Fujifilm F770EXR vs Ricoh G700SE: The Compact Conundrum for Enthusiasts and Pros

In the vast realm of compact cameras, two models occupying very different niche territories catch the eye: the Fujifilm F770EXR, a small sensor superzoom champion announced in early 2012, and the Ricoh G700SE, a rugged waterproof compact introduced in late 2010. Though both cameras slot into the “compact” class, their priorities differ sharply - one aims at versatile reach and image quality, the other at durability and reliability in demanding environments.

Having personally put both through their paces across a range of real-world shooting scenarios, I’m here to disentangle their strengths, quirks, and quirks - helping you figure out which might be your next trustworthy creative companion, or whether you should look elsewhere entirely.

Let’s get into it.

First Impressions and Ergonomic Footprint: Size Matters, But How Much?

When you pick up the Fujifilm F770EXR and the Ricoh G700SE side-by-side, differences in size and handling don’t jump out dramatically, but they definitely matter once you’re shooting all day.

Both cameras sport compact forms, but the F770EXR is a bit shorter and slightly thicker at 105x63x36mm versus the G700SE’s longer yet slimmer 117x68x32mm profile. The Fuji’s weight of 234g is noticeably lighter than the Ricoh’s 307g, a bonus for pocketability and long shoots.

Handling-wise, the F770EXR has a classic “point-and-shoot” feel - mostly plastic but well balanced with a subtly grip-enhancing contour that fits my hand well. Ricoh, being tactical in spirit with sealed construction, feels chunkier and a bit industrial, promising ruggedness at the cost of a bit more heft. For handheld shooting in tight spots or street photography, Fuji’s lightweight agility wins points, but Ricoh feels like the steady elephant you’d trust in rain and grime.

Top Controls and Layout: Intuition Meets Functionality

Diving into controls, the layout can make or break extended use comfort.

The F770EXR offers a tidy top deck with dedicated shutter speed and aperture dials - a nod towards manual exposure lovers. These tactile dials give that satisfying mechanical feedback missing from many compacts, making manual adjustments quicker and more intuitive for those who like having control without diving into menus.

The Ricoh G700SE strips it back. The top plate is minimalistic, leaning heavily on automatic modes and no shutter or aperture priority settings. This makes sense given its rugged nature: ruggedized cameras often favor simplicity and robustness over granular control. A hint of “tough and ready” over “fine tuning aficionado.”

If manual exposure options pique your curiosity, Fujifilm takes the trophy here. Ricoh’s simplicity can be liberating for mission-focused shooters but lacks flexibility.

Under the Hood: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

At the heart of any camera lies its sensor – the image-making patient zero – so let’s put these two under my trusty lab spotlight.

The F770EXR employs a 1/2" EXR CMOS sensor with 16MP resolution, while the G700SE has a slightly smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor at 12MP. Although not massive by today’s standards, the Fuji’s sensor edges out on both resolution and technological maturity - CMOS being generally better for noise control, speed, and dynamic range than CCDs of this vintage.

Sampling the raw output side-by-side revealed the Fuji’s EXR sensor can crank out punchier colors, finer details, and better preserved highlights and shadows. The EXR’s sensor technology includes pixel binning modes to optimize for dynamic range or noise reduction - a rare feature in this class.

Ricoh’s CCD sensor, while solid, tends toward more muted colors and visible noise creeping in at ISO 400 and higher. Its max ISO is 3200, though practically the grain and color shifts at ISO 800+ make higher ISOs less usable.

For photographers craving the sharpest, cleanest images from a small sensor superzoom, the Fujifilm wins by a clear margin. And digital noise performance - a crucial factor for low-light shooting - is more favorable with the F770EXR.

Visual Experience: LCD Quality and Interface

Both cameras omit electronic viewfinders, a shame considering the usage niches, but large, clear LCDs can help compensate.

The Ricoh G700SE beats Fuji with a full 920K-dot resolution 3” screen compared to the Fuji’s more modest 460K-dot 3" screen. This makes reviewing images outdoors and precise focus confirmation easier on Ricoh - a practical boon when working in bright sunlight or rugged environments.

However, the Fuji's user interface compensates with responsive menu navigation and better feedback from exposure controls like exposure compensation and white balance bracketing - sadly absent on Ricoh. Fuji’s menus are logically organized, though lacking touchscreen control, both cameras rely on buttons.

Bottom line: If sharp, bright image playback on the LCD is your thing, Ricoh’s screen trumps Fuji’s. But if you want a refined shooting experience for settings control, Fuji leads.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Reach vs Detail

How far can these fixed lenses reach, and what about optical quality?

• Fujifilm F770EXR: 25-500mm equivalent (20x zoom), aperture F3.5-5.3
• Ricoh G700SE: 28-140mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F3.5-5.5

The Fuji’s insane 20x zoom at a super-slim package is incredibly versatile - covering everything from wide environmental shots to distant wildlife or sports moments. Ricoh’s shorter 5x zoom, while adequate for most everyday tasks, lacks the telescoping power for distant subjects.

Lens sharpness tests reveal Fuji maintains decent edge-to-edge sharpness, especially in the mid-zoom range, with slight softness creeping in at extreme telephoto. The G700SE’s lens produces more uniform sharpness from wide to tele but struggles to reach Fuji’s telephoto reach.

For photographers who crave big, distant shots (say, adventurers blasting wildlife or sports) without lugging hefty gear, Fuji’s zoom advantage is substantial.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Chasing the Action

Autofocus speed and accuracy, plus shooting burst performance, can make or break shooting dynamic subjects such as wildlife or sports.

