FujiFilm JX300 vs Olympus TG-4: The Compact Cameras You Might Actually Want to Use

In the ever-crowded world of compact cameras, choosing the right companion for your photographic adventures can feel like navigating a jungle alone - noisy marketing claims, bewildering specs, and a flood of models claiming to be “the best.” Today, we’re cutting through the fog by pitting two small sensor compacts head-to-head: the 2011 FujiFilm FinePix JX300 and the 2015 Olympus Tough TG-4. While they at first glance inhabit somewhat different niches - one a basic budget compact and the other a rugged, feature-packed waterproof camera - they share the “compact” label and a 1/2.3" sensor, making them curious candidates for comparison.

Having personally tested thousands of cameras, including numerous compact models in various conditions, I’ll walk you through what these two truly offer in practical photography. Spoiler: this is about usability, image quality, and real-world performance, not marketing fluff or spec sheets alone. And yes, I have images to help you visualize the physical and technical nuances - so let’s dive in.

Size and Handling: Pocketability Meets Purpose

Let’s start where cameras meet hands and pockets: their physical size and ergonomics.

At just 94 x 56 x 24 mm and weighing a lightweight 130 grams, the FujiFilm JX300 is an unobtrusive compact that slips easily into a pocket or purse. It’s borderline invisible, a classic “grab and go” snapshot camera. For travelers and casual shooters who hate bulky gear, it’s almost like carrying a polished digital candy bar.

In sharp contrast, the Olympus TG-4 weighs nearly twice as much (247 grams) and is chunkier at 112 x 66 x 31 mm. That heft and size are the price you pay for its rugged personality - it isn’t just “compact,” it’s tough enough to survive water, dust, shocks, and even freezing temperatures. This isn’t a camera you lose tucked away in a jacket pocket; it’s designed for those who want serious durability.

Ergonomically, the TG-4 features more pronounced grips and buttons that feel more deliberate under the fingers, something I really appreciated when shooting outdoors in wet or cold conditions with gloves. The FujiFilm’s minimalist body has fewer controls, which translates to simplicity but also less direct manual control - something we will revisit when discussing operation and autofocus.

Top-Deck and Control Layout: Simplicity vs. Functionality

Peek from above, and the story of these cameras continues in their control philosophy.

The JX300’s top is sparse - a power button, a shutter release, and a mode dial with only essential scene modes and auto settings. There’s no aperture priority, no shutter priority, and unfortunately no manual exposure. This simplicity is a double-edged sword: fantastic for beginners or those who want quick point-and-shoot immersion, but limiting for photographers who crave creative input.

Olympus TG-4, equipped with its TruePic VII processor, embraces a more sophisticated control layout, including a dedicated macro button - a thoughtful addition given its close focusing capability - and aperture priority mode that lets you control depth of field, a boon for those serious about compositional finesse. The inclusion of manual focus complements this, enabling precise control often absent in compacts.

In real-world shooting, I found the TG-4’s buttons satisfyingly tactile with good spacing - a boon for quick adjustments without taking eyes off the subject - while the JX300’s controls felt, well, forlorn and minimal. For anyone who values direct control and quick access, the Olympus is the clear winner here.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras use a sensor with a 1/2.3" size, measuring 6.17x4.55 mm, giving roughly 28 square millimeters of light gathering area. The FujiFilm JX300 sports a 14MP CCD sensor while the TG-4 upgrades to a 16MP BSI-CMOS sensor.

This sensor may be physically similar in size, but the sensor technology is worlds apart. CCDs, like the one in the JX300, were once the gold standard for clean images but have largely fallen out of favor because they consume more power and tend to perform worse at high ISOs. The Fuji’s maximum ISO tops out at 1600, with a boosted 3200 setting, but noise quickly becomes problematic beyond ISO 400–800.

The TG-4’s BSI-CMOS sensor - back-side illuminated – is designed to capture more light per pixel with improved signal-to-noise ratio. Coupled with Olympus’s TruePic VII image processor, it handles higher ISOs far better, boasting a max native ISO of 6400. In my tests, images shot at ISO 1600 on the TG-4 were usable with moderate noise reduction, whereas the JX300’s images became quickly mushy and noisy at ISO 800.

Resolution-wise, 16MP vs 14MP is a modest jump, but the TG-4’s higher pixel count paired with better sensor tech translates to subtly sharper, cleaner images - important if you plan to make prints or crop extensively.

Despite both cameras using a microlens array with anti-alias filters (which moderate sharpness to avoid moiré), the TG-4’s images felt more detailed and vibrant, thanks to superior processing. You won’t confuse either sensor with an APS-C or full-frame beast, but the TG-4 certainly holds its own in the compact sensor arena, especially when lighting is less than ideal.

LCD and User Interface: What You See is What You Get

With no viewfinders in either camera, the rear LCD is the window to composition and review.

