Fujifilm S8300 vs. Panasonic Lumix FZ47: A Thorough Superzoom Showdown from My Test Bench

As someone who’s spent over 15 years hands-on with countless cameras across genres - from landscapes to wildlife and street to astro - I often get asked about budget "point and shoot" bridge cameras that offer serious zoom reach without breaking the bank. Two models I frequently re-visit because of their popularity among enthusiasts are the Fujifilm FinePix S8300 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47 (also known as the FZ48 in some markets).

Both are classic small sensor superzooms with fixed lenses offering extensive focal ranges, manual controls, and video capabilities. Yet, despite their superficial similarities, they’re designed with slightly different priorities in mind. Having tested them side-by-side extensively under various shooting conditions, here’s my hands-on, no-holds-barred comparison to help you decide which one suits your photography better.

Size Matters: Handling and Ergonomics Compared

Let’s start with what you physically hold and interact with day-to-day. Handling can make or break prolonged shoots.

The Fujifilm S8300 is noticeably chunkier - measuring 123 x 87 x 116 mm and tipping the scales at 670 grams with its 4 x AA battery power system. It definitely feels "brick-like," but that heft grants a reassuring grip, which is a plus if you shoot with longer focal lengths awkwardly handheld. The rubberized thumb rest and well-delineated grip contour encourage steady framing.

In contrast, the Panasonic FZ47 is slimmer and lighter - 120 x 80 x 92 mm and only 498 grams, powered by a proprietary battery pack. This means it’s easier to carry around during long days out, making it more travel-friendly or street-ready if you want to blend portability with zoom reach.

Moving past raw size: control layout is crucial for fast operations, especially in fast-paced variants like sports or wildlife. The Panasonic’s controls are more tactile and logically grouped with a responsive zoom ring and dedicated exposure compensation dial. The Fuji’s buttons, while logically placed, feel a little petite and less tactile, which may slow you down when switching quickly between modes.

Overall, I lean slightly towards the Panasonic for ergonomics if you prefer lighter gear and clearer control placements, though Fuji’s size brings more balance when shooting telephoto.

Sensor and Image Quality: Diving Into Technical Differences

Now for the heart of image creation: sensors. Both cameras use 1/2.3” sensors, the common small sensor size for bridge cameras, but here’s where they diverge crucially.

The Fujifilm S8300 employs a 16-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, known for somewhat better light-gathering efficiency and noise handling compared to the more traditional CCDs in this class. This sensor measures 6.17 x 4.55 mm and yields images at 4608 x 3456 pixels.

The Panasonic FZ47, meanwhile, has a 12-megapixel CCD sensor, slightly smaller at 6.08 x 4.56 mm, producing max resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels. Panasonics have long favored CCDs for punchy colors but they generally struggle more than CMOS at high ISO sensitivity levels and fast continuous shooting.

What does this mean practically?

• Dynamic Range & Low Light: Fuji’s BSI-CMOS shows better performance in shadows and highlights, yielding richer detail retention in tricky lighting scenes like landscapes or interiors. Low-light noise is smoother and manageable up to ISO 800 and usable at 1600. Panasonic’s CCD sensor introduces more grain and color noise past ISO 400, making Fuji the better pick if you anticipate dim conditions or want cleaner night shots.

• Resolution: Fuji’s 16 MP brings an edge in landscape detail and cropping potential. But the difference between 16 MP vs. 12 MP on such small sensors doesn’t translate into dramatic print quality gains beyond 8x10” sizes. Still, sharpness per pixel marginally favors Fuji.

• Color Science: Panasonic’s CCD leans toward warmer, more saturated colors, which some find more pleasing for portraits and street photography. Fuji’s color rendering is neutral to slightly cooler with good skin-tone accuracy, ideal for natural-looking portraits.

In sum, the S8300 has the technological edge in sensor design for image quality and flexibility, but Panasonic’s CCD delivers character that aficionados may appreciate.

Peeking Through the Viewfinder and Screen: User Interface Insights

When you’re composing shots, the viewfinder and rear screen greatly affect shooting comfort and precision.

Both cameras feature a daylight-viewable 3-inch, 460k-dot fixed LCD, sharp enough for general use but without touchscreen responsiveness. Fuji’s screen is a straightforward TFT color LCD, while Panasonic doesn’t specify the screen technology but equally is decent.

Where Panasonic shines though is in the electronic viewfinder coverage - delivering nearly 100%, giving you confidence in framing exactly what you’ll capture. Fuji’s EVF has only 200k-dot resolution and unspecified coverage, feeling more digital and less immersive by comparison.

Menus on both are competent but Panasonic uses the Venus Engine FHD processor to provide snappy transitions and smooth live-view autofocusing overlays. Fuji’s UI feels a little dated and more laggy, partly due to processing constraints.

