FujiFilm FinePix T200 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500: The Compact Camera Showdown

Choosing the right compact camera often means trading off zoom capabilities, image quality, and advanced features. Today, I’m putting two intriguing compacts head-to-head - the FujiFilm FinePix T200 (an older but still relevant model from 2011) and the more recent Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 (released in 2015). Both target casual photographers and travel enthusiasts looking for versatile, pocketable cameras with substantial zoom reach.

Drawing on years of rigorous camera testing and field experience, this detailed comparison explores their design, image quality, autofocus, versatility across photographic genres, and real-world usability. By the end, you’ll have a clear sense which camera truly serves your photography style - whether you prioritize sharp landscapes, fast-action wildlife shots, or everyday travel snaps.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

Compact cameras often rely on their physical design and control ergonomics to win users. Handling comfort impacts how naturally you shoot, especially over long sessions.

• FujiFilm T200 is very compact and lightweight (97x57x28mm, 151g), emphasizing portability. Its slim body with rounded edges feels comfortable for casual street or travel use but offers limited grip security.
• Sony WX500 is slightly larger and heavier (102x58x36mm, 236g) but has a robust feel despite its size. The added heft supports steadier shooting, especially at long zoom focal lengths.

Looking at top controls, the Sony WX500 sports a more comprehensive layout with physical dials for shutter speed and aperture priority - ideal for photographers wanting quick manual exposure adjustments. The FujiFilm T200’s top controls feel minimal and simplified, targeting entry-level users with limited manual options.

Takeaway: The FujiFilm excels in ultraportability and ease for novices who prefer point-and-shoot simplicity, while the Sony WX500’s design favors enthusiasts needing more manual control and comfortable handling during vigorous shooting.

Sensor and Image Quality: Clarity, Detail, and Color Rendition

Compact cameras’ limiting factor often lies in their sensor capabilities, especially with small sensors. Both these models use the same sensor size (1/2.3”) - common for consumer-grade compacts - but they differ in sensor type and resolution.

• FujiFilm T200 uses a 14MP CCD sensor. CCD sensors historically deliver pleasing color rendition but tend to consume more power and struggle with noise at higher ISOs.
• Sony WX500 features an 18MP BSI-CMOS sensor that, based on my testing, offers superior dynamic range and low-light sensitivity, thanks to its back-illuminated design.

In practical usage, the WX500 images present cleaner noise profiles at ISO 800 and above compared to the FujiFilm, which shows noticeable grain and softness past ISO 400. The higher resolution on the Sony also translates to better cropping flexibility and printed enlargements.

Color rendering on the FujiFilm is warm and saturated - typical of Fuji’s color science, which many portrait shooters appreciate. Sony’s WX500 produces more neutral, natural tones with slightly better contrast, beneficial for landscapes and accurately capturing scenes under varied lighting.

Both cameras apply an anti-aliasing filter, balancing image sharpness against moiré effects.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Real-Time Framing and Playback

A camera’s rear display influences shooting ease, especially without an optical or electronic viewfinder.

• The FujiFilm T200 has a basic 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD with only 230k-dot resolution - noticeably dim and grainy in bright daylight. No touch controls, and its fixed angle limits shooting versatility.
• The Sony WX500 offers a 3-inch tilting screen at 921k-dot resolution, delivering crisp, vibrant playback and flexible shooting angles for low or overhead perspectives. This tilt feature is particularly advantageous for street or travel photographers capturing unconventional angles.

Neither camera includes a built-in viewfinder, so the rear screen is your main compositional aid. The Sony’s superior display quality makes it easier to review images and check focus on the go.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Autofocus speed and accuracy are critical, especially for fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports.

• The FujiFilm T200’s contrast-detection only AF system is slow and can hunt in low light, with no phase detection or advanced tracking. It offers face detection but lacks multi-area AF modes. Continuous shooting is painfully slow at 1 fps, unsuitable for action sequences.
• The Sony WX500 excels with a more refined contrast AF system augmented by the Bionz X processor. It supports face detection, multi-area, and selective AF modes, plus continuous autofocus during tracking. Its shooting speed maxes out at 10 fps, more than enough for casual sports or wildlife bursts.

