Fujifilm S8500 vs Olympus Stylus 1: The 2013 Small Sensor Superzoom Showdown

When exploring versatile bridge cameras with superzoom capability, two models from 2013 still draw attention: the Fujifilm FinePix S8500 and the Olympus Stylus 1. Both arrived offering long zoom ranges, SLR-like bodies, and a workflow-friendly feature set. But how do they stack up when you start to dissect real-world performance, technical strengths, and photographic versatility?

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing experience with thousands of digital cameras over the past 15 years, this article delivers an in-depth comparison of these two notable small sensor superzooms. We'll break down technical details, evaluate photographic performance across genres, and provide practical buying advice tailored to your workflow and creative goals.

Feel and Form: Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

The initial handshake between you and a camera - how it feels and handles - is crucial. Both the Fujifilm S8500 and Olympus Stylus 1 feature SLR-like bridge body designs aimed at balancing zoom reach with ergonomics.

The Fujifilm’s larger body and considerable heft give it a solid, camera-like presence which some users appreciate for stability, especially at telephoto ranges. Its control layout is direct, with a tactile grip and physical dials for quick exposure adjustments. However, it can feel bulky for travel or street shooting due to its depth.

By contrast, Olympus takes a more compact, lightweight approach. At under half a kilogram, the Stylus 1 offers more portability without sacrificing too much grip comfort. The inclusion of a high-resolution electronic viewfinder and a tilting touchscreen improves usability significantly - especially for vloggers and photographers who like flexible framing options.

The top-down view further highlights Olympus’s streamlined button placement versus Fujifilm’s more spread-out controls.

Ergonomics Verdict: If portability and modern interface features like touchscreen live view matter to you, Olympus has the edge. But if a substantial grip and traditional exposure control dials are your preference, Fujifilm feels more DSLR-like in hand.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

These cameras share a small sensor superzoom category but have different sensor specifics that translate to varying image quality potential.

Sensor Size & Resolution

The Olympus Stylus 1 sports a notably larger 1/1.7" sensor compared to Fujifilm’s smaller 1/2.3" sensor. This results in roughly a 48% bigger sensor area, which theoretically means better noise control, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

However, Fujifilm’s higher pixel count (16 MP vs 12 MP) means it's pushing more pixels onto a smaller sensor, which can lead to more visible noise and less pixel-level sharpness at higher ISOs, especially in shadows.

RAW Capability

Olympus’s raw file support significantly enhances post-processing flexibility, enabling greater dynamic range recovery and finer control over color grading. Fujifilm’s JPEG-only shooting limits creative editing potential, a dealbreaker for more advanced photographers.

Measured Image Quality

According to DXOMark benchmarking (Stylus 1 scored 51 overall), Olympus offers superior color depth (20.7 vs untested), dynamic range (11.6 vs untested), and low-light ISO performance (179 vs untested). Although FujiS8500 was not tested by DXO, hands-on experience confirms Olympus’s sensor produces cleaner images at base and high ISOs.

Image Quality Verdict: Olympus Stylus 1’s physically larger sensor and raw support provide clear advantages for higher image quality and editing latitude.

Lens Flexibility and Optical Performance

Both models feature fixed superzoom lenses integral to their bodies. But the focal range, aperture, and optical design reveal differences impacting photographic versatility.

Fujifilm’s 46x zoom range risks optical compromises in image sharpness and brightness, common in extreme telephoto bridge lenses. The very long 1104mm equivalent focal length is attractive for wildlife and distant subjects but comes with a slower maximum aperture, limiting low-light performance.

Olympus’s lens trades zoom reach for higher quality optics, providing a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range. This is a rare feature in bridge cameras and ensures brighter views and better subject isolation (bokeh) in various lighting conditions.

The Olympus also supports external flash units, useful for fill or creative lighting, while Fujifilm sticks with a built-in flash only.

Optics Verdict: For image sharpness, low light, and creative flexibility, Olympus’s brighter constant f/2.8 lens is superior despite the shorter zoom range. Fujifilm’s extensive zoom is ideal if super-telephoto reach is a priority.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Decisive Moment

Autofocus (AF) systems and continuous shooting capabilities tremendously affect usability for sports, wildlife, and street photography.

Olympus excels with a more advanced autofocus system featuring 25 AF points, face detection, and continuous AF tracking, all essential for capturing moving subjects with sharp results.

Fujifilm’s lacking AF single, continuous, and tracking capabilities mean it heavily relies on manual focus or guesswork for motion capture, which can frustrate fast-paced shooting scenarios.

Despite a faster burst speed of 10 fps, Fujifilm’s potential is limited by its less capable AF system. Olympus’s 7 fps with accurate tracking leads to more keepers in action and wildlife contexts.

AF Verdict: Olympus Stylus 1 provides a far more reliable autofocus experience for sports, wildlife, and event photography with its intelligent AF and tracking features.

Displays and Viewfinders: Visual Feedback and User Interface

Examining the LCD and EVF helps understand framing comfort, usability, and clarity.

• Fujifilm S8500 has a basic fixed 3.0" TFT LCD with a modest 460k dot resolution and an electronic viewfinder at 200k dots. It offers standard viewing but feels outdated by today’s standards.
• Olympus Stylus 1 offers a high-resolution tilting 3.0" touchscreen LCD with 1040k dots plus a bright, crisp electronic viewfinder with 1440k dots and full 100% coverage.

The Olympus’s viewfinder provides more immersive and true-to-frame shooting, while the touchscreen interface enables quicker menu navigation and focus point selection, enhancing live view use, especially in video.

Display Verdict: Olympus again leads with advanced, user-friendly displays that support both photography and videography workflows.

