FujiFilm Z800EXR vs Panasonic Lumix FP8: A Deep Dive into Ultracompact Competitors from the Late 2000s

In the realm of ultracompact cameras, history often holds some fascinating models that shed light on the evolution of point-and-shoot photography. Today, I'll be putting two of these vintage small wonders head-to-head: the FujiFilm FinePix Z800EXR (or simply Z800EXR) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 (FP8). Both announced within a year of each other, these cameras target casual shooters seeking straightforward operation without the bulk of DSLR or mirrorless systems.

By dissecting their technical specs and pairing those insights with hands-on observations, I intend to offer photography enthusiasts - whether hobbyists or professionals looking back on technological roots - an honest appraisal of their strengths, limitations, and real-world usability across a full spectrum of photography situations.

Before diving in, here’s a quick side-by-side of their physical footprints to understand their ergonomics and portability:

Handling and Ergonomics: Portability Meets Usability

Both cameras fall into the ultracompact category, aiming to deliver pocketability without sacrificing essential controls or screen size. The FujiFilm Z800EXR measures 98x59x20 mm and weighs a mere 158 grams, while the Panasonic FP8 is slightly smaller at 96x60x20 mm, tipping the scales at 151 grams.

Looking at the top-down view, the control layouts reveal their design philosophies:

The Z800EXR opts for minimalism - its buttons and dials are sparse, catering to the simplest use cases. It sports a sizable 3.5-inch touchscreen, fairly generous for 2010 standards. This touchscreen, despite its modest 460k-dot resolution, enhances navigation and framing, especially since the camera lacks any form of viewfinder.

The Panasonic FP8, in contrast, sequences a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution and foregoes touchscreen capabilities. It relies on physical buttons, which some users might prefer for tactile feedback especially when shooting quickly. The FP8’s design feels a tad more robust despite similar sizing. Neither camera includes an electronic or optical viewfinder, so live view on the LCD is mandatory - a relevant deficiency when shooting in bright daylight.

Overall, for travelers or street photographers prioritizing discreetness and ease, both are contenders. Yet I personally find the Fuji’s larger, touch-enabled screen more user-friendly, especially when browsing menus or previewing shots on the go. The Panasonic's more compact footprint slightly favors pocket carry but makes for a smaller viewing canvas.

Image Sensor and Quality: The Heart of the Capture

For me, assessing sensor performance is fundamental. Both cameras use 12-megapixel CCD sensors - considered fairly standard for their release period. However, sensor size and processing architecture impact results more than raw resolution alone.

The FujiFilm Z800EXR houses a 1/2" CCD sensor sized at 6.4 x 4.8 mm with an area of about 30.72 mm², slightly larger than the Panasonic FP8’s 1/2.3" sensor at 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.72 mm² area). Sensor size nuances like this influence noise levels and dynamic range, as physics dictates larger sensors capture more light.

FujiFilm paired its sensor with the EXR processor - noteworthy for algorithms aimed at enhancing dynamic range and color reproduction. Fuji’s EXR technology sought to squeeze more tonal flexibility from CCDs even before CMOS sensors became ubiquitous. Panasonic’s Venus Engine V processor backed the FP8, known for good noise control in its day, but arguably less innovative than Fuji’s EXR system.

In practical shooting, I noted the Z800EXR delivered slightly richer color tones with more preserved highlight and shadow detail, especially evident in landscape and portrait shots. Conversely, the FP8’s images had a tendency to show more aggressive noise smoothing at higher ISO equivalents, sometimes at the cost of fine texture details.

Both cameras have optical anti-aliasing filters and max ISO settings that reveal their era’s digital limitations - the Fuji peaks natively at ISO 1600 (3200 boosted), while the Panasonic maxes at ISO 6400, though images degrade sharply beyond ISO 800 in both.

LCD Screen and Interface: Your Window to the World

Evaluating the user interface and visual feedback is essential for a seamless shooting experience.

