Fujifilm F600 EXR vs Olympus Stylus 1s: An In-Depth Comparison of Two Small Sensor Superzoom Contenders

In the compact superzoom landscape, the Fujifilm F600 EXR and Olympus Stylus 1s stand out as capable yet distinctly different models. Both cameras pack extensive zoom ranges in portable bodies with fixed lenses and small sensors, appealing to enthusiasts seeking all-in-one versatility without swapping lenses. Yet, their feature sets, handling, and performance profiles diverge significantly given their eras and design philosophies.

Over the years of testing hundreds of cameras akin to these, I've found that superzoom compacts - sometimes called bridge cameras - can vary widely in how they balance image quality, speed, ergonomics, and creative control. To dissect where the Fujifilm F600 EXR and Olympus Stylus 1s fit in that spectrum, I spent time vetting them head-to-head across numerous photography disciplines and technical benchmarks. This comparison will guide you through sensor tech, autofocus behavior, video, and much more to help you determine which camera suits your shooting style best.

Let’s dive in.

Sizing Up the Competitors: Handling and Ergonomics

When considering a camera, physical design and user interface are often as impactful as underlying specs, especially for field use.

Fujifilm F600 EXR: This model represents a classic compact form - small and light at 215g, with dimensions trimmed to 104x63x33mm. It's pocketable by some measures, albeit a bit chunky compared to point-and-shoots, but certainly manageable for casual travel or street shooting. The body is plastic but feels reasonably sturdy for its price bracket.

Olympus Stylus 1s: At nearly double the weight (402g) and a chunkier chassis at 116x87x57mm, the Stylus 1s emulates an SLR-style handling while remaining compact for a bridge camera. It’s better balanced for longer use with a firm grip and offers more substantial tactile feedback. The control layout caters to enthusiasts craving quick, manual adjustments.

From this top view, the Olympus clearly hosts more dials and buttons accessible without delving into menus - crucial for working photographers needing a fast workflow. The Fujifilm’s minimalistic layout suits straightforward operation but limits customization and rapid setting changes.

Verdict on handling: If you prioritize portability and travel-friendliness, the F600 EXR wins hands-down. For photographers valuing direct manual control and a solid grip, particularly in more deliberate shooting environments, the Olympus 1s feels more professional and ergonomic.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

A primary differentiator for cameras is the sensor - the component that fundamentally shapes image output quality.

Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR:

• Sensor: 1/2" EXR CMOS
• Sensor size: 6.4x4.8 mm (30.7 mm²)
• Resolution: 16 MP (4608x3456)
• Sensor tech focus: EXR mode for optimized dynamic range or low noise
• Native ISO: 100-3200; Boost up to 12800

Olympus Stylus 1s:

• Sensor: 1/1.7" BSI CMOS
• Sensor size: 7.44x5.58 mm (41.5 mm²)
• Resolution: 12 MP (3968x2976)
• Sensor technology: Backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS, better light gathering
• Native ISO: 100-12800

The Olympus’s sensor is physically larger, approximately 35% more surface area than the Fujifilm’s EXR sensor. The BSI design increases light sensitivity by reducing wiring layers and improving the quantum efficiency, which translates to cleaner images in low light and generally better dynamic range.

Although Fujifilm’s EXR technology is designed to enhance dynamic range or prioritize low noise depending on the mode, in practical terms, it doesn’t quite overcome the inherent limitations of the sensor’s smaller size and older 2011-era architecture. This becomes apparent in higher ISO performance and shadow detail retention.

In side-by-side image quality tests under controlled lighting and real-world conditions:

• The Olympus delivers slightly crisper edges at the same aperture settings and better control over chromatic noise at ISO beyond 800.
• The Fujifilm files exhibit more noise and a softer overall rendition, especially in shadows, but retain a respectable level of detail in daylight.

Color depth favors Olympus too, thanks to the BSI sensor and newer processing pipelines - ideal for photographers needing accurate skin tones and nuanced hues in landscape scenes.

File formats: Both support RAW shooting, essential for post-processing flexibility. However, Olympus’s file handling integrates more seamlessly with popular professional tools due to its more recent sensor profile.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Who’s Quicker on the Draw?

Speed and accuracy in autofocus directly affect the ability to capture fleeting moments in wildlife, sports, or street photography.

• Fujifilm F600 EXR: Contrast-detection autofocus with unspecified number of focus points. Continuous AF and face detection are absent. Notably, it includes a single AF center point and no phase-detection pixels.
• Olympus Stylus 1s: Contrast-detect autofocus with 35 focus points plus face detection. Includes touch-AF with limited tracking and continuous AF.

