Fujifilm F750EXR vs Nikon Coolpix B500: The Compact Superzoom Showdown

When compact superzoom cameras cross paths, it’s always a spectacle worth diving into. You’ve got the Fujifilm F750EXR - a sleek little number from 2012 known for its EXR sensor tech and a hearty 20x zoom. On the other side, Nikon’s 2016 Coolpix B500 steps up with a more traditional bridge-body, a whopping 40x zoom, and a few clever extras like wireless connectivity. Both are aimed at enthusiasts craving versatility in a compact form, but how exactly do they stack up beyond the glossy specs?

Having spent hours shooting with both, I’ve got the hands-on experience and insight that go beyond press releases. We’ll explore everything from sensor performance to ergonomics, autofocus to video chops, all across popular photography disciplines like portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more. So buckle up for a detailed journey through size, image quality, usability, and value. Let’s start where all photography starts: the physical feel.

First Impressions: Size, Build Quality, and Ergonomics

Anyone who’s juggled superzoom compacts knows handling can make or break the experience. The Fuji F750EXR embraces a slim, truly pocketable design - compact enough to slip into a coat pocket without hefting your whole bag. Nikon’s B500, meanwhile, is a bridge-style camera with a grip that’s more ergonomic for extended shooting but definitely demands a dedicated spot in your backpack.

At 105 x 63 x 36 mm and 234 grams, the Fujifilm feels like a lightweight travel companion designed more for portability than all-day comfort. The Nikon, on the other hand, measures a chunkier 114 x 78 x 95 mm and weighs in at 541 grams - more than double Fuji’s weight. It resembles a miniature DSLR with a hefty grip, lending itself well to steady shooting but less discreet or spontaneous street-friendly.

Build-wise, both cameras are plastic-bodied with no environmental sealing, which is typical at their price point. Neither offers rugged durability, but the Nikon's more substantial heft imparts a reassuring sense of solidity compared to Fuji’s more toy-like feel. If you’re leaning towards travel or street photography and prefer pocketability, the F750 wins here hands down. But if you want a serious grip and don’t mind carrying the extra bulk, the B500’s SLR-style ergonomics promise greater comfort over longer sessions.

Moving past size, inspecting control layouts shows the Nikon’s advantage in intuitive button placement. It sports dedicated zoom and playback controls, a familiar mode dial, and a rear thumb rest making it easier to operate with one hand. The Fujifilm, more minimalist, offers fewer physical buttons and a menu system that, frankly, feels a bit dated and less responsive. For photographers accustomed to DSLRs or mirrorless, Nikon’s tactile layout will be less of a learning curve.

In the Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

The beating heart of every camera is the sensor. Both cameras pack a 16MP sensor, but sensor size and technology influence image quality dramatically.

The Fujifilm F750EXR employs a 1/2" EXR CMOS sensor measuring 6.4x4.8 mm with a 30.72 mm² sensor area. In contrast, the Nikon B500 has a slightly smaller 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor at 6.17x4.55 mm, delivering 28.07 mm² sensor area. While that difference seems modest on paper, sensor design greatly impacts noise handling and dynamic range.

Fuji’s EXR sensor was innovative for its time, enabling different pixel-mode arrangements to optimize dynamic range or sensitivity depending on shooting conditions. However, technology from 2012 shows its age when compared to Nikon’s newer generation BSI (backside-illuminated) CMOS sensor that better manages noise in low light by improving light gathering efficiency.

In practical shooting, the Fujifilm often renders slightly punchier colors and better detail retention at base ISO 100 to 400. However, I observed increased noise beyond ISO 800, which reduced image usability in dim conditions. The Nikon’s BSI sensor was quieter at ISO 800 and 1600, making it the better pick for low-light situations.

Neither camera supports RAW files, which limits extensive post-processing latitude - both capture only JPEGs internally. So, what you get straight from the camera impacts your final image quality.

Sharpening the Focus: Autofocus Performance in Real-World Use

Autofocus is often the Achilles’ heel on compact superzooms. The Fujifilm F750EXR sports a contrast-detection AF system with face detection but lacks live view AF or sophisticated zone selection. Nikon’s B500 also uses contrast-detection but adds some selective AF modes and live view autofocus, resulting in more accurate focusing under various conditions.

Both cameras have continuous AF and tracking for moving subjects, but in practical terms, the Nikon offers noticeably more reliability and speed. In typical daylight shooting, both cameras lock focus quickly with no major issues, but in lower contrast or indoor scenes, Fuji’s autofocus hunts longer and misfocuses more often.

For wildlife or sports photography, where rapid and reliable autofocus is essential, the Nikon B500 is clearly the better tool, delivering higher burst shooting speeds at 7.4 fps versus Fuji’s 11 fps but with more useable frames thanks to improved focus consistency.

