FujiFilm F600 EXR vs Panasonic Lumix FX90: A Hands-On Comparison for the Discerning Photographer

In the ever-evolving world of compact digital cameras, choices abound. Two models from the early 2010s, the Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90, both aim at enthusiasts seeking a blend of zoom versatility, solid image quality, and video capabilities without the bulk of DSLRs or mirrorless systems. Having tested both extensively, I want to walk you through their performance, usability, and value - not just the specs, but how these translate into actual shooting experiences across diverse genres.

Getting a Feel for the Cameras: Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Right off the bat, you’ll notice the Fujifilm F600 EXR is bulkier and heftier, tipping the scale at roughly 215 grams and measuring 104 x 63 x 33 mm. The Panasonic FX90 is more svelte, with 149 grams and dimensions of 102 x 56 x 22 mm. This difference plays into how each feels in your hand during a shoot or when pocketing it for travel and street photography.

Ergonomically, neither camera offers a handgrip or complex button layout since they’re both fixed-lens compacts - but the added depth on the Fuji gives a slightly sturdier grip. The Panasonic, on the other hand, leans into compactness and portability, making it less conspicuous for candid street shooting.

The build quality on both is firmly plastic but feels well-assembled. There’s no weather sealing on either model (an expectation with compacts at this price and era), so you’ll want to keep them out of the rain or dusty conditions.

Controls wise, the Fujifilm offers more manual exposure options - shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual mode, providing serious flexibility if you want to get your hands dirty with creative settings. Panasonic's FX90 is more point-and-shoot oriented, lacking manual modes but equipped with a touchscreen interface, which is a rarity at this time and adds usability for menu navigation and focus point selection.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of It All

Any serious camera review requires a close look at sensor specs and image quality outputs, the real workhorses behind every great shot. Here’s where things diverge notably.

The Fujifilm F600 EXR features a 1/2" EXRCMOS sensor measuring 6.4x4.8 mm, offering a 16-megapixel resolution. Fujifilm’s EXR sensor technology is designed to blend resolution, high sensitivity, and dynamic range through pixel binning and mode switching. This lets you optimize your image quality according to shooting conditions - for example, prioritizing color depth or dynamic range.

Conversely, the Panasonic FX90 uses a smaller 1/2.3” CCD sensor at 12 megapixels (6.08x4.56 mm). CCD sensors back then were known for decent color reproduction and low noise at base ISO, but they lack the speed and dynamic range advantages of modern CMOS sensors.

In real-world shooting, the Fuji's sensor produces images with better dynamic range and color depth - 10.8 stops of DR vs untested but typically lower range on the Panasonic. The Fuji also shoots in RAW, giving photographers more post-processing latitude - something enthusiasts and pros appreciate. The Panasonic lacks RAW support, which limits flexibility.

Low-light performance is particularly telling: the Fuji has a max native ISO of 3200, boostable to 12800 (albeit with noise), while the Panasonic caps at 6400 ISO but with less clean results. Low-light ISO tests showed the Fuji producing more usable images with less chroma noise, capturing fine shadow detail convincingly.

If landscape or portrait dynamic range matters to you, the Fujifilm sensor wins here hands down.

Lens and Zoom Capability: Versatility vs Compactness

Let’s talk glass. The Fujifilm’s fixed lens spans a whopping 24-360 mm (15x optical zoom), aperture F3.5-5.3, which practically covers anything from wide landscapes to long telephoto wildlife shots. The Panasonic offers a shorter 24-120mm (5x optical zoom), F2.5-5.9.

This means the Fuji is more suitable if you want serious telephoto reach, for wildlife or sports shooting at a budget level. The Panasonic’s lens is wider aperture at the short end, useful indoors or for low-light shooting at wide angle, but the limited zoom range curtails versatility.

Macro capabilities see the Panasonic holding a slight edge with a minimum focus distance of 3 cm vs 5 cm on the Fuji. If you do a lot of close-up or flower photography, the Panasonic’s lens optics can get you closer.

The image stabilization systems differ as well:

• Fujifilm employs sensor-shift stabilization, which is effective across all focal lengths but mostly handy at the tele end of the zoom.

• Panasonic uses optical lens-shift stabilization, which generally offers smooth, effective correction with the advantage of less sensor movement inside the body.

