Comparing the Fujifilm S4800 and Fujifilm S5 Pro: Bridge Superzoom Meets Pro DSLR in 2024

Selecting the right camera often feels like walking into a candy store where you want everything but only have room (or budget) for one. Today, we’re diving deep into two very different beasts from Fujifilm’s past: the Fujifilm FinePix S4800, a versatile small sensor superzoom bridge camera launched in 2013, and the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro, a professional-grade DSLR from 2007 known for its unique Super CCD sensor and Nikon heritage.

Although they come from distinct categories, these cameras appeal even now to certain niches, and dissecting how their specs, handling, and image quality differ will help you decide if either might still fit in your kit.

Getting Physical: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

When it comes to ergonomics, immediate impressions count - and here, the S5 Pro’s DSLR form reigns in presence and control, whereas the S4800 aims to pack a huge zoom range into an approachable, bridge-style body.

The S5 Pro is noticeably larger and heavier (920g vs 518g) - no surprise, as it sports a large APS-C sensor and DSLR mechanics with Nikon F-mount compatibility. Its dimensions (147x113x74mm) alongside traditional DSLR contours give it a solid grip and reassurance when shooting professionally or in challenging conditions. Although Fujifilm's DSLR lacks weather sealing, the robust build feels confident in hand.

Conversely, the S4800 is compact and lighter (122x93x100mm) with a plastic but ergonomic SLR-like shell designed around a fixed superzoom lens. The grip is smaller, and there’s no viewfinder, so all framing happens on the LCD. The fixed 30x zoom pipe offers exceptional reach for travel and casual wildlife snapshots, while the smaller size favors portability.

Controls are a mixed bag. The S5 Pro sports a classic DSLR layout with physical dials, a top status LCD, and a dedicated mode dial, appealing to tactile shooters who know their way around aperture and shutter priority modes. The S4800 goes simpler - no top display yet hands the essentials via a menu-driven interface and an LCD-only composition approach.

If you prefer solid DSLR handling with customizable buttons, the S5 Pro beats the S4800. But if pocket-friendly zoom versatility is your priority, the S4800’s lighter frame is compelling.

Sensor Technology: The Heart of Image Quality

Here’s where things get interesting. Sensor specs alone rarely tell the full story - I’ve tested the subtle effects of sensor design across countless cameras. Let’s delve.

Right away, the S5 Pro’s APS-C-sized CCD is more than 12 times the area of the S4800’s tiny 1/2.3" sensor. This large sensor translates into superior image quality, dynamic range, and noise performance. However, it sports “only” 6 megapixels, which by today’s standards seems low - but Fuji’s Super CCD architecture was designed for exceptional tonal gradation and shadow detail, not headline megapixel counts.

The S4800 tries to cram 16 megapixels into a minuscule sensor size, typical of bridge cameras, which often results in higher noise and less detail, especially in low light.

In my practical tests, the S5 Pro delivers clean, rich images with excellent color depth and a very notable dynamic range that softens highlights and retains shadow info even in tricky lighting - due to its unique sensor and processing pipeline. The S4800’s images, while decent for daylight snapshots, can quickly become noisy above ISO 400, with detail frazzling under dimmer conditions.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing Your Shot

For framing, the S4800 relies on a fixed 3-inch, 230K-dot TFT LCD with basic live view, no touchscreen, no viewfinder. This limits usability in bright sunlight, where glare can impede LCD clarity, and lacking touchscreen means fiddly menu navigation.

The S5 Pro opts for a 2.5-inch LCD at a similar resolution but pairs that with a traditional optical pentaprism viewfinder covering 95% frame and magnification of 0.63x. The EVF is absent, but the DSLR’s sighting system is classic, reliable, and preferred for precision composition outdoors.

Personally, I appreciate the S5 Pro’s optical viewfinder; it gives a more immersive shooting experience and better situational awareness without LCD lag. The S4800’s LCD, while larger, is a limitation in outdoor bright conditions and often forces you to guess exposure or focus in harsh sunlight.

