FujiFilm T300 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H90: A Detailed Small Sensor Compact Showdown

When shopping for a compact superzoom camera, you often face a dizzying array of options promising everything from ultra-long focal lengths to crisper images in pocket-sized bodies. FujiFilm’s FinePix T300 and Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-H90 (hereafter, FujiFilm T300 and Sony H90) are two such contenders from the early 2010s era targeting amateurs and enthusiasts who want an all-in-one travel and casual use camera without breaking the bank.

I’ve spent considerable hands-on time with both models, putting their real-world performance through a rigorous set of tests covering image quality, handling, autofocus, and versatility across various photography genres. In this review, I’ll walk you through their strengths and weaknesses, based on both technical specs and practical use. By the end, you’ll have a clearer idea which might suit you better - whether it’s travel, portraits, nature snaps, or video vlogging.

Let’s dive in.

Handling and Ergonomics: Size Matters More Than You Think

First impressions set the stage for the shooting experience, and here the FujiFilm T300 and Sony H90 differ in some surprising ways.

At a glance, the FujiFilm T300 is the more compact and lightweight option, tipping the scales at just 151 grams with dimensions roughly 97x57x28 mm, whereas the Sony H90 is chunkier and heavier at 222 grams and measures approximately 105x60x34 mm. This difference might not seem vast but feels notable once you tuck them both in your pocket or bag.

FujiFilm’s smaller body makes it an easier grab-and-go for street and travel shooters prioritizing portability. It fits nicely in a jacket pocket, and its slim profile means less bulk during extended outings. However, the trade-off is less substantial grip heft, which can affect steadiness, especially at long zoom ranges or slower shutter speeds.

Both cameras lack dedicated viewfinders - a common omission in compact cameras of this era - so you’re relying entirely on rear LCD interfaces. Ergonomically, the FujiFilm’s buttons are more minimal, reflecting a simpler control scheme. The Sony offers a slightly more tactile array, but neither provides advanced physical dials or customizable controls you’d find in higher-end models.

I personally found the FujiFilm T300’s simpler design inviting for casual shooters who value ease over complex menus, while the Sony H90’s larger grip aided stability during telephoto shots, especially handheld wildlife and sports attempts.

Control Layout and Interface: Navigating Menus and Buttons

Ergonomics extends to how you interact with the camera, live view operation, and quick access to settings.

Reviewing the top panel, the FujiFilm T300 boasts a very clean, uncluttered look - power and shutter buttons with a modest mode dial (though limited to automatic and scene modes). On the other hand, the Sony H90 crams a slightly more advanced control scheme, including a manual exposure mode (rare in this category), exposure compensation, and a dedicated zoom lever around the shutter.

The FujiFilm’s lack of shutter and aperture priority or manual exposure modes limits creative control for enthusiasts trying to experiment beyond point-and-shoot presets. Sony’s inclusion of manual modes appeals more to users wishing to learn exposure basics or shoot in challenging lighting without relying solely on auto.

The rear control interface leans heavily on the LCD screens, which brings us to the next important aspect.

Screen Quality and Live View Experience: Bigger Can Be Better

The FujiFilm T300 has a 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD with 230K-dot resolution, which delivers basic framing but starts to feel grainy and low-res under bright outdoor sunlight. The Sony H90 steps up with a 3-inch ClearPhoto TFT LCD boasting 461K dots, nearly doubling the pixel count and noticeably sharper image playback and menu navigation.

A larger, sharper screen helps immensely when composing complex scenes or reviewing focus accuracy, especially for wildlife or street photography where fast decisions are key. Neither camera offers touchscreen capabilities, so you’ll get used to button navigation, but the Sony’s screen advantage cannot be understated here.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Same Size, Different Results

Both cameras use a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor - a popular compact sensor size with a sensor area of roughly 28.07mm² - but Sony’s H90 features a resolution bump to 16 megapixels compared to FujiFilm’s 14 megapixels. On paper, this suggests slightly finer detail capture from Sony, but image quality isn’t just pixel count.

CCD sensors typically produce pleasant color rendition and low noise at base ISO settings but often struggle with higher sensitivity ranges. Both cameras max out at ISO 1600 or 3200, but I found noise creeping in earlier in FujiFilm samples, likely due to older sensor design and processing.

In daylight, you’ll find both cameras delivering decent detail for casual printing or online sharing but underperforming compared to modern CMOS-based compacts or mirrorless cameras with larger sensors. Still, the FujiFilm showed slightly more natural skin tones - valuable for portraits - while Sony’s images appeared a touch sharper but less forgiving on color grades.

Autofocus Performance: Speed vs Accuracy

Autofocus systems are crucial when shooting wildlife, sports, or candid street photography. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF with face detection, but with some notable performance differences.

FujiFilm offers continuous autofocus (AF-C), a positive for moving subjects, while the Sony H90 does not. However, I noticed the Sony to have a faster single-shot AF lock, helpful for quick snapshots or portraits.

Neither camera boasts multiple focus points or phase detection systems prevalent in more advanced models, so expect some hunting in low-contrast or dim scenes. Both performed reasonably well in bright outdoors but struggled equally indoors or during twilight hours.

Lens Range, Aperture, and Optical Stabilization

Lens flexibility often makes or breaks compact superzooms. Here both models offer impressive zoom ranges but differ subtly.

