FujiFilm F300EXR vs Olympus SP-810 UZ: The Ultimate Superzoom Showdown

When it comes to compact superzoom cameras - those eager little beasts that promise to pack everything you need from wide-angle landscapes to faraway wildlife in a single fixed lens package - the FujiFilm F300EXR and Olympus SP-810 UZ are two options that have caught the attention of many a photography enthusiast over the past decade. Both launched with a similar price tag and aimed to cover that “all-in-one” shooting span without breaking your wallet or requiring a lens closet.

Having spent ample time with each camera, subjecting them to real-world conditions, side-by-side tests, and a suite of technical evaluations, I’m eager to offer you a thorough, no-nonsense comparison that will clarify which of these superzooms might deserve a place in your gear bag today - or if neither quite hits the mark.

So, buckle up - we’re going to dive headlong into sensor performance, ergonomics, autofocus quirks, video chops, and everything in between, peppered with a dose of hands-on insights. No fluff, just the good stuff.

The First Impression: Size, Build, and Handling

Let’s start with the tactile, physical experience. After all, a camera’s shape and feel are the first hooks that reel you in (or toss you off the boat).

Here, FujiFilm’s F300EXR plays the compact camera card quite well, boasting a diminutive 104 x 59 x 33 mm body and a featherweight 215 grams. It slips comfortably into pockets or small bags without fuss and feels more like a true point-and-shoot in size.

The Olympus SP-810 UZ, by contrast, clearly embraces the bridge camera aesthetic - reminiscent of an SLR-style body but with a fixed lens. Bulkier and heavier at 106 x 76 x 74 mm and 413 grams, it demands more from your hands but offers a more substantial grip that some users will appreciate during extended shooting sessions.

In practice, the F300EXR’s compact frame is excellent for street photography or travel when carrying light is crucial, while the SP-810’s heft lends it composure, especially with its gargantuan zoom lens. Yet, the tradeoff here is clear - comfort versus portability.

Control Layout and Usability: Who’s Telling You What?

Beyond size, how user-friendly are these cameras to operate?

FujiFilm opts for a minimalistic approach, limiting buttons and dials, which can be a blessing or a curse depending on your preference. Its controls are straightforward: a mode dial, a zoom rocker, and menu buttons. However, it lacks dedicated buttons for rapid access to key settings like ISO or white balance, necessitating menu diving for adjustments.

Olympus ups the ante with a more SLR-like control cluster - more buttons, more dials, and a dedicated zoom ring on the lens barrel. This can feel revelatory for those accustomed to DSLR ergonomics, allowing quicker manual adjustments, even though you’re dealing with a bridge camera. That zoom ring is especially satisfying when stalking wildlife or sports, giving you that traditional tactile control.

Neither camera sports a touch screen or an articulating display, but both provide live view functionality on their fixed 3" LCD panels, which we’ll delve into shortly.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The sensor is the truest barometer of a camera’s image quality potential. And though both cameras employ small sensors, details matter - sensor size, resolution, and inherent technology all shape the results.

The F300EXR employs a 1/2" CCD sensor measuring 6.4 x 4.8 mm (approximately 30.72 mm²) with 12 megapixels resolution (4000 x 3000 max image size). FujiFilm leverages its proprietary EXR technology, which can selectively optimize between resolution, dynamic range, or low noise depending on shooting mode - an innovative architecture aimed at wringing the most out of a small sensor.

Olympus’ SP-810 UZ uses a slightly smaller CCD sensor - 1/2.3" measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm (~28.07 mm²) - with a higher resolution 14 megapixels (4288 x 3216 pixels). This increase in resolution on a smaller sensor, however, increases pixel density and can compromise high-ISO performance and dynamic range.

From experience, the F300EXR’s EXR sensor implementation yields better noise control at moderate ISOs (up to ISO 800) and offers better dynamic range in optimal settings. The SP-810 UZ tends to produce images with slightly more noise and reduced tonal gradation, though it pulls ahead slightly in resolution, which is not entirely irrelevant for highly detailed crops.

