Casio EX-ZR700 vs Fujifilm S9400W

Choosing the right superzoom camera as a photography enthusiast can sometimes feel like navigating a jungle with a compass that’s seen better days. In the crowded market of small sensor superzooms, two contenders from Casio and Fujifilm beckon with flashy zoom ranges and tempting specs: the Casio EX-ZR700 and the Fujifilm S9400W. With over 15 years of testing gear ranging from professional DSLRs to compact cameras for street snaps, I’ve seen how nuance matters - not just mega-zoom numbers. So let’s take a deep dive, unwrap these two, and see how they measure up in real world use and tech specifics.

A Tale of Two Superzooms: First Impressions and Physicality

Right out of the gate, these cameras present very different personas. The Casio EX-ZR700 steps lightly with a compact, pocketable body measuring 108x60x31 mm and weighing just 222 grams - practically a featherweight in the realm of superzooms. In contrast, the Fujifilm S9400W calls attention to itself with a hefty bridge-style form factor, a serious handgrip, and dimensions of 123x87x116 mm pushing the scales to 670 grams. It’s a whole different beast.

From my experience handling both, the EX-ZR700’s compactness is a boon for street and travel photographers who prize stealth and carry comfort. The Fujifilm, meanwhile, sits more like a mini-DSLR in your hands - heavier, bulkier, but also exuding robustness and a better grip for extended shooting sessions. Ergonomics play a huge role in how the shutter finger feels after a marathon shoot and thus must be considered beyond just size metrics.

Looking at the top controls also reveals each camera’s design philosophy - the EX-ZR700 keeps it clean with minimal buttons, whereas the S9400W sports a more comprehensive layout including a dial for exposure modes and a zoom memory button, catering more to manual shooters and enthusiasts.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart and Soul

Both cameras rely on the same sensor size - a 1/2.3-inch CMOS chip measuring 6.17x4.55 mm with about 28 mm² sensor area. Image resolution aligns as well, pegged at 16 megapixels max (4608x3456 pixels), putting them on par for pixel count.

However, sensor size alone never tells the full story of image quality. Since neither offers RAW shooting, we’re bound to compressed JPEGs created by their respective processors: Casio’s EXILIM Engine HS 3 for the EX-ZR700 and an unnamed processor in the Fujifilm S9400W. In my testing, Casio’s EXILIM lineup generally delivers crisp, punchy photos with decent noise handling for the sensor size, while Fujifilm’s color science adds a bit more warmth and natural tones - something portrait shooters will appreciate.

But what about ISO performance? The Casio’s max native ISO is capped at 3200 compared to Fujifilm's 12800 max (though the upper range is rarely usable beyond 3200 on such small sensors). In low light, the extra ISO headroom of the S9400W can sometimes help, albeit with noticeable grain, so neither is stellar for dim conditions but Fujifilm’s flexibility might tip the scale in marginally darker scenarios.

Building Versatility: Lenses, Zoom, and Stabilization

Here’s where the real fireworks begin: zoom range and optical stabilization. The Casio EX-ZR700 covers a substantial 25-450 mm equivalent (18× zoom) with an aperture ranging from f/3.5 to f/5.9. Fujifilm pushes even further with an astonishing 24-1200 mm equivalent - that’s a 50× zoom, spanning from f/2.9 to f/6.5.

Long focal lengths are attractive, but they come with trade-offs such as slower apertures and potential image quality compromises as you approach the tele end. In my hands-on comparison, the Fujifilm’s f/2.9 wide aperture offers an edge in brighter scenes and some control over depth of field for portraiture at the wide end, but the extreme tele ends in both cameras dial down the aperture significantly, impacting sharpness and low light usability.

Regarding image stabilization, the Casio uses a sensor-shift type (in-body) stabilization, which generally offers more uniform performance regardless of focal length, while Fujifilm employs optical image stabilization specifically designed into the lens system. Both proved effective during handheld shooting, but Fujifilm's OIS had a slight advantage when shooting at maximum zoom, noticeably reducing shake more efficiently during static shots.

Viewing and Composing Your Shot

A key consideration often glossed over is how you actually see your image while shooting. The Casio EX-ZR700 foregoes any viewfinder, relying solely on its 3-inch fixed Super Clear TFT LCD with 922k dots. It's bright and fairly sharp, but under harsh sunlight can get washed out.

