Fujifilm S1 vs Sony HX99: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for the Small Sensor Superzoom Enthusiasts

When it comes to small sensor superzoom cameras, the market offers options tailored for various shooting needs - from casual travel photographers to more serious enthusiasts who crave versatile zoom ranges combined with manual controls. Today, I’m diving deep into two intriguing models that have earned their places in this category: the Fujifilm FinePix S1 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. Though they share the broad classification of "small sensor superzoom," these cameras are strikingly different in approach, ergonomics, and practical performance.

Having spent many hours putting both through their paces - testing everything from sensor performance to autofocus and user-interface nuances - I’ll walk you through each major aspect. We’ll explore who each camera suits best, the real-world photo quality you can expect, and how they stack up in various shooting scenarios. So, whether you’re a cheapskate looking for value or a semi-pro in need of portable versatility, this guide has you covered.

What’s the Story With Size and Ergonomics?

Let’s start with what you’re physically holding. Handling a camera day-in and day-out can make or break your experience.

The Fujifilm S1 is unmistakably a bridge-style camera with an SLR-ish heft and grip - it weighs 680 grams and measures about 133 x 91 x 110 mm. It feels solid in hand, providing a snug, club-for-thumbs grip that lends confidence, especially when shooting at full zoom. This body type often translates to longer shooting sessions without fatigue, a huge plus for wildlife and nature shooters.

In contrast, the Sony HX99 is a compact powerhouse, weighing only 242 grams with dimensions roughly 102 x 58 x 36 mm. Its pocketable size makes it a compelling travel companion, effortlessly sliding into backpacks or larger jacket pockets. For those prioritizing portability and discretion (think street photography or travel in crowds), the HX99 wins hands down.

The tradeoff? The compact body means smaller physical controls, potentially a tad cramped for users with bigger fingers during manual adjustments.

Control Layout and Operational Comfort

How you interact with the camera impacts shooting speed and satisfaction.

The Fujifilm S1’s traditional bridge-camera layout presents a wealth of dedicated dials and buttons, including exposure compensation, mode dials, and a large zoom rocker glued firmly to the grip. This setup encourages tactile, eyes-off-the-screen shooting - great for fast action or deliberate manual control.

Meanwhile, the Sony HX99 leans on fewer physical controls, with some functions tucked into menus or accessed by touchscreen (which the S1 lacks). Its tilting rear screen and pop-up viewfinder facilitate creative shooting angles, but button lovers might find it hasn’t quite got the tactile immediacy of the S1.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras sport the same 1/2.3-inch sensor size (about 28 mm² sensor area), which neatly defines their inherent image quality limits given this sensor class.

The Fujifilm S1 features a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor with an optical low-pass filter (anti-aliasing filter). This means a practical resolution ceiling of about 4608x3456 pixels, which is sufficient for prints up to A3 size or high-quality web use. The sensor supports ISO 100 to 12800, letting you tackle diverse lighting with some compromises on image noise at higher values.

Sony’s HX99 ups the resolution slightly to 18 megapixels on a BSI-CMOS sensor (backside illuminated), theoretically offering marginally better low-light sensitivity and detail retrieval. Resolutions hit 4896x3672 pixels, and the native ISO range is 80 to 12800. The BSI tech often translates to improved performance where light is scarce.

What’s my real-world take? Despite Sony’s sensor edge on paper, the difference is subtle yet tangible when pixel peeping. HX99 files show a touch more sharpness and less noise than the S1 at ISO 800+. However, neither camera will replace an APS-C or Full Frame sensor where ultimate quality counts. That said, for their class, they punch above their weight given the massive zooms they pack.

LCD Screen & Viewfinder: How You Frame Your Shot

In the field, your ability to compose and review images matters a lot.

The Fujifilm S1 sports a 3-inch fully articulated TFT LCD with 920k-dot resolution and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) also at 920k dots covering 97% of the frame. The articulated screen swings out and around, making low and high angles fairly painless.

The Sony HX99 features a 3-inch tilting LCD screen with almost the same resolution (921k dots) and an EVF with 638k dot resolution but 100% coverage. Sony’s EVF magnification is 0.5x, slightly better for precise framing versus the S1’s approximate magnification with a bit less coverage. The HX99’s screen is touchscreen-enabled, adding an intuitive layer of control missing from the Fujifilm.

For quick framing and chases, I preferred Sony’s EVF coverage and touchscreen for adjusting focus points during tricky shots, while Fuji’s bigger, fully articulated screen allowed for more comfortable video shooting and creative angles.

Autofocus Performance and Focus Areas

How fast and accurately a camera locks onto subjects often separates keepers from misses, especially in dynamic photography.

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus systems - no phase-detection pixels here, which is typical for small sensor superzooms.

Fujifilm S1: Features continuous AF, face detection, and manual focus. It lacks animal eye AF and advanced subject-tracking features. The center-weighted metering and multi-area AF work well for static to gently moving subjects but struggle a bit locking onto fast, erratic wildlife or sports.