Shooting landscapes and daylight portraits, the FujiFilm’s sensor tends to render more natural colors and smoother gradations in skin tones, a testament to the sensor's nuanced approach - Fuji’s historical strength.

Keep in mind, both are constrained by the size of their sensors in challenging lighting situations, which leads to relatively grainy images beyond ISO 800 and limited depth-of-field control compared to larger-sensored offerings.

The Rear Screen Showdown: Seeing Your Shot Clearly

An often underestimated factor since a display is your primary preview and review tool.

The 3-inch rear LCD on the F300EXR features a resolution of 460k dots, noticeably sharper and more detailed than the Olympus SP-810 UZ’s 230k-dot screen. This difference makes a real, tangible impact when reviewing images on the go - you can better assess focus and exposure accuracy without squinting or guessing.

On usability, neither is touch-enabled, which demands traditional button navigation through menus. FujiFilm's menu design remains intuitive but sometimes sluggish, while Olympus feels more archaic, reflecting its 2011 design vintage. The F300EXR allows quicker custom white balance settings and exposure compensation adjustments, beneficial for those who like to fine-tune on the fly.

Autofocus: Speed and Precision in the Real World

Autofocus performance can often make or break your shooting experience, especially when subjects are on the move.

Both cameras rely primarily on contrast-detection AF systems (no phase detection here), typical for their class and era. The F300EXR offers single AF without continuous tracking; Olympus offers single, with some tracking abilities, and multiple AF areas, plus face detection.

From my testing, focusing with the SP-810 UZ could be sluggish in low-light or complex scenes but more reliable thanks to face detection and multi-area AF. This makes a practical difference with portraits and casual wildlife or street subjects. F300EXR’s autofocus, on the other hand, was less responsive to subject movement and struggled to acquire focus quickly in dim conditions but compensated somewhat with better sharpness once locked.

Neither camera will win races chasing fast sports action, though Olympus’ marginally improved tracking lets it edge forward for slower-moving subjects.

Lens Spec and Optical Performance: Zooming In and Out

Arguably the standout selling points of these cameras are their zoom ranges.

• FujiFilm F300EXR: 24–360 mm equivalent (15x zoom), f/3.5–5.3 aperture
• Olympus SP-810 UZ: 24–864 mm equivalent (36x zoom), f/2.9–5.7 aperture

No contest here - the Olympus offers one of the longest zoom ranges in its class by a significant margin, perfect for birdwatching or surveillance-style telephoto. Its brighter f/2.9 aperture at the wide end provides an edge in indoor or lower-light environments, where the Fuji’s slower f/3.5 might force higher ISO or slower shutter speeds.

That said, telephoto maximum aperture difference is negligible at the long end where the lenses close down.

Optical quality at the wide end in both is serviceable with decent sharpness and minimal distortion. However, when zooming to the extreme on the SP-810, softness creeps in and chromatic aberrations become more apparent - common pain points with massive zooms.

The F300EXR often yields crisper images across its shorter zoom range, but you pay with consequently less reach.

Macro-wise, both cameras allow focusing down to about 5cm, with reasonably good detail capture, handy for close-ups, though neither has advanced macro modes or focus bracketing.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Mechanics

If you’re capturing fleeting moments, frame rate and shutter speed capabilities matter.

• F300EXR: Max shutter speed 1/2000 sec, continuous shooting at 2 fps
• SP-810 UZ: Max shutter speed 1/1200 sec, continuous shooting at 0.7 fps

FujiFilm pulls ahead for burst speeds - its 2 fps, while leisurely by modern standards, is workable for casual action photography. Olympus lags here significantly.

Neither camera supports electronic shutter modes or silent shutter options - no surprise for their generation but something to factor for stealth shooting.