In practical shooting, I found both systems competent at handheld shots up to their maximum zooms, but the Fuji’s longer zoom combined with stabilization brought occasional challenges in focus and stability at max reach.

Autofocus and Shooting Responsiveness

With both cameras relying on contrast-detection autofocus (no phase detection present), speed and reliability differ.

The Panasonic FX90 features 23 focus points, which provides reasonably flexible AF point selection, assisted by its touchscreen for intuitive control. Continuous AF is present and fairly consistent but not lightning-fast.

The Fujifilm F600 EXR does not specify the number of AF points but offers center, multi-area, and tracking modes with face detection absent on both. The focus system performed competently but was a tad slower to lock on, especially in low light or telephoto zoom. However, the EXR processor compensates for this with a better continuous shooting mode - an 8 frames per second burst rate compared to Panasonic’s 4 fps, which benefits sports and wildlife shooters trying to capture the decisive moment.

Both cameras support AF tracking, but it’s rudimentary by modern standards. For fast-moving subjects, neither excels compared to more recent mirrorless or DSLR systems - understandable given their compact nature and sensor technology era.

Display and User Interface

Both cameras sport a fixed 3-inch LCD at 460k dots, offering good resolution for framing and review.

Where they differ is in touch functionality. The Panasonic FX90 includes touchscreen focus and menu navigation, a great convenience that enhances shooting speed and ease, especially familiar for smartphone-users transitioning to cameras. The Fujifilm’s screen is non-touch but provides clear color rendering and good viewing angles.

Don’t expect an electronic viewfinder (EVF) on either; at this sensor size and price, OVF or EVF inclusion wasn’t standard.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Stills

For hybrid shooters who want decent video alongside photos, both cameras deliver Full HD video but with differences.

• Fujifilm F600 EXR records 1080p at 30 fps, with MPEG-4 AVI format. It also offers high-speed movie modes with frame rates up to 320 fps at reduced resolutions - handy for slow-motion effects but lower image quality.

• Panasonic FX90 ups the ante with 1080p at 60 fps capture, in AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats. This smoother frame rate benefits action video capture. Panasonic also includes HD video at 720p 60 fps.

Neither camera supports external microphone input, headphone jack, or 4K video - features that didn’t make their way into compacts at that time.

In use, Panasonic’s optical stabilization aids video smoothness, making handheld clips noticeably steadier compared to the Fuji's sensor-shift system. The Fuji’s high ISO sensor helps in low-light video, but noise becomes intrusive beyond ISO 800.

If video is a big part of your workflow, Panasonic’s 60p HD video and touchscreen focus offer tangible advantages.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Battery life is a practical consideration. The Panasonic FX90 rates about 200 shots per charge based on official ratings, typical for compacts of its generation. The Fujifilm NP-50 battery rating isn’t explicitly listed, but expect a similar ballpark.

Panasonic has built-in wireless connectivity, although limited (no Bluetooth); Fujifilm offers none.

Both feature USB 2.0 and HDMI output, enabling image transfers and clean video output to external recorders or TVs.

Storage-wise, both support SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with single card slots.

Use-Case Breakdown: Which Camera Shines Where?

It’s one thing to compare specs; quite another to match them to the specific needs of various photography disciplines.

Fujifilm F600 EXR front Fujifilm F600 EXR screen back Panasonic FX90 front Panasonic FX90 screen back

Portrait Photography

Capturing skin tones naturally, good bokeh, and detecting eyes for focus are key here.

• The Fuji’s 16MP sensor and RAW support allow deeper post-processing control for skin tone rendering and highlight recovery.

• Its lens has a narrower max aperture (F3.5–5.3), limiting shallow DOF; bokeh quality is modest and typical of compact superzooms.

• No eye or face detection autofocus exists on either, but Fuji’s tracking AF does a reasonable job.

• Panasonic’s slightly wider aperture at wide angle (F2.5) gives marginally better low-light portraits but with less resolution and no RAW.

Overall, the Fuji is preferable for controlled portrait sessions.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range, resolution, and weather resistance matter.

• Fuji’s EXR sensor shines with wider dynamic range, recovering shadow and highlight details better. The 16MP resolution captures textures crisply.

• The wider zoom on Fuji lets you frame panoramic scenes with ease.

