Fujifilm S1500 vs Nikon Coolpix A900: An In-Depth Superzoom Showdown for Enthusiasts

In the world of small-sensor superzoom cameras, two models often come up in discussions among photography enthusiasts seeking decent reach without the bulk of interchangeable lenses: the Fujifilm FinePix S1500 and the Nikon Coolpix A900. Though released nearly seven years apart, these compact zoomers embody different eras and philosophies in affordable travel and casual photography. Having put both through extensive real-world testing - across everything from macro garden shots to busting wildlife action - I’m excited to unpack their strengths, trade-offs, and suitability across photography disciplines. Let’s dig into the nuts and bolts to see which might best fit your creative needs and budget.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Old School Bridge vs Sleek Compact

Physically, these cameras couldn’t be more different, and that affects how you’ll hold, carry, and shoot them.

The Fujifilm S1500 is a robust bridge camera aimed at users who appreciate the feel of a DSLR-style body but want a fixed lens. Its grip is pronounced, and the control dials land firmly under your fingers, encouraging a slower, deliberate shooting style. The lens barrel and zoom lever yield that satisfying mechanical resistance, reminding me of cameras from the late 2000s enthusiast bridge boom. It’s not pocketable, but it nestles pleasantly in the hand for extended shooting sessions.

In contrast, the Nikon A900 embraces sleek minimalism. Its compact, candy-bar design sacrifices the ergonomic grip in favor of portability and simplicity. While this makes it easier to stow in a jacket pocket or small bag, it feels less secure in hand, especially when zooming to the extended 840mm equivalent focal length. Handling the A900 demands extra care to avoid camera shake, despite its optical stabilization.

From a usability standpoint, I appreciated the S1500’s tactile buttons and dials. The A900, while minimalistic and modern, relies heavily on menu navigation and fewer external controls. This could be a plus for casual shooters who prefer automatic modes but a hindrance if you want fast manual adjustments.

Outfitted from Above: Control Layout and Top-Plate Features

Looking down from above reveals another layer of difference that reflects design priorities.

The Fujifilm S1500 sports a DSLR-inspired top deck with dedicated exposure compensation dial and mode selector. The zoom rocker is conveniently placed near the shutter button, allowing seamless one-handed operation. The inclusion of shutter-priority, aperture-priority, and full manual modes gives advanced users room to exercise creative control - rare among cameras in this price tier in 2009.

By contrast, the Nikon A900 pares down the controls into a minimal arrangement more aligned with point-and-shoot sensibilities. While exposure compensation and manual modes are accessible, toggling between settings requires more button presses and menu interaction. The zoom lever is near the shutter but smaller, which combined with the smaller camera body, contributed to occasional fumbling on fast shots.

Both cameras incorporate built-in flashes, but the S1500’s sync and slow sync options give a bit more versatility for portrait or fill-flash scenarios. Neither supports external flashes, limiting their role in a studio setup.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

A pivotal factor for image fidelity is sensor technology, and here the eras show their age difference most starkly.

Both cameras employ 1/2.3-inch sensors measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm with roughly 28 mm² photosensitive area. However, the Fujifilm uses an older CCD sensor with 10 megapixels, while the Nikon boasts a contemporary BSI-CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels.

The CCD chip in the S1500, typical for its time, produces images with good color saturation and distinct noise patterns. However, it struggles at higher ISOs, showing a marked increase in chroma noise and loss of detail beyond ISO 400. Color depth and dynamic range are limited, especially when preserving highlights in bright landscapes.

The Nikon A900’s BSI-CMOS sensor leverages back-illuminated architecture to enhance light gathering, especially in low-light conditions. Its doubled resolution bumps maximum image size to 5184 x 3888 pixels, offering more cropping freedom and finer detail rendition. Subjectively, its images appear sharper and less noisy, particularly up to ISO 800, with usable output extending to ISO 1600 for enthusiasts willing to apply noise reduction.

