Fujifilm HS50 EXR vs Olympus SH-50: In-Depth Comparison for Superzoom Enthusiasts

Choosing the right superzoom camera can feel like navigating a maze. Both the Fujifilm HS50 EXR and the Olympus SH-50 promise impressive zoom ranges and a feature-packed experience. But which one suits your photography style, budget, or creative goals best? We’ve spent hours testing and analyzing both to help you make an informed choice.

This comprehensive comparison covers design, sensor and image quality, autofocus, video, usability, and genre-specific performance. Whether you’re into wildlife, travel, or casual street shooting, we’ll guide you through how each camera performs and what you can expect in real-world use.

Hands-On Design and Ergonomics: More Than Just Size

When selecting a camera, how it feels in your hand plays a key role in how often you’ll enjoy using it - especially during longer shoots.

Fujifilm HS50 EXR adopts an SLR-like bridge camera design with a deep, contoured grip, external controls, and a substantial zoom lens. Its body measures 135 x 101 x 146 mm and weighs about 808 g. Meanwhile, the Olympus SH-50 is a compact point-and-shoot style, measuring 112 x 63 x 42 mm and weighing just 269 g - significantly lighter and pocketable.

With the HS50’s larger body, you gain better stability during telephoto shots, especially handheld at the maximum 1000mm equivalent zoom. The well-placed control dials also make manual adjustment fluid for experienced shooters. However, for ultra-portability and spontaneous shooting, the Olympus SH-50 clearly wins - fitting easily into a jacket pocket or small bag.

Another design note is the Fujifilm’s fully articulated 3” LCD with 920k dot resolution, great for tackling high and low angles, or vlogging. The Olympus uses a fixed 3” screen with just 460k dots, which is less crisp and flexible.

Controls favor the Fuji with dedicated aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation dials. Olympus keeps it simple but includes touchscreen focusing, which is lacking on the Fuji. These aspects affect both usability and speed - especially important in fast-paced shooting scenarios.

Summary:

• Fujifilm HS50 EXR: Bulkier but more ergonomic, full articulating screen, extensive external controls
• Olympus SH-50: Compact, light, touchscreen but no viewfinder or articulation

Sensor, Image Quality, and Zoom: Technical Heart of the Cameras

At the core, these cameras feature small sensors typical of superzoom class, but with subtle differences affecting image quality.

Fujifilm’s slightly larger EXR CMOS sensor offers marginally better light gathering. This translates into better high ISO performance and dynamic range compared to Olympus’s BSI CMOS sensor, which still performs well for the compact class but tapers off sooner in low light.

Zoom Range:

• HS50 EXR: 24-1000mm (41.7x optical zoom) f/2.8-5.6
• SH-50: 25-600mm (24x optical zoom) f/3.0-6.9

The massive 1000mm reach on the HS50 opens up serious telephoto opportunities - wildlife, sports, or distant landscapes. The Olympus’s shorter reach means you may miss some extreme telephoto shots but benefits from a smaller, lighter lens assembly.

In image quality tests, the Fuji consistently delivers sharper images at telephoto with less chromatic aberration and distortion due to superior lens construction and larger sensor. The Olympus tends to soften beyond 400mm equivalent and produces more geometric distortion at the zoom extremes.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus can make or break shots in dynamic environments. Both cameras feature contrast and phase detection AF with face detection, but differ in continuous modes and tracking.

Fujifilm’s hybrid AF system responds quickly even in challenging situations like wildlife or sports. Eye detection is present on Fuji, improving portrait sharpness on eyes. Olympus includes touch AF which is great for static subjects or precise focusing but lacks continuous AF that adjusts while tracking moving subjects.

For sports and wildlife, the HS50 has a strong edge with its faster burst at 11 fps and more reliable autofocus tracking, letting you capture action crisply. Olympus’s 12 fps burst is nominally faster but limited by slower autofocus reacquisition.

Video Capabilities: Meeting Your Moving Image Needs

Both cameras support 1080p Full HD video at 60fps, a solid baseline for casual video production.

While both cameras offer stabilized video for handheld shooting, Fujifilm HS50’s addition of a microphone input is valuable for vloggers and content creators aiming for better audio quality. Olympus adds a slow-motion mode with impressive high frame rates, although at a very low resolution.

Neither supports 4K or advanced log profiles, so for professional video work, these are entry-level options. But for casual shooting, travel vlogs, and family videos, either performs well.

Screen and Viewfinder: Framing and Reviewing

Being able to see your subject clearly makes a world of difference.

The Fujifilm sports a high-res electronic viewfinder (920k dots) plus a fully articulated 3” LCD with equally high resolution, perfect for bright conditions or when shooting at awkward angles. This versatility suits both daylight outdoor shooting and videography.

In contrast, the Olympus SH-50 lacks a viewfinder entirely. It relies solely on its fixed LCD screen, which, at 460k, struggles outdoors and has no articulation. The Olympus does have touchscreen functionality, speeding up focusing and menu navigation.

If you’re accustomed to composing with a viewfinder or want more flexibility in your shots, Fujifilm clearly leads. For casual shooters who mostly use the LCD screen, the Olympus’s touchscreen may feel intuitive but is limited by screen size and resolution.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Daily Use

Battery life often determines how long your photo day lasts.

The HS50’s 500-shot rating is generous for a bridge zoom camera, giving you confidence during long outdoor sessions. Olympus lacks an official rating, but from usage, it delivers about 300 shots per charge.

Olympus’s built-in Wi-Fi gives it an edge for instant sharing and remote control via smartphone, an attractive feature for social media enthusiasts. Fuji offers no wireless options, which may limit connectivity.

