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Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500

Portability
54
Imaging
44
Features
43
Overall
43
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro front
 
Fujifilm FinePix S8500 front
Portability
61
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Key Specs

Fujifilm S3 Pro
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 930g - 148 x 135 x 80mm
  • Introduced March 2005
  • Superseded the Fujifilm S2 Pro
  • New Model is Fujifilm S5 Pro
Fujifilm S8500
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/7000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1104mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 670g - 123 x 87 x 116mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Fujifilm S3 Pro and Fujifilm S8500, former being a Pro DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by FujiFilm. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the Fujifilm S3 Pro (6MP) and Fujifilm S8500 (16MP) and the Fujifilm S3 Pro (APS-C) and Fujifilm S8500 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The Fujifilm S3 Pro was introduced 8 years prior to the Fujifilm S8500 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Fujifilm S3 Pro being a Large SLR camera and the Fujifilm S8500 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the Fujifilm S3 Pro scores against the Fujifilm S8500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Fujifilm S3 Pro over the Fujifilm S8500

 Fujifilm S3 Pro Fujifilm S8500 
Focus manually Dial precise focus

Reasons to pick Fujifilm S8500 over the Fujifilm S3 Pro

 Fujifilm S8500 Fujifilm S3 Pro 
RevealedJanuary 2013March 2005Fresher by 95 months
Screen sizing3"2"Bigger screen (+1")
Screen resolution460k235kCrisper screen (+225k dot)

Common features in the Fujifilm S3 Pro and Fujifilm S8500

 Fujifilm S3 Pro Fujifilm S8500 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Fujifilm S3 Pro enjoys physical dimensions of 148mm x 135mm x 80mm (5.8" x 5.3" x 3.1") with a weight of 930 grams (2.05 lbs) while the Fujifilm S8500 has proportions of 123mm x 87mm x 116mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 4.6") having a weight of 670 grams (1.48 lbs).

See the Fujifilm S3 Pro and Fujifilm S8500 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose during that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the Fujifilm S3 Pro vs the Fujifilm S8500.

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Fujifilm S3 Pro and Fujifilm S8500 is 54 and 61 respectively.

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 top view buttons comparison

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading through specifications. The visual here will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the Fujifilm S3 Pro and Fujifilm S8500.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The Fujifilm S3 Pro having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Fujifilm S8500 will give more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The older Fujifilm S3 Pro is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 sensor size comparison

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Screen and ViewFinder

Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Fujifilm S3 Pro Portrait photography advice
Fujifilm S8500 Portrait photography advice
50
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
doesn't have liveview
low megapixels (6MP)
32
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Fujifilm S3 Pro
Street photography with Fujifilm S8500
56
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
lighter than others in class (930 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competitors (670g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Fujifilm S3 Pro
Sports photography with Fujifilm S8500
47
sensor size is good (APS-C)
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
53
amazing zoom range (24-1104mm 46.0 x zoom)
max shutter speed is good (1/7,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Fujifilm S3 Pro as a Travel photography camera
Fujifilm S8500 as a Travel photography camera
50
lighter than others in class (930g)
environment proofing
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (6MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
52
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (1104mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (670 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Fujifilm S3 Pro as a Landscape photography camera
Fujifilm S8500 as a Landscape photography camera
48
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
small screen (2 inches)
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (6MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
42
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Fujifilm S3 Pro as a Vlogging camera
Fujifilm S8500 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
24
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (670 grams)
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Fujifilm S3 Pro vs Fujifilm S8500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Fujifilm S3 Pro and Fujifilm S8500
 Fujifilm FinePix S3 ProFujifilm FinePix S8500
General Information
Make FujiFilm FujiFilm
Model type Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro Fujifilm FinePix S8500
Category Pro DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2005-03-16 2013-01-07
Physical type Large SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23 x 15.5mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 356.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Highest Possible resolution 4256 x 2848 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-1104mm (46.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/2.9-6.5
Macro focusing range - 0cm
Available lenses 309 -
Focal length multiplier 1.6 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 235k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT color LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage 94 percent -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/7000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/180 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 320 x 120 (480 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 930 grams (2.05 pounds) 670 grams (1.48 pounds)
Dimensions 148 x 135 x 80mm (5.8" x 5.3" x 3.1") 123 x 87 x 116mm (4.8" x 3.4" x 4.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 346 not tested
Other
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 2 or 100 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, Compact Flash Type I or II SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $500