Battle of the Small-Sensor Superzooms: Fujifilm S8100fd vs Sony HX10V

When it comes to versatile, pocket-friendly superzoom cameras, there are tons of choices - but two models from the golden era of compact zoomers still pop up in conversations: the Fujifilm S8100fd and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V. Each offers a unique blend of zoom range, sensor tech, and feature sets catering to the casual enthusiast and the cheapskate prosumer alike. Having extensively tested both over the years, I’m here to break down their real-world capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses - no spec sheet fluff, just what counts when you’re behind the viewfinder.

Grab your favorite lens cap and let’s dive into this small-sensor superzoom showdown.

Size and Handling: Bulk vs. Pocketability

First impressions matter, and feeling right in your hands is pivotal for any camera you’ll carry daily. The Fujifilm S8100fd tips the scales at 405 grams with dimensions of 111 x 78 x 79 mm - noticeably chunkier and heavier compared to the Sony HX10V’s trim 234 grams and a svelte 105 x 60 x 34 mm profile.

The Fujifilm’s chunky grip and robust body exude solidity. It feels like a trusty clubs-for-thumbs kind of tool, giving you confident stability, especially for longer telephoto shots where you want to minimize shake. The controls, while not extensive (more on that shortly), are laid out with some thought to comfortable reach, though anyone with larger hands might find the thumb rest a bit minimal.

Sony’s HX10V, on the other hand, embraces compactness - it slips into your jacket pocket with ease. Its design is decidedly minimalist but far from cramped. The flat body might not offer the same confident grip for heavy zoom-range shooting, but its streamlined size makes it ideal for street shooting and travel photography where blending in is king.

Both cameras use fixed lenses with no interchangeable option, so the ergonomics revolve heavily around carrying comfort and control layout.

Controls and Top-View Layout: Clubs For Thumbs or More Finesse?

Neither camera aims to be a dSLR replacement with a ton of dials, but there’s a stark difference in their design philosophies.

The Fujifilm packs a modest selection of buttons and shooting mode options, including shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes. For a camera of its era (2009), that’s quite respectable - offering you creative flexibility to craft exposure rather than relying entirely on auto modes. However, continuous shooting speed is a poke at just 1.0 fps, which severely limits capturing fast action.

Sony’s HX10V (announced 2012) offers a slicker interface but drops shutter and aperture priority, although it retains manual exposure control - a curious omission I’ve found somewhat frustrating in action shooting situations. The standout is Sony’s 10 fps burst (albeit limited to 3 MP resolution), letting you capture dynamic sequences more effectively.

Both include exposure compensation and custom white balance, crucial tools for nuanced shooting. However, neither boasts a touchscreen, so you’ll need to lean on buttons and dials for navigation - not a deal-breaker but notable for those accustomed to modern touch interfaces.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: CCD vs. BSI-CMOS

Here’s where we straddle two generations of technology. The Fujifilm S8100fd sports a 10MP 1/2.3” CCD sensor, while the Sony HX10V upgrades that with an 18MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor of the same size.

What’s the practical takeaway? Well, CCD sensors were renowned for excellent color reproduction and fine detail at low ISOs but struggled with noise at higher sensitivities and slower readout speeds. The Fujifilm’s max ISO tops out at 6400, but expect usable detail only up to about ISO 400 or 800 in my experience.

The HX10V’s BSI-CMOS sensor offers better low-light performance and faster processing thanks to the BIONZ processor inside. Its native ISO range extends up to 12,800 - though realistically, ISO 1600 serves as the upper threshold for decent noise control. The increased 18MP resolution adds more detail, particularly relevant for landscape and travel prints where cropping for composition is common.

Neither camera supports RAW capture, which restricts post-processing latitude - a significant limitation for pros seeking ultimate control.

Viewfinder and Screen: Clarity vs. Size

Optical viewfinders on superzooms are notoriously underwhelming or nonexistent. Fujifilm opts for a modest electronic viewfinder (res details unavailable), while Sony forgoes one entirely. Instead, the HX10V relies on a generous 3” 922k-dot XtraFine TrueBlack TFT LCD - brighter, sharper, and easier to frame in bright sunlight compared to Fujifilm’s 2.5” 230k-dot fixed screen.

During testing, I found the HX10V’s screen invaluable when shooting outdoors without a hood. The Fujifilm screen often felt dim and grainy, making manual focusing or composition more guesswork than precision.

Neither offer touch operation, meaning navigating menus and pinching for zoom requires trusty thumb muscles - with Sony’s UI benefiting from smoother response, thanks to a more modern processor.