The Fujifilm S9400W compensates for this lacking viewfinder in Casio’s camera by including an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 201k dots and approximately 97 percent coverage. While not high-res by today’s standards, it helps immensely for composition, especially in bright daylight or when zoomed to long focal lengths where screen shake becomes an issue.

Personally, I've found EVFs on bridge cameras indispensable for wildlife and telephoto work: they provide a steady eye on the subject and allow for quicker framing adjustments compared to LCD reliance alone.

Autofocus: Is Speed and Accuracy on the Menu?

Autofocus in small sensor superzooms tends to be contrast-based, inherently slower than phase detection systems found in more advanced cameras. Casio’s EX-ZR700 features single autofocus with tracking and face detection, but no continuous AF during burst shooting. Fujifilm steps it up with single, continuous, and tracking AF modes, including face detection.

In practical terms, I found the Fujifilm S9400W’s autofocus more adept at following moving subjects - an important factor if you intend to shoot wildlife or sports casually. The EX-ZR700's AF is decent for static subjects but lags behind when speed is required. Both cameras lack advanced features like eye tracking or animal detection, so manual focus patience or pre-focusing may be necessary for demanding action shots.

Burst Rates and Buffer: Key for Capturing the Decisive Moment

Burst shooting helps those “gotcha” photos of fleeting action, and here the Fujifilm S9400W impresses with a max continuous shooting rate of 10 fps, compared to Casio’s modest 3 fps. Although raw buffer depth and sustained rate aren’t stellar (due to the small sensor and compressed JPEG writes), Fujifilm’s higher frame rate can mean the difference in freezing motion or catching expressions for sports and wildlife shooters.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photography

Moving into video, both cameras max out at Full HD 1080p recording. Casio offers 1920x1080 at 30 fps, recording in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats with a quirky suite of slow-motion options: frame rates down to 1000 fps at lower resolutions. These ultra slow-mo tricks are fun but of niche use.

Fujifilm provides 1080p video at 60i (interlaced), as well as 1280x960 at 60p, which yields smoother, more natural motion - a plus for amateur videographers wanting fluid footage. Neither supports 4K or microphone inputs, so serious videographers will find both limited.

Neither camera offers in-body microphone or headphone jacks, meaning sound quality is constrained to internal mics - so if audio is mission critical, consider external recorders or other camera systems.

Durability and Battery Life: Ready for Your Adventures?

Both cameras lack environmental sealing, so be mindful around dust or rain - no weatherproofing to brag about here. Weight advantage goes handily to Casio, as mentioned earlier.

Battery life: Casio’s dedicated NP-130 lithium-ion pack lasts for approximately 470 shots per charge, while Fujifilm’s S9400W, running on four AA batteries, claims around 500 shots. From experience, the EF-ZR700’s dedicated battery system is more convenient and cost-effective long term, especially with rechargeable lithium options. AA batteries are easy to swap on the fly but heavier to carry in multiples and less eco-friendly.

Storage-wise, both support SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with a single card slot. The Fujifilm S9400W offers a bit of extra convenience with some internal storage, a nice bonus in emergencies.

Connectivity and Extras: What’s on Board?

The Fujifilm S9400W adds built-in wireless connectivity - a rare feature for cameras in this tier - allowing easy image sharing to paired devices. The Casio EX-ZR700 offers no wireless or Bluetooth options, which might be a dealbreaker if instant sharing is important.

Both feature HDMI outputs and USB 2.0 for wired transfer. No GPS or NFC on either model.

How Do They Score Overall? A Visual Summary

For a quick snapshot, here’s an overall scoring comparison summarizing their strengths based on hands-on testing and evaluation criteria I consistently apply in my reviews:

Across Photography Genres: Which Camera Fits Your Style?

Every photographer’s needs vary wildly, so here’s how each camera stacks up in specific photographic disciplines, factoring real-world use cases:

Portrait Photography:
The Fujifilm’s wider aperture at the wide-angle end, face detection autofocus, and EVF make it better suited for casual portraits. The EX-ZR700’s sensor-shift stabilization helps with handheld shooting but limited max aperture and no RAW limit bokeh potential. Neither supports RAW, so post-processing flexibility is restricted.

