Fujifilm F800EXR Versus Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5: The Ultimate Compact Camera Showdown

In the compact camera arena, two stalwarts from the early 2010s stand out: the Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR and Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5. While both cameras sport 16-megapixel sensors and sleek compact bodies, their emphases - superzoom versatility versus rugged waterproof utility - make this comparison a fascinating exercise in understanding how divergent design philosophies tailor a camera to different kinds of shooters. Having handled both extensively over the years, tested them side-by-side in a range of conditions, and scrutinized their images, I’ll guide you through the details, the real-world implications, and ultimately, which camera deserves a spot in your bag (or beach pouch).

Let’s dive in.

How Do They Feel? Size, Build, and Everyday Handling

When you pick up the Fuji F800EXR and Panasonic TS5 side-by-side, the first impression is their compactness and how that informs their use cases. Both are pocketable but distinct in ergonomics.

The F800EXR feels a bit chunkier and heavier at 232 grams compared to the TS5’s 214 grams. Its dimensions - 105mm wide by 63mm tall and 36mm thick - give it a slightly more substantial grip, lending confidence when you’re wielding it for a long day of shooting. Yet that thickness also makes it less pocket-friendly than the TS5 (110x67x29 mm). The Panasonic’s slimmer profile and lighter footprint reflect its role as a tough “take anywhere” camera, designed to go underwater, survive dust storms, and handle shocks and freezes.

The TS5’s rugged construction comes with environmental sealing against water, dust, shock, and freeze, something the F800EXR does not have (more on weatherproofing later). This means if you’re the kind of photographer who hikes, kayaks, or enjoys spontaneous beach trips, the TS5 is inherently ready when you’re not.

Controls-wise, neither offer the tactile manual dials of a flagship mirrorless, but Fuji’s background in serious enthusiast cameras does show. The F800EXR’s buttons are slightly more refined and better spaced, making adjustments less fiddly - especially if you shoot in shutter or aperture priority modes. Panasonic’s interface feels more streamlined but geared toward point-and-shoot simplicity.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the core of any camera is its sensor. Here, the F800EXR opts for Fujifilm’s EXR CMOS sensor measuring 1/2 inch (6.4 x 4.8 mm) with an area of roughly 30.7mm², whereas the Panasonic TS5 uses a slightly smaller 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm, 27.7mm²). The difference in sensor physical size is modest but notable given the difficulty in maximizing image quality from such small dimensions.

The Fuji’s sensor leverages the EXR technology, which offers clever pixel binning modes to boost dynamic range and reduce noise. This is a key strength of the F800EXR, giving it an edge in challenging lighting. According to DxOmark testing, Fujifilm’s EXR CMOS scores a respectable 41 points overall, with a dynamic range of 10.9 EV stops and a color depth around 19.5 bits. Low light ability is modest, with a low-light ISO score of 143, indicating reasonable noise control at base and moderate ISOs.

The Panasonic TS5 hasn’t been formally tested by DxO, but its standard 1/2.3” CMOS sensor offers up to ISO 6400 max native sensitivity. Anecdotally, the Panasonic tends to produce slightly softer images with less dynamic range and more noise at high ISOs compared to the Fuji when shooting raw-freehand.

Both cameras max out at 16 MP resolution (4608 x 3456 pixels), which is decent for large prints and cropping but not on par with APS-C or full-frame competitors.

Screen, Viewfinder, and Interface: Your Window to the World

Neither camera offers a viewfinder of any kind (electronic or optical), pushing users toward composing via their rear LCD. Both employ 3.0-inch TFT LCD screens with 460k-dot resolution - not dazzling by modern standards but sufficient for framing and basic menu navigation.

The Fuji F800EXR’s screen is a fixed, non-touch panel with fairly adequate brightness and contrast. It’s a bit more reflective under sunlight but generally reliable. The Panasonic TS5’s TFT LCD is similar but slightly brighter with better outdoor visibility, likely to support its outdoor and underwater use cases.

Both UI systems avoid touchscreen complexity, which is understandable given the era and target audience. I found the Panasonic’s menus to be more straightforward, likely designed for casual users, whereas Fuji packs in more semi-manual options that benefit from slightly deeper menu navigation.

Zoom and Lens Performance: Superzoom Power Meets Splash-Proof Convenience

Lens-wise, their approaches couldn’t be more different.

The Fujifilm F800EXR rocks a prodigious 20x zoom covering an impressive 25–500mm equivalent focal range with an aperture varying from f/3.5 wide open to f/5.3 telephoto. This superzoom capability lets you capture everything from broad landscapes to tight distant wildlife or sports shots - without changing lenses, remember this is a fixed lens compact.

