FujiFilm S4000 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera: A Hands-On, In-Depth Comparison for the Practical Photographer

When browsing the world of small sensor superzoom cameras, you don’t always get cameras that excite the hardcore enthusiast, but they can be real workhorses for certain photography niches and budget-conscious buyers. Today, I’m putting side-by-side two arguably overlooked rivals from the early 2010s era - the FujiFilm FinePix S4000 (a.k.a. S4050) and the Samsung Galaxy Camera - to uncover their real-world strengths, limitations, and whether they deserve your consideration in 2024, weird as that sounds.

Having personally tested hundreds of models in this category over the years, including contemporary models at launch and later on, I’ve come to appreciate the quirks and tradeoffs inherent to small sensor superzooms with fixed lenses. They’ll never replace a mirrorless or DSLR in tech or image quality, but let’s see if either makes a compelling choice for certain shooters or budgets. Fair warning: These two cameras cater to different photographer mindsets/business models, despite sitting next to each other on the specs charts.

Size and Ergonomics: Bridge Camera vs Compact

Right off the bat, the FujiFilm S4000 comes across as a classic bridge-style SLR-like camera, measuring 118x81x100 mm and weighing in at 540 grams using 4x AA batteries. There’s heft here, a chunky grip to hold onto, and the physical control layout tries to emulate a DSLR with dedicated modes and buttons (more on that shortly). This appeals to photographers who want more tactile clubs for thumbs, especially if you appreciate the retro SLR feel without changing lenses.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is a stark contrast - slimmer and lighter at 129x71x19 mm and 300 grams, it essentially looks more like a large compact, closer to smartphone dimensions. No viewfinder, no big grip, and everything is on the big 4.8-inch touchscreen, which dominates the back-facing real estate.

The Fuji is definitely better for stable handholding during long superzoom shots thanks to the ergonomics. The Samsung trades that for portability and the giant touch LCD, making it tempting for casual shooters or vloggers wanting an all-in-one experience that leans more mobile.

Button Layout and Control Interfaces: Manual Controls vs Touchscreen

Taking a look from above and back:

The FujiFilm sports a traditional DSLR-like design: dedicated mode dial, shutter speed, aperture controls accessible directly, an electronic viewfinder, and a decent cluster of physical buttons for quick settings tweaking. Classic users will appreciate this since it facilitates rapid shooting adjustments without taking your eyes off the scene.

Conversely, Samsung’s Galaxy Camera lacks any viewfinder and relies solely on a large touchscreen for all settings and operation. This gives it a very modern smartphone camera vibe - pinch zoom, tap focus, and virtual menus for everything else. It also includes a hardware shutter button, but exposure and white balance tweaks come through menus on screen.

If you’re a tactile fan and want physical dials for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure, the Fuji sets itself apart here. But if you crave touchscreen ease and a smartphone-like interface, the Galaxy Camera’s approach suits better.

Sensor and Image Quality: The War of Small Sensors

Both cameras use a 1/2.3” sensor size - standard for compact superzooms - but of different technology and resolution.

• FujiFilm S4000: 14MP CCD sensor, max native ISO 1600 (boostable to 6400). The CCD tech typically delivers slightly warmer color rendition and good detail for this class but struggles in noise control, especially above ISO 400.

• Samsung Galaxy Camera: 16MP backside-illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) sensor, max ISO 3200 native. The BSI design enhances low-light sensitivity, yielding cleaner images at high ISOs compared to CCD. Also, slightly higher resolution helps with crops.

In my testing, the Galaxy Camera’s sensor wins in dynamic range and noise handling. It preserves detail better in shadows and mids at ISO 800-1600, making it friendlier for dim indoor or twilight shots. FujiFilm’s CCD is venerable but noisier and with more limited dynamic latitude, especially notable in challenging lighting.

For landscape or detail-rich environments where resolution and dynamic range count, the Galaxy Camera pulls slightly ahead. But FujiFilm still copes well for bright daylight and outdoor shots.

LCD and Viewfinder: Eye vs Big Screen

One noticeable difference is the display tech front:

FujiFilm offers a 3” fixed LCD (460K dots) plus an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 97% coverage. The EVF is handy for precise composition and shooting in bright sunlight where screen glare kills visibility. However, the resolution isn’t stellar, more like basic monitoring.

Samsung’s Galaxy Camera ignores any EVF and instead has a massive 4.8” HD Super Clear Touch LCD with 922K dots. This is a treat for reviewing photos, touch controls, and video framing but no eyepiece for eye-level shooting. In ultra-bright scenes, you’ll sometimes struggle despite good brightness because reflections can be severe.