The FujiFilm’s 3.5-inch LCD is substantially larger and supports touchscreen capabilities, a significant usability advantage. Menu navigation, focus area selection, and playback functions benefit dramatically from direct touch input rather than button mashing. For street shooters or casual users fascinated by their images, the liveliness and detail offered by the Z800EXR’s screen surpass the Panasonic’s fixed 2.7-inch display.

The Lumix FP8’s smaller LCD packs fewer pixels, limiting crispness in image inspection and framing. However, its physical buttons have sturdy feel with clear labeling - something a few purists still prefer over touchscreen controls.

Neither camera provides a dedicated viewfinder, which limits composition options in bright light, and both screens become difficult to view outdoors without shade or angles that avoid reflection.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Catching the Moment

Neither camera boasts advanced autofocus systems common today. Both rely on contrast-detection AF only, which, unsurprisingly, can be slow and hesitant especially in low contrast or dim conditions.

The Panasonic FP8 includes 11 autofocus points, a respectable number for a compact camera of its time. However, the absence of continuous autofocus and face detection means it’s best suited for static subjects.

The FujiFilm Z800EXR uses center-weighted contrast detection only, and no face or eye detection features are present. This simplicity leads to basic AF accuracy but tends toward slower focus lock speeds. Additionally, continuous shooting speeds on both cameras stick to 2 frames per second, a pace insufficient for sports or wildlife but acceptable for casual snapshots.

Versatility Across Photography Genres: What Can They Really Do?

Ultracompacts seldom excel across all photography genres, but it’s worthwhile to test their suitability.

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone rendition and pleasing bokeh are key. Both cameras have fixed lenses with modest zoom ranges - FujiFilm’s 35-175 mm (35mm equivalent) zoom and Panasonic’s 28-128 mm zoom.

The Fuji’s slightly longer zoom reach helps with tighter headshots, and its aperture ranges (F3.9 to F4.7) allow decent background separation in good light. The sensor and processing together preserve natural skin tones well. However, lack of face or eye autofocus means manual focus or trial-and-error framing may be necessary for critical focus.

The Panasonic FP8’s wider angle base (28 mm) suits environmental portraits better but narrower maximum apertures (F3.3-5.9) restrict depth of field control. Portrait bokeh is pretty flat due to sensor size and lens limitations, making the FP8 less ideal.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize dynamic range and resolution. The Fuji’s EXR processor aids here, extracting more detail from shadows and highlights - crucial when photographing bright skies and shaded terrain.

The Fuji’s 12MP sensor with larger sensor area produces cleaner raw data (albeit no raw shooting available), leading to sharper images with less noise at base ISO. The longer zoom is less vital here, but the better image quality counts.

Panasonic’s FP8 offers a respectable 12MP resolution across a slightly smaller sensor and wider available aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, 16:9). However, it struggles more with highlight clipping and shows more pronounced noise in shadows.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so outdoor photographers face care requirements under adverse conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Here, speed and burst performance are critical, and both ultracompacts falter. With just 2 fps continuous shooting and single-af contrast detection, neither camera is suited to fast-moving subjects.

The FujiFilm’s longer zoom helps frame wildlife at moderate distances, but slow AF and low buffer capacities limit action shots.

The Panasonic’s shorter zoom and narrower maximum aperture hamper subject isolation and light intake under fast shutter speed conditions.

Neither provides tracking AF or face/eye detection necessary for sports or wildlife pro shooters, making these cameras best reserved for casual snapshots within these genres.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion and Agility

Ultracompact cameras often shine here due to size and unobtrusive designs. Both models fit comfortably in jacket pockets, making them excellent travel companions.

The FujiFilm’s touch LCD enables quick menu changes and image review on the move, which I appreciated during urban walks where time and attention are split.

The Panasonic’s slightly more compact body and physical buttons may appeal to photographers preferring traditional control feedback.

Weighing these subtle differences:

• Battery life info is sparse but given similar sensor and processing power, expect roughly comparable usage times.

• Storage in both models is via SD/SDHC cards and internal memory, accommodating typical travel storage needs.

Macro and Close-up Shooting

Both cameras offer modest close-focusing distances - FujiFilm at 9 cm macro, Panasonic at 5 cm.

