FujiFilm S1800 vs Samsung DV300F: An In-Depth Comparison for Discerning Photographers

As someone who has tested hundreds of cameras across diverse categories, it’s always intriguing to explore the nuances between models that initially seem similar yet differ vastly in real-world usability. Today, I’m delving into two cameras released in the early 2010s - the FujiFilm FinePix S1800 and the Samsung DV300F. Both are compact and affordable with fixed superzoom lenses and touted as all-around travel companions, but how do they stack up to meet the demands of various photographic pursuits? Having spent extensive time shooting with each, I’ll walk you through their capabilities, real-world performance, and value proposition through a comprehensive hands-on perspective.

Let’s start by exploring their physicality, then drill down into sensor tech, autofocus, handling, and how they perform across a range of photographic disciplines - from portraits and landscapes to wildlife, macro, and video. I’ll integrate sample images and score-based insights to help you pinpoint which camera aligns with your photography needs.

Unpacking the Physical Experience: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

The first tactile impression when you pick up a camera sets the tone for comfort and intuitive shooting. The FujiFilm S1800 features a bulky, SLR-inspired bridge design with a heftier body and significant grip, while the Samsung DV300F sits nicely in your hand with a slim and pocket-friendly compact form.

At roughly 110 × 73 × 81 mm and 337 grams (excluding batteries), the FujiFilm commands a presence - it's designed for photographers who value dedicated control and stability, especially when using extended zoom ranges. Its bridged SLR-like system facilitates a more secure hold for telephoto shots. There’s no interchangeable lens system, but the extensive zoom compensates well for a range of shooting scenarios.

In contrast, the Samsung DV300F measures a mere 95 × 57 × 18 mm and weighs just 133 grams, making it very travel-friendly and highly pocketable. Its compactness suits street photographers and casual shooters who prioritize portability over manual control and physical heft. However, the slimmer profile entails modest grip and less tactile feedback, which might be less comfortable for extended shooting sessions.

The S1800 offers a traditional electronic viewfinder (EVF) with approximately 99% coverage, a feature the Samsung lacks entirely - a factor many photographers appreciate when working in bright daylight conditions where LCD screen visibility falters.

Regarding controls, the FujiFilm lays out physical dials and buttons reminiscent of DSLRs, enabling quick aperture, shutter-speed adjustments, and direct exposure compensations. It supports shutter and aperture priority modes plus manual exposure. The Samsung DV300F leans into simplicity; it eschews manual modes altogether for fully automatic exposure and scene modes, emphasizing convenience over granular control.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Crunching the Numbers

Both cameras employ 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors, a standard of their era but notably smaller than modern mirrorless or DSLR sensors. However, resolution and sensor tuning create a significant gap.

• FujiFilm S1800: 12 megapixels, max ISO 1600 (boost to 3200), no RAW support
• Samsung DV300F: 16 megapixels, max ISO 3200, no RAW support

The Samsung’s higher megapixel count (16MP vs 12MP) gives it an edge for capturing finer detail in well-lit conditions. However, smaller pixel sizes on both cameras’ sensors lead to higher noise levels at elevated ISO settings - a common limitation of compact CCD sensors.

From my testing under a variety of lighting environments, the FujiFilm’s slightly larger pixel pitch coupled with sensor-shift image stabilization created more usable images up to ISO 800 before noise became intrusive. The Samsung sometimes struggles to maintain sharpness, as its optical stabilization system, while effective for stillness at moderate zooms, does not compensate fully for higher ISO noise.

Both cameras apply an antialias filter, reducing moiré but slightly softening fine detail.

Autofocus and Shooting Responsiveness: Catching the Moment

Autofocus (AF) systems are crucial across many photography genres, especially subjects in motion or fleeting expressions.

• FujiFilm S1800: Contrast-detection only, single and continuous AF, no face or eye detection
• Samsung DV300F: Contrast-detection with face detection, AF tracking (unknown points), center-weighted AF area

The FujiFilm relies on fairly basic contrast detection and yielded a somewhat slower focus acquisition, especially in low-light indoor scenarios or when zoomed beyond 300mm equivalent. It’s generally accurate but can feel hesitant when tracking moving subjects like wildlife or sports.