Sony HX99: Adds more sophisticated face and eye detection autofocus, selective AF, and tracking. Its contrast-detect AF manages surprisingly good tracking for its class, and the touchscreen lets you shift focus points on the fly. However, it’s still no match for high-end mirrorless cameras with hybrid AF systems.

My field experience: In wildlife and sports shooting, the Fujifilm’s larger grip and zoom range (24-1200mm vs Sony’s 24-720mm) let me hold steady and compose better, but autofocus occasionally hunted before locking. The Sony’s AF was faster to lock and track in daylight but slowed in low light.

Zoom Range and Lens Characteristics

This is where these superzooms really flex their muscles.

• Fujifilm S1: 24-1200mm equivalent (50× zoom), f/2.8-5.6 max aperture
• Sony HX99: 24-720mm equivalent (30× zoom), f/3.5-6.4 max aperture

The S1’s enormous 50x zoom range is the standout here, allowing everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife without switching lenses. The brighter aperture at the wide end (f/2.8 vs f/3.5) also helps in lower light.

However, the tradeoff is lens size and weight - bigger glass translates to its much larger body and less pocketability.

The Sony’s 30x zoom is more modest but still impressive for its tiny package, with a versatile range covering everyday scenes well. The long end’s smaller maximum aperture means it gathers less light, affecting autofocus speed and noise at the telephoto end.

Stabilization: Keeping Shots Sharp at Long Focal Lengths

Shooting at 1200mm handheld is tricky business.

The Fujifilm S1 includes sensor-shift image stabilization, helping maintain sharpness at extended focal lengths. My handheld shots at full zoom came out quite usable, though a tripod still made a noticeable difference for fine detail.

Sony’s HX99 also offers built-in stabilization (optical and sensor-based hybrid), performing well for a compact camera. It made telephoto shots more manageable but naturally can’t fully compensate for the smaller lens aperture in low light.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds for Action

Both cameras offer a max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec and a slowest of 30 sec, which is standard for their categories.

The continuous shooting rate is identical - 10 frames per second. This is adequate for casual sports and wildlife but not for pro-level burst chasing.

Buffer size limits mean you won’t shoot dozens of RAW frames in a row without slowdown; they are best seen as “bursty” for short action sequences.

Video Capabilities: Looking Beyond Stills

Sharing videos is often a core part of hybrid workflows nowadays.

Fujifilm S1 shoots Full HD (1920x1080) at 60p max, using H.264 codec. There’s no 4K or slow-motion options, and no external audio inputs.

Sony HX99 steps it up by offering UHD 4K video at 30p and 24p, Full HD at up to 120p for slow-motion effects, and multiple codecs including AVCHD and XAVC S. Like the S1, no mic input - so audio quality depends on the built-in mic.

If video is important, I’m giving the Sony a clear edge due to higher resolution options and better frame rate flexibility.

Battery Life and Storage

The Fuji S1’s battery rated at 350 shots per charge, roughly on par with the Sony’s 360 shots. These numbers hold up reasonably in real-world mixed use.

Concerning memory cards, the S1 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one slot and also internal storage, whereas the Sony uses SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick Duo cards.

Weather Sealing and Build Quality

One key advantage of the Fujifilm S1 is its environmental sealing - something rare in this class. This makes it more next-level rugged and suitable for shooting in less-than-ideal weather without panic.

The Sony HX99 is not weather sealed. For casual use, this isn’t a deal breaker, but if you work outdoors a lot or in windy, dusty, or damp conditions, the S1 has a practical robustness edge.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras offer built-in Wi-Fi for rudimentary image transfer to smartphones but no Bluetooth.

Sony HX99 includes NFC for one-touch pairing, which can be handy.

The Fujifilm has optional GPS for geotagging, useful for travel and landscape photographers, whereas the HX99 has no GPS.

Putting It All Together: Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Feature	Fujifilm S1	Sony HX99
Sensor	16 MP, CMOS, AA filter	18 MP, BSI-CMOS, AA filter
Lens Zoom Range	24-1200mm (50x), f/2.8-5.6	24-720mm (30x), f/3.5-6.4
Body Type & Handling	Bridge, large grip, weather sealed	Pocketable compact, touchscreen
Viewfinder & Screen	920k EVF (97%), 3" fully articulated LCD	638k EVF (100%), 3" tilting touchscreen
Autofocus	Contrast detect, face detection, no animal AF	Contrast detect, face & eye detection, tracking
Video	Full HD 60p	4K UHD 30p, Full HD up to 120p slow motion
Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Optical + sensor shake reduction
Battery Life	~350 shots	~360 shots
Weather Sealing	Yes	No
Weight	680 g	242 g
Price (as of review)	~$400	~$470

How Do They Perform Across Photography Styles?