The takeaway: if you rely heavily on viewfinder shooting, Panasonic’s clearer EVF and smoother interface are advantages, especially for action or wildlife work. For casual snapshots, both screens suffice.

Focal Length and Aperture: Zoom and Lens Practicality

Let’s talk glass - well, fixed lenses in this case - and their key specs. The zoom range, coupled with aperture, defines your framing versatility and low-light potential.

• Fujifilm S8300: 24-1008 mm equivalent zoom (42x), aperture ranging from F2.9 at wide to F6.5 at telephoto.
• Panasonic FZ47: 25-600 mm equivalent zoom (24x), aperture ranging from F2.8 wide to F5.2 telephoto.

On paper, Fuji wins dramatically on maximum telephoto reach with that 1008mm extreme. For wildlife enthusiasts itching to get close to distant birds or wildlife without a cumbersome DSLR lens, this is a compelling factor. However, that reach comes with compromises - optical image stabilization must work overtime, and image quality and sharpness diminish at the extreme tele end (something I confirmed in my field tests with distant hawks).

Panasonic offers a higher-quality lens with its shorter max zoom, but wider maximum apertures on both ends mean it can shoot better in lower light and yield cleaner bokeh. Also, Fuji’s very crowded zoom lens structure induces more chromatic aberrations and distortions at extremes.

For macro, Panasonic supports focusing as close as 1 cm, allowing detailed close-ups, whereas Fuji technically has no specified macro range, limiting fine-scale shooting.

In practice, I’d say Panasonic’s lens is more versatile for day-to-day shooting including occasional macro and moderate telephoto wildlife. Fuji serves the supertelephoto niche well but expect trade-offs in sharpness and handling.

Speed and Autofocus: Catching the Moment

If capturing moving subjects is your passion - say sports or wildlife - autofocus and shutter speeds can make or break your success rate.

The Fuji S8300 has a 1/8000s max shutter, allowing freezing of fast action even in bright conditions - a remarkable spec for a bridge. It offers continuous shooting at up to 10 FPS, impressive on paper but without autofocus tracking or face detection, which somewhat limits hit rate on erratic subjects.

The Panasonic FZ47, by contrast, maxes out at 1/2000s shutter speed and 4 FPS burst. However, Panasonic’s standout feature is its autofocus system: contrast-detection AF with 23 focus points including face detection and tracking. This results in more accurate subject locking and improved shot-to-shot consistency in fast-action scenarios.

From my experience shooting various indoor basketball matches and birds on the wing:

• Panasonic nails focus-lock and tracking better, resulting in a higher keeper rate.
• Fuji’s 10 FPS burst is useful for stationary or predictable subjects but struggles with accurate focus.

For street or casual sports shooters, Panasonic’s AF offers a more dependable experience - even with ceiling in burst speed.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Still Photography

Both cameras shoot full HD video, but let’s look closer.

• Fujifilm S8300: 1920x1080 at 60 fps (Motion JPEG); includes higher frame rate slow-motion modes (up to 480 fps), though at low resolutions.
• Panasonic FZ47: 1920x1080 at 30 fps in AVCHD format, which delivers better compression and quality than Motion JPEG.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone jacks, limiting your audio control options. Neither offers 4K or advanced video tools. Stabilization in video is optical on both, which helps handheld footage stability, although Panasonic’s generally smoother.

For casual video and slow-motion fun, Fuji provides more creative frame rate options but at reduced resolution. For higher quality quick HD clips, Panasonic’s AVCHD may suit better.

Battery Life and Storage: Everyday Use Practicalities

Let’s be honest - nothing ruins a photo session faster than unexpected battery drain.

The Panasonic FZ47 comes equipped with a proprietary battery rated at around 400 shots per charge - a solid figure for a bridge camera. Given its lighter weight and efficient processor, it’s better suited for extended outings without battery swaps.

The Fujifilm S8300, running on 4 x AA batteries, benefits from the versatility of easily sourced power anywhere, including rechargeables. However, in my testing, AA NiMH batteries tend to drain faster under continuous use, especially with extensive zoom and LCD use, meaning you might want spares.

For memory, both rely on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards and have a single slot, standard fare with no dual card redundancy options for pros.

Durability and Build Quality: Can These Cameras Keep Up?

Neither model sports professional-level weather sealing or rugged construction. Both are aimed squarely at consumer and enthusiast markets rather than professional outdoor use.

Their plastic chassis and lack of dust/water resistance mean you’ll have to exercise care around the elements. Fuji slightly edges Panasonic in robustness feel due to thicker body parts, but both are vulnerable in harsh conditions.

Real-World Shooting Across Genres: Which Camera Shines Where?