In real-world field tests, the Olympus Stylus 1s impresses with faster, more consistent autofocus acquisition, particularly under moderately challenging light or rapid subject movement. Its AF locks quicker, a vital trait for wildlife photographers or sports shooters needing to track unpredictable subjects.

The Fujifilm occasionally struggles to lock focus swiftly in low contrast or rapidly changing scenes, with hunting observed more frequently. Still, given the camera’s user base focused more on travel and casual shooting, this may be less of an issue.

Continuous shooting:

• Fujifilm maxes out at 8 fps, which is respectable.
• Olympus steps back slightly to 7 fps but offers better AF tracking during bursts.

While both yield usable buffer depths for moderate action sequences, neither rivals professional-grade cameras in this area but remain competent for entry-level superzoom needs.

Viewing and User Interface: Composing and Reviewing Shots

An often overlooked feature in compact cameras is the quality and utility of display and viewfinder systems.

The Fujifilm F600 EXR sports a fixed 3.0-inch TFT LCD with 460k-dot resolution - a bit on the crude side by today’s standards, causing some frustration when composing outdoors under bright sunlight due to limited brightness and reflectivity.

In contrast, the Olympus Stylus 1s boasts a 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with over twice the resolution at 1,040k dots, making it far more vibrant, sharp, and flexible for creative angles or overhead shots. Touch capability also speeds up focus point selection and menu navigation.

Crucially, the Olympus includes a bright electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1,440k-dot resolution covering 100% frame - an invaluable addition for controlling exposure and framing in direct sunlight or low light.

The Fujifilm model lacks any viewfinder, forcing reliance on the LCD, which hampers precision shooting under challenging conditions.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Reaching Further and Sharper

Both cameras offer fixed superzoom lenses designed to cover a wide variety of focal lengths.

• Fujifilm F600 EXR: 24-360mm equivalent (15x zoom), max aperture F3.5-5.3
• Olympus Stylus 1s: 28-300mm equivalent (10.7x zoom), constant F2.8 aperture

Although Fuji offers a somewhat longer zoom reach - advantageous for distant subjects - this comes at the expense of slower maximum apertures, especially at the telephoto end.

Olympus’ constant F2.8 aperture is a significant advantage, enabling better low-light performance, faster shutter speeds, and shallower depth of field throughout the zoom range. This leads to more attractive bokeh - highly prized for portraits and close-up work.

The macro focusing distance is identical at 5 cm, but Olympus’s superior optics and stabilization deliver sharper close-ups with better control over background blur.

Regarding stabilization:

• Fujifilm uses sensor-shift stabilization, effective but less advanced.
• Olympus employs optical stabilization, generally regarded as more efficient, especially at telephoto settings.

Durability and Build: Can They Take the Heat?

Neither camera features environmental sealing or weatherproof certification, limiting use in extreme weather or rugged conditions. The Olympus’s build quality feels more robust and professional, but neither expectation should be raised for serious outdoor explorers.

Battery Life and Storage: Powering the Adventure

• Fujifilm F600 EXR relies on NP-50 batteries with unspecified battery life, typically found to last for approximately 210 shots per charge under standard conditions - a bit low for extended use without spares.
• Olympus Stylus 1s uses BLS-50 rechargeable battery packs, rated for around 450 shots - more than double the F600 EXR’s endurance, aligning better with longer outings.

Both utilize SD cards (SDHC/SDXC) for storage and feature a single card slot.

Connectivity and Extras: The Modern Toolbox

The Olympus Stylus 1s includes built-in wireless connectivity, enabling image transfer and remote control through companion apps - beneficial for on-the-go sharing.

Fujifilm F600 EXR, released earlier, lacks wireless options and modern conveniences like Bluetooth or NFC - somewhat dated in this regard.

Neither supports microphone or headphone ports, limiting advanced videography.

Video Capabilities: Recording on the Go

Both cameras offer Full HD 1080p video recording, but with some distinctions:

• Fujifilm F600 EXR: 1080p at 30 fps; also supports high-speed video recording at 80/160/320 fps for slow-motion effects.
• Olympus Stylus 1s: 1080p at 30 fps and 720p at 30 fps; no high-speed mode.

The Olympus offers stabilized video capture via optical image stabilization, producing smoother footage compared to Fujifilm’s sensor-shift approach.

Both output via HDMI and USB 2.0 but lack advanced codecs or 4K capabilities, reflecting their era and category positioning.

Performance and Image Samples Across Photography Genres

To contextualize their strengths, I tested both cameras across genres spanning portraits, landscapes, wildlife, sports, street, macro, night photography, and video capture.

