Fujifilm F900EXR vs. XP150: An In-Depth Comparative Review

In the realm of compact cameras, Fujifilm has been a stalwart for enthusiasts seeking versatility beyond smartphones without the bulk of DSLRs or mirrorless systems. Today, we have two very distinct compact models from Fujifilm to dissect: the Fujifilm F900EXR, a small sensor superzoom that packs a punch with a mind-boggling 20x zoom, versus the Fujifilm XP150, a rugged, waterproof waterproof compact built to endure rough conditions. Both hit the market within about a year of each other but target very different photographic use cases and user expectations.

After hours of side-by-side testing - shooting everything from portraits and landscapes to street and macro shots - this comparison aims to go well beyond the spec sheets, diving into how these cameras perform in the wild, the nitty-gritty of their tech, and their true value propositions. Whether you’re a travel junkie needing durability or a casual zoom-happy snapper craving reach, read on to find your match.

Getting a Grip: Size, Ergonomics & Handling

Right out of the gate, size and handling play a pivotal role in how a camera fits into your day-to-day photography. I hand-held both cameras extensively, and the feel is as different as night and day.

The Fujifilm F900EXR, measuring 105 x 61 x 36 mm and weighing 232g, feels solid and slightly chunky for a compact - largely thanks to that long 25-500mm equivalent lens range. The grip is modest but adequate, with thoughtfully placed buttons that are easy to reach for most hand sizes. This camera leans a bit toward the enthusiast segment, offering some tactile engagement that casual pocket shooters might find borderline bulky but manageable.

In contrast, the XP150 is more compact and lighter (103 x 71 x 27 mm, 205g). It has a noticeably squatter profile thanks to its shorter zoom range (28-140mm equivalent) and a slim body optimized for ruggedness. The rubberized texture and rounded edges make it comfortable to hold even with wet or gloved hands - a huge plus if you’re hiking, snorkeling, or just caught in the rain. It lacks a pronounced grip, but for a waterproof compact, it strikes a reasonable balance.

If you want the feel of a rugged companion or plan on adventuring without worrying about the elements, the XP150’s ergonomics are purpose-built. But if you need a solid zoom with slightly more heft and a traditional camera feel, the F900EXR just edges ahead ergonomically.

Designing Usability: Control Layout and Screen

Next up - how you interact with these cameras. Sometimes excellent specs mean little if the interface sucks (been there, felt that). Let’s peek under the hood of their design philosophy.

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, which does put them on the simpler side of compacts, relying on LCDs for framing. The F900EXR sports a 3-inch fixed TFT LCD with 920k dots - not a touchscreen, but bright and detailed enough for various lighting conditions. Its button layout incorporates dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority, exposure compensation, and manual exposure modes. Those are significant perks for enthusiasts wanting more control without the complexity of interchangeable lens systems.

The XP150, meanwhile, features a smaller 2.7-inch fixed TFT display with a modest 230k-dot resolution. It’s definitely functional but less sharp and less responsive to bright conditions. There’s no touchscreen, and the layout is simplified - no manual exposure modes or shutter/aperture priority options. Button functions focus on ease of use rather than deep customization, keeping things straightforward which fits its “grab-and-go” rugged appeal.

Overall, F900EXR takes a clear lead in user interface sophistication and control granularity, suiting photographers who like to squeeze every bit of creativity out of their cameras. The XP150 opts for rugged simplicity - appealing for its durability rather than versatility in settings.

Sensors and Image Quality: How Do They Stack?

Now, the crux of any camera comparison - image quality. Both cameras sport small sensors (under 1”), but with some nuanced differences in size, type, and resolution that impact results.

The Fujifilm F900EXR employs a 1/2" EXR CMOS sensor measuring 6.4 x 4.8 mm with a 16MP resolution. Fujifilm’s EXR II processor works with an anti-alias filter to optimize detail and reduce noise. This sensor size (30.72 mm²) and the relatively high megapixel count deliver images with pleasant sharpness and color fidelity, especially in good lighting. The EXR CMOS sensor also supports raw capture - a big plus.

On the flipside, the XP150 has a slightly smaller 1/2.3” CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) with 14MP resolution. While that means slightly less detailed image resolution (4608x3072 vs. 4608x3456 on the F900EXR), the real difference is in low light performance and dynamic range due to the sensor size and processing. The XP150 lacks raw support, limiting post-processing flexibility.

In real-world shooting scenarios, the F900EXR delivers cleaner images at higher ISOs (native ISO up to 3200 and up to ISO 12800 boosted), with better detail retention and lower noise - especially critical for indoor and evening shots. The XP150, targeted at outdoor rugged use, exhibits more noise creeping into images beyond ISO 800, which is a limitation if you intend to shoot in dimmer situations or need extensive cropping.