The Panasonic TS5 sports a more modest 4.6x zoom from 28–128mm equivalent, at f/3.3–5.9 aperture. This is closer to a “walkaround” zoom range rather than anything approaching extreme reach; however, it’s often enough for travel and underwater shots where you’d like one lens to cover wide scenes and some closer details.

Image stabilization is handled differently: Fujifilm employs sensor-shift stabilization, which works well to steady that 500mm reach, while Panasonic uses optical stabilization within the lens. Both systems do a credible job of reducing blur in handheld shots, with Fuji’s sensor stabilization coming ahead in versatility and stabilizing longer focal lengths more effectively.

Macro focusing is comparable on both, allowing close focus from 5 cm - great news for getting up close to flowers or underwater critters.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Catching the Action

In real-world shooting, autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy can make or break usability.

The F800EXR utilizes contrast-detect AF with face detection, allowing quick and reliable focusing on people’s eyes and faces - a boon for portrait and street shooters. It also offers continuous AF and tracking modes, supporting burst shooting at 11 fps, a fast rate for a compact camera of its time. However, in low light, AF can hunt due to the sensor size and more limited light-gathering lens aperture.

The Panasonic TS5 also features contrast-detect AF but adds a multi-point system with 23 focus points, which is more granular coverage than the Fuji’s unspecified focus points. It supports AF tracking and continuous AF during bursts, shooting up to 10 fps - not far behind Fuji. However, the Panasonic lacks face detection, which limits reliable portraiture focus.

Neither camera supports phase-detect AF, so focusing speed can lag behind modern hybrid or mirrorless cameras, especially in dim environments.

Let’s Talk Image Quality Across Genres

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Portraiture requires accurate skin tone reproduction, effective face/eye detection AF, and the capacity to separate the subject from the background with pleasing bokeh.

The Fujifilm F800EXR shines here, delivering natural skin tones consistent with Fujifilm’s X-Trans lineage - albeit on a much smaller sensor and simpler color engine. Its face detection is robust for a compact camera, reliably locking onto subjects’ eyes for taut portraits.

The camera’s f/3.5 aperture at wide angle is decent but, by 500mm reach, narrows to about f/5.3, which limits bokeh creaminess. Still, the long focal length provides moderate background blur helping isolate subjects.

Panasonic TS5 has no face detection and a narrower aperture range, making portrait focus a bit more challenging. Its background blur is notably less creamy, given the shorter zoom range and sensor size.

=> For casual portraits, the F800EXR is preferable; for rugged outdoor portraits where durability trumps artistic finesse, the TS5 can suffice.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Sealing

Landscape photographers prize maximum dynamic range to capture shadow and highlight detail, alongside sensor resolution and lens sharpness.

The F800EXR’s EXR sensor’s mode switching enables improved dynamic range, especially when set to its “DR” mode, giving it a slight advantage in retaining highlight and shadow details. The 20x zoom can be used for landscapes, though prime-quality wide-angle lenses remain superior.

The TS5’s rugged weather sealing is a standout for landscape photographers who shoot in inclement weather or rugged conditions. Its splashproof and freezeproof credentials mean it won’t flinch in the rain or cold.

Therefore, for studio-like landscapes under controlled conditions, Fujifilm grabs the edge on image quality; if you’re hiking or kayaking through unpredictable terrain with a camera that can take a beating, Panasonic is king.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

Wildlife and sports demand fast and reliable autofocus, rapid burst rates, and telephoto capability.

With a whopping 500mm equivalent zoom and 11 fps burst in continuous AF mode, the F800EXR has a numeric advantage. However, its contrast-detect system occasionally hesitates on fast-moving subjects and can lose focus in low light.

The TS5 offers only 128mm equivalent zoom and a slightly slower 10 fps burst speed, which is limiting in sports or wildlife where reach and frame rates matter. Its autofocus is also contrast-detect but offers more focus points.

In practice, neither camera is ideal for serious sports or wildlife work compared to DSLRs or modern mirrorless cameras, but if you want reach, the F800EXR’s long lens is quite tempting.

Street Photography: Discretion, Low Light, and Portability

Street shooters prioritize portability, unobtrusiveness, and performance in mixed lighting.

Both cameras are pocketable, but the TS5 is slimmer and less chunky, lending itself to inconspicuous street shooting. Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, so you'll rely on bright rear screens - a spot where TS5’s brighter LCD helps in harsh sunlight.