In controlled lab tests, the A900 delivered a noticeable edge in dynamic range, enabling better retention of shadow detail and highlight rolloff - essential for landscape or high-contrast situations. Meanwhile, the S1500’s smaller pixel density per sensor area resulted in softer output but surprisingly pleasant color gradations, fitting for snapshots and casual portraits with subdued contrast.

Viewing and Composing: LCD and Viewfinder Usability

Composition tools can make or break a shooting experience, especially when framing at long focal lengths or in tricky light.

The Fujifilm S1500 offers an electronic viewfinder (EVF), albeit one of modest resolution and coverage. While it’s a boon for bright daylight shooting, the EVF lacks the finesse and accuracy of modern OLED designs. I found it useful primarily for static compositions or when stabilizing at long zoom, but its graininess limited utility in precision framing.

On the back, the S1500’s fixed 2.7-inch LCD with 230k dots is quite dated. The screen suffers under bright sunlight, making critical focus confirmation challenging outdoors.

Meanwhile, the Nikon A900 dispenses with a viewfinder altogether, relying on a 3.0-inch tilting LCD with a respectable 921k dots resolution. This screen provides a noticeably clearer, more vibrant image preview and better situational framing flexibility thanks to its tilt mechanism. For shooting at awkward angles - wildlife low to the ground or street photography from hip level - this was a welcome addition.

However, the absence of any eye-level finder means less stability and accuracy in bright, active environments, especially at maximum zoom.

A Gallery of Results: Image Samples from the Field

Numbers and specs tell part of the story, but I find it invaluable to show practical output for assessment.

The Fujifilm S1500 yields vibrant images with decent sharpness at moderate focal lengths. Its 12x zoom range (33-396mm equivalent) delivered fairly clean edges up to 200mm before softness crept in. Close focusing at 2cm allowed nice macro shots of flowers and insects; the sensor shift stabilization did a credible job of holding sharpness despite slower shutter speeds.

The Nikon A900’s 35x zoom (24-840mm equivalent) opens up greater compositional creativity, capturing distant wildlife or urban street scenes with remarkable reach. Its optical image stabilization noticeably reduced blur during handheld shooting at extreme telephoto lengths. The 1cm macro minimum focus distance allowed impressive close-ups with pleasant background separation.

On comparable shots under varying light, the A900 better managed highlight retention and maintained sharpness at longer zoom lengths. The S1500 tended to succumb to digital softness and noise beyond 300mm equivalent.

Fujifilm S1500 front Fujifilm S1500 screen back Nikon A900 front Nikon A900 screen back

Autofocus and Performance: Hunting Subjects and Shooting Speed

Where superzooms often falter is in autofocus agility and burst mode capability, crucial for action and wildlife.

The Fujifilm S1500 features a single contrast-detection AF point with no tracking or face detection. Focus speed is leisurely, averaging about one second for chambering a shot. Continuous autofocus and burst shooting are limited; it only manages 1 fps in continuous mode, rendering it inadequate for rapid sports or wildlife sequences. Live view AF is functional but slow.

The Nikon A900 significantly improves on this front. It sports advanced contrast-detection AF with face detection, multiple AF areas, center and selective point options. Moreover, it incorporates continuous AF and tracking, enabling it to confidently lock onto moving subjects. Burst shooting extends up to 7 fps, a substantial advantage for catching fleeting expressions or wildlife motion.

This difference was evident while photographing street performers and birds in flight, where the A900 maintained focus more reliably and offered more keeper shots per burst sequence.

Zoom, Sharpness, and Macro Versatility

Zoom range and macro ability often govern usage scenarios for superzoom enthusiasts.

As noted earlier, the A900’s 35x optical zoom far eclipses the S1500’s 12x range, highlighting its potential for travel photographers seeking versatility without hauling extra lenses.

Maximum apertures differ: the S1500 is brighter in wide-angle scope (f/2.8 vs f/3.4 on the A900), helpful for low light or shallow depth of field at short focal lengths. However, its aperture closes down more quickly at telephoto (f/5.0 vs f/6.9), somewhat limiting background blur and exposure latitude.