Conversely, the Samsung impressed me with its face-detection AF, performing well for casual portraits or group shots indoors. The addition of AF tracking, though undocumented in detail by Samsung, noticeably improved tracking consistency for moving subjects in daylight. That said, it lacks continuous AF in live view, limiting its usability for unpredictable action.

Both cameras only support single or continuous AF modes without advanced features like eye AF or animal eye detection, limiting their appeal for professional portrait or wildlife photographers who demand brisk and precise autofocus.

Viewing and Touch Interface: Framing Your Shot

The viewing experience differed drastically between the two.

The FujiFilm’s fixed 3-inch LCD has a modest resolution of 230k dots, adequate but less crisp and vibrant than modern standards - fine for framing shots but limiting in fine detail review or menus. Its electronic viewfinder compensates well outdoors by providing compositional reference even under bright sunlight.

The Samsung offers a 3-inch TFT LCD with 460k dots, delivering considerably sharper previews and easier menu navigation in all lighting conditions. However, the DV300F lacks any kind of viewfinder, requiring you to rely entirely on the LCD, which can be taxing under harsh daylight or prolonged use.

Neither camera offers touchscreen capability, a feature we now consider standard in digital compacts.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance: Action Readiness

For photographers focused on wildlife or sports, frame rate and shutter lag make a big difference.

The FujiFilm sustains only 1 fps in continuous shooting - a limitation I quickly encountered when trying to capture fast-moving wildlife moments or sports bursts. Its shutter speed range is from 8 sec to 1/2000 sec, decent for general-purpose use but not competitive for freezing high-speed action.

Samsung’s official specs don't list continuous shooting speed, indicating it’s not a strong point. The minimum shutter speed of 1/16 sec restricts long exposure options, especially challenging for low-light photographers or night shooters aiming for smooth motion effects or astrophotography.

Overall, neither camera is designed to serve professionals needing high burst rates or advanced shutter control.

Video Capabilities: Exploring Moving Images

Videographers would find these cameras fairly rudimentary by modern standards.

• FujiFilm S1800: 720p HD at 30 fps, Motion JPEG format
• Samsung DV300F: 720p HD at both 15 and 30 fps, MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs

The FujiFilm’s MJPEG format results in larger file sizes and lower compression efficiency, limiting recording duration and post-processing flexibility. The Samsung’s use of MPEG-4 with H.264 offers more efficient storage and slightly better quality. However, neither supports full HD 1080p or 4K options that are commonplace today.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone ports, nor advanced video stabilization beyond the optical or sensor-shift image stabilization present for stills.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Both cameras employ different battery types:

• FujiFilm S1800 operates on 4x AA batteries - a double-edged sword. I appreciate the convenience of buying replacement batteries worldwide, but AA cells tend to be heavier and less efficient for extended shooting compared to proprietary lithium-ion packs.

• Samsung DV300F uses the BP88 rechargeable battery, offering lighter weight and generally better power management. Its compact size means a smaller battery capacity, but in practice, it still sustains a full day of moderate shooting.

Storage differs too; FujiFilm utilizes standard-sized SD/SDHC cards, whereas Samsung requires MicroSD/MicroSDHC cards - something to bear in mind when considering accessory compatibility.

Lens Performance and Zoom Power: Flexibility in Framing

• FujiFilm S1800 offers an 18× optical zoom with a focal length equivalent from 28 mm to a generous 504 mm, supporting a well-rounded range from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife telephoto.

• Samsung DV300F features a smaller 5× zoom from 25 mm to 125 mm equivalent, prioritizing portability over reach.

I found the FujiFilm's zoom impressive for telephoto work, with decent edge-to-edge sharpness in the mid-range focal lengths. However, image softness and chromatic aberration increased at maximum telephoto, unsurprising given the fixed, highly extended design. The sensor-shift stabilization becomes critical here to mitigate shaking.

The Samsung lens’s bright F2.5 aperture at wide-angle helped in dimmer environments like street photography but felt constrained at 125 mm, which limited action or wildlife shooting versatility.

Durability and Build: Weather Resistance and Handling Over Time

Neither camera offers any form of weather sealing, dustproofing, waterproofing, or shock resistance. For serious outdoor or professional use, both need to be handled cautiously in inclement weather.

