Comparing the Fujifilm FinePix JX550 and Samsung PL200: Two Compact Cameras Under the Microscope

When it comes to the small sensor compact camera market - especially models unveiled around the early 2010s - the Fujifilm FinePix JX550 and Samsung PL200 stand out as two affordable options that found their niches among budget-conscious enthusiasts and casual shooters alike. I’ve spent considerable time examining both, and in this hands-on comparison, I’ll dissect their features, performance, and usability framed by real-world photography demands.

Whether you’re a beginner looking for an easy-to-use travel companion, a casual snapshooter on a budget, or a photographer seeking a lightweight backup camera, understanding the nuances between these two models will help you make an informed choice.

Let’s dig deep into what separates – or unites – them, and which one might fit your photographic ambitions best.

Getting a Feel for It: Size, Design, and Ergonomics

The first impression when holding a camera matters, particularly for street and travel photographers who crave comfort during prolonged use. Both the Fujifilm JX550 and Samsung PL200 generously score points for compactness, but subtle differences in build and dimensions influence handling and portability.

At 100x56x24 mm and weighing a featherlight 113 grams, the Fujifilm JX550 feels delightfully pocket-friendly, bordering on ultra-compact. It’s ideal for cheapskate travelers or casual shooters who value minimal bulk. However, the tradeoff is a somewhat plasticky build and a grip that might be a smidge too minimal for larger hands or those accustomed to clubs for thumbs.

On the other hand, the Samsung PL200, measuring 100x60x21 mm and tipping the scales at 170 grams, offers just a hair more heft and a slightly wider body. This enables a more substantial grip and better balance, especially handy when zooming or shooting one-handed for extended periods.

I personally found the PL200's ergonomics better suited for landscape or street photography excursions where steadiness enhances image sharpness, while the JX550 felt more like a simple point-and-shoot for those carefree moments.

Topside Controls and User Interface: Speed and Simplicity

Delving under the hood of the user experience, control schemes make a world of difference - especially for beginners aspiring to learn on the fly and for enthusiasts who want quick access without sifting through menus.

Both cameras feature minimalistic button layouts characteristic of early 2010s pocket snappers. Neither offers manual exposure modes, shutter priority, or aperture priority - a limitation for more serious photographers craving creative control.

The Samsung PL200 edges ahead with a more tactile zoom lever and dedicated function buttons that reduce fumbling during quick shooting sessions. The Fujifilm JX550’s controls, while straightforward, feel slightly less intuitive; for example, its single continuous shooting speed and absence of shutter priority feels restrictive.

Neither camera has touchscreens or articulated LCDs; navigation depends on physical buttons and a small menu system. This minimalism keeps things uncomplicated but might frustrate users accustomed to smartphones or recent cameras with smoother workflows.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: What’s Beneath the Surface?

The heart of any camera’s imaging prowess is its sensor. Both the Fujifilm JX550 and Samsung PL200 employ 1/2.3" size CCD sensors - typical for compacts of their era, but by no means cutting-edge. However, despite the similar sensor size (just 28.07 mm²) they differ subtly in resolution and sensitivity.

• Fujifilm JX550: 16 MP resolution with native ISO range from 100 to 1600 (boosted to 3200).
• Samsung PL200: 14 MP resolution, but a wider native ISO range from 80 to 3200.

While higher megapixels on the JX550 hint at crisper images, in practice, this often leads to more noise and less pixel-level sharpness due to the sensor's physical constraints. The Samsung’s slightly lower resolution grants more breathing room per pixel, often translating to better clean image quality, especially at higher ISOs.

Both cameras lack RAW capture, a critical drawback for enthusiasts keen on post-processing flexibility. They also include an anti-aliasing filter, which softens potential moiré effects but slightly reduces ultimate resolution sharpness.

Seeing Your Shot: LCDs and Viewfinding Experience

In the age before EVFs became common on compacts, LCD viewing quality mattered more than ever. Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder, which can be a dealbreaker for some.

The Fujifilm JX550’s 2.7-inch fixed TFT LCD with 230k dots is serviceable but pales against Samsung PL200’s 3-inch screen at the same 230k dot resolution. The PL200’s larger display offers a slightly more comfortable framing and image review experience.

Neither is touch-enabled, so navigating menus and focus points is button-dependent. Considering shooting outdoors, both screens suffer in bright light, struggling with reflections and low brightness - a common frustration for these setups.

Zoom, Macro, and Image Stabilization: Versatility in the Field

Compact zoom lenses often make or break the usability scope of pocket cameras. Looking at their specs:

• Fujifilm JX550: 26-130 mm (5x optical zoom), max aperture f/3.5-6.3.
• Samsung PL200: 31-217 mm (7x optical zoom), max aperture f/3.3-5.5.

The PL200 offers a considerably longer reach - ideal for wildlife and sports-savvy shooters who need to squeeze that extra telephoto power out of a compact package. The faster aperture at the teleend (f/5.5 vs. f/6.3) offers a mild edge in low-light zoom shots.

Additionally, Samsung includes optical image stabilization, an essential feature to combat camera shake - especially crucial at longer focal lengths and slower shutter speeds in this sensor size.

The Fujifilm JX550 lacks any built-in stabilization, making it more challenging to shoot handheld without blur beyond moderate zoom ranges.

Closer focusing distances also matter for enthusiasts dabbling in macro:

• Samsung’s 5 cm macro focus beats Fujifilm’s 10 cm range, enabling more detailed close-ups.