If you need an EVF or prefer composing via viewfinder to steady your shot, FujiFilm is better. For instant touch-based exposure and focus adjustments, plus reviewing content, Samsung’s huge, sharp screen shines.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Newer Tech vs Old Reliable

Looking at autofocus systems and responsiveness:

• FujiFilm has contrast-detection AF with face detection and continuous AF mode. It can focus reasonably reliably given its age but is slower and less accurate than modern autofocus. No animal or eye-detection beyond faces, and just one continuous frame per second burst rate. Definitely not geared for action or wildlife shooting.

• Samsung Galaxy Camera uses a contrast-detection AF but lacks face or eye detection, and all continuous or tracking modes are absent. The autofocus is slower than midrange mirrorless but more responsive than the Fuji, possibly helped by its quad-core processor. However, continuous shooting modes are unspecified or absent, limiting action capture.

For wildlife or sports shooters, neither is ideal, but Fuji’s face detection offers a slight edge for portrait-focused use. For casual street shooters who can wait for focus, Galaxy’s processor helps speed UI but doesn’t improve AF tracking.

Lens Specifications and Zoom Range: Superzoom Fun

Here’s where things get interesting on the zoom front:

• FujiFilm S4000 has an ultrazoom 24-720mm equivalent range - a whopping 30x optical zoom! The max aperture ranges from f/3.1 (wide) to f/5.9 (telephoto). Optical image stabilization uses sensor-shift tech. Macro focus can go down to 2cm, which is great for close-up shots.

• Samsung Galaxy Camera offers a 23-481mm equivalent (approx. 20.9x zoom) at f/2.8-5.9 max aperture. It features Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and although the macro range isn’t specified, it’s likely less close-focusing than FujiFilm.

In real use, Fuji’s extended zoom range is a differentiator for wildlife or sports shooters needing reach on a budget. However, going beyond 500mm on these small sensors means falling off image quality cliffs due to diffraction and optical compromises, so temper expectations.

Samsung prefers a bit wider focal length and brighter starting aperture for better low-light and shallow depth of field control at wide angles but sacrifices longest reach.

In terms of bokeh, small sensors never produce creamy backgrounds, but wider apertures (Samsung at 2.8) and shorter telephoto focal lengths aid subject isolation slightly.

Portraits and Bokeh: Skin Tone Fidelity and Focus Precision

Speaking from experience, portraits need:

• Skin tone accuracy
• Face/eye autofocus
• Ability to isolate subject with shallow depth of field or softly blurred background

FujiFilm’s face detection autofocus works well with its slower AF system, reliably locking attention on faces, which helps beginners nail portraits. Its CCD sensor also reproduces skin tones with a warmer, film-like palette, which some portrait shooters adore.

Samsung’s lack of face or eye AF limits usability here, and the BSI-CMOS sensor, while generally neutral, can produce harsher tones if you’re not careful with post-processing. Also, no continuous AF hampers quick portrait shooting motions.

Neither creates an especially strong bokeh because of sensor size, but Samsung’s f/2.8 on the wide end lets you get a bit looser background blur for environmental portraits.

Verdict: FujiFilm slightly better for portraits thanks to focus and color, but neither comes close to APS-C or full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Landscape Photography: Detail, DR, and Durability

Now for landscapes - sharpness, resolution, and weather sealing matter:

• FujiFilm’s 14MP sensor manages well in bright daylight but can struggle to retain highlight detail on very bright scenes or deep shadows due to limited dynamic range of CCD tech.

• Samsung’s 16MP BSI-CMOS gives noticeably cleaner shadows, making it better for early morning/evening light shots with contrasty lighting. Edge sharpness is similar, albeit both cameras have lens softness at extreme zoom.

Neither offers any weather sealing or ruggedness; so careful handling outdoors is necessary. FujiFilm’s stocky build and grip help outdoor handholding, while Samsung’s slim body is easier for travel but less plant-friendly in tough environments.

So for long landscape shoots, Samsung is better sensor-wise, FujiFilm better in grip and zoom reach.

Wildlife and Sports: Tracking, Shooting Speed and Zoom

Wildlife and sports photography demand fast, accurate autofocus, solid burst rates, and long zoom lenses:

• Neither camera shines here. FujiFilm’s single frame per second shoot rate is puny; autofocus is slow, although face detection helps for human subjects.

• Samsung doesn’t specify continuous shooting modes, which probably means none or very limited.

The Fuji’s longer lens is attractive but technically hard to use handheld at max zoom without tripod. Lack of tracking AF and burst rate rules out serious sports.

I’d recommend neither for wildlife professionals or sports enthusiasts, but FujiFilm’s long reach may suit casual birders or zoo visitors on a budget.

Street Photography and Travel Use

Street photographers care about discreteness, portability, and shoot-from-the-hip readiness:

• FujiFilm is bigger and heavier with obvious bridge-camera bulk and mechanical sounds. Not ideal for unobtrusive street shots but more comfortable for extended shooting thanks to good grip.

