FujiFilm S2500HD vs Ricoh CX4: A Hands-On Comparison of Two 2010 Superzoom Cameras

When browsing the superzoom compact segment, impressions can be deceiving. Cameras like the FujiFilm FinePix S2500HD and the Ricoh CX4 offer similar-ish specs on paper but deliver surprisingly different experiences in real-world photography. After personally testing both cameras extensively, I’ll guide you through the nuanced differences - from ergonomics and sensor tech to autofocus behavior and image quality - so you can decide which fits your creative style and shooting priorities.

Getting to Know Our Contenders: FujiFilm S2500HD and Ricoh CX4

Both announced in mid-2010, these models represent interesting choices for enthusiasts wanting far-reaching zooms with modest budgets. Here’s a quick snapshot:

How Big and Comfortable Are They?

When testing cameras, physical ergonomics are crucial - especially for prolonged shooting sessions or travel use.

The FujiFilm S2500HD adopts an SLR-like bridge design, boasting a deeper grip and larger, pronounced controls. At 110x73x81mm and 337g, it feels substantial but manageable. The pronounced handgrip gave me stable handling, even at the long end of its telephoto range - crucial for shake reduction in tele shots.

Meanwhile, the Ricoh CX4 takes a compact, pocket-friendly approach, measuring just 102x59x29mm and weighing only 205g with its rechargeable battery. It feels light in hand, great for quick snaps or street photography. However, its slim profile sacrifices an electronic viewfinder, which some may miss.

Control Layout and Interface: What’s Under Your Fingers?

Control placement impacts efficiency in the field, especially if you like changing settings on the fly.

The FujiFilm S2500HD features a more traditional cluster, including dedicated dials for ISO, exposure compensation, and a mode dial supporting manual (M), aperture (A), and shutter (S) priority modes. Its buttons are reasonably spaced but without illumination, making low-light use slightly challenging.

Conversely, the Ricoh CX4's top controls are minimalistic - no mode dial, restricting creative control to program modes only. The interface focuses on simplification, which might appeal to casual shooters but can frustrate more advanced users expecting aperture or shutter priority modes.

Diving into the Sensor and Image Quality

At the heart of any camera system is the sensor. Both cameras share the same sensor size - the relatively small 1/2.3" format - but differ significantly in sensor type and resolution.

• FujiFilm S2500HD: Uses a 12 MP CCD sensor, a standard in 2010. CCDs boast excellent color fidelity but suffer higher noise at elevated ISOs and slower readout speeds.
• Ricoh CX4: Employs a 10 MP BSI (Backside Illuminated) CMOS sensor, a newer technology even then, with improved low-light sensitivity and reduced noise compared to classic CCDs.

In practical shooting under daylight, the FujiFilm delivers slightly higher resolution shots with crisp detail, thanks to 12 MP count. However, color rendition leans toward warm, saturated tones - characteristic of Fuji’s color science, often praised for pleasing skin tones in casual shooting.

The Ricoh, though lower resolution, excels in high ISO conditions (800 and above). I tested indoor low-light scenarios and found the CX4’s images showed less chroma noise and smoother gradients, a definite advantage for event or travel photography after dusk.

Neither camera supports RAW capture, limiting post-processing latitude - an important consideration if you prioritize detailed editing workflows.

How Do They Perform in Various Photography Genres?

Let me walk you through their suitability across popular photography disciplines, based on thorough in-field testing.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Sharpness

Portraiture requires natural skin tone reproduction, pleasant bokeh, and reliable focus on eyes.

• FujiFilm S2500HD: Its warmer color signature nicely flatters skin tones. However, the max aperture of f/3.1 at wide angle narrows toward f/5.6 telephoto, limiting background blur. Lack of face or eye detection AF requires careful manual focus placement, and with only contrast-based AF without selectable AF points, precision can be challenging.

• Ricoh CX4: Neutral color rendering but with fewer mega-pixels, resulting in slightly softer portraits. The f/3.5-5.6 aperture is similar to the FujiFilm’s but offers a closer macro focus (1 cm vs. 2 cm), useful for close-up portraits. Its contrast-detection AF is slightly faster but also lacks face detection - a downside given its absence of exposure controls.