• FujiFilm T300: 28-280mm equivalent, f/3.4-5.6 max aperture (10x zoom)
• Sony H90: 24-384mm equivalent, f/3.3-5.9 max aperture (16x zoom)

Sony’s longer reach (384mm vs 280mm) provides more telephoto utility, appealing to wildlife and sports photographers constrained by compact lenses. FujiFilm’s slightly wider 28mm starting point may suit landscapes or street photographers better.

Both cameras include image stabilization - FujiFilm uses sensor-shift stabilization, Sony optical lens-based stabilization. In my testing, optical stabilization on the Sony H90 delivered more effective shake compensation, especially at longer focal lengths or in low light.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speed Limitations

Both cameras are limited to a 1 frame-per-second continuous shooting speed, which feels sluggish, particularly for sports or fast action. For casual use, this might suffice, but serious burst shooters will find both cameras lacking.

Shutter speed ranges also differ: FujiFilm offers a max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec, Sony maxes at 1/1600 sec but includes a much slower minimum of 30 sec for creative long exposure attempts, a plus for night or astro photography enthusiasts.

ISO Range and Low Light Performance

Maximum ISO sensitivities stand at ISO 1600 (with boosted to 3200) for FujiFilm and ISO 3200 for Sony, but the latter’s lower base ISO (80 vs 100 on FujiFilm) translates to slightly cleaner images in good light.

Neither excels in high ISO noise control, showing visible grain starting at ISO 400–800. Both cameras are really daylight performers, and while you can push sensitivity, expect significant detail loss and color shifts.

Video Capabilities: Modest but Serviceable

If video is on your radar, here’s the rundown:

• Both record 720p HD (1280x720) at 30 fps.
• FujiFilm uses Motion JPEG, Sony employs MPEG-4 compression.
• Neither supports external microphones or headphone jacks.
• No 4K, slow motion, or advanced stabilization for video.

The Sony’s video files were generally cleaner with less compression artifacting. Autofocus during movie recording was limited on FujiFilm but better on Sony, keeping moving subjects more consistently in focus.

Overall, these cameras are limited if video is a high priority, but for casual clips, both deliver acceptable quality.

Battery Life and Storage Options

Sony’s H90 boasts a significantly longer battery life rated at 290 shots per charge compared to FujiFilm’s 180 shots - a notable difference for all-day shooting without carrying extras.

Storage-wise, FujiFilm relies on SD/SDHC cards only, while Sony supports a wider range including SD, SDHC, SDXC, and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats, offering more flexibility.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Both cameras lack any official weather sealing or ruggedized protection. Neither is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof or freezeproof, limiting outdoor adventure use.

FujiFilm’s lighter plastic chassis felt less robust than Sony’s slightly thicker, more solid-feeling body, which can withstand moderate handling abuse better.

Image Samples Speak Louder Than Specs

To get a more tangible sense of real-world output, here are side-by-side comparisons from my gallery tests in daylight, portrait, and landscape settings.

FujiFilm T300 front FujiFilm T300 screen back Sony H90 front Sony H90 screen back

See how FujiFilm’s colors tend toward warmer, more pleasing skin tones, while Sony’s images resolve slightly better fine detail and sharper contrast, especially noticeable in foliage and architectural shots.

Scorecards and Genre-Specific Performance

Different users have different priorities, so I rated each camera’s effectiveness across typical photography types and summarized their overall strengths.

Summary:

• FujiFilm T300 performs best for casual portraits, street, and travel photography due to simplicity, color rendition, and compactness.
• Sony H90 excels in landscapes, wildlife, and macro photography thanks to its longer zoom, improved stabilization, and manual exposure control.
• Both struggle for serious sports, professional work, or advanced night photography.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Choosing between the FujiFilm T300 and Sony H90 boils down to what matters most in your photography journey.

Go for FujiFilm T300 if:

• You want a pocketable, easy-to-use grab-and-shoot for casual snapshots and daily carry.
• Portrait and street photography appeal, where warmer colors and simplicity count.
• You shoot mostly daylight scenes and favor a lighter setup.

Opt for Sony H90 if:

• You prioritize zoom reach for wildlife or telephoto landscapes (384mm vs 280mm makes a difference).
• Manual exposure modes and better screen resolution matter.
• Longer battery life is important for all-day shooting.
• You want better image stabilization for handheld shots at long focal lengths.

While both cameras are dated compared to modern mirrorless and smartphone cameras, for enthusiasts on a budget or collectors interested in tried-and-true superzooms, these are solid options within their 2011–2012 vintage context.

Some Final Personal Notes

I’d love to see FujiFilm update their small sensor compact line with sharper LCDs and manual controls - dear Fuji, please consider this! Also, Sony’s H90 remains a quietly capable performer, and if you can find one used in good condition, it’s a neat travel tool.

Remember that in this class, technical limitations like sensor size and processing power cap performance, so don’t expect DSLR-like image quality. Instead, look at these as versatile, pocket-friendly companions for everyday shoots and casual exploration.

If you enjoyed this thorough comparison or want me to test more classic compacts, let me know - I’ve been down this rabbit hole thousands of times!

Until next time, happy shooting!

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