Fujifilm F600 EXR front Fujifilm F600 EXR screen back Olympus 1s front Olympus 1s screen back

Portraits

Olympus edges out with smoother skin tone rendition and better bokeh thanks to its F2.8 aperture and more accurate autofocus with face detection. The Fujifilm produces decent portraits, but highlights can clip under harsh lighting, and backgrounds aren’t as pleasantly blurred.

Landscapes

Both perform well in daylight scenes. Olympus slightly surpasses Fujifilm on dynamic range and detail recovery. However, high-resolution Fuji files offer more cropping latitude in well-lit environments due to increased megapixels.

Wildlife and Sports

Olympus’s faster, more reliable autofocus and better burst tracking make it more usable for fast action. Fujifilm’s longer zoom is intriguing for distant subjects but let down by AF speed.

Street Photography

The compact and light Fujifilm becomes the more discreet companion here. However, the lack of EVF and slower AF limit spontaneous shooting compared to the more capable Olympus.

Macro

Optics and stabilization make Olympus the better macro tool, rendering finer detail with less blur.

Night and Astrophotography

Olympus’s superior low-light sensitivity and cleaner high-ISO performance permit longer exposures with less noise. Fujifilm’s higher pixel density can be useful, but noise becomes problematic above ISO 800.

Video

Olympus produces noticeably smoother, stabler video. Fujifilm’s high-speed modes, while novel, are less practical for typical videography.

Travel

Fujifilm’s smaller size, though more lightweight, trades off in control and image clarity, but remains attractive to travelers prioritizing compactness.

Scoring the Cameras: Overall and Genre-Specific Ratings

To bring all these facets together, I assigned scores based on extensive field testing, sensor measurements, and user experience.

• Olympus Stylus 1s scores higher overall thanks to its superior lens, sensor, autofocus, and ergonomic design.
• Fujifilm F600 EXR holds its own as a budget-friendly superzoom with acceptable image quality and portability.

In critical genres like wildlife, sports, and low-light photography, the Olympus shines. Fujifilm fares well in travel, casual, and still life photography, where ease of carry and zoom reach matter more than top-tier speed.

Price-to-Performance: Value Considerations

The Fujifilm F600 EXR, priced around $230 (at launch), offers tremendous zoom range and basic manual controls for less than half the Olympus’s price point.

The Olympus Stylus 1s, costing roughly $700, commands a premium justified by more sophisticated sensor tech, optics, handling, and modern features such as tilting touchscreen and EVF.

If budget is constrained and zoom reach is priority, the F600 EXR is compelling. But for those willing to invest for consistently better image quality and controls, Olympus provides excellent bang for the buck.

Recommendations: Picking Your Perfect Superzoom

Choose the Fujifilm F600 EXR if you:

• Want a lightweight, highly portable camera with extensive zoom.
• Favor simple controls and a budget-friendly option.
• Primarily shoot in well-lit conditions and prioritize zoom reach over speed.
• Are an occasional photographer or traveler wanting convenience.

Choose the Olympus Stylus 1s if you:

• Need superior image quality with low noise and better dynamic range.
• Seek a fast, reliable autofocus for wildlife or sports.
• Want manual controls and a responsive interface with touchscreen and EVF.
• Desire stabilized video and stronger macro capabilities.
• Prioritize handling comfort and battery longevity.

Final Thoughts

Our hands-on experience reveals these two small sensor superzoom cameras cater to partially overlapping yet distinct niches. The Fujifilm F600 EXR impresses as a lightweight, long-zoom option with some creative manual exposure controls that remain accessible to beginners. Conversely, the Olympus Stylus 1s targets enthusiast shooters demanding faster operation, better optics, and richer image quality in a still compact, bridge-style form.

Given how long the F600 EXR has been around, its specs feel dated when held against the more modern Stylus 1s, yet it remains a relevant, cost-effective tool for casual shooters. Meanwhile, Olympus’s 1s rewards investment with tangible benefits that justify its premium - especially if you shoot across varied subjects or challenging conditions.

Ultimately, choosing between them depends on your priorities around portability, shooting speed, and image fidelity. For those of us who have tested hundreds of cameras, the Stylus 1s represents a refined balance of features ideal for photography enthusiasts, whereas the F600 EXR suits budget-conscious travelers or beginners seeking a solid all-rounder.

Happy shooting!

Note: This review is based on extensive side-by-side testing with both cameras across varied environments and lighting. Performance insights derive from proprietary autofocus timing, dynamic range charts, and practical use sessions, ensuring you get an expert lens on these superzoom contenders.