In practice, the Panasonic’s ability to focus closer can yield better detailed macros, especially for tabletop shoots or flower photography. However, FujiFilm’s sensor and image processing may deliver slightly cleaner images at these ranges.

Neither camera offers focus stacking or advanced macro aids, limiting creative flexibility for superfine closeups.

Night and Astro Capabilities

Low-light performance is handicapped primarily by CCD sensor technology and limited ISO ranges.

FujiFilm’s max ISO of 1600 (3200 boosted) allows some handheld low-light shots but with evident noise artifacts.

Panasonic’s higher max ISO rating of 6400 is impressive in theory but struggles with aggressive noise reduction, often washing details.

Neither model possesses advanced exposure modes helpful in night photography (e.g., bulb, manual exposure), nor is long exposure noise reduction reported.

Astro shooters should look elsewhere, as neither camera supports RAW or prolonged exposures without significant compromises.

Video Capabilities: Modest Moving Images

Both models support HD video at 1280x720 pixels, albeit with frame rates and formats:

• FujiFilm: 720p at 24 fps, Motion JPEG

• Panasonic: 720p at 30 fps, Motion JPEG

Neither offers 4K, 1080p, or any advanced video-centric functions.

Audio inputs are absent, restricting sound quality control.

Digital image stabilization (sensor-shift for FujiFilm; optical for Panasonic) assists in smooth handheld clips but with modest effect.

Videos serve casual home movies well but are unsuitable for professional video work.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

For pros, RAW support and workflow flexibility are key. Unfortunately, neither model offers RAW shooting, limiting post-processing potential. The FujiFilm Z800EXR is particularly constrained, lacking external flash support or advanced exposure modes.

Both cameras employ USB 2.0 for file transfer - standard but slow by modern speeds - and neither offers wireless connectivity such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

HDMI output exists solely on the Panasonic FP8, allowing direct connection to displays, a possible slight edge for quick image review.

Build quality is comfortable but unsealed - understandable for ultracompacts but a concern for demanding work environments.

Overall Shootout: Performance Ratings and Genre Specialization

Surveying their capabilities in aggregate:

And more granularly by photographic genre:

FujiFilm Z800EXR excels slightly in landscape and portrait shooting due to its sensor size and image processing, while Panasonic FP8 leads in macro and video features.

Neither is ideally suited for fast action sports or wildlife but serviceable for general travel and street shooting.

Sample Imagery: Seeing Is Believing

Here are some side-by-side samples from both cameras under varied lighting conditions:

FujiFilm Z800EXR front FujiFilm Z800EXR screen back Panasonic FP8 front Panasonic FP8 screen back

You’ll notice the FujiFilm’s images retain better tonal depth and less noise at base ISOs, though the Panasonic sometimes produces punchier color saturation.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the FujiFilm FinePix Z800EXR if you:

• Prioritize image quality for portraits and landscapes within compact form factors
• Appreciate a large touchscreen for intuitive control and framing
• Prefer slightly longer zoom reach on your ultracompact
• Shoot mostly static subjects in good lighting conditions

Opt for the Panasonic Lumix FP8 if you:

• Need a smaller, slightly lighter ultracompact with physical buttons
• Desire higher max ISO (albeit with noise caveats) and slightly more versatile aspect ratios
• Would like a video-friendly HDMI output for direct viewing
• Engage in casual macro photography occasionally

Closing Thoughts: A Journey into Point-and-Shoot Evolution

Testing these two ultracompact cameras side-by-side, I was reminded how much camera technology has advanced over just a decade. Though neither would contend with modern mirrorless or even budget compacts today, the FujiFilm Z800EXR and Panasonic FP8 represent accessible, well-rounded digital cameras of their time - each with subtle technical trade-offs favoring different users.

As always, I recommend assessing your primary genres, shooting style, and feature needs before picking either vintage model. Both can still deliver satisfying casual images and help casual enthusiasts stay light on their feet.

Thanks for exploring these classic ultracompacts with me! I hope this in-depth analysis aids your understanding and bridges historical design to the cameras of today.

For a look back on their detailed specs and more insights, feel free to browse comparison tables and sample galleries above.