Given the specs and my practical testing, here’s how these two superzooms fare across popular photography genres:

Portrait Photography

The Fujifilm’s brighter aperture at the wide end helps produce a softer background blur (bokeh) at shorter zooms, beneficial for portraits. Face detection autofocus works on both but Sony supports eye detection for more accurate focus on eyes - a nice plus.

Sony’s images appear slightly sharper, with more pleasing color rendering straight from JPEGs. Both cameras support RAW, so tweaking skin tones in post is straightforward.

Winner: Sony for autofocus precision and image sharpness; Fuji for easier background separation.

Landscape Photography

Good landscapes demand wide-angle capability, dynamic range, and resolution.

Both start at 24mm equivalent, enough for broad vistas.

Sony’s higher resolution sensor is a slight advantage, and 4K video can capture sweeping time-lapses crisply. The Fuji’s weather sealing and articulating LCD support outdoorsy shooting hampered less by elements.

Dynamic range isn’t stellar on either but acceptable for the class.

Winner: Fujifilm for ruggedness; Sony for finer detail.

Wildlife Photography

The S1’s immense 1200mm reach plays a huge role for wildlife shooters wanting distant birds and animals without a teleconverter.

The Sony’s autofocus system is faster and more reliable for moving subjects but limited zoom may require cropping.

Stabilization on both helps at full zoom but beware the limits of small sensors under dim light.

Winner: Fujifilm for reach; Sony for AF speed.

Sports Photography

Similar to wildlife, but typically faster action.

Neither camera is a pro sports shooter, but both offer a 10fps burst - which is respectable.

Sony’s better AF tracking and EVF coverage can nail more focused shots in bright conditions; Fuji’s weight benefits steadiness.

Winner: Sony for AF and ergonomics; Fuji for stability.

Street Photography

Compactness, low-light ability, and discretion rank high.

Sony’s pocket silhouette and quiet smile appeal here, but f/3.5 at wide end is a little slow for night shots.

Fujifilm is larger and more conspicuous.

Winner: Sony for size and stealth.

Macro Photography

The Fujifilm can focus as close as 1 cm vs Sony’s 5 cm, giving it an edge for close-up detail shots.

Neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing.

Winner: Fujifilm.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO noise and long exposure handling matter.

Both max out at ISO 12800 but small sensors limit noise control. Fuji’s weather sealing and articulating screen help with tripod work.

Sony’s lower base ISO (80) slightly improves flexibility.

Winner: Tie; limited by sensor size and noise.

Video Work

Sony’s 4K and slow-motion video stand out strongly.

Fujifilm capped at 1080p.

Neither supports external mics or headphones, limiting pro audio.

Winner: Sony for video versatility.

Travel Photography

Balancing weight, zoom, durability, and battery.

Sony is a lighter, more packable option for city explorers and casual travels.

Fujifilm excels for adventurous travel where weather and lens reach are priorities.

Winner: Depends on travel style; Sony for urban, Fuji for adventure.

Professional Use

While neither is aimed strictly at pros, Fujifilm’s durability and extensive manual controls may find niche use as a secondary or travel camera.

Sony could appeal to vloggers or run-and-gun shooters needing 4K in a tiny footprint.

Final Ratings and Scores At a Glance

Here’s a neat snapshot of overall and genre-specific evaluations based on my direct comparisons.

The Bottom Line: Which One Should You Buy?

When to Choose the Fujifilm FinePix S1

• You want the longest zoom (1200mm) in a single package
• You value weather sealing and ruggedness for outdoor use
• You prefer a traditional camera feel with lots of external dials
• Macro photography and articulated screen flexibility matter
• You’ll mostly shoot stills; video is secondary
• You want a more affordable option with solid image quality for everyday use

When to Go for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99

• Portability and pocket portability are top priorities
• You want the best autofocus and eye-tracking in this class
• 4K video and slow-motion capabilities are essential
• Touchscreen and EVF coverage enhance your workflow
• You’re shooting portraits, street scenes, or urban travel and want discretion
• You’re okay paying a premium for features and smaller size

Some Parting Advice

Both cameras showcase just what a small sensor superzoom can achieve when you demand versatility without swapping lenses. That said, don’t expect DSLR or mirrorless image quality - they operate in a trade-off zone balancing zoom reach, portability, and sensor constraints.

If you’re a photographer prioritizing image quality, consider larger sensor systems with dedicated lenses. If convenience and range tip the scales, either Fujifilm S1 or Sony HX99 will serve well within their price brackets.

Ultimately, your choice boils down to how you shoot: Do you need brute zoom power with an all-weather body? Or the smallest, nimblest camera that still packs a punch in autofocus and 4K video?

I hope this comparison has helped clarify these choices. For me, despite the Fujifilm’s bulk, that 50x zoom is tough to beat. But for street shooters and vloggers, the Sony HX99’s compact, intelligent design is pure gold.

Happy shooting!

This comprehensive deep dive, grounded in hands-on testing and technical nuance, is designed to help you make a real-world wise choice - not just chase specs or flash sales. If you want to know more about any aspect, let me know!