Viewing and Composition: LCD Screens and Viewfinders

Neither camera features an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which isn’t unusual in this category but definitely something to consider especially for outdoor shooting under bright sunlight.

The Fuji’s fixed 3.0” TFT LCD screen has a modest 460k-dot resolution, resulting in grainy playback and somewhat sluggish responsiveness. Nikon’s B500 upgrades this with a 3.0” tilting LCD that is sharper at 921k dots, making composition easier and playback images more legible.

The B500’s tilting screen lends itself to low-angle or high-angle shots, a boon in street and wildlife photography. Fuji’s fixed screen leaves you awkwardly contorting to compose, especially when using its extensive zoom. On balance, Nikon’s LCD beats Fuji in usability and versatility here.

Zoom and Lens Performance: The Superzoom Race

Superzoom cameras live or die by their zoom optics. The Fujifilm F750EXR offers a 25–500 mm equivalent lens with a 20x zoom range and max aperture of f/3.5–5.3. Nikon’s Coolpix B500 nearly doubles the reach with a 23–900 mm equivalent 40x zoom, but with a slightly slower maximum aperture range of f/3.0–6.5.

Practically speaking, Fuji’s lens delivers sharper images at the wide end and maintains reasonably good contrast across zoom, but starts to fall off in sharpness and contrast beyond 300 mm equivalent. Nikon’s 40x zoom lens, while amazing for reach - ideal for distant wildlife or sports - suffers from noticeable softness and chromatic aberrations at the telephoto end, a common tradeoff for extended zooms in compact lenses.

Both lenses feature built-in image stabilization - sensor-shift in Fuji, optical in Nikon - which greatly aids handheld shooting, especially at longer focal lengths. Fuji’s sensor-shift system performs adequately but can’t match Nikon’s optical IS in efficiency, resulting in steadier shots at full zoom on the B500.

Picture This: Sample Images and Practical Impressions

Enough specs - let’s look at the cameras in actual use. I conducted side-by-side shoots of various subjects: portraits indoors and outdoors, landscapes in sunlight, birds in the park, and even some quick street captures.

Fujifilm F750EXR front Fujifilm F750EXR screen back Nikon B500 front Nikon B500 screen back

Portraits with the Fuji F750EXR delivered pleasing skin tones - thanks to Fujifilm’s natural color science. The bokeh created by the relatively bright f/3.5 aperture at the wide end was decent, though obviously limited by the small sensor and fixed lens aperture. Nikon’s portraits also looked good but leaned a bit cooler in skin tone rendition. Both cameras’ face detection worked well enough to nail focus on eyes.

For landscapes, Fuji’s dynamic range capabilities slightly edged Nikon, retaining more highlight detail in bright skies and richer shadow textures at base ISO. However, Nikon’s higher resolution screen and optical IS facilitated more confident handheld landscapes at slower shutter speeds.

Wildlife was where Nikon’s extended zoom shined - being able to reach out to the farthest branches without cropping was liberating - and its faster autofocus and image stabilization meant less frustration chasing fluttering birds. Fuji's shorter zoom was limiting in this regard.

Sports or action shooting clearly favored Nikon. The B500’s tracking AF was more reliable and burst shooting produced more sharp frames. Fuji’s 11 fps burst speed looks good on paper but the focusing lag made many images unusable in fast-moving scenes.

Street photography is a more subjective arena. Fuji’s smaller size and lighter weight encouraged more candid shooting - less camera presence to scare off subjects. Nikon’s bulky body is harder to tuck away, but the articulating LCD helped with discrete low-angle shots.

Macro work was respectable on both, with Fuji’s 5cm minimum focus distance allowing for decent close-ups. Nikon got slightly closer at 1cm, but I found its focusing less precise at the extremes.

For low-light and night or astro shooters, Nikon’s quieter sensor at higher ISO was preferable - allowing cleaner handheld shots at ISO 1600 without ugly noise. Neither camera is built for serious astrophotography, but among the two, Nikon has the edge.

Lights, Camera, Action: Video Features Compared

Neither the Fuji F750EXR nor Nikon B500 aim to dethrone dedicated video shooters, but both offer respectable Full HD video at 1080p.

The Fuji records 1080p at 30 fps, while the Nikon can do 1080p at 60i, 50i, 30p, and 25p frame rates, granting it slightly more flexibility for smoother motion capture. Both use MPEG-4 H.264 encoding.

Neither camera offers 4K video or microphone/headphone jacks, which will disappoint serious videographers. Their built-in stabilization helps keep footage steady but can’t match modern IBIS (in-body image stabilization) standards.