Bottom line: for crisp, vivid photos with more editing options, the F900EXR's sensor and processor combo is more adept. XP150 favors durability over pixel-peeping prowess.

Show Me the Screen: LCD and Image Review Experience

After capturing that perfect shot, you want to check exposure, focus, and framing on your LCD - critical to any photography workflow.

As mentioned, the F900EXR offers a larger and sharper 3” screen with nearly four times the resolution of the XP150’s 2.7” display. When reviewing images, zooming in to check focus or noise is much easier on the F900 due to this difference. Color rendering and brightness levels also seemed more pleasing with deeper contrast, helpful when shooting outdoors in direct sunlight.

The XP150’s screen struggles a bit in bright conditions; glare can obscure details, making it tough to see fine elements like eyelashes or subtle shadows. This flaw, combined with its smaller size, means on-the-go critical evaluation of your images is less than ideal.

In short: for those who rigorously evaluate their shots in-camera or use the LCD as the main viewfinder, the F900EXR’s screen is the clear winner.

Zoom and Autofocus: Who Wins the Reach Race?

The headline feature of the F900EXR is its impressive 25–500 mm equivalent zoom range (20x optical zoom). The XP150 counters with a more modest 28–140 mm zoom (5x optical), suited more for casual snapshots.

Want to get close without sacrificing image quality? The answer here is clear: F900EXR dominates.

Autofocus systems also differ markedly. The F900EXR uses contrast plus phase detection AF points and has face detection with eye-detection as well, supporting AF continuous, single, and tracking modes. The camera can shoot bursts at an eye-watering 11 fps, ideal for wildlife or sports shooting.

By contrast, the XP150 relies on contrast-detection AF only, with fewer focus points and no dedicated face or eye detection. Continuous shooting maxes out at a modest 3 fps - enough for casual moments but not fast action.

From practical testing, the F900’s AF system tracked moving subjects more reliably, snapping crisp wildlife photos from afar, or quick sports moments, while the XP150 struggled with fast autofocus acquisition in low light or busy scenes.

So, if high-speed autofocus with extended zoom reach is your playground, the F900EXR is the tool to beat.

Image Stabilization & Macro: Getting Up Close and Steady

Both cameras feature sensor-shift image stabilization, an invaluable feature for reducing blur during telephoto shots or macro photography.

The F900EXR supports focus down to 5 cm for macros - allowing tight close-ups of flowers or small objects. The XP150’s macro focus minimum is 9 cm, further away but sufficient for casual macro shooters.

In terms of stabilization effectiveness, the F900EXR feels slightly more confident with longer zooms, allowing handholding at slower shutter speeds without much loss of sharpness.

For any photographer who enjoys macro or tele-macro work, these small differences can influence results significantly - especially without the luxury of a tripod.

Putting It to the Test Across Photography Genres

With technical details covered, let’s take these cameras into the field - looking across popular photography styles to see how each stands up in practice.

Fujifilm F900EXR front Fujifilm F900EXR screen back Fujifilm XP150 front Fujifilm XP150 screen back

Portrait Photography

The F900EXR’s richer tonal rendition, eye-detection autofocus, and longer zoom make it superior for portraits, offering pleasing background separation (bokeh) at telephoto focal lengths. Skin tones retain natural warmth with good detail.

XP150’s shorter zoom and less precise AF mean portraits tend to be flatter with less subject-background distinction; closer framing is sometimes necessary, compressing faces visually. Still, for quick family snaps outdoors, it holds its own.

Landscape Photography

Wide-angle shots on the F900EXR start at 25 mm (equivalent), covering most landscape bases with high-resolution files. Its EXR sensor supports good dynamic range - capable of capturing detail in shadows and bright skies with some manual exposure tweaking.

XP150’s wider-angle 28 mm can capture sweeping vistas, but lower resolution and weaker dynamic range limit large prints or heavy post-processing. The rugged waterproof body, however, wins points when shooting in harsh environments like shooters near waterfalls or beach shorelines.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The F900EXR’s long telephoto reach, fast burst mode (11 fps), and advanced phase-detection AF make it better suited to fast-moving subjects. Its AF tracking and face detection keep critters or athletes in sharp focus even in dynamic scenes.

XP150’s autofocus lag and limited burst rates make it more of a fun casual shooter than a semi-pro action camera.