Low-light capabilities are similar, though the Fuji's EXR sensor tends to handle ISO noise marginally better.

The TS5’s ruggedness provides peace of mind in busy or unpredictable urban environments, where physical bumps or rain might otherwise intimidate you.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography: Focusing Precision and High ISO Performance

Both cameras allow macro focus down to 5cm, with comparable performance. In practice, focusing accuracy is good in bright light, but in dimmer situations, contrast-detect AF slows down significantly on both.

Night and astro shooting are challenging on such small sensors, but the Fuji’s EXR mode and ability to shoot raw (+ ISO 12800 boost) give it an edge for ambitious low-light photography. The Panasonic tops out at ISO 6400 native and lacks raw support, limiting post-processing flexibility.

Neither camera supports long exposure bulb modes or external remote controls, constraining astro potentials somewhat.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Frame Rates, and Stabilization

Both cameras shoot Full HD 1080p video but with different frame rate caps: Panasonic supports 60fps at 1080p, which is excellent for smooth footage and slow-motion effects. The Fuji tops out at 30fps.

Video stabilization is present on both, sensor-shift on Fuji and optical on Panasonic, with the latter typically more effective for video since it counteracts handheld jitters smoothly.

Neither offers microphone or headphone ports, limiting videographer controls.

In real-world video, the Panasonic’s higher framerate and ruggedness make it preferred for action and outdoor shooting, whereas the Fuji’s video is serviceable but secondary.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Portability

Travel photographers want a “jack-of-all-trades” camera that fits diverse scenarios.

The Fuji F800EXR’s extensive zoom range makes it useful from wide-angle landmarks to distant details. However, its lack of rugged sealing poses risks on adventurous trips.

The TS5 balances moderate zoom with rugged environmental protection, better battery life (370 shots vs. 300), and smaller thickness, making it more travel-hardy.

Both use proprietary battery packs and single SD card slots, with the Panasonic adding an internal memory option - handy if you forget cards.

Professional Work: Reliability, File Formats, and Workflow Integration

Neither is designed as a pro camera given sensor sizes, speed, and overall control limitations. However, the Fujifilm F800EXR supports raw captures (uncompressed compressed files), a significant plus for professional workflows as it allows extensive post-processing.

The Panasonic lacks raw support, locking users to JPEGs or AVCHD videos, which may frustrate pros needing maximum quality.

Neither camera offers Tethered shooting or robust connectivity options beyond built-in Wi-Fi (no Bluetooth or NFC on Fuji, but Panasonic has NFC and built-in GPS).

Technical Details Breakdown

Fujifilm F800EXR front Fujifilm F800EXR screen back Panasonic TS5 front Panasonic TS5 screen back

Summing It All Up: Which Camera Excels Where?

Both cameras cater to differing needs and photographers.

• Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR: The choice for photographers prioritizing superzoom reach, semi-manual controls, raw image capture, and better color science. Well-suited for casual wildlife, travel, and portrait enthusiasts who shoot mostly in controlled or fair weather. Its sensor technology gives it an edge in image quality and dynamic range - especially valuable if you intend to crop or post-process extensively.

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5: Ideal for adventurers, outdoor photographers, and casual shooters needing ruggedness. Waterproof, dustproof, and freezeproof, the TS5 sacrifices extreme zoom and raw shooting to ensure reliability in the field. Its design supports active lifestyles, and the 1080p 60fps video appeals to casual videographers and action shooters.

How They Score in Different Photography Genres

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

If your photography involves a lot of outdoor adventure, rain-soaked hikes, or beach trips where your camera’s survival is paramount, Panasonic’s TS5 is a sensible pick. Its rugged credentials paired with decent zoom and 60fps Full HD video make it a trustworthy travel and fun-shooting companion.

Meanwhile, if you prefer photographic control, longer reach, and want superior image quality with raw shooting ability for post-processing, the Fujifilm F800EXR is the underdog packed with features. It challenges many modern compacts on static image quality despite its age.

Frankly, neither camera aims to replace an enthusiast mirrorless or DSLR - but each carves out a niche to suit very different shooters.

So, which would I pack for a week-long nature trip? If ruggedness and peace of mind are non-negotiable, Panasonic wins. For planned shoots needing image quality and zoom reach, Fuji gets the nod.

Hopefully, this deep dive helps you navigate their strengths and quirks before committing your hard-earned cash. Compact cameras are subtle artforms - balancing compromises with convenience - and these two are sterling examples of that delicate mix.

Happy shooting!