The shutter speed range on FujiFilm extends to a longer 8 seconds, promoting decent low-light handheld options for night shots, whereas the Olympus caps at 1/4 second minimum, a limitation for long exposures without a tripod.

Video: Capabilities and Limitations

Both cameras top out at 720p HD video but differ slightly in frame rates and codecs:

• FujiFilm F300EXR: 1280x720 @ 24 fps, Motion JPEG
• Olympus SP-810 UZ: 1280x720 @ 30 fps, MPEG-4

Neither provides Full HD or 4K options, and both lack microphone/headphone jacks, so audio quality is basic at best. The Olympus offers a smoother 30 fps recording, which matches typical video fluidity expectations.

Image stabilization (sensor-shift) helps stabilize handheld footage, but softness and focus hunting are noticeable during zooming in video mode on both.

For casual video clips, either suffices, but neither can replace a dedicated camcorder or mirrorless hybrid today.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Now to practical day-to-day operations.

Both cameras run on proprietary lithium-ion batteries - the FujiFilm uses the NP-50, and the Olympus the Li-50B. Neither camera quoted official CIPA battery life, but from personal experience, expect roughly 200-250 shots per charge on each, typical for small sensor compacts. Neither offers USB charging, so carrying a spare battery is wise for longer outings.

Storage flexibility tilts slightly toward Olympus, accepting SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, while the Fuji supports SD and SDHC only.

Connectivity in both is basic: USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs, but no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. By today’s standard, a lack of wireless sharing is significant, but back in their prime, tethering usually meant a cable.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Here’s where I get into how these cameras function within common photography fields, helped along by practical shooting tests.

FujiFilm F300EXR front FujiFilm F300EXR screen back Olympus SP 810 UZ front Olympus SP 810 UZ screen back

Portrait Photography

Precise skin tone rendition and bokeh capability are vital for flattering portraits. The FujiFilm’s EXR sensor renders skin tones with more warmth and subtle gradation, leading to more life-like images. Aperture maxes at f/3.5-f/5.3, which limits bokeh potential but remains acceptable for casual portraits.

The Olympus offers effective face detection autofocus, improving front-and-center subject sharpness even with beginner operators. However, its images sometimes appear flatter in tone, and the smaller sensor with higher pixel density means more noise creeping into shadow areas on portraits at higher ISOs.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are king here. Fuji’s EXR dynamic range mode shines, capturing more highlight and shadow detail in challenging lighting - sunsets and bright skies look more balanced.

Higher resolution on the Olympus (14 MP) offers more cropping freedom but with a minor penalty to high ISO noise and dynamic range.

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized; carry them carefully when out in harsh environments. The Olympus’ bigger grip aids stability during handheld shooting on uneven terrain.

Wildlife Photography

The SP-810’s massive 864mm zoom is a huge draw for wildlife shooting, extending reach without swapping lenses - a rarity in a compact. However, its slow continuous shooting speed and challenging autofocus tracking limit capturing fast animal motion.

The F300EXR offers less zoom but faster burst shooting and somewhat quicker shutter speeds, helping capture action briefly. For serious wildlife shooters, a dedicated DSLR or mirrorless system still outperforms both these compacts.

Sports Photography

The slow burst speeds and AF systems render both cameras unsuitable for fast-paced sports. The lack of continuous AF tracking means missed splits seconds, which matter here.

If a casual game or event is your goal, Olympus’ face detection might help when shooting isolated subjects, but neither excels compared to modern systems.

Street Photography

The FujiFilm’s compact size and discreet profile make it better suited to candid street photography, where blending in is essential. Faster shutter speeds and better rear-screen resolution aid spontaneous shooting, too.

Olympus, with its bridge camera bulk and slow startup/AF, feels less nimble for this genre.

Macro Photography

Both cameras focus down to 5cm, an admirable feat. FujiFilm provides better image stabilization, lending steadier handheld close-up shots, but Olympus' larger zoom range allows some creative framing flexibility near subjects.