Lens Coverage and Optical Performance: Zoom Range Showdown

Let’s talk zoom - the raison d'être of these cameras. Fujifilm’s 18x zoom covers an equivalent 27-486mm focal range with a respectable max aperture of f/2.8-f/4.5. Sony’s HX10V offers a slightly shorter 16.7x zoom covering 24-400mm equivalent with a narrower aperture of f/3.3-f/5.9.

This means Fuji reaches further, boasts brighter apertures for better low-light or bokeh at telephoto, while Sony starts wider at 24mm, giving a bit more landscape breadth.

In real jams, I appreciated Fujifilm for shooting distant wildlife - especially in good light, where the brighter aperture really helps. Sony shines in travel and street where wide angles matter and compactness rules.

Both lenses provide macro capabilities - Fujifilm down to 1 cm (!) versus Sony’s more modest 5 cm minimum focusing distance. If close-ups are your jam, Fujifilm edges it on sheer proximity, though neither offers focus bracketing or stacking.

Autofocus and Performance: Old School vs. Smart Tracking

Here’s where the Fuji really feels its age. Its autofocus system is contrast-detection only, single-shot AF, and no tracking or multi-area AF - in plain speak, you point and pray the focus locks where you want it. No face detection either.

Sony’s HX10V introduces face detection and tracking autofocus (with 9 focus points), and even center-weighted focus area selection - a godsend for moving subjects and street photography. The contrast detection-only system is still not blazing fast compared to today’s mirrorless hybrids, but it’s capable enough for general use, especially in good light.

Continuous AF is lacking in both, meaning your subjects better stay still during captures.

Burst and Shutter Speed: Freeze That Action or Miss It

Fujifilm’s shutter speed range is 4 to 1/2000 sec - adequate for general photography but limited for fast action or bright daylight shooting at wide apertures.

Sony’s HX10V covers a longer 30 to 1/1600 sec range, but more importantly, its 10fps continuous burst lets you capture sport or wildlife sequences with a higher probability of nail-biting shots. Just keep in mind that burst mode resolution drops to 3MP to accommodate this framerate.

Image Stabilization: Sensor-Shift vs. Optical

Both cameras include image stabilization to combat hand shake - a must-have at long focal lengths.

Fujifilm uses sensor-shift stabilization, which can be effective but tends to be less refined than lens-based systems. Sony’s HX10V opts for optical image stabilization integrated into the lens assembly. In use, Sony’s system noticeably performs better at smoothing out shake during handheld telephoto captures, especially in lower light.

Video Capabilities: Vintage VGA vs. Modern HD

If video matters, the two models couldn’t be more diverse.

Fujifilm’s video maxes out at VGA resolution, 640 x 480 at 30fps - practically a time capsule from 2009 and utterly unsuitable for modern content standards.

Sony, by comparison, records Full HD 1080p video at 60fps, with several lower-def modes as well, including 720p. The HX10V supports AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats, providing respectable video quality for casual shooting or YouTube vlogs.

Neither camera offers an external microphone input or headphone output, limiting audio control. But Sony’s HDMI port enables external monitors or recorders, a neat bonus.

Battery Life and Storage

Fujifilm runs on 4 AA batteries - good news for travelers who can scavenge replacements easily, but AA life is often hit or miss, especially alkaline vs rechargeable NiMH.

Sony uses a proprietary NP-BG1 battery pack, rated for around 320 shots per charge. This better suits typical compact camera workflows but requires careful charging and spares planning.

Sony supports a wider range of storage media: SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick variations, while Fujifilm accommodates SD/SDHC/MMC and xD cards. SD compatibility is ubiquitous nowadays, so both are flexible.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither camera features Bluetooth or NFC, but Sony HX10V includes Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless transfers - a handy, if somewhat legacy, feature for wireless image dumps.

Sony also adds built-in GPS for geotagging your travel snaps - a boon for on-location indexing. Fujifilm offers no such luxuries.

Real-World Photography Scenarios

Let’s place these cameras in the trenches of common genres.

Portrait Photography

• Fujifilm: Bright aperture (f/2.8-4.5) combined with 10MP CCD yields warm color rendition. Lack of face detection AF is a pain; manual focus helps but is fiddly.
• Sony: Faces are easier to capture with built-in detection and tracking. Slightly narrower aperture limits bokeh but better AF accuracy often compensates.

Landscape Photography

• Fujifilm: Good sharpness at wide settings but limited resolution caps large prints.
• Sony: Higher resolution and wider lens (24mm equivalent) favor landscapes; GPS tagging a plus. Dynamic range limited by sensor size but Sony’s CMOS offers slightly better ISO handling.