In my hands-on tests, the WX500 consistently locks focus quickly in everyday lighting and tracks moving subjects better. The FujiFilm tends to lag, making it frustrating for dynamic shooting.

Zoom Range and Stabilization: Reach and Image Stability

Telephoto performance is often a standout feature for travel and wildlife cameras.

• FujiFilm T200 offers a versatile 28-280mm equivalent zoom (10x), good for general photography but less reach for distant subjects.
• Sony WX500 stretches to 24-720mm equivalent (30x) superzoom - a massive advantage for wildlife, sports, and distant landscapes.

FujiFilm T200 front FujiFilm T200 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Image stabilization plays a vital role at long focal lengths:

• FujiFilm uses sensor-shift stabilization, which helps moderate zoom but feels underpowered at the long end.
• Sony applies optical image stabilization (OIS) in the lens, paired with in-body corrections via software - resulting in a notably steadier handhold experience across the entire zoom range.

Results from shooting handheld at 720mm equivalent show the Sony provides substantially sharper images with less blur compared to the FujiFilm at 280mm.

Exposure Control and Manual Settings: Flexibility for Enthusiasts

For serious photographers, exposure customization is key.

• The FujiFilm T200 offers only full auto or program exposures with no shutter or aperture priority, nor manual exposure mode. Exposure compensation is not adjustable, limiting creative control.
• The Sony WX500 supports full manual exposure, shutter priority, aperture priority, plus flexible exposure compensation. This makes the WX500 fit for enthusiasts learning exposure or professionals needing precise control.

I find Sony’s meta-controls valuable when shooting tricky lighting scenarios, such as backlit landscapes or concert photography, where managing exposure precisely matters.

Video Performance: Making Motion Memories

Video has become a major consideration for compact camera users.

• The FujiFilm T200 records max 720p HD at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format, limiting quality and file compression efficiency.
• The Sony WX500 handles full HD 1080p video at 60p, 60i, 30p, and 24p frame rates using AVCHD and XAVC S formats, achieving superior detail and smoothness.

Neither camera features microphone or headphone jacks, so audio capture is basic. Still, the Sony’s video is significantly sharper and more fluid, with built-in optical stabilization reducing shake noticeably during handheld recording.

Battery Life and Storage Options: How Long, and How Much Room?

• The FujiFilm T200’s battery offers about 180 shots per charge (CIPA standard), demanding frequent recharge during travel or event shoots.
• The Sony WX500 doubles this to around 360 shots per battery, which is a meaningful difference for day-long use without carrying extras.

For memory, both support SDHC cards, but Sony adds compatibility with SDXC and Memory Stick Duo cards, offering greater flexibility and future-proofing.

Connectivity and Additional Features

• The FujiFilm T200 lacks wireless features entirely - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS.
• The Sony WX500 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing convenient image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps - a huge plus for instant sharing in the social media era.

Neither model has environmental sealing, so neither are suited for harsh weather or rugged outdoor use.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Each genre places unique demands on a camera. Here’s how these two perform in broad photography disciplines, based on extensive field testing:

Portrait Photography

• FujiFilm T200: Rich, warm skin tones and smooth bokeh thanks to Fuji’s color science, but struggles with sharpness and low light face detection.
• Sony WX500: More accurate color reproduction and better eye detection AF, yielding consistently sharp portraits even with long zoom.

Landscape Photography

• The FujiFilm’s lower resolution limits detail for large prints.
• The Sony’s higher resolution and improved dynamic range produce crisp, vibrant landscapes. However, neither offers weather sealing for rugged outdoor shoots.

Wildlife Photography

• FujiFilm’s slow AF and limited zoom reduce suitability.
• Sony excels with fast AF, expansive 30x zoom, and burst shooting, enabling better capture of distant animals.

Sports Photography

• FujiFilm’s 1 fps continuous shooting is insufficient.
• Sony’s 10 fps burst, plus accurate subject tracking, make it far superior for casual sports shooting.

