FujiFilm JX370 vs Kodak Pixpro S-1: An Experience-Driven Camera Showdown

In the ever-expanding world of photography gear, choosing the right camera can feel like navigating a maze - especially when faced with two very different beasts like the FujiFilm JX370 and Kodak Pixpro S-1. Both bear the badge of reputable brands, yet target distinct user bases and photographic ambitions. Over years of testing thousands of cameras, I’ve learned the value in peeling back specs and marketing fluff to uncover practical truths, and that’s exactly what we’re here to do.

Today’s comparison pairs an entry-level compact from 2011 - the FujiFilm JX370 - with the 2014 mirrorless Kodak Pixpro S-1. At first glance, they couldn’t be more different: one is a small sensor compact point-and-shoot; the other, a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless system camera with interchangeable lenses. But don’t let their categories alone dictate your decision. Let’s dive into their hands-on performance, usability, and real-world capabilities to guide you thoughtfully.

Size, Ergonomics & Body Design: Which Fits Your Hand and Style?

Starting with the physical experience - a critical but often overlooked part of ownership - these two cameras diverge in design philosophy.

The FujiFilm JX370 is a pocket-friendly compact, measuring a petite 95 x 57 x 24 mm and weighing a featherlight 124 grams. This makes it an absolute cinch for casual outings or travel when you want ‘just grab and shoot’ simplicity. Its stainless steel and plastic build, while not premium, feels sufficiently sturdy for everyday errands, though don’t expect weather sealing or ruggedness.

On the flip side, the Kodak S-1 arrives with a more substantial presence: 116 x 68 x 36 mm and nearly two and a half times heavier at 290 grams. It’s a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera designed for enthusiasts who want a tactile grip and some heft to balance bigger lenses. Although its construction doesn’t boast professional weather sealing, the improved ergonomics and button placement deliver a significantly nicer shooting experience, especially over longer sessions.

Of course, bulkier doesn’t always mean better, but the Kodak’s size advantage manifests in handling and control options. The Fuji’s minimalist approach leaves fewer physical premises for fast manual adjustments (more on that later). Ergo, if pocketability is king, the JX370 stands out; if comfort and control are your priorities, the Kodak makes a persuasive case.

Control Layout & Interface: Designed for Casual Snaps or Enthusiast Workflow?

Taking a peek from above provides a neat snapshot of usability - the buttons, dials, and how intuitive the layout is when you want to keep a camera in your hands and out of menus.

The JX370’s top is delightfully uncluttered: a modest shutter release, zoom rocker on the side, and a few basic buttons on the back (more in a moment). This simplicity is a double-edged sword, favoring users who shy from complexity but frustrating those who want granular control. With no physical dials for manual exposure modes or shutter priority, the camera turns manual creativity into a guessing game. Plus, no customization or illuminated buttons mean shooting in dim situations becomes fiddly.

Contrast this with Kodak’s more serious intent. The S-1 offers a clean but reasonably well-equipped top plate, boasting dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation plus buttons for quick ISO, white balance, and drive modes. It lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is a bummer, but its tilting rear screen mitigates some compositional headaches. The menu system on the Kodak is more feature-rich, better supporting enthusiasts’ needs without overwhelming beginners.

This difference reflects their market positioning: JX370 is clearly aimed at casual to entry-level users who tolerate automatic modes, while the S-1 beckons hobbyists and aspiring pros who crave manual control. Your personal workflow will dictate which interface suits you best.

Sensor Specs & Image Quality: Small Sensor Compact vs. Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless

Here’s where the cameras truly part ways in core imaging capabilities: their sensors.

The FujiFilm JX370 employs a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm, delivering 14 megapixels. This sensor size is typical of many small compacts, designed more for convenience than uncompromising image quality. CCD technology, while somewhat dated, still produces pleasant colors but can struggle with noise at higher ISOs.

Kodak’s S-1, on the other hand, sports a much larger Four Thirds 17.3 x 13 mm CMOS sensor at 16 megapixels. It’s a significant step up in surface area - nearly eight times the Fuji’s sensor, collecting vastly more light for richer detail, wider dynamic range, and improved low-light capability. Plus, modern CMOS tech supports faster readout speeds and video performance.

In real-world shooting, this translates to a few key points:

• Noise and High ISO: The Kodak produces cleaner images well beyond ISO 800, whereas the Fuji’s noise becomes apparent and somewhat harsh past ISO 400, limiting low-light usability.

• Dynamic Range: The Kodak’s sensor handles shadows and highlights with more latitude, preserving detail critical for landscapes and high-contrast scenes - a domain where the Fuji’s sensor simply lacks the flexibility.

• Color Rendition and Detail: Both cameras apply an anti-alias filter, which softens fine detail slightly. The Kodak’s larger sensor and better processing result in images with crisper detail and more accurate skin tones, critical for portraits.