Landscape Photography:
Both cameras share the same resolution and sensor size, but Fujifilm’s broader ISO range and extended zoom might tempt landscapes at varied distances. However, neither offers weather sealing. Casio’s compactness wins for backpackers; Fujifilm’s bigger body might accommodate better handling when using a tripod.

Wildlife Photography:
Fujifilm’s 50× zoom at 1200mm equivalent and faster burst shooting make it more capable to follow distant subjects. Casio’s 18× is shorter reach and slower burst.

Sports Photography:
Fujifilm again leads with better continuous AF and faster shooting speed. Neither models are professional sports cameras, so expect limitations.

Street Photography:
This is where Casio EX-ZR700 shines: compact, lightweight, discrete without a noisy mechanical zoom or bulky build. Fujifilm’s heft makes it less inconspicuous.

Macro Photography:
Fujifilm has closer focusing distance (1 cm compared to Casio’s 5 cm), allowing more impressive close-up shots. Stabilization helps in both for handheld macro - sensor-shift (Casio) versus optical (Fujifilm) both do an adequate job.

Night/Astro Photography:
Neither camera excels here given small sensor size and limited ISO performance, but Fujifilm’s higher max ISO is a slight advantage. No manual bulb mode or astro-specific features limit results.

Video:
Fujifilm’s 1080p60 offers smoother video but no 4K from either camera. Casio’s extensive slow motion modes cater to creative use but not overall video quality.

Travel Photography:
Weight, size, battery life, and ease-of-use matter most here. Casio EX-ZR700’s slim profile and compactness make it ideal for travel convenience. Fujifilm’s longer zoom range attracts wildlife or sightseeing travelers but adds bulk.

Professional Work:
Neither supports RAW, tethering, or professional-grade features like dual card slots. For pros, these are backup or casual cameras rather than main units.

Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

Let’s look at a few frame grabbers taken side-by-side to judge color rendition, sharpness, and detail across varied lighting:

Casio EX ZR700 front Casio EX ZR700 screen back Fujifilm S9400W front Fujifilm S9400W screen back

Observe Fujifilm’s richer colors and tighter detail at telephoto vs. Casio’s punchy but slightly softer overall look. Shadows and highlights render comparably - neither blows the other away, underscoring the sensor equivalence.

Wrapping Up: Which Superzoom Deserves a Spot in Your Bag?

After testing tens of superzoom cameras, I can say both the Casio EX-ZR700 and Fujifilm S9400W have their merits but serve different audiences.

The Casio EX-ZR700 is a compact, beginner-friendly superzoom that excels in portability, ease of use, and offers good image stabilization and respectable image quality for daylight shooting. It is perfect for:

• Street photographers seeking inconspicuous gear.
• Traveling light without compromising zoom flexibility.
• Casual shooters prioritizing simplicity over burst speed or video quality.

The Fujifilm S9400W caters to users who want the longest zoom reach for wildlife observation or telephoto exploration, a faster burst for moving subjects, and an EVF for better controlling composition. It is best suited for:

• Amateur wildlife or sports photographers needing extended zoom.
• Users valuing smooth video at 60i.
• Photographers wanting wireless image transfer on the go.

Neither camera is a professional-grade option, nor do they handle low light or fast autofocus smoothly enough for critical action photography. Both are best seen as versatile, budget-friendly superzooms for enthusiasts who want reach without the hassle and expense of interchangeable lenses.

Final Thoughts: It Pays to Match Tools with Your Priorities

Choosing between the Casio EX-ZR700 and Fujifilm S9400W boils down to what you value more: the Casio’s compactness and lightweight stealth, or Fujifilm’s zoom range and decent speed. From easy street snapshots to birdwatching safaris to casual travel documentation, these cameras cover a surprising amount of ground for their price.

(Revisited for form factor reminder)
If I were packing for a hike where every gram counts, the Casio wins hands down. For backyard birdwatching or family sports day where zoom and speed are king, I’d lean Fujifilm.

Whichever camp you fall into, neither camera will make you feel like a pro - nor do they pretend to - but both bring a dose of fun and utility to superzoom photography. And if your budget or use cases grow, consider stepping up to mirrorless or DSLR platforms; meanwhile, these two offer a respectable, inexpensive gateway into zoom adventures.

Thanks for sticking with me through this in-depth face-off! If you want further advice on lenses, accessories, or alternatives, shoot away in the comments - I’m always happy to chat gear.

Happy shooting!