Street Photography

• FujiFilm’s small size benefits discreet shooting, though slow AF can be a hassle.
• Sony is bulkier but faster and more versatile, with a tilting screen aiding candid shots from creative angles.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras focus down to 5 cm, but Sony’s superior stabilization and faster AF aid precision focusing.

Night and Astro Photography

• Both struggle due to small sensor sizes.
• Sony’s better noise handling at high ISO gives it an edge, but neither is ideal for serious astrophotography.

Video

• Sony WX500’s superior HD video recording and stabilization wins comfortably.

Travel Photography

• FujiFilm’s lightweight makes packing easy.
• Sony’s battery life, zoom range, and wireless features offer greater versatility on trips.

Professional Work

• Neither supports RAW or advanced workflow features, making them poor fits as primary work cameras, but Sony’s manual controls appeal to enthusiasts.

Build Quality and Durability

Both cameras are plastic-bodied compacts without weather sealing. The Sony WX500 feels marginally more robust and better suited for everyday carrying, though neither is shockproof or freezeproof.

Price and Value Analysis

The FujiFilm T200 caters to tight budgets wanting simple, straightforward operation. The Sony WX500 demands higher investment but returns a richer feature set, better performance, and greater creative control.

Overall Performance Scores

The Sony WX500 undeniably outpaces the FujiFilm T200 on almost all performance measures - speed, image quality, versatility - though the FujiFilm’s simplicity and light pocket-size remain attractive for very casual use.

Pros and Cons At a Glance

FujiFilm FinePix T200

Pros:

• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Easy to use for beginners
• Pleasant warm color tones
• Optical image stabilization

Cons:

• Slow autofocus and shooting speed
• Low-resolution, dim fixed LCD screen
• Limited exposure controls, no RAW
• Poor high ISO performance
• No wireless connectivity
• Short battery life

Sony Cyber-shot WX500

Pros:

• 30x superzoom lens with excellent OIS
• High-resolution BSI-CMOS sensor (18MP)
• Fast autofocus with multiple modes
• Continuous shooting up to 10 fps
• Full manual exposure controls
• High-res tilting LCD screen
• 1080p HD video, superior quality
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC
• Longer battery life

Cons:

• Larger and heavier than T200
• No built-in viewfinder
• No RAW file support

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Consider the FujiFilm FinePix T200 if:

• Your budget is under $200 and you need a simple, go-anywhere camera
• You prefer uncomplicated controls and snapshot photography
• You value compactness over zoom reach or advanced features
• Your shooting mostly involves daylight or casual family photos

Opt for the Sony Cyber-shot WX500 if:

• You want a versatile all-round compact with extended zoom capability
• You require faster autofocus and higher frame-rates for action or wildlife
• You appreciate manual exposure modes and better video quality
• Wireless connectivity and longer battery life are essential for your travel
• You prioritize image quality, especially in low light and for larger prints

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Reigns?

Having extensively tested both cameras side by side, I conclude the Sony WX500 is the clear winner in almost every practical sense, except physical portability and price. It exemplifies how more recent tech (BSI CMOS sensors, advanced processors) upgrade fundamental camera capabilities - from autofocus to video and connectivity.

The FujiFilm FinePix T200 remains a charming budget compact with nostalgic Fuji color rendering but feels dated nowadays with its slow speeds, limited controls, and basic screen. For casual snapshots and ultra-light walks, it suffices, but serious enthusiasts will find its limitations frustrating.

If you can stretch your budget and want a compact companion that punches above its size for detailed images, fast performance, and creative flexibility, the Sony WX500 stands out as a versatile, dependable choice.

Your Next Step

Think carefully about your photography priorities. Do you need blazing speed and zoom, or just a simple, small camera? Want to shoot video or rely on quick social sharing features?

For convenience, control, and image quality, the Sony WX500 is worth the extra investment. But for casual photography on a shoestring, FujiFilm T200’s strong points remain its user-friendliness and portability.

I hope this comprehensive comparison guides your purchase confidently - because choosing the right camera means more moments captured exactly as you envision.

Happy shooting!

(Note: All performance observations come from hands-on testing with controlled scenes and field trials in varying light, reflecting practical use cases.)