Performance Across Photography Types: Real-World Insights

Your photographic journey might focus on specific types of photography. Let’s breakdown real results and features across key genres.

Portrait Photography

• Fujifilm HS50 EXR: Accurate skin tones thanks to Fuji’s renowned color science. Effective face and eye detection autofocus delivers sharp eyes even at wide apertures. The fast f/2.8 aperture at wide end allows decent background blur.
• Olympus SH-50: Slightly softer rendering, smaller apertures restrict bokeh potential. Face detection works but slower AF reduces consistency on moving subjects.

Landscape Photography

• Fujifilm: Larger sensor and wider zoom enables high-resolution landscapes with excellent dynamic range. Weather sealing is absent, but robust build and articulation help composition.
• Olympus: Compact size is great for travel. Dynamic range and resolution adequate for casual landscapes but limited by smaller sensor and slower shutter speeds (max 1/2000 sec).

Wildlife Photography

• Fujifilm: Huge 1000mm reach combined with fast hybrid AF and 11fps burst makes it ideal for capturing distant subjects.
• Olympus: 600mm zoom is decent but weaker AF and slower shutter speed hinder capturing fast, erratic wildlife.

Sports Photography

• Fujifilm: Fast shutter up to 1/4000 sec and reliable continuous AF provide sharp, well-timed action shots.
• Olympus: Max shutter 1/2000 sec and less advanced AF limit performance in dynamic sports.

Street Photography

• Fujifilm: Bulkier design and loud zoom may draw attention, less suited for discreet shooting.
• Olympus: Compact, lightweight, and quiet - ideal for candid street photography and low profile.

Macro Photography

• Fujifilm: Macro focus down to 0cm provides excellent close-up capability when paired with optical stabilization.
• Olympus: Minimum macro distance of 5cm is decent, but slower AF and lower resolution screen make focusing less precise.

Night and Astro Photography

• Fujifilm: Higher max ISO (12800) with better noise control helps low-light shooting. Exposure compensation and manual controls aid long exposures.
• Olympus: Max ISO capped at 6400, more noise at high ISOs limits usefulness in astrophotography.

Video

• Fujifilm: External mic input for higher quality audio. Stabilized 1080p60 video suitable for casual and semi-professional vlogging.
• Olympus: Touch focus and slow motion video modes add creative options. Lack of mic input limits audio quality control.

Travel Photography

• Fujifilm: Versatility with extreme zoom and articulated screen is balanced by bulk and weight.
• Olympus: Pocket-friendly, decent zoom, easy wireless sharing make it a practical companion.

Professional Use

• Fujifilm: Supports RAW capture and manual modes for workflow flexibility.
• Olympus: No RAW support constrains professional-level editing.

Lens Ecosystem and Stabilization: Fixed but Critical

Both cameras house fixed superzoom lenses with optical image stabilization (OIS). The Fuji’s lens aperture range (f/2.8-5.6) and longer zoom make it more versatile. Olympus’s smaller zoom range and slower maximum aperture impact versatility but keep costs and size low.

OIS implementation is solid in both, effectively reducing blur for stills and video. However, the Fuji’s stabilization seems better tuned for extreme telephoto, critical given its 1000mm reach.

Building Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedness features such as dustproof or freezeproof ratings. The Fuji’s larger body feels more solid and durable despite absence of environmental sealing. Olympus is lighter but more plasticky.

Overall Performance Ratings

Below is the consolidated performance rating based on our extensive testing:

Genre and Use Case Scores Breakdown

This breakdown highlights strengths per genre to help you align your choice with your shooting preferences.

Sample Images: Real-World Quality

Comparing sample images captured with each model under various conditions gives you a sense of real performance differences.

Fujifilm HS50 EXR front Fujifilm HS50 EXR screen back Olympus SH 50 front Olympus SH 50 screen back

Notice Fujifilm’s stronger detail retention at telephoto and superior color rendition. Olympus’s images suit well-lit situations but lose sharpness beyond moderate zoom.

Conclusion and Recommendations

When to Choose the Fujifilm HS50 EXR

• You want a powerful superzoom with true 1000mm reach for wildlife and sports.
• Manual controls, articulated screen, and electronic viewfinder matter for you.
• You value RAW support and solid high ISO image quality for diverse shooting styles.
• Bulk and weight are acceptable trade-offs for performance.
• You aim for basic to intermediate video production with mic input.

When to Choose the Olympus SH-50

• Portability and light weight top your priority.
• Wireless connectivity and touchscreen ease of use appeal to you.
• Your shooting is mostly casual travel, street, or general photography without extreme zoom.
• You prefer a budget-friendly option around $300.
• Video is a casual add-on rather than primary focus.

Final Thoughts: Your Next Step in Photography

Both cameras excel as versatile superzoom companions but serve distinct user profiles.

The Fujifilm HS50 EXR is recommended for photographers seeking serious telephoto reach, manual control, and enhanced image quality in a bridge-style camera. It is a solid choice for enthusiasts, wildlife explorers, and content creators looking to step up their gear.

The Olympus SH-50 shines as a compact, user-friendly compact superzoom perfect for everyday shooting, travel, and casual video. Its portability and touchscreen interface lower the bar for beginners or anyone needing a lightweight alternative.

We encourage you to hold both cameras if possible, test the zoom ranges, check the viewfinder (or lack thereof), and consider what genres you prioritize before deciding. Each camera can be a trusted creative partner if matched to your photographic passions.

Don’t forget to check out compatible accessories like spare batteries, quality SD cards, and carrying cases tailored to your choice. Explore tutorials and sample footage to get started confidently on your photographic journey with either camera.

Happy shooting!