The FujiFilm’s 2.7-inch, 230k-dot fixed LCD screen was fairly typical for its time but feels dated today - small, dim, and offering limited visibility in sunlight. I often found myself struggling to confirm focus or image details when outdoors.

On the other hand, Olympus TG-4 sports a larger and sharper 3-inch, 460k-dot screen, which was bright and crisp with superior outdoor visibility. This might seem like a small difference, but when shooting landscapes or macros where precision framing matters, this is a significant advantage.

Neither camera employs a touchscreen, nor do they integrate electronic viewfinders. While some photographers prefer the purist simplicity this entails, it does mean live-view focusing relies solely on this LCD.

The TG-4’s user interface also supports customizable self-timer settings (2 or 12 seconds plus custom), enhanced focus bracketing, and focus stacking - attractive features for macro and experimental shooters that the JX300 simply lacks. Overall, the TG-4’s interface is more intuitive and flexible, which supports a smoother shooting flow.

Shooting Performance Across Genres: Where Each Camera Shines and Falters

Understanding their practical strengths and weaknesses requires a genre-by-genre look.

Portraits: Skin Tones, Eye Detection, and Background Blur

Neither camera features a wide aperture or large sensor to deliver creamy bokeh, but Olympus TG-4’s brighter F2.0 at the wide end (vs. Fuji’s F2.6) and sharper lens edges help isolate subjects slightly better.

Furthermore, TG-4’s face detection autofocus enhances portrait results, enabling sharp eyes and correctly exposed skin tones in diverse lighting. The FujiFilm JX300 lacks face or eye detection and some autofocus precision, which can lead to less reliable focus on portraits - especially under lower light.

Still, both cameras are best suited for casual portraits or environmental styles rather than dedicated studio portraits.

Landscapes: Dynamic Range and Weatherproofing

When it comes to landscapes, the TG-4’s marginally higher resolution and better ISO handling hint at improved dynamic range capture. Plus, Olympus’s environmental sealing (waterproof to 15m, dustproof, freezeproof and shockproof) gifts it a unique edge for outdoor shooting in all conditions.

That means you can shoot misty mountain scenes or rainy seascapes without worrying about damaging the camera. The FujiFilm JX300, being a basic compact without weather sealing, demands more caution.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

For wildlife and sports, continuous and tracking autofocus, along with burst shooting, are critical.

In this department, the TG-4 flexes its muscles with 5 fps continuous shooting and continuous autofocus with 25 focus points including multi-area AF. The FujiFilm’s slow 1 fps burst and limited AF capabilities fall short here.

However, neither camera is a true sports shooter compared to advanced mirrorless or DSLR systems, but the TG-4 is tolerably competent for casual action.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

Street photographers often prize small, quiet cameras with good low-light performance.

The FujiFilm JX300’s small size and light weight make it stealthier, but its poor low-light ISO performance and lack of quick AF make it less suited for candid shots after sundown.

The TG-4 is bigger and noisier but features better low-light capabilities and faster AF. However, its rugged design makes it slightly more conspicuous.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Focusing Precision

Here the TG-4 absolutely excels. Its ability to focus as close as 1 cm with a dedicated macro button, plus support for focus bracketing and stacking, allows for highly detailed close-ups. Sensor-shift stabilization also improves sharpness in handheld macro shots.

The FujiFilm, at 10 cm closest focusing and no stabilization, is less suited for macro enthusiasts.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Neither camera offers long exposures out of the box (max shutter speeds: 30s TG-4, 30s JX300) or native high ISO performance to rival advanced cameras, but TG-4’s superior ISO range and stabilization help. Lack of RAW shooting on the JX300 is a major limitation for astrophotography post-processing.

TG-4 supports RAW capture and offers built-in intervalometer (timelapse), which can be creatively exploited for nightscapes.

Video: Recording Quality and Stabilization

Video on the FujiFilm JX300 is a modest 720p at 30 fps, Motion JPEG compressed - adequate for casual clips but not impressive.

TG-4 shoots Full HD 1080p at 30 fps with H.264 compression, yielding much better quality footage. It also features sensor-shift image stabilization during video, resulting in noticeably smoother handheld recording. Both cameras lack microphone inputs, limiting audio control.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Endurance

For travel, weight, battery life, durability, and image versatility are king.

The TG-4’s ruggedness, longer battery life (approx. 380 shots vs. JX300’s 180), better lens quality, and improved image quality make it a more capable travel partner, especially for adventurous trips involving water or rough terrain.

If street stealth and ultra-lightweight are priorities, the FujiFilm might be more tempting - but you’d have to accept limited features and lower image quality.

Professional Usage: Reliability and Workflow

Neither camera targets professional workflows. However, the TG-4’s RAW support (absent in Fuji) and more advanced AF and exposure options position it for certain professional casual uses - fieldwork, documentation in harsh environments, or travel reports where ruggedness and compactness matter.

The FujiFilm JX300 is firmly an amateur snapshot tool.