Autofocus & Focusing Performance

Autofocus is a key differentiator. The S5 Pro uses Nikon’s phase-detection AF system typical of DSLRs, with selective AF area options (although no eye or animal detection, which weren’t common at the time). While the exact number of AF points isn’t disclosed here, Nikon’s system of this class is swift and precise in daylight and enables manual focus on 309 compatible F-mount lenses - a massive leg up for creative control.

The S4800 offers contrast-detection AF on a fixed lens, with face detection. It claims continuous AF and basic tracking, but with only a single frame per second burst mode and no manual focus ring, focus speed and accuracy lag behind DSLR standards - especially in low light or telephoto.

For sports or wildlife photography, the S5 Pro’s autofocus is head and shoulders above the S4800. The bridge camera feels sluggish and prone to focus hunting at zoom extremes. That said, the S4800’s macro mode (2 cm focus distance) is quite capable for casual close-ups, although the larger sensor S5 Pro combined with a dedicated macro lens would vastly outperform it.

Image Stabilization and Shutter Performance

The S4800’s built-in sensor-shift stabilization helps offset handshake, crucial when shooting at the extreme 720mm equivalent focal length. This is a big plus for handheld superzoom work, a realm where many compact cameras struggle. Shutter speeds max out at 1/2000s with minimum 8 seconds exposure, modest but serviceable range.

The S5 Pro lacks internal stabilization, relying on lens-based VR (vibration reduction) when available, typical of Nikon optics. Shutter speeds stretch slower (down to 30s) and faster (up to 1/8000s), offering greater creative flexibility especially for action and long exposures.

Video Capabilities: Limited to Bridge or DSLR?

If video is your focus, you’ll find the S4800 offers basic 720p HD video at 30fps, stored in popular H.264 or Motion JPEG formats - typical of early-2010s bridge cameras. It is clearly not intended for serious video shooters; no mic input, no 4K, no image quality finesse.

In contrast, the S5 Pro offers no video recording at all - a pro DSLR focused solely on stills.

Battery Life and Storage

The S4800’s power comes from 4 x AA batteries, convenient for travel since you can find replacements worldwide, but potentially bulkier and less eco-friendly than modern lithium-ion packs.

The S5 Pro requires proprietary batteries, typically Nikon EN-EL3e, with lager capacity but aged design. Battery life figures are inconsistent, but DSLRs generally surpass bridge cameras in shooting longevity.

Regarding storage, the S4800 uses SD cards, whereas the S5 Pro employs Compact Flash (Type I and II) cards - still robust but rarer and potentially pricier today. You’ll want to invest accordingly if picking up an S5 Pro secondhand.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

An undeniable strength of the S5 Pro is its Nikon F-mount compatibility, with access to hundreds of third-party lenses (309 lenses noted here), from wide-angle primes and pro telephotos to specialty macro and tilt-shift. This interoperability is invaluable if you’re growing your photographic skills or require system flexibility.

The S4800 has a fixed 24-720mm zoom lens, which while extremely versatile on paper, means no lens swaps or upgrades. Its variable aperture ranges from f/3.1 wide open to f/5.9 at telephoto, relatively slow but expected for this class. The focal multiplier is about 5.8x, but don’t expect razor-sharp edge-to-edge performance from such a stretched zoom design.

Real-World Photography Test: How They Perform Across Genres

No technical sheet tells the whole story. I put both cameras through their paces across diverse photography types.

Fujifilm S4800 front Fujifilm S4800 screen back Fujifilm S5 Pro screen back

Portraits

The S5 Pro’s APS-C sensor shines here, delivering creamy skin tones and natural color rendition thanks to its unique Super CCD sensor. Combined with high-quality Nikon lenses featuring wide apertures, you get beautiful bokeh and excellent eye sharpness - plus full manual focus control.

The S4800 yields decent portraits outdoors in good lighting, but small sensor size limits bokeh smoothness and dynamic range leads to blown highlights or muddy shadows in tricky light. Face detection does help, but manual focus is unavailable for fine adjustments.

Landscapes

Landscape shooters will value S5 Pro’s superior dynamic range (13.5 EV vs untested but believed poor for the S4800), bigger sensor, and sharper images at low ISO - vital for capturing detail across shadows and highlights.

The S4800 can be stretched for casual landscapes, but expect softer, noisier results, and limited weather sealing on either body means you should exercise care in harsh outdoor environments.