• Panasonic falls behind here; smaller sensor and fewer megapixels mean lower detail and higher noise, with less dynamic range flexibility.

• Neither camera is weather sealed, so for tough outdoor conditions, additional protection is needed.

Hence, Fuji serves landscape shooters better.

Wildlife Photography

Fast autofocus, long zoom, high burst rates.

• Fuji’s 15x zoom outclasses Panasonic’s 5x, key for distant wildlife.

• Burst shooting at 8 fps is excellent for a compact.

• Autofocus is not pro-level but steady enough for casual bird shooting.

• Panasonic’s 4 fps and shorter zoom limit its wildlife suitability.

Clearly, Fuji leads in this regard.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife: speed and responsiveness are vital.

• Fuji’s faster frame rate and longer zoom make it serviceable for casual sports fans.

• Panasonic’s lower burst rate and smaller zoom range limits action photography.

Neither will satisfy professionals, but the Fuji’s burst speed is a strong selling point for enthusiasts.

Street Photography

Discretion, portability, and low-light capability.

• Panasonic’s smaller form and lighter weight enhance portability and discretion.

• The touchscreen offers quick AF control in dynamic street scenes.

• Fuji’s bigger size is more noticeable; however, its better low-light sensor might help in dim urban settings.

For walk-around shooting, Panasonic offers better stealth.

Macro Photography

Close-up focus and stabilization.

• Panasonic’s minimum macro distance of 3 cm provides closer subject capture vs Fuji’s 5 cm.

• Both stabilize well, but Panasonic’s optical IS gives smoother macro handholding.

If macros are a priority, Panasonic edges ahead.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO performance and exposure control.

• Fuji’s EXR sensor’s low light ISO score is superior; RAW files allow noise reduction strategies.

• Ability to manually control ISO and shutter speed is crucial for astro shots, with Fuji enabling full manual exposure.

• Panasonic lacks manual modes and RAW, restricting star or nightscape shooting.

For night enthusiasts, Fuji is the obvious choice.

Video Work

• Panasonic shoots 1080p60 and includes optical stabilization and touchscreen control; ideal for handheld video.

• Fuji’s 1080p30 recording and high-speed slow motion are creative assets but lack smooth video capture.

For casual video, Panasonic delivers better versatility.

Travel Photography

• Panasonic’s slim profile and lighter weight make packing and carrying effortless.

• Fuji’s extended zoom covers a wide range of scenarios but at the cost of bulk.

Battery life favors Panasonic slightly, and Wi-Fi connectivity gives it an edge in sharing images on the go.

Professional Use

• Neither camera is a professional workhorse; however, Fuji’s RAW support, manual modes, and stronger sensor align better with pros traveling light or needing a secondary compact.

• Panasonic’s limited RAW support and exposure controls restrict professional post-processing workflows.

Technical Analysis Summary

Who Should Choose Which?

After my thorough hands-on evaluation, it boils down to what you prioritize.

Choose the Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR if:

• You desire more zoom reach for wildlife or sports.
• You want RAW shooting and full manual controls.
• You shoot landscapes or portraits needing wider dynamic range.
• You value burst speed in stills.
• You occasionally shoot video but don’t mind 30 fps limitations.

Choose the Panasonic Lumix FX90 if:

• You prefer a smaller, more discreet camera ideal for street and travel.
• You want touchscreen convenience.
• Video is important with 1080p60 recording and smooth stabilization.
• You prioritize macro shooting capabilities.
• You’re fine with JPEG-only shooting and automated exposure modes.

Closing Thoughts: A Decade Later, What Still Counts?

Both these cameras represent a snapshot of compact camera evolution circa 2011, with strengths tailored to different shooting styles. The Fujifilm F600 EXR embodies versatility and enthusiast-oriented features, while the Panasonic FX90 delivers lightweight ease and video-friendly options.

If you want pure photographic flexibility and higher image quality, pick Fuji. For street-ready nimbleness and comfortable HD video, Panasonic is the winner.

Neither matches the performance of modern mirrorless systems, but for those wanting an inexpensive superzoom (Fuji) or an intuitive compact with video finesse (Panasonic), these models still hold appeal.

Whichever you favor, I hope this in-depth comparison helps you buy smart and shoot happy.

Happy photographing!