Neither camera can match the smooth bokeh of larger sensor DSLRs or mirrorless models, unsurprisingly.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Landscape demands capturing fine details and wide dynamic range to preserve highlights and shadows.

The FujiFilm pulls ahead here, with its 12 MP CCD sensor delivering sharper 4000x3000 images with finer detail reproduction. Its manual exposure modes enable bracketing if desired for HDR workflows (although AE bracketing isn’t built-in).

The Ricoh’s BSI-CMOS sensor offers better ISO performance, but its lower 10 MP resolution can yield less detail in large prints or aggressive crops. Its spot metering and center-weighted modes help preserve tricky shadows and highlights in natural lighting.

Neither model offers weather sealing, which is noteworthy if you want rugged landscape shooting confidence.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Shooting

Both are superzooms, but their AF and shooting speeds differ markedly.

• FujiFilm S2500HD: Contrast AF only, with single and continuous AF modes but no tracking. Burst shooting is limited to a paltry 1 fps, quite restrictive for fast action. This can frustrate when attempting to capture wildlife moments or sports sequences.

• Ricoh CX4: Faster contrast AF with continuous AF off but offers multi-area AF selections. More importantly, its 5 fps burst mode is rare for this class, providing a greater chance of catching peak action. The drawback is slightly softer image quality at the telephoto end compared to FujiFilm.

Overall, if you prioritize sports or wildlife, the Ricoh’s responsiveness wins points, though neither camera replaces dedicated high-speed DSLRs.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

Street shooters value portability, discreetness, and fast responsiveness.

• The compact Ricoh CX4’s slim, pocketable design and lower weight make it an ideal street companion. Its silent operation and faster burst rates facilitate candid capture.

• The FujiFilm S2500HD feels bulkier and lugging it around all day can be tiring, and the electronic viewfinder is a boon for composing without attracting attention. However, it is noisier during operation.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Capabilities

Both cameras feature macro modes to varying degrees:

• Ricoh edges out with a 1 cm macro focus range, enabling very tight close-ups with good detail.
• FujiFilm’s 2 cm minimum focus is still respectable but slightly less flexible.

Neither camera offers focus bracketing or stacking features, which means fine focus adjustments in macro may need to be done manually and carefully.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Astro photography demands high ISO sensitivity, long exposures, and minimal noise.

• FujiFilm offers manual exposure control, with shutter speeds as slow as 8 seconds, enabling star trails or night landscapes.
• Ricoh also supports 8-second shutter speeds but lacks full manual exposure modes, limiting creative freedom in challenging conditions.
• Noise at high ISO is lower on Ricoh’s BSI CMOS sensor, benefiting night handheld shots with less noise.

Neither model is built with astrophotography in mind, but FujiFilm’s manual exposure options give it a slight edge for experimenting.

Video Performance: Recording Quality and Features

Both cameras record HD video, though capabilities are modest by today’s standards.

• Both support 720p at 30fps, encoded as Motion JPEG - resulting in larger file sizes and limited compression efficiency.
• Ricoh distinguishes itself by including a timelapse recording mode, expanding creative video options.
• Neither camera offers external microphone input or headphone jacks, limiting audio control.
• FujiFilm includes an HDMI output; Ricoh lacks this, restricting external monitoring options.

For casual video shooting, both are adequate, but neither targets serious videographers.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

For trips, consider size, weight, battery endurance, and lens coverage.

• FujiFilm’s extensive 18x zoom range (28-504mm equivalent) offers remarkable reach for wildlife or architecture but adds size and bulk.
• Ricoh’s 10.7x zoom (28-300mm) is versatile for everyday shooting, with a compact shape better suited for packing light.

Battery-wise, FujiFilm uses 4x AA batteries, convenient globally but less energy-dense; Ricoh’s proprietary rechargeable battery gives longer shooting time per charge based on my tests.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

Both cameras lack weather sealing, dustproofing, or shockproofing. For outdoor use in tough conditions, consider this a limitation.

FujiFilm’s bulkier body feels more durable and comfortable for extended use, while the Ricoh’s plastic build is lighter but less robust in my hand.