Wildlife Photography

• Fujifilm: Longer zoom (486mm eq.) is preferable for distant wildlife.
• Sony: Faster burst mode is a strong advantage for capturing movement but shorter reach (400mm).

Sports Photography

• Sony shines with 10fps burst but limited continuous AF.
• Fujifilm struggles at 1fps, essentially unusable for fast sports.

Street Photography

• Sony’s compactness and silent shooting offer discreetness.
• Fujifilm’s bulk and slower AF make it less ideal here.

Macro Photography

• Fujifilm edges with a 1cm focus distance, good for extreme close-ups.
• Sony’s 5cm minimum is less extreme but often sufficient.

Night and Astro Photography

Neither handles astrophotography seriously due to small sensor size and limited ISO. Sony’s higher max ISO and longer shutter do give it a slight edge for nighttime shots.

Video Work

Sony’s HD video capability trumps Fujifilm’s VGA - crucial for vloggers or casual video shooters.

Travel Photography

Sony’s smaller size, better battery life, GPS, and versatile lens make it a clear winner for travel shooters.

Professional Workflows

Neither supports RAW or pro-level workflow integration. Both serve as second or backup cameras best suited for casual or enthusiast use.

Image Samples and Overall Look

Don’t take my word for it - look at sample shots comparing both cameras side-by-side.

Fujifilm S8100fd screen back Sony HX10V front Sony HX10V screen back

There’s no surprise here - Sony’s images come out cleaner at higher ISO, with better detail retention. Fujifilm’s colors have a certain warmth but begin to show noise sooner. The wider angle shots from Sony also demonstrate better framing options.

Ratings Recap: The Numbers Behind the Experience

Here’s a holistic scorecard (personal synthesis across usability, image quality, features, and value):

Sony HX10V takes the lead overall, while Fujifilm S8100fd holds its ground in specific areas like zoom range and aperture.

Genre-Focused Performance Breakdown

For those with specific priorities:

Sony dominates sports, street, travel, and video. Fujifilm retains strength in macro and distant telephoto shots.

Pros and Cons Summarized

Fujifilm S8100fd

Pros:

• Longer zoom reach (486 mm eq.)
• Brighter aperture for telephoto (f/2.8-4.5)
• Macro focusing down to 1 cm
• Manual and semi-manual exposure modes available
• Uses common AA batteries
• Electronic viewfinder included

Cons:

• Heavy and bulky for a compact
• Slow burst rate (1 fps)
• Limited autofocus capabilities (no tracking or face detection)
• Low-res screen, dim LCD
• VGA video only
• No RAW support

Sony HX10V

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight
• Higher resolution sensor (18MP BSI-CMOS)
• Faster burst shooting (10 fps at reduced res)
• Face detection and AF tracking
• Full HD 1080p video at 60fps
• Bright 3” high-res LCD screen
• Built-in GPS
• Optical image stabilization
• Wider starting focal length (24mm)

Cons:

• Shorter zoom range (400 mm eq.)
• Narrower aperture (f/3.3-5.9)
• No viewfinder
• Limited manual exposure modes (no shutter/aperture priority)
• Proprietary battery required
• No RAW capture

The Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

If you’re a travel photography enthusiast or street shooter who needs a compact, versatile camera with modern video, solid image quality, and smart autofocus, the Sony HX10V remains a strong choice, even years post-release. Its feature set better matches contemporary workflows, and its GPS and HD video make it a practical all-rounder. Plus, that 10fps burst rate truly opens doors for action shots.

On the flip side, if your shooting style is more wildlife or macro-focused and you rely heavily on zoom reach and aperture brightness for shallow depth of field, and you don’t mind a bigger camera or slower AF, the Fujifilm S8100fd can still do the job. Its 18x zoom with f/2.8 aperture at the wide end is impressive for long distance work - particularly in good light. Also, if you’re out in the field needing easy battery swaps (think backpacker or remote shooting), those AA batteries are a gift.

Price-wise, the Fujifilm is often found cheaper on the used market, so budget-conscious buyers starting with casual superzoom photography may prefer its affordably. But for more versatile usability and forward-looking video features, Sony edges ahead despite the higher cost.

Parting Thoughts

Both cameras represent a snapshot of the small-sensor superzoom evolution - the transition from CCD-based models focused on reach and aperture, to CMOS and smarter tech aimed at speed and versatility. They aren’t interchangeable dSLRs or mirrorless, but in the right hands, they’re enjoyable, capable companions.

If you want my straightforward advice after putting these through thousands of frames: Choose Sony HX10V for a well-rounded, modern feature set, and Fujifilm S8100fd if zoom reach and aperture are your top priorities on a shoestring budget.

Happy shooting - here’s hoping your next zoom catch is a keeper!

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