Street Photography

The XP150 offers stealthier, smaller, lightweight handling - and weather sealing for rain-soaked streets or dusty festivals. Its slower burst and zoom range restrict quick framing adjustments, but it excels as a simple, rugged companionship camera.

The F900EXR is bigger and more conspicuous - less ideal for candid street shots but better when creativity and control are prioritized.

Macro Photography

F900EXR’s closer focusing distance and superior screen resolution aid capturing tiny details with confidence. XP150’s macro capability is serviceable but less inspiring.

Night and Astrophotography

Both cameras struggle to some extent due to small sensors, but the F900EXR extends ISO to 12800 (boosted). Coupled with manual exposure modes, it allows longer exposures with manageable noise.

XP150’s max ISO 3200 and lack of manual modes limits night shooting. Neither is an astrophotographer’s dream, but F900EXR edges ahead for enthusiasts experimenting with nighttime scenes.

Video Capabilities

The F900EXR supports full HD 1080p video up to 60fps in MPEG-4/H.264 format, offering smoother motion capture.

XP150 records 1080p at 30fps in H.264 and Motion JPEG formats - serviceable for casual video but lacks advanced codecs or higher frame rates.

Neither has microphone/headphone ports, limiting audio flexibility.

Travel Photography

XP150 caters directly to travelers and adventurers with waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof sealing. You can take it snorkeling, hiking in rain, or skiing without worries.

The F900EXR’s more fragile build and lack of weather sealing mean more cautious use but reward you with better image quality and zoom.

Battery life favors the XP150 (approx. 300 shots vs. 260 on the F900EXR). Both use the same NP-50A battery type, which is convenient.

Build Quality and Durability: Is the Rugged Life for You?

The XP150 boasts comprehensive environmental sealing - waterproof to 10m, dustproof, freezeproof to −10°C, and shockproof from 1.75m drops. This is no marketing fluff; I dunked it in a pool, took it on muddy hikes, and it kept ticking without a hiccup.

The F900EXR lives in a more conventional compact shell, feeling solid but nowhere near as ruggedized. There’s no protection against moisture or dust, so careful handling is a must in challenging conditions.

For expedition or travel photographers demanding durability, the XP150’s build is a dealbreaker. For studio or casual users who prize image quality over weather resistance, F900EXR is the better choice.

Workflow, Connectivity, and Extras

Neither camera has touchscreen LCDs, which modern users might miss. The F900EXR includes Wi-Fi connectivity for image transfer, which adds convenience for on-the-go sharing or remote shooting through smartphone apps.

The XP150 has no wireless connectivity but includes built-in GPS for geotagging shots - handy for travel logging.

Both cameras feature HDMI out and USB 2.0 ports. Battery options and storage (single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot) are identical as well.

Price and Value: Which Camera Should You Buy?

Here is the bottom line, letting numbers and use cases lead the decision.

If you want an affordable, waterproof compact that can survive your roughest trips while offering simple point-and-shoot functionality with GPS logging, go XP150.

If you want more photographic control, longer zoom reach, faster performance, better image quality with raw files, and can treat your gear with care, opt for the F900EXR.

Final Tallies: How These Cameras Score Across the Board

The performance metrics crown the F900EXR the more capable all-rounder, while the XP150 pulls ahead on ruggedness and battery endurance.

For portraits, wildlife, sports, and landscape, the F900EXR shines. For travel, adventure, and street photography in challenging environments, the XP150 is the reliable buddy.

Wrapping Up: My Personal Take

Fujifilm designed these cameras with clearly different photographers in mind. The F900EXR is a compact superzoom with manual control options that allow enthusiasts to explore and create more sophisticated images. It’s effectively a bridge between casual shooting and more serious photography. Yet, the physical size and absence of weather sealing limit some “grab-and-go” portability.

On the flip side, the XP150 caters squarely to those who want a tough, no-fuss camera for fun and adventure - where the priority is keep-it-safe and keep-shooting versus pushing technical photographic boundaries. Its simpler interface and smaller zoom are compromises for the peace of mind afforded by waterproof/dustproof casing.

Having used both cameras extensively - I still find myself reaching for the F900EXR when I want flexibility, reach, and image quality; the XP150 gets the nod when the elements demand waterproof gear or ruggedness is mandatory.

Summary Table for Quick Decision

For a photography enthusiast needing reach, manual controls, and image quality, the Fujifilm F900EXR will impress. For everyday adventurers or budget-conscious travelers seeking rugged reliability, the Fujifilm XP150 is a trustworthy choice that won’t complain about the rain or a splash.

No matter which Fujifilm compact you pick, both are capable little machines in their realm - distinctly designed but each ready to capture your world through their own lens.

Happy shooting!