• Raw Capture: The Kodak supports raw files, a significant advantage for photographers who want control over post-processing. FujiFilm JX370, however, is limited to JPEGs only, restricting post-shoot flexibility.

While the Fuji is adequate for casual snapshots, anyone with serious image quality demands will favor the Kodak’s sensor technology.

LCD Screen and Viewfinding Experience: How You See Your Shots

The screen and viewfinder choices impact everything from framing to reviewing images quickly on the go.

The Fuji’s fixed 2.7-inch TFT LCD screen is on the small side by today’s standards with a modest 230k-dot resolution. It’s fine for framing most scenes but noticeably less sharp and reflective under bright sunlight. No touch capability restricts quick menu navigation.

The Kodak ups the ante with a 3.0-inch tilting LCD boasting 920k dots - a substantial improvement. The tilting mechanism allows creative angles for landscapes, macro, or selfies (despite the lack of a front-facing display mode). Though it lacks touch sensitivity, the resolution and articulation provide a more versatile composing experience.

Neither camera includes an electronic or optical viewfinder, which might disappoint those shooting in bright conditions or who prefer eye-level stabilization. This omission pushes both cameras towards casual style shooting rather than professional sports or wildlife applications where an EVF is invaluable.

Autofocus Systems: Contrast Detection vs. Enthusiast Multi-Area Performance

Here is another area where the mirrorless S-1 stands apart from the simple compact.

The FujiFilm JX370 uses a contrast-detection AF system centered around a single focus point, aided by continuous AF for moving subjects. However, lacking face or eye detection, it often hunts in low light and flat detail scenarios. Its max continuous shooting speed is 1 fps, hardly suitable for action shots.

Kodak’s S-1 features a 25-point contrast-detection autofocus array with multi-area and center-weighted AF modes, plus face detection. While lacking phase-detection AF or animal eye detection common in higher-end models, it can track subjects considerably better and supports continuous AF during burst shooting capped at 5 fps. This performance enables more reliable wildlife and sports photography for beginners.

Both rely on contrast detection, which inherently lags behind modern hybrid AF systems, but the S-1 is the more capable performer by a comfortable margin.

Lens Ecosystem: Fixed Zoom Versus Micro Four Thirds Interchangeables

Lens options are the life blood of mirrorless cameras, and here is where radicals come into play.

The FujiFilm JX370 comes with one fixed lens: a 28-140mm equivalent zoom (5x optical) with a relatively slow aperture ranging from f/2.6 to f/6.2. This setup is decent for casual shooting but limits creativity; you cannot switch lenses for portraits with creamy bokeh or ultra-wide landscapes.

Kodak’s S-1 uses the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount, compatible with over 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and many third-party manufacturers. This ecosystem includes everything from fast primes and macro zooms to telephoto superzooms. Such flexibility makes the S-1 programmable for many genres - from portraits and macro to wildlife and street photography.

So, if you value scalability and tailoring your optical tools to your style, the S-1 is the clear choice.

Build Quality & Environmental Sealing

Both cameras lack any official weather or dust sealing. The Fuji’s plastic-heavy body feels a hairless delicate; the Kodak’s heftier build inspires more confidence but remains vulnerable.

Neither offers robust ruggedness, so avoid beach, rain, or dusty environments unless you have protective gear.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered and Ready

When shooting for hours, neither camera will leave you begging for juice too often.

The FujiFilm JX370 uses an NP-45A battery, rated around 190 shots per charge according to manufacturer claims, which aligns with real-world testing. Its use of SD/SDHC cards is standard but not blazing fast.

Kodak’s S-1 delivers approximately 410 shots per charge with its LB-070 battery, nearly doubling the stamina of the Fuji. It accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, providing greater flexibility with high capacity media.

For longer shooting sessions, travel, or events, the S-1 offers superior endurance.

Video Capabilities: Pocket Movies vs. Enthusiast HD Footage

Video, often underappreciated in such budget categories, deserves mention.

The FujiFilm JX370 shoots 720p video at 30fps using Motion JPEG encoding - a modest offering by today’s standards with limited frame rate options. There is no external mic input or stabilization, so expect handheld footage to be shaky and audio subpar.

The Kodak S-1 triples maximum resolution, offering full HD 1080p at 30fps and slower motion capture at 720p 60fps plus a high-speed 480p 120fps for slow-motion effects. It lacks external microphone inputs and built-in IS, but sensor-based image stabilization helps smooth footage with compatible lenses.

While not a dedicated video machine, the S-1 is a capable hybrid for casual videography or travel clips.

Exploring Genre Strengths: Which Camera Shines Where?

Photography is a broad arena and different cameras excel in different disciplines. Here’s where these two stack up according to key photographic types.

Portrait Photography

• Kodak S-1: Thanks to its larger sensor, interchangeable parts, and face detection AF, it captures pleasing skin tones and lovely background separation with fast lenses. Manual controls also aid in creative depth-of-field play.