To address how these specs converge in actual photography, here’s my summary for various common genres with sample images from both cameras.

Fujifilm S8300 front Fujifilm S8300 screen back Panasonic FZ47 front Panasonic FZ47 screen back

Portrait Photography

Fuji’s better sensor helps retain skin tone subtleties and noise control at moderate ISO in indoor portraits, but its lack of face detection AF hurts quick focus on eyes. Panasonic offers face detection and more accurate focusing, though the sensor’s noise creeps earlier. For casual portraits, Panasonic’s focusing wins; for image quality preferring natural skin tones, Fuji ranks higher.

Landscape Photography

Resolution and dynamic range matter here. Fuji’s 16MP CMOS sensor delivers richer shadow detail and wider dynamic range, producing more usable detail in complex scenes. Panasonic’s 12MP CCD tends to clip highlights sooner. Both feature zoom wide enough for landscapes, but Fuji’s longer reach isn’t a priority. Fuji is my pick for landscapes.

Wildlife Photography

Here’s a balancing act: Fuji’s super telephoto zoom reaches 1008mm, ideal for distant subjects, but autofocus is slow and imprecise. Panasonic’s lower 600mm zoom is less reach but autofocus speed and accuracy, plus burst shooting, outperform Fuji. For fast wildlife action photos, Panasonic is more dependable; for static or distant subjects, Fuji works.

Sports Photography

Quick AF and burst burst shooting are essential. Panasonic’s AF tracking, face detection, and consistent bursts at 4 fps yield better results despite lower max shutter. Fuji’s 10 fps burst is fast, but the lack of AF tracking results in many misses during fast sports. Panasonic takes this category firmly.

Street Photography

Weight and discretion play a role. Panasonic’s smaller, lighter body with quieter AF is better for city shooting. Fuji’s larger size draws more attention, although its super zoom can double as a wildlife lens in parks.

Macro Photography

Panasonic focusing as close as 1 cm and steady optical stabilization enable more detailed shots of flowers and insects. Fuji’s macro capabilities are lacking. Panasonic wins hands-down.

Night and Astro Photography

Fuji’s cleaner high ISO up to 1600, higher max shutter speed (1/8000 s max shutter can be used for daylight long exposures and neutral density), and native F2.9 aperture contribute favorably here. Neither offers built-in astro or bulb mode, but Fuji’s high shutter ceiling offers more flexibility for creative night shots.

Video Use

For those who casually shoot video along with photos, Panasonic’s AVCHD codec and stable video autofocus provide better video quality and workflow. Fuji’s higher frame rate slow motion offers fun, but video quality is more compressed.

Travel Photography

A lighter camera with good zoom, reliable AF, and decent battery life wins here - Panasonic fits that bill better. Fuji’s bulk and AA battery dependency might weigh you down on long trips.

Professional Work

Neither camera suits professional workflows requiring RAW support or rugged build. Both lack raw shooting, meaning limited post-processing flexibility. Fuji’s higher resolution images provide more latitude, but pros should look beyond this category altogether.

Summary Scorecards: A Data-Driven Look

Here’s a concise graphical summary showing overall and genre-specific scores aggregated from my field tests, image quality labs, and handling assessments.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Which One Should You Buy?

The choice between Fujifilm S8300 and Panasonic FZ47 boils down to your priorities.

• If you want extended zoom reach (up to 1000mm), better still image resolution, and cleaner low-light images, and you can tolerate slower autofocus and larger size, go with the Fujifilm S8300. It’s perfect for hobbyists who want to experiment with super-telephoto shots and landscape enthusiasts on a budget.

• If you want better autofocus accuracy, image stabilization, smaller size, superior macro ability, and smoother video capabilities, pick the Panasonic Lumix FZ47. It’s more versatile for street, wildlife, and action shooters, plus more travel-friendly.

Budget-wise, Fuji costs nearly half the price of Panasonic new, which is significant if you’re on a strict budget. However, Panasonic justifies the premium with better overall handling and photo consistency in dynamic scenarios.

Remember, neither are modern flagship mirrorless or DSLR bodies with full frame sensors or pro hybrid video features. They’re bridge cameras designed for enthusiasts seeking a capable superzoom in a simple package. Assess what you shoot most and pick accordingly.

In my experience testing these cameras, I recommend considering your use case carefully:

• For landscapes and casual wildlife at a bargain - Fuji S8300
• For travel, street, sports, and macro versatility - Panasonic FZ47

Hopefully this analysis saves you from agonizing over specs on paper and helps you choose what feels right in your hands and suits your shooting style. Happy snapping!

If you want to see these cameras in action in my studio and field tests, stay tuned to my [video review playlist]. And as always, feel free to ask in the comments about specific shooting workflows or test data.

Thanks for reading!