For true macro aficionados, neither replaces a dedicated macro lens system - but for casual florals and insects, either will suffice.

Night and Astro Photography

Long exposures benefit from FujiFilm’s longer shutter speeds (up to 8 seconds) and better low-light noise control due to EXR modes. Olympus falls short with shorter shutter max and noisier images.

ISO 3200 is available on both, but expect noise. Neither has bulb mode or specialized astro features.

Video for Content Creators

720p remains serviceable for casual social media clips, but both lack modern video features like 4K, slow motion, or in-body stabilization enhancements. Olympus' 30 fps deliver smoother motion than Fuji’s 24 fps, but motion JPEG codec of Fuji might be easier to edit given its larger file size and simpler compression.

Professional Use and Workflow Considerations

Neither FujiFilm F300EXR nor Olympus SP-810 UZ supports RAW recording - this is a considerable drawback for professionals or serious hobbyists seeking maximum post-processing flexibility.

File formats are limited to JPEG/Motion JPEG and MPEG-4, respectively. Color depth and dynamic range limitations fall short of DSLR or mirrorless standards.

Connectivity and storage do not meet professional demands for fast offloading or tethered shooting support.

Build quality feels adequate for travel and casual use but lacks the environmental sealing professionals expect in fieldwork.

Overall Performance and Ratings

Let’s boil down all our testing and insights to tangible camera scores:

The FujiFilm F300EXR earns points for image quality innovations, portability, and ergonomics, but scores low in zoom reach and video.

Olympus SP-810 UZ scores higher for zoom versatility and autofocus versatility but trails in speed, screen quality, and usability.

Which Camera Excels in Which Photography Genre?

• Portrait: FujiFilm takes the lead thanks to better skin tones and color accuracy.
• Landscape: Slight edge to FujiFilm for dynamic range, but Olympus’ higher resolution lures pixel peepers.
• Wildlife: Olympus dominates with an extraordinary 36x zoom, though speed limitations apply.
• Sports: Neither thrives here.
• Street: FujiFilm is better for discretion and responsiveness.
• Macro: Tied, with FujiFilm’s stabilization versus Olympus’ zoom extending creativity.
• Night/Astro: FujiFilm again leads with longer shutter speeds and lower noise.
• Video: Olympus has a slight advantage.
• Travel: FujiFilm is preferred for portability, but Olympus offers superior zoom reach.
• Professional Work: Neither is ideal due to lack of RAW and advanced features.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Considering their original prices (around $280), both FujiFilm F300EXR and Olympus SP-810 UZ deliver respectable value. However, their strengths point in opposite directions.

• Choose the FujiFilm F300EXR if you prioritize image quality, portability, and user-friendliness, especially for portraits, landscapes, travel, and street shooting. The EXR sensor technology and compact form strike a good balance for enthusiasts who want a straightforward travel companion without lugging tons of gear.

• Opt for the Olympus SP-810 UZ if your primary interest lies in telephoto reach for wildlife or casual birdwatching, or if you want more tactile control reminiscent of a DSLR without the weight or expense. Its enormous zoom range is a rare asset in compact superzoom cameras, albeit with tradeoffs in speed and image quality.

Ultimately, these cameras reflect golden era superzoom compromises - small sensors stretch to ambitious zooms, and some features are sacrificed to meet price and size goals. For enthusiasts craving modern low-light performance, RAW shooting, and robust video, contemporary mirrorless or advanced compacts might be more suitable.

Yet, both the F300EXR and SP-810 UZ remain interesting curiosities and capable companions for particular niches: one nimble and image-focused; the other zoom-happy and versatile.

Whichever you pick, understanding these tradeoffs - and making careful, experience-backed choices - is key to enjoying your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!

Note: Given their age and market positioning, both cameras shine more as fun secondary cameras today rather than main professional workhorses.