Macro performance is similar in minimum focus distances (S1500 at 2cm and A900 at 1cm), but the Nikon produces sharper close-ups due to better resolution and lens coatings. Image stabilization plays a key role here; while sensor-shift stabilization on the S1500 helped at lower zooms, the A900’s optical stabilization was markedly superior throughout the zoom range, facilitating handheld macro shots.

Low Light and Night Photography: Can These Pocket Rockets Shine?

Small-sensor cameras notoriously struggle in low light, but improvements over time can be telling.

The Fujifilm S1500 maxes out native ISO 6400 but realistically usable images top out around ISO 400 due to significant noise and loss of detail. Its CCD sensor and older processor pipeline contribute to grainy, muddy shadows at higher sensitivity. Lack of a dedicated night or astro mode further limits creative control after sunset.

The Nikon A900 maxes out at ISO 3200, but thanks to its BSI-CMOS sensor and better noise reduction algorithms, I found ISO 800–1600 deliver stable, clean shots suitable for casual night scenes, street lamps, or dim interiors. Additionally, it offers timelapse recording and exposure bracketing - helpful tools for nightscapes and star trails, despite no raw support constraining post-processing potential.

Their built-in flashes perform as expected for small-sensor compacts; the S1500’s flash range extends further, useful in close indoor portraits, but both show limitations for serious low-light work.

Video Capabilities: From Vlogging to Casual Footage

While neither camera is a video powerhouse, their specs offer a window on possible multimedia options.

The S1500 records only VGA (640x480) video at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format - a standard for the time but definitely unsuitable for current HD or 4K expectations. Audio recording is built-in but of limited quality, suitable for home movies but not professional use.

By contrast, the Nikon A900 provides Full HD up to 60 fps and 4K (3840x2160) at 30 fps with H.264 compression. This modern codec balance permits reasonably crisp footage and editing flexibility. However, the lack of a microphone input restricts audio quality customization, and the absence of 4K photo burst mode limits its still capture from video.

In practical use, the A900’s tilting screen aids video framing, and optical stabilization smooths handheld motion better than the S1500’s sensor-shift system.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Can These Cameras Take a Beating?

Both cameras target consumer markets, and neither is weather sealed or ruggedized.

The Fujifilm S1500 is built with durable plastic and weighs 345 grams including batteries, giving it a sturdy feel but lacking any official dust or moisture resistance.

The Nikon A900, despite a lighter and more compact profile at 289 grams, similarly lacks environmental sealing or impact protection. Users should treat both cameras with care in inclement weather.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Fixed Lenses and Their Limits

Both cameras feature permanently attached zoom lenses with no option for swapping. This makes lens ecosystem non-applicable, but optically they serve different purposes.

The S1500’s lens is sharpest in the middle of the zoom range, with noticeable chromatic aberration at wide and telephoto extremes. The Nikon A900’s 24-840mm lens edges ahead in optical quality overall, delivering consistent sharpness across the frame with minimal distortion, thanks to years of lens coating evolution.

Battery Life and Media Storage: Power and Longevity

Interestingly, the Fujifilm S1500 uses four readily available AA batteries, providing convenience and easy replacements - a clear advantage when shooting in remote areas without access to chargers. However, AA batteries tend to be heavier and less economical long term.

The Nikon A900 employs a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL12), rated for approximately 300 shots per charge. This is acceptable but means carrying spares or chargers on longer trips.

Both cameras utilize a single SD card slot for media storage, standardizing compatibility and allowing users to pick preferred card brands and capacities.

Wireless Connectivity and Extras: Modern Conveniences

Connectivity is a major gulf between these models.

The Fujifilm S1500 has no wireless features, reflecting its 2009 heritage.

By contrast, the Nikon A900 is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, enabling remote control via smartphone apps, wireless image transfer, and geotagging convenience - features indispensable for modern content creators.

HDMI output on the A900 allows for direct playback on external displays, absent on the S1500.

Price-to-Performance: Which Delivers the Better Bang?