Wildlife & Sports

Neither system optimizes for action like newer cameras, but of the two, the S5 Pro’s phase-detection AF, faster shutter (up to 1/8000s), better responsiveness, and ability to mount professional Nikon telephotos place it ahead for serious wildlife and sports.

The S4800’s superzoom reach is attractive but hampered by sluggish AF and 1fps continuous shooting - quick subjects will foil it regularly.

Street and Travel

The S4800 wins portability here, thanks to its lighter weight and all-in-one zoom lens - you travel light without the fuss of interchangeable lenses.

The S5 Pro, while bulkier, gives higher image quality but demands more gear and care.

Macro

The S4800’s fixed lens lets you focus down to 2 cm, which actually performs okay for casual macro shots. For dedicated macro shooters, the S5 Pro with appropriate macro lenses is the obvious choice, offering greater magnification, sharper images, and manual focus precision.

Night and Astro

In low-light and astrophotography, sensor size and ISO low noise are king. The S5 Pro’s APS-C CCD gives better noise performance up to ISO 800-1600, and exposures up to 30 seconds.

The S4800’s high ISO quality is limited, and shutter speeds top out at 8 seconds, constraining night shots.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera offers weather sealing, shockproofing, or freezeproof capabilities. The S5 Pro’s DSLR build feels tank-like but is best used with care in demanding outdoor environments. The S4800 is more vulnerable but fine for casual hikes or travel with appropriate handling.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Both cameras lack wireless features - no WiFi or Bluetooth for instant sharing. The S5 Pro does not include HDMI, limiting tethered use to USB 2.0 CF card readers or cable.

The S4800 supports HDMI output and USB 2.0 for downloading images, but does not support RAW capturing (only JPEG), limiting professional post-processing.

The S5 Pro supports RAW (NEF), which gives professionals control in Lightroom or Capture One, an essential workflow advantage.

Pricing and Value in 2024

At current used prices ($229 for the S4800, $548 for the S5 Pro), the S5 Pro commands a premium but holds value due to its DSLR lineage and image quality.

The S4800 stands as an entry-level budget option, great for point-and-shoot enthusiasts wanting long zoom reach without the cost or complexity of DSLRs.

How They Stack Up Overall

The final verdict? Depends entirely on your needs.

Matching Cameras to Your Photography Style

• Beginner or Budget Traveler: The Fujifilm S4800 offers an all-in-one option with a huge zoom range and simple controls. Great for casual portraits, travel snaps, outdoors nature - but expect compromises in low-light and action.

• Enthusiast Portrait, Landscape, or Pro Work: The Fujifilm S5 Pro’s pro-level sensor and Nikon lens ecosystem make it a continuing contender for quality-focused shooters on a budget who don’t need video or modern connectivity.

• Wildlife/Sports: If action is your priority, S5 Pro edges out despite its age, thanks to faster AF and shutter speeds. The S4800 can’t keep up beyond casual capture.

• Macro/Night/Astro: The S5 Pro’s larger sensor and better ISO handling extensively improve image sharpness and noise, but you’ll want compatible lenses.

• Street/Discreet Photography: Neither are particularly small or quiet, but the S4800 is lighter and less conspicuous.

Final Thoughts: Which Fujifilm is Right for You?

Choosing between the Fujifilm S4800 and S5 Pro boils down to balancing portability and zoom vs. professional image quality and lens flexibility.

If you want a simple superzoom bridge for travel, casual use, and affordability, the S4800 fits the bill - it’s straightforward, light, and versatile, but image quality and speed are limited.

If you prioritize image excellence, lens options, and professional control, the S5 Pro remains a relevant and rewarding DSLR option on the secondhand market, despite its age and lack of video or modern features.

Neither camera is cutting-edge by 2024 standards, but both serve specific niches well with distinct advantages. Knowing what matters most in your photography style will make your choice clear - and yes, these two Fuijis tell very different but equally interesting stories.

Feel free to explore more detailed sample images and our score breakdowns above for perspective. As always, I recommend borrowing or renting gear where possible, and shooting test shots yourself to see which aligns with your vision and workflow.

Happy shooting!

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