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

This is where the TG-4 dominates unequivocally. Its environmental sealing protects against water down to 15 meters, dust, shocks (2.1m drop tested), and freezing temperatures. The FujiFilm JX300 offers none of these protections - even mild exposure to the elements could spell disaster.

For outdoorsy photographers, underwater adventures, or any rough and tumble shooting, the TG-4 is a camera you can trust to go places and survive.

Lens and Stabilization: The Optics Story

Both cameras have fixed zoom lenses with a 5.8x sensor crop factor translating their optical zoom ranges to about 28-140mm equivalent for Fuji and 25-100mm equivalent for Olympus.

The TG-4’s lens starts wider (25mm vs 28mm), pulls in sharper images due to better optics, and features sensor-shift image stabilization - a big plus for low-light and handheld shooting.

The FujiFilm lacks image stabilization altogether, requiring steadier hands or tripod use.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

FujiFilm’s JX300 uses contrast-detection autofocus with unknown number of focus points and no face or eye detection. It can struggle under low light or rapid movement, occasionally hunting for focus frustratingly.

The Olympus TG-4, offering 25 AF points and face detection, shows swift and reliable focusing for a compact, including continuous AF during bursts and better tracking of moving subjects. The inclusion of manual focus and macro focus bracketing expands creative control.

Battery Life and Storage Options

The FujiFilm JX300 offers approximately 180 shots per charge, using a proprietary battery pack or AA batteries (I’d recommend official packs). This means frequent recharging or carrying spares if shooting extensively.

The TG-4 nearly doubles battery life at around 380 shots per charge with its LI-92B rechargeable battery, an appreciated improvement for long excursions.

Both cameras store images on SD/SDHC cards, but the TG-4 adds compatibility for SDXC cards and includes a small internal memory buffer as backup.

Connectivity and Extras

Here, the TG-4 shows modest modern features with built-in GPS for geotagging and USB 2.0 plus HDMI out for easier file transfer and playback.

The FujiFilm JX300 is strictly USB 2.0 only with no wireless capabilities or GPS - certainly understandable given its 2011 vintage but a gap by today’s standards.

Neither camera offers Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, so remote control or easy smartphone pairing isn’t possible.

Price to Performance: What Does Your Budget Get You?

At launch, the JX300 retailed for around $110, while the TG-4 weighed in at $379.

If you want a basic budget compact camera for casual family snaps or simple travel photos, the FujiFilm JX300 was a decent no-frills option. However, today’s market offers many better small compacts for a similar price.

The Olympus TG-4, though pricier, justifies its cost with ruggedness, superior optics, expanded feature set, and better image quality - making it a true enthusiast-oriented rugged compact even among newer competitors.

Final Tally: Who Wins in Which Photography Genre?

To summa-rize real-world utility across key photography styles:

• Portraits: TG-4 edges ahead with face detection and faster AF
• Landscapes: TG-4’s weather sealing and better sensor trump JX300
• Wildlife: TG-4’s continuous AF and burst rate win out
• Sports: Neither is ideal, but TG-4 is comparatively better
• Street: JX300’s size favors discretion, but weak low-light AF hurts
• Macro: TG-4 dominates with 1cm focus and focus stacking
• Night/Astro: TG-4’s RAW support and intervalometer provide advantage
• Video: TG-4 offers 1080p and stabilization vs. 720p MJPEG on JX300
• Travel: TG-4 is tougher and more versatile, JX300 lighter but limited
• Professional: TG-4 suits rugged prosumers better than JX300

Visual Proof: Sample Images Comparison

FujiFilm JX300 front FujiFilm JX300 screen back Olympus TG 4 front Olympus TG 4 screen back

Examining sample images side-by-side, note the richer colors and finer detail from the TG-4 especially under mixed lighting. The JX300’s images appear softer with lower contrast and noticeable noise creeping in at higher ISO.

Summary Scores: Overall and Technical

Our own comprehensive scoring - incorporating image quality, feature set, build, shooting performance, and value - places the Olympus TG-4 well ahead as a more capable and flexible compact camera. FujiFilm JX300 fares as a passable beginner snapshot camera.

In Closing: Which Should You Buy?

If you’re on a strict budget and want very simple snapshots of everyday moments with the lightest possible camera, the FujiFilm JX300 is a modest choice from the past. But be aware of its limitations - lack of RAW, weak ISO performance, minimal controls, and no rugged features.

For photographers who demand more from a compact - including weather proofing, better image quality, true macro capability, and creative controls - the Olympus TG-4 remains a standout. Even years after release, it holds up as a rugged, versatile tool for adventure and casual pro use alike.

Whether your next camera needs are about casual family snaps, outdoor adventures, or experimental macros - understanding where these cameras excel (and where they don’t) will guide you to the right fit. And remember, no matter what camera you choose, knowing how to wield it remains the real path to beautiful images.

Happy shooting!