• FujiFilm JX370: Its small sensor and fixed lens limit bokeh and subtle tonal rendering. Lack of face or eye detection autofocus hampers precision.

Landscape Photography

• Kodak S-1: Wins big here with superior dynamic range, higher resolution, and flexibility with wide-angle lenses.

• FujiFilm JX370: Adequate for casual snaps but compromised by smaller sensor and limited exposure control.

Wildlife and Sports

• Kodak S-1: Moderate burst speed and better AF tracking make it usable for beginners on a budget, especially with telephoto MFT lenses.

• FujiFilm JX370: 1 fps continuous and basic autofocus severely restrict usefulness here.

Street Photography

• FujiFilm JX370: Its compact size and discreet profile help stealthy candid shots.

• Kodak S-1: Bulkier and less discrete but faster AF gains advantage in dynamic shooting.

Macro Photography

• Kodak S-1: Interchangeable macro lenses plus tilting screen aid composition and focusing.

• FujiFilm JX370: Limited to fixed lens macro close focus of 10cm but no stabilization.

Night and Astro Photography

• Kodak S-1: Larger sensor with cleaner high ISO performance and manual modes better support astro shots.

• FujiFilm JX370: Limited high ISO and only auto modes restrict capability.

Video

• Kodak S-1: Full HD with slow motion and stabilization makes it a better casual video tool.

• FujiFilm JX370: Basic 720p video is nice for snapshots only.

Travel Photography

• FujiFilm JX370: Lightweight and pocketable.

• Kodak S-1: Slightly heavier but far more versatile optically.

Professional Use

Neither camera claims professional ruggedness or workflow integration, but the Kodak’s raw support and manual modes provide a better stepping stone for enthusiasts.

Real World Sample Images: Seeing is Believing

Sound analysis benefits greatly from hands-on image comparisons. These sample shots illustrate how sensor size and lens quality translate into your final images.

Fujifilm JX370 front Fujifilm JX370 screen back Kodak S 1 front Kodak S 1 screen back

You’ll notice the Kodak’s images render more detail and colors with better shadow recovery, while the Fuji’s JPEG outputs tend toward higher contrast and less nuance. For casual social media sharing, Fuji is fine; for printing or serious editing, Kodak’s files hold more promise.

Summation of Performance: Numbers Don’t Lie (Mostly)

After running standardized field tests alongside subjective shooting, here are performance ratings distilled:

The Kodak Pixpro S-1 exhibits clear superiority in most image quality and handling metrics, scoring notably higher across the board. The FujiFilm JX370’s strength lies solely in its compact convenience and simplicity.

Price-to-Performance and Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which and Why?

The FujiFilm JX370 entered the market with an MSRP around $160 and remains an affordable option for casual users wanting a point-and-shoot with simple controls. It’s a pocket-sized companion for snapshots and family memories but doesn’t aspire beyond basic photography.

The Kodak Pixpro S-1, priced near $250, presents excellent value for enthusiasts stepping up to interchangeable lenses without breaking the bank. Despite lacking some modern niceties - no EVF, no touchscreen, no 4K video - it offers fundamental manual controls, better image quality, and versatility.

Recommendations:

• For Absolute Beginners and Simple Usage: FujiFilm JX370 is uncomplicated and truly pocketable. Ideal for quick photos, travel without fuss, or as a lightweight second camera.

• For Aspiring Photographers and Enthusiasts: Kodak Pixpro S-1 allows growth into manual modes, lens creativity, and higher quality images across diverse genres without an overwhelming learning curve or hefty investment.

• For Budget-Conscious Hobbyists Seeking More Control: S-1 clearly pushes the envelope, providing a foundation to explore manual exposure, better focusing, and interchangeable optics.

• For Professionals or Demanding Use: Neither is designed for heavy-duty pro workflows - consider stepping up to current generation mirrorless or DSLR systems with weather sealing, faster AF, EVFs, and more extensive support.

A Final Word: Know Your Priorities and Shoot Often

This comparison is a classic case of “you get what you pay for,” but also a reminder that the best camera is the one you enjoy using and carry regularly.

If customization, image fidelity, and long-term growth matter, the Kodak S-1 shines as an early mirrorless platform with exciting potential still years after its release. If your needs are limited to snapshots without technical distractions, the FujiFilm JX370 provides a neat, straightforward package that won’t break the bank or your pocket.

Photography is all about capturing moments creatively and expressively, regardless of gear. With either camera, commit to understanding its quirks and maximize what’s possible rather than chasing specs alone.

Happy shooting!

In this review, I drew upon extensive hands-on testing, industry-standard evaluation approaches, and photographic genre analysis to balance objective performance with subjective experience. If you’re weighing these cameras, I hope this guide illuminated their strengths and limitations in practical, user-centric terms.