Nikon’s wireless connectivity - including Bluetooth - facilitates quick sharing of videos and photos, a handy feature for travel vloggers or casual shooters wanting easy social media uploads, something Fuji completely lacks.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Battery life is often overlooked but critical for longer outings. Nikon’s Coolpix B500 uses four AA batteries and boasts an impressive 600 shots per charge with EN-EL19 rechargeable lithium-ion pack compatibility. For many users, the ability to swap out standard AAs on the fly is a major plus, especially traveling off-grid.

Fuji’s F750EXR uses a proprietary NP-50A Li-ion battery, with no official CIPA rating available but generally lasting under 300 shots per charge. In practice, you’d want a spare battery for longer shoots - somewhat inconvenient compared to Nikon’s flexible power options.

In connectivity, Nikon’s inclusion of built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is a standout, allowing wireless image transfer via the SnapBridge app. Fuji offers none of this, relying solely on USB 2.0 for downloading images.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, with a single slot each - standard fare with no dual card backup options.

Balancing the Books: Price and Value Assessment

At the current pricing (approx. $445 for the Fujifilm, $300 for the Nikon), the choice largely depends on your priorities. Fuji’s model is older, more compact, and offers slightly better static image quality at base ISO and more pleasing color output.

Nikon’s B500 gives you way more zoom reach, better low-light autofocus, longer battery life, a superior LCD screen, and wireless connectivity, all for a substantially lower price tag.

If budget constraints weigh heavily, Nikon is undeniably the better bang for the buck. But if you prize pocket-friendliness and color fidelity for portraits or landscapes, Fuijfilm might justify the premium.

How Do They Stack Up? Overall Scores and Genre Insights

Assessing these cameras across broad criteria reveals clear trade-offs:

• Image Quality: Fuji wins slightly in daylight color accuracy; Nikon edges in low-light noise control.
• Autofocus: Nikon’s faster, more reliable AF suits action and wildlife better.
• Ergonomics: Fuji excels in pocketability; Nikon wins for handling comfort.
• Zoom: Nikon’s 40x leap is a definitive advantage for distant subjects.
• Battery and Connectivity: Nikon dominates with longer life and wireless features.

Breaking down by genre:

• Portraits: Fuji’s color tones and modest bokeh slightly favored.
• Landscapes: Tight contest; Fuji’s dynamic range vs Nikon’s handheld stability.
• Wildlife: Clear Nikon territory with longer reach and better AF.
• Sports: Nikon again for tracking and burst.
• Street: Fuji for low profile and portability.
• Macro: Close call, but Nikon’s closer focusing distance tips scale.
• Night/Astro: Nikon’s sensor holds up better.
• Video: Nikon offers more frame rate options and wireless sharing.
• Travel: Fuji for compactness; Nikon for versatility and battery swapping.
• Professional Use: Neither truly professional, but Nikon’s control and connectivity options edge ahead.

The Bottom Line: Who Should Buy Which?

This comparison leaves us with two solid but distinct options tailored toward different shooting styles and priorities:

Choose the Fujifilm F750EXR if you:

• Crave a truly compact, lightweight camera that slips unobtrusively into your pocket or purse.
• Mostly shoot portraits, landscapes, and casual outdoor shots where color accuracy and daylight performance matter most.
• Prefer simpler controls and shorter zoom but with a bit more refinement in handling everyday photography.
• Don’t mind the lack of wireless features or modern connectivity.

Opt for the Nikon Coolpix B500 if you:

• Demand extensive zoom reach and improved autofocus for wildlife, sports, or distant subjects.
• Appreciate a comfortable handgrip and intuitive button layout for longer or more active shoot days.
• Want longer battery life with the ability to swap standard AA batteries on the go.
• Value built-in wireless connectivity to quickly share images.
• Shoot videos with variable frame rate options.
• Are budget-conscious and want maximum versatility for under $300.

Final Musings from the Field

Comparing these two cameras reminded me why superzoom compacts occupy a niche all their own - offering a curious blend of convenience, reach, and sometimes quirky compromises. The Fuji F750EXR still impresses with its legacy EXR sensor magic and pocket-friendly size, but it’s clearly a product of an earlier era - and that simplicity can be a double-edged sword today.

The Nikon B500, though bulkier, represents a smarter evolution toward user-friendly controls, improved low-light and autofocus capabilities, and modern connectivity features photographers crave. Blast your shot-out-there wildlife or nail a fast-moving sports sequence, and Nikon flexes its strengths visibly.

Which camera’s quirks or conveniences won you over? As always in photography, the best gear is the one that inspires you to shoot more and enjoy the craft. Between these two, it’s a choice between nimble portability and versatile reach - each with its devoted fans.

Summary Table

Hope this thorough, hands-on comparison helps you choose the perfect superzoom companion for your photographic adventures. Whether Fuji’s compact charm or Nikon’s versatile reach fits your style, both cameras pack surprising punch in their own right.

Happy shooting!