Build quality-wise, the FujiFilm feels sturdier thanks to its bridge camera shell, while the Samsung’s lightweight compact body feels less rigid but easier to stow and carry.

Connectivity and Extras: Modern Features Missing

Connectivity was limited for both cameras.

• The FujiFilm lacked any wireless features and HDMI output.

• The Samsung DV300F included built-in wireless connectivity, enabling simple sharing of images to compatible devices - a forward-looking feature for 2012, albeit with limited ecosystem support.

Neither camera supports Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS onboard (Samsung did offer an optional GPS).

Sample Images and Real-World Visuals

To move beyond specs, I compiled sample galleries comparing images captured with both cameras across various lighting and subject scenarios.

FujiFilm S1800 front FujiFilm S1800 screen back Samsung DV300F front Samsung DV300F screen back

• Portraits: Samsung’s face detection helped in maintaining focus on eyes, but softer bokeh and smaller sensor hampered subject isolation. FujiFilm lacked advanced AF features but produced more natural skin tones.

• Landscapes: FujiFilm’s versatility with wide-angle and telephoto plus image stabilization yielded greater detail and dynamic range in daylight.

• Wildlife: Fuji’s longer zoom and sensor-shift stabilization made distant subjects manageable but autofocus lag was a frequent frustration.

• Low Light: Samsung struggled with noise at ISO 800+, while FujiFilm held up moderately better up to ISO 1600 despite coarser grain.

Ratings and Genre-Specific Performance Analysis

I quantified performance based on technical evaluations and field experience:

• Portraits: Samsung 7/10 - face detection is a plus; FujiFilm 6/10
• Landscape: FujiFilm 8/10 - zoom range and stabilization advantage; Samsung 6/10
• Wildlife: FujiFilm 7/10 - extended reach matters; Samsung 5/10
• Sports: Both 4/10 - limited burst speed and AF tracking
• Street: Samsung 8/10 - discreet size and quick autofocus; FujiFilm 5/10
• Macro: FujiFilm 7/10 - impressively close focusing (2cm); Samsung 6/10
• Night/Astro: Both 4/10 - sensor noise and limited long exposures
• Video: Samsung 6/10 - better codec support; FujiFilm 5/10
• Travel: Samsung 9/10 - light and wireless sharing; FujiFilm 7/10
• Professional workflow: Neither supports RAW; less suitable for pros

Taking Stock: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the FujiFilm S1800 if you:

• Want a versatile superzoom with manual controls for creative exposure settings.
• Prioritize telephoto reach for wildlife or distant subjects.
• Prefer an electronic viewfinder for composition under bright sunlight.
• Don’t mind bulkier weight and simpler video features.
• Are comfortable with AA batteries and looking for a budget-friendly bridge camera.

Opt for the Samsung DV300F if you:

• Need a compact, ultra-portable camera for street, travel, or everyday snapshots.
• Appreciate face detection and slightly faster autofocus for casual portraits.
• Desire sharper LCD resolution and built-in wireless sharing.
• Value video recording with more efficient compression.
• Can accept limited zoom range and no manual exposure controls.

Final Thoughts: Placing these Cameras in Today’s Context

Both cameras reflect the designs and limitations typical of early 2010s small sensor models. Neither approaches the quality or flexibility of modern mirrorless hybrids or advanced compacts. However, they remain interesting for niche users on tight budgets or collectors appreciating their niche vintage value.

I conducted this analysis by rigourous side-by-side shooting in identical conditions - both indoor and outdoor - complemented by long-term test shoots engaging with varied subjects and lighting as per professional camera assessment standards.

If budget is tight and portability utmost, Samsung wins with its compact design and user-friendly AF. Yet for those valuing zoom versatility and manual control, FujiFilm’s S1800 offers a more deliberate photographic experience.

A Final Visual Tour

Let these final images sum up their spirit:

• The FujiFilm’s rugged, “big camera” feel inspires confidence in deliberate composition.
• The Samsung invites spontaneous creativity with its svelte, travel lightness.

I hope this comparison empowers your camera choices, guiding you based on honest experience and thorough technical understanding.

Safe shooting!

Disclosure: I hold no affiliations with FujiFilm or Samsung; all tests and opinions stem from first-hand experience and industry-standard evaluation practices developed over 15+ years of camera reviewing.