At typical street prices, the Fujifilm S1500 can be found around $200 new or less on used markets, while the Nikon A900 is priced around $400.

For the doubled cost, you receive roughly twice the resolution, far greater zoom reach, significantly improved autofocus and burst speed, better video capabilities and modern wireless conveniences with the A900. The S1500’s only notable advantages are the optical brightness at wide angles, sturdier physical handling, and the flexibility of AA power.

Who Should Buy Which? Recommendations by Photography Genre

To fully evaluate suitability, let’s consider each major genre where these cameras might excel or struggle.

Portrait Photography

The A900’s higher resolution and face detection provide better sharpness and subject tracking for portraits. The S1500 struggles with slower autofocus and lower detail. However, its wider aperture at shorter focal lengths is a minor plus for slight bokeh separation.

Recommendation: Nikon A900 for more natural skin tones and reliable eye detection.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution count heavily here. The A900’s better sensor and higher megapixels yield more detailed and tonally balanced landscape images.

Recommendation: Nikon A900 wins for crisp, detailed landscapes.

Wildlife Photography

Reach and autofocus speed are vital. The 35x zoom and continuous AF of the A900 far outperform the S1500’s slower 12x and single AF point.

Recommendation: Nikon A900 for informative wildlife shots.

Sports Photography

With only 1 fps burst and sluggish AF, the S1500 is ill-suited. The A900’s 7 fps and tracking AF make it a competent choice for casual sports shooting.

Recommendation: Nikon A900.

Street Photography

Discretion and portability lean toward the A900’s compact, quiet body despite lacking a viewfinder. The S1500’s bulk and slower responsiveness limit candid opportunities.

Recommendation: Nikon A900.

Macro Photography

The S1500's 2cm close focusing is respectable but limited by resolution. A900’s 1cm and higher detail make macro shooting more rewarding.

Recommendation: Nikon A900.

Night/Astro Photography

Limited by sensor and processing, both are compromises, but the A900’s better ISO performance and timelapse features give it an edge.

Recommendation: Nikon A900.

Video Capabilities

Low-res VGA video on S1500 vs 4K on A900 is a straightforward gap.

Recommendation: Nikon A900.

Travel Photography

Portability, battery convenience, and versatility are key. The A900 offers zoom reach and wireless features but shorter battery life and slightly less substantial grip. The S1500’s AA batteries and grip favor long outings with easier power swaps.

Recommendation: Depends - active travelers favor Nikon A900; remote trips with limited chargers may benefit from Fujifilm S1500.

Professional Work

Neither camera is tailored for professional use due to sensor size and lack of RAW. However, the A900 supports some advanced modes and offers better image quality.

Recommendation: Nikon A900 as a casual backup or for travel journalism, but professionals should look higher.

Final Thoughts: An Experienced Verdict

After extensive side-by-side real shooting and layered testing, the Nikon Coolpix A900 emerges as the more compelling camera for nearly all users who can absorb its higher price. Its improvements in sensor technology, zoom versatility, autofocus sophistication, video resolution, and connectivity encapsulate the leap forward in digital imaging from 2009 to 2016.

The Fujifilm FinePix S1500 stands as a nostalgic bridge camera relic, offering a tactile experience and AA battery convenience in a package many will appreciate for casual snapshots and simple usage. But in terms of image quality, speed, and features - pillars of modern photography demands - it simply cannot keep pace.

That said, the A900’s lack of an electronic viewfinder and shorter battery life could frustrate certain shooting styles, especially long day trips requiring many shots or in bright sunny environments where viewfinders are irreplaceable.

For variety-seekers and budget buyers, the S1500 is an acceptable alternative weighing ease of use and affordability. For virtually everyone else, particularly those serious about zoom range, responsiveness, or multimedia, the Nikon A900 represents a superior all-rounder and a sensible investment.

Happy shooting!

Note: All technical details, sample images, and performance comparisons stem from personal multi-day testing in varied locations, including wildlife preserves, city streets, and controlled studio environments, reinforcing the review’s practical grounding.

End of Review