User Interface: Screens and Viewfinders

FujiFilm features a 3-inch LCD with 230k dots resolution, which is on the dimmer and lower resolution side even for its era but includes an electronic viewfinder covering 99% of the frame, a valuable feature for bright outdoor shooting.

Ricoh’s 3-inch LCD shines with 920k dots, delivering crisp playback and live view access, but it does not include any viewfinder, relying solely on the LCD.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Both cameras have fixed zoom lenses, so changing lenses isn’t possible.

• FujiFilm’s longer zoom range may suffice for many users but locks you in optically.
• Ricoh sacrifices zoom reach for compactness but offers better macro reach.

If you seek flexibility, these cameras are best seen as all-in-one kits.

Connectivity and Storage Options

Both models lack Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS.

FujiFilm includes HDMI output, allowing connection to HDTVs - a plus for sharing photos on bigger screens.

Both accept SD/SDHC cards (Ricoh adds SDXC support), with single slots and internal memory - the latter only for emergency storage.

Battery and Power Considerations

• FujiFilm S2500HD relies on 4 AA batteries - alkaline or NiMH rechargeable. This is convenient for travel since AAs are widely available.
• Ricoh uses a proprietary rechargeable Li-ion battery which delivers longer shooting time but requires charging and a spare battery for extended trips.

Summarizing Strengths and Weaknesses

Seeing Both Cameras in Action

FujiFilm S2500HD front FujiFilm S2500HD screen back Ricoh CX4 front Ricoh CX4 screen back

In side-by-side image tests, FujiFilm’s higher resolution is evident in daylight shots - crisp leaves and fine architectural details. Ricoh holds its own in shadow areas and color neutrality but slightly softer at the edges.

Overall Performance Ratings

Based on my hands-on testing across various use cases, and considering technical specs and user experience...

FujiFilm ranks higher on zoom versatility and creative exposure controls.

Ricoh scores better for responsiveness, low light handling, and portability.

Photography Genre Ratings: Which Camera Excels Where?

Breaking down performance by genre:

• Portraits: FujiFilm wins with richer colors and exposure control.
• Landscapes: FujiFilm edges out for resolution; Ricoh better ISO handling.
• Wildlife: Ricoh’s burst rate is advantageous.
• Sports: Ricoh again with faster frame rates.
• Street: Compact Ricoh shines.
• Macro: Ricoh’s 1 cm macro focus is preferable.
• Night/Astro: FujiFilm’s manual modes give better control.
• Video: Ricoh’s timelapse adds creative value.
• Travel: Ricoh’s compactness and lightweight design carry the day.
• Professional Use: Neither ideal; FujiFilm stronger in manual control.

Which Camera Should You Choose?

Choose FujiFilm S2500HD if you:

• Want extensive zoom reach up to 504mm for wildlife, sports, or distant landscapes.
• Prefer manual exposure modes and creative control.
• Value an electronic viewfinder in bright environments.
• Need AA battery compatibility for travel convenience.
• Prioritize higher resolution (12 MP) for detailed images.

Choose Ricoh CX4 if you:

• Favor a compact, lightweight design for street and travel photography.
• Shoot a fair amount in low-light conditions and want cleaner images.
• Appreciate faster burst shooting for action or fleeting moments.
• Desire a sharper LCD screen for composing and reviewing shots.
• Want timelapse video capabilities for added creativity.

Final Thoughts: A Matter of Priorities and Style

Both FujiFilm S2500HD and Ricoh CX4 serve distinct niches in the 2010-era superzoom category. My experience suggests that despite their similarities, your choice boils down to whether you prioritize zoom and manual control (FujiFilm) or portability and speed (Ricoh).

If you are an enthusiast willing to experiment with exposure settings and benefit from an EVF, FujiFilm remains compelling. Meanwhile, the Ricoh CX4 offers a nimble companion with respectable image quality and fast shooting, great for casual or travel photographers.

Whichever you pick, remember these models are now over a decade old. As a seasoned reviewer, I always recommend considering recent alternatives if your budget allows. But for enthusiasts collecting or shooting with classic superzooms, both models remain engaging tools worthy of attention.

Thank you for joining me on this deep dive. Feel free to leave questions or share your own experiences with these cameras below!

• • Your trusted camera guide with 15+ years testing experience*