoom.

Neither offers advanced subject tracking or eye detection autofocus - a feature that has become increasingly critical for portrait and wildlife shooters aiming for precision.

What About Image Stabilization? Because Nobody Likes Shaky Shots

When you’re pushing 300mm or 1200mm equivalent focal lengths handheld, stabilization passes from luxury to necessity.

Casio’s EX-ZR400 relies on sensor-shift (in-body) image stabilization, which works decently to reduce handshake blur in photos and even helps some during video recording.

Fujifilm SL1000 employs optical image stabilization (OIS) within the lens assembly - generally more effective than sensor-shift on small sensors, especially at very long focal lengths.

During my tests, Fujifilm’s OIS noticeably flattened zoom shake more effectively through its 50× zoom range, leading to sharper handheld shots at maximum zoom, whereas Casio’s sensor-shift stabilization, while useful, occasionally struggled under the same conditions.

Video Functionality: Can You Shoot Much More Than Stills?

Yes, both cameras shoot video - although each tells a different story.

Casio offers Full HD 1080p at 30fps with H.264 compression and boasts super-high frame rate modes - up to 1000fps at low resolutions for slow-motion fun. That’s quite cool for creative video experiments, albeit at the cost of resolution.

Fujifilm likewise shoots 1080p but at 60fps, giving smoother motion capture in standard HD video. However, Fuji uses Motion JPEG format - heavier on storage and less efficient than H.264, meaning shorter recording times per card and quicker battery drain.

Neither camera features microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio control and monitoring, a bummer for dedicated videographers.

The more flexible LCD articulation on the FUji aids framing while vlogging or shooting unusual angles - certainly something the fixed screen Casio can’t match.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will They Keep Going?

Casio claims about 500 shots per charge, an excellent figure for a compact camera. In my testing, this roughly held up, making the EX-ZR400 a dependable companion for day-long shoots.

Fujifilm SL1000, at 350 shots, feels more limited. Combined with its bigger body and heavier zoom usage, you might find yourself juggling spare batteries on extended outings or wildlife trips.

Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (single slot), so no surprises there.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Can They Take a Beating?

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproof ratings. The Casio, being a compact, is more vulnerable to rough use and environmental conditions.

Fujifilm’s larger, more substantial body feels tougher in hand, but I wouldn’t send either into heavy rain or dusty deserts without extra protection.

For the adventurous photographer, that’s a caution to plan accordingly.

Let’s See Them in Action: Sample Image Gallery

I put both cameras through their paces shooting various subjects - from textured landscapes to indoor portraits and rapid action.

Casio EX ZR400 front Casio EX ZR400 screen back Fujifilm SL1000 front Fujifilm SL1000 screen back

Casio’s images tend to have punchier JPEG processing, sometimes skewing skin tones warmer than reality but producing pleasant snapshots instantly shareable without tweaks.

Fuji’s RAW support lets you extract finer details, especially in shadows, but the out-of-camera JPEGs can be softer and occasionally oversaturated.

Both cameras struggled with noise beyond ISO 800, reinforcing the importance of good lighting.

Performance Scores and How They Stack Up Overall

To quantify this showdown, I applied standardized performance metrics based on sharpness, autofocus speed, image quality, handling, and video.

• Casio EX-ZR400: Scores well for portability, burst shooting speed, and JPEG output.
• Fujifilm SL1000: Excels in zoom range, manual control, and RAW support but lags behind in portability and battery.

Both lag behind more modern compacts and mirrorless cameras but offer respectable compromises for their niches.

Specialized Photography Styles - Which Camera Excels?

To better help you decide which camera fits your shooting style, let’s break down how each performs across common photography genres.

• Portrait Photography: Casio’s face detection and warmer tone rendition slightly favor casual portraits. Lack of eye AF limits precision.
• Landscape Photography: Fuji’s longer zoom and RAW mode offer versatility, but small sensor limits dynamic range. Both struggle in low light.
• Wildlife Photography: Fujifilm’s 1200mm reach and optical IS dominate here. Both AF systems lack continuous tracking, so action shots need patience.
• Sports Photography: Casio’s 30fps burst is promising but AF limitations reduce hit rate on fast movers. Fuji’s slower burst rate diminishes chances.
• Street Photography: Casio’s compact size is more discreet. Fuji’s bulk attracts attention. Both work well in daylight; low-light performance limited.
• Macro Photography: Casio beats with 1cm macro focus vs Fuji’s 0cm (no true macro), plus sensor-shift stabilization aids handheld close-ups.
• Night/Astro Photography: Neither performs exceptionally at high ISO; Casio’s stable sensor-shift IS helps for long exposures.
• Video: Fuji’s 60fps 1080p slightly edges Casio’s 30fps for smoothness, but Casio’s super slow-motion modes add creative flair.
• Travel Photography: Casio’s portability and battery life win here. Fuji’s versatile zoom better for landscape/wildlife diversification.
• Professional Work: Neither camera fits professional workflows due to sensor size and limited RAW support (Casio none at all).

Summing Up: Which Small Sensor Superzoom Should You Choose?

Choosing between the Casio EX-ZR400 and the Fujifilm SL1000 boils down to priorities.

If you want a lightweight, pocket-friendly camera with fast shooting and decent overall versatility that’s fun to carry everywhere - Casio’s EX-ZR400 is a solid choice. It shines in street and travel photography and even throws in some slow-motion video goodies.

On the other hand, if you value exceptional zoom reach, RAW file freedom, and a more robust physical interface - and you don’t mind sacrificing portability and some battery life - the Fujifilm SL1000 provides more creative latitude, especially for landscapes, wildlife, and telephoto specialists.

However, remember these cameras are from 2013; as long as you’re mindful of their sensor limitations and autofocus compromises, they remain workable tools in their niches. For serious enthusiasts wanting better image quality, faster AF, or professional features, exploring modern mirrorless or advanced compacts would be wise.

I hope this detailed comparison helps you navigate the superzoom jungle with clearer vision. After all, the best camera is not just the one with the longest zoom or most megapixels, but the one you enjoy using when moments unfold.

Happy shooting!

Note: All performance assessments in this article come from my extensive hands-on testing under varied lighting and real-life shooting scenarios, ensuring practical relevance over marketing hype.