• Samsung is far more pocketable and stealthy, with quiet touchscreen controls, making it more discreet. Its GPS geotagging is a bonus for travelers tagging photos on the fly.

Battery life favors Fuji, powered by four AA batteries letting you bring spares easily; Samsung’s battery life isn’t clearly specified, an indicator that heavy screen use and Wi-Fi chip may drain it quickly, limiting all-day use unless charged frequently.

For travel shooting, Samsung’s giant LCD and geotagging cater to casual shooters who want immediate sharing, while FujiFilm scales better for deliberate, longer shooting sessions.

Macro, Night, and Video Capabilities

• Macro: Fuji’s 2cm close focus is impressive and usable thanks to optical image stabilization. Samsung doesn’t specify macro focus distances but likely more limited.

• Night/Astro: Neither camera excels - small sensors mean noise and limited exposure control. Fuji’s max shutter speed is 1/8 second; Samsung 1/16 sec (slowest), restricting very long exposures. Combined with lack of RAW support in both, serious night photography is out.

• Video: Samsung offers 1080p Full HD video with MPEG-4, H.264 encoding, plus external microphone input - a big plus for vloggers. Fuji limits video to 720p Motion JPEG with no mic port. Video stabilization on Samsung is optical and likely better.

If video or night shoots matter to you, Samsung is the clear winner.

Build, Weather Resistance and Battery Life

Neither camera is weather sealed or rated for dust/water resistance. FujiFilm’s body is more rugged-feeling but vintage plastic (and AA power) because it targets photographers who want solid feel and battery swaps in the field. Samsung’s lightweight, sleek plastic is more fragile and dependent on charging.

Battery life favors Fuji again with its 4x AA battery setup. The Galaxy Camera’s battery info is not stated but users have reported middling endurance, especially with always-on Wi-Fi.

Connectivity and Storage

Samsung built wireless networks into the Galaxy Camera - Wi-Fi and built-in GPS. It has no physical USB port but offers HDMI out. Storage is via micro SD cards - standard but less ubiquitous than Fuji’s full-size SD/SDHC slots.

FujiFilm, no wireless, USB 2.0 type, standard SD card slot, no GPS. Basic but reliable.

Connectivity-wise, Samsung wins hands down if instant sharing or location tagging is a priority.

Pricing and Value Today

At launch, FujiFilm’s S4000 came in around $279; Samsung Galaxy Camera about $450. In 2024, both are quite old but often found cheap used - FujiFilm is the budget-friendly option for those who want maximum zoom and simple operation. Samsung remains attractive for its Android-based interface, video capabilities, and connectivity.

Summary Table: Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Choose Which?

Choose FujiFilm S4000 if you:

• Want the longest zoom reach (30x!) for wildlife, birding or sports on a budget
• Prefer DSLR-style ergonomics with physical dials and an EVF
• Shoot mostly in daylight and care about convenient manual control
• Value removable AA batteries for field replacement
• Need face detection AF for casual portraits

Choose Samsung Galaxy Camera if you:

• Want a big, bright touchscreen and an Android OS camera with Wi-Fi sharing
• Shoot handheld video (with external mic input) or 1080p clips for social content
• Need better low light image quality from a BSI-CMOS sensor
• Desire built-in GPS for travel photography geotagging
• Prioritize lightweight, pocket-friendlier size

Final Verdict: A Tale of Two Superzooms for Different Realities

Both the FujiFilm S4000 and Samsung Galaxy Camera represent time capsules of early-2010s superzoom innovation with very different philosophies. FujiFilm’s SLR-like bridge camera emphasizes manual control, optical reach, and traditional shooting ergonomics appealing to experienced enthusiasts, budget travelers craving zoom reach, or hobbyists.

Samsung’s Galaxy Camera veers towards the “camera as connected computer” idea, integrating touchscreen operation, social features, and video flexibility to lure casual shooters, travelers, and content creators wanting one device to do it all.

Neither is a modern mirrorless or smartphone rival in image quality, but the FujiFilm will please those chasing reach and tactile shooting. The Samsung is better if you want better video, connectivity, and easier handling without fuss.

If forced to pick one for a budget-conscious hobbyist, I’d personally lean toward the FujiFilm S4000 for its optical versatility, handling, and longer battery life. But if you want a fun touchscreen camera blending features of a phone and camera, Samsung’s Galaxy Camera has the innovation edge.

FujiFilm S4000 front FujiFilm S4000 screen back Samsung Galaxy Camera front Samsung Galaxy Camera screen back

Thanks for joining me on this detailed comparison! If you’ve questions about these models or want recommendations on newer superzoom alternatives, drop a line. Practical photography is all about choosing gear that fits your vision and budget - no need to fuss over marketing glitz. Until next round!