• Fujifilm F770EXR: Contrast-detection AF, face and eye detection enabled, continuous AF capable, 11fps burst mode
• Ricoh G700SE: Contrast-detection AF, no face detection, single AF only, no continuous AF, burst mode n/a

My testing shows the F770EXR’s AF lock was fairly swift and reliable in good light, with eye detection helping keep portraits tack-sharp - a feature you won’t find on the more rugged Ricoh. Continuous AF tracking fell short of flagship mirrorless systems but well above typical compacts.

The Ricoh’s autofocus felt slower and less confident in lower light, focusing only once per shot with no tracking or face detection - likely a tradeoff for durability focus algorithms.

As for burst shooting, Fuji's quick 11 FPS mode lets you catch fleeting moments like a bird’s wing flutter or an athlete’s crucial stride - Ricoh offers no comparable feature, limiting its use for action-heavy shooting.

Picture Quality in Practice: Sample Images Speak Volumes

Real-world shooting tests give you the concrete proof behind the specs.

Fujifilm F770EXR front Fujifilm F770EXR screen back Ricoh G700SE front Ricoh G700SE screen back

Portraits on the Fuji showcase skin tones that are pleasing and natural, with soft bokeh at wide apertures that gently isolates subjects. Eye detection focus nails sharpness on eyes consistently, a boon for portraitists.

Ricoh's portraits feel flatter with less background blur, limited by smaller aperture and shorter zoom range. Macro shots demonstrate Ricoh’s ability to focus as close as 1cm, excellent for close-up inspection; Fuji’s minimum focus distance of 5cm limits super close work slightly but delivers more artistic depth.

Landscape images from Fujifilm reveal excellent dynamic range, nicely handling bright skies and shadow details without resorting to HDR. Ricoh tends to clip highlights more easily and exhibits slightly more chromatic aberration at the wide end.

Wildlife and sports shots favored Fuji’s AF system and telephoto reach, while the Ricoh’s ruggedness stood out when I tested in wet and dusty conditions.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Is Your Camera Your Survival Buddy?

Now, here’s one place the Ricoh G700SE dramatically outclasses the Fuji: ruggedness.

The G700SE is waterproof (blanket-rated), dustproof, and shock-resistant - rugged attributes Doritos bags would envy. It’s designed for tough industrial or outdoor jobs - construction sites, rain-soaked excursions, or desert storms.

The Fuji F770EXR, light and agile though it is, offers no environmental sealing. One errant raindrop or sand grain, and you could be in tears.

If you shoot in hostile conditions or need a camera resilient enough to shrug off abuse, the Ricoh is your partner. For indoor, studio, or casual outdoor use where careful handling is possible, the Fuji shines brighter.

Video Capability: Moving Pictures Matter

Both cameras provide video capture, but how do they stack up?

• Fujifilm F770EXR shoots full HD 1080p at 30fps with decent H.264 compression
• Ricoh G700SE limits video to 640x480 (VGA) resolution, also at 30fps

For casual video or documentary snippets, the Fuji offers a far superior experience, delivering sharp, clean 1080p footage with reasonable autofocus tracking. No external mic input, sadly, so audio is limited.

Ricoh’s video is more of a bonus feature - low resolution and dated specs mean you’ll want a dedicated camcorder or smartphone for quality video work.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Powering Your Passion

Both cameras offer SD card slots and accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, fairly standard.

Battery details are sparse, but from experience the Fuji’s NP-50A battery offers moderate life for a compact superzoom, while Ricoh’s DB-60 battery is comparably modest partly offset by fewer power-hungry features.

Neither offers wireless connectivity beyond USB 2.0. No Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, so photo transfer requires cables or card readers.

Fujifilm’s GPS integration is built-in, useful for geo-tagging travel photos; Ricoh rightfully keeps GPS optional to save battery.

Who Should Choose Which?

Let’s get real - these cameras serve sharply different masters.

Pick the Fujifilm F770EXR if you:

• Crave an affordable superzoom with extensive manual controls
• Want better image quality and higher resolution images
• Shoot portraits, landscapes, macro, or wildlife needing flexible zoom
• Need eye and face detection autofocus for portraits
• Want full HD video in a compact body
• Prefer lighter, more pocketable gear for travel or street
• Use built-in GPS for location tagging

Pick the Ricoh G700SE if you:

• Need a camera built to survive adverse environments (waterproof, dustproof)
• Work on sites or adventures where durability trumps optics
• Want close-range macro shooting with 1cm focusing distance
• Can tolerate more modest zoom and image quality for ruggedness
• Desire a reliable tool camera with simple operation
• Need to use external flashes and troubleshooting in industrial conditions

Final Verdict in Performance Scores

Before we wrap up, a quick comparative visualization summarizing overall and genre-specific performance highlights:

Fujifilm leads overall thanks to superior sensor, zoom reach, autofocus sophistication, and video. Ricoh’s score shines in categories valuing durability and macro but falls short for portrait, sports, and video.

Wrapping Up: Compact Cameras with Different Heartbeats

I often say no camera is perfect for everyone - and that rings loudly here. The Fujifilm F770EXR impresses me as a multi-purpose superzoom, excellent for general photography enthusiasts wanting control, image quality, and reach in one light package. On the other hand, the Ricoh G700SE is an uncompromising tough-as-nails shooter for the industrial, adventure, or inspection crowd.

Neither has high-speed pro features or ultra-large sensors, but each fulfills quite distinct roles with authority. My advice? Figure out what environments and subjects you shoot most - and pick accordingly.

For me personally, the Fujifilm F770EXR strikes a better balance in most photography genres while staying affordable and portable. But if you live where the rain refuses to quit or dust infringes on every lens, the Ricoh G700SE is your tough little warrior.

Happy shooting whichever you pick - and as always, try before you buy when you can. Your hands and eyes will thank you.

I hope this deep dive helps clear the fog around these two gems. Feel free to share your experiences or questions - photography’s a journey best walked with a few trusted guides.