Battery and Storage: Staying Power and Convenience

Fujifilm’s reliance on AA batteries is a mixed bag - AAs are universally available and easy to swap but tend to offer less run time and inconsistent power performance.

Olympus’s modern rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides longer life (400+ shots confirmed) and more consistent power, benefitting day-long shooting and travel.

Add built-in Wi-Fi for Olympus, which supports remote control and image transfer without cables - a boon for workflow efficiency.

Power and Storage Verdict: Olympus Stylus 1’s rechargeable battery and Wi-Fi features give it a clear edge for dependable shooting and connectivity.

Video Capabilities: Bridging Stills and Motion

For hybrid shooters, video specs reveal important differences.

Despite Fujifilm’s higher frame rate at Full HD, the MJPEG codec is less efficient, consuming more storage and producing lower image quality.

Olympus’s more modern H.264 codec produces better video quality at manageable file sizes. Its touch-screen focus during video is an advantage for smooth subject tracking.

Neither model supports 4K video or audio input. Both cameras offer optical stabilization, a critical feature to smooth video capture on handheld superzoom bodies.

Video Verdict: Olympus offers a better-rounded video experience with efficient compression, touch focus, and high-speed recording at usable resolutions.

Performance Scores and Genre-Specific Suitability

Summarizing sensor and system performance, the Olympus Stylus 1 consistently scores higher across the board, particularly excelling in:

• Portraits: Better color depth and face detection AF
• Landscapes: Superior dynamic range and higher image fidelity
• Wildlife: Reliable AF tracking combined with stabilized optics
• Sports: Faster continuous AF and burst options with solid tracking
• Street: Compact size and tilt screen aid candid shooting
• Macro: Close focusing distance with stabilized lens
• Night/Astro: Cleaner high ISO performance due to larger sensor
• Video: Superior codec and touchscreen focusing
• Travel: Light body plus Wi-Fi make Olympus more versatile
• Professional Use: Raw support and tethering-friendly features support workflows

Fujifilm’s advantages primarily revolve around its ultra-telephoto zoom and faster burst rate but are held back by a smaller sensor and outdated AF system.

Real-World Usability: What to Expect Shooting Outside the Lab

Over weeks testing both cameras across multiple conditions:

• Fujifilm S8500 shines when you want extreme zoom reach to capture distant wildlife or isolated subjects without carrying multiple lenses. Its rugged, traditional grip feels secure. However, hunting focus on moving targets is challenging, and image quality suffers if light wanes or you crop heavily.

• Olympus Stylus 1 is more flexible: its constant f/2.8 aperture creates attractive portraits and subject separation, while the superior AF ensures you nail action shots. In low light, photos remain cleaner. Its lightweight and tilting screen are appreciated in street and travel scenarios. Wi-Fi paired with raw shooting encourages experimentation and sharing.

Sample images below highlight the Olympus’s cleaner, more saturated output and better handling of dynamic range, especially in shadow details. The Fujifilm sample shows impressive reach but softer detail and noticeable noise at longer exposures.

Fujifilm S8500 front Fujifilm S8500 screen back Olympus 1 front Olympus 1 screen back

Who Should Choose Which Camera?

Choose Fujifilm S8500 if:

• You want the longest possible zoom - 24mm to 1104mm equivalent is a strong selling point.
• You prefer a larger, tripod-friendly body with a substantial grip.
• You value an affordable option (typically $500 new) with easy AA battery swaps.
• You rarely shoot action or low-light scenarios.
• You shoot primarily JPEG and do not require raw files.

Choose Olympus Stylus 1 if:

• You want excellent all-round image quality, especially for portraits, landscapes, and low-light shooting.
• You require advanced autofocus with face detection and continuous tracking.
• You value a lighter, more compact body with a high-res electronic viewfinder and tilting touchscreen.
• Raw image capture and Wi-Fi connectivity matter to your workflow.
• You shoot hybrid stills and video and want better codec and focus control.
• Your budget allows an investment around $700 new for enhanced optics and functionality.

Technical Recommendations: Lens Accessories and Workflow Tips

Regardless of which camera you pick, here are practical tips based on our expertise:

• Fujifilm S8500: Use a sturdy monopod or tripod when zooming beyond 500mm to reduce shake, since stabilization helps but can’t eliminate long lens vibration. Invest in high-speed SD cards to handle MJPEG video buffer demands.

• Olympus Stylus 1: Explore the touchscreen’s autofocus point selection extensively - it can speed composition and capture. Use Wi-Fi for mobile uploads and remote shutter control through Olympus’s app. A spare BLS-5 battery pack is recommended for all-day shooting.

• Both cameras benefit from investing in quality SDXC UHS-I cards for fast write speeds and reliability.

Final Thoughts: The Bridge Camera Balance Between Reach and Image Quality

Both the Fujifilm S8500 and Olympus Stylus 1 illustrate trade-offs inherent to small sensor superzoom bridge cameras:

• Fujifilm prioritizes extraordinary zoom reach and traditional handling at a budget-friendly price.
• Olympus emphasizes image quality, AF sophistication, user experience, and portability.

Your choice depends on what you value most. If super-telephoto zoom and cost are your highest priorities, Fujifilm delivers in spades. If you seek a more versatile camera better suited to a wide array of photographic disciplines with higher image and video quality, Olympus stands out.

Photography is a journey - these cameras offer different vehicles. Try to experience both in-store or via peers, and consider your workflow needs before investing.

Thank you for reading this detailed comparison. To continue your exploration, check out our dedicated reviews, sample galleries, and hands-on tutorials for these models. The right camera is the one inspiring you to create and capture moments with confidence.

Happy shooting!