If macro experimentation or wildlife telephoto potential resonate with you, the PL200 aligns better.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed & Accuracy Under Pressure

Neither camera targets sports or high-speed action shooters. Both rely on contrast-detection autofocus systems with no phase detection or hybrid AF, resulting in modest focusing speeds.

• Fujifilm JX550 supports single and tracking AF but lacks continuous AF.
• Samsung PL200 offers single AF, no tracking.

Shooting speed is another realm where both fall short compared to modern standards:

• Fujifilm’s continuous shooting manages a sluggish 1 fps.
• Samsung’s continuous shooting specs aren’t explicitly listed but generally perform similarly slow.

For wildlife or sports, both cameras are less than ideal due to these specs. Neither offers eye or face detection autofocus.

Video Capabilities: Basic Clips Without Bells and Whistles

If video is part of your creative arsenal, both cameras deliver entry-level capabilities but nothing extraordinary:

• Fujifilm JX550: Maximum 1280x720 resolution at 30 fps, encoded as Motion JPEG. No external mic input or headphone jack.
• Samsung PL200: Tops out at 640x480 resolution at 30 fps, H.264 compression.

The Fujifilm model thus gains an advantage in video resolution and compression quality, though both struggle with low-light video noise and lack steady video stabilization.

Neither supports modern frame rates or features like 4K or slow motion. The absence of microphone inputs restricts audio quality control, pushing both into casual clip shooting territory only.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Daily Usability

Battery life is an often overlooked but vital consideration. Both cameras use proprietary lithium-ion batteries:

• Fujifilm JX550 utilizes the NP-45A.
• Samsung PL200 powers up with the BP70A.

Neither manufacturer provides generous battery life on these models; expect around 200 shots per full charge in real-world shooting. No USB charging; you must rely on dedicated chargers.

Storage-wise, both accept SD/SDHC cards. Samsung also supports MMC and includes internal storage, albeit limited.

Connectivity features are glaringly sparse: no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC on either model. USB 2.0 is available for file transfer only - no tethering or remote control.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability in Daily Use

Both cameras are entry-level compacts lacking professional-grade weather sealing. Neither offers splashproof, dustproof, or shock resistance.

The Fujifilm’s lightweight plastic body feels less robust compared to Samsung’s slightly weightier design. Neither is freezeproof or crushproof.

For rough travel or challenging environments, these cameras require cautious handling or protective casing.

Real-World Performance by Photography Genre

How do these cameras perform across various practical photography disciplines? Let’s unpack this from my extensive testing notes.

Fujifilm JX550 front Fujifilm JX550 screen back Samsung PL200 front Samsung PL200 screen back

Scores at a Glance: Overall and Genre-Specific

After side-by-side testing against typical small sensor compacts, here’s a summary of performance ratings based on image quality, versatility, and user experience:

And a breakdown by photographic genre:

Making the Call: Pros and Cons Recap

Fujifilm FinePix JX550

Pros:

• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Higher resolution sensor for cropping
• Simple interface ideal for beginners
• Slightly better video resolution (720p)

Cons:

• No image stabilization
• Limited zoom range
• Sluggish continuous shooting and AF
• No RAW support or manual control

Samsung PL200

Pros:

• Longer 7x zoom range with faster aperture
• Optical image stabilization for sharper shots
• Larger, more comfortable screen and grip
• Closer macro focus distance

Cons:

• Lower resolution sensor
• No RAW and limited AF functionality
• Video limited to VGA quality
• Slightly heavier and less pocketable

User-Based Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

• For the cheapskate travel snapshooter: The Fujifilm JX550’s light build and simple operation make it a no-fuss sidekick when you want to travel light and shoot casual memories without frills.

• For budding wildlife or macro enthusiasts on a budget: The Samsung PL200’s extra zoom reach, image stabilization, and closer minimum focus distance provide a bit more creative flexibility.

• For casual portrait and street photography: Both cameras are limited; pick based on size preference (JX550 for compactness, PL200 for grip and zoom).

• Avoid for sports, professional, or advanced photographic needs: Both lack critical features such as fast autofocus, manual control, RAW recording, and higher-quality video.

Final Thoughts: Budget Compact Cameras in a Modern Age

The Fujifilm JX550 and Samsung PL200 represent a fading era dominated by fixed-lens, small sensor compacts offering point-and-shoot simplicity. If your budget strictly confines you to models in this class and age, the PL200 subtly outperforms in versatility thanks to zoom and stabilization, while the JX550's strengths lie in pocket-ready portability.

However, from a pragmatic standpoint, if you can stretch your budget, I'd recommend considering more recent entries - mirrorless cameras or advanced compacts with larger sensors, RAW support, and improved AF systems - that deliver tangible image quality and creative control leaps.

Still, for the absolute beginner, casual snapshooter, or someone wanting a tiny camera to stash for emergencies, either Fujifilm JX550 or Samsung PL200 can serve faithfully, offering a blend of convenience and decent image quality with their own sweet spots.

In summary: Choose the Samsung PL200 if zoom range, stabilization, and macro are priorities; opt for the Fujifilm JX550 if ultra-lightweight pocketability matters most - just temper expectations for professional performance on either side.

If you have questions about how these compacts stack up against newer models or need advice for specific photographic goals, feel free to ask - I’ve tested hundreds of similar cameras and can guide you toward the best match!

Happy shooting!