Comparing Fujifilm SL1000 vs Olympus Stylus 1s: The Bridge Camera Showdown

When bridge cameras first came onto the scene, they promised a blend of compact convenience with SLR-like handling and an extensive zoom reach. More than a decade later, that formula remains relevant for photographers needing versatility without lugging multiple lenses. Today, we’re diving deep into two superzoom champions: the 2013 Fujifilm SL1000 and the 2015 Olympus Stylus 1s. Both mirror-style bridge cameras with fixed lenses, they have carved niches for enthusiasts seeking all-in-one solutions - yet, on paper and in practice, their performance differs significantly.

Having spent extensive hands-on hours testing and comparing these models across genres - from landscapes to macro, street to sports - this detailed comparison aims to cut through specs and marketing to reveal how each performs in real-world photography scenarios. We’ll break down their build, sensor technology, focusing prowess, ergonomics, image quality, video capabilities, and value. If you’re deciding between these two or want a better understanding of where these cameras excel, read on. My experience testing thousands of cameras over 15+ years informs the insights here, grounded in hard data and photographic use cases.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: Size and Handling in Your Hands

The tactile experience of a camera often sets the tone for every shoot, so starting with sizing and ergonomics makes sense. Right off the bat, the Fujifilm SL1000 feels like a beefy ranger: 123 x 89 x 123 mm and tipping the scales at 659 grams. In contrast, the Olympus Stylus 1s is noticeably more compact and lighter - 116 x 87 x 57 mm at 402 grams. That’s almost half a pound saved when you’re on the move.

The SL1000’s heft aligns with its ultra-long zoom lens design but can make it cumbersome for extended handheld use, where fatigue sets in quickly. Olympus, meanwhile, offers a more pocketable footprint, ideal for travel and street photography where discretion and nimbleness matter.

Both sport an SLR-like body style, but the Olympus excels in grip comfort; its shallower but well-molded handgrip fits naturally for smaller hands. Fuji’s deeper grip accommodates larger hands but doesn’t mitigate the bulkiness from the longer lens barrel. Button layout also differs - more on that next.

Control Layout and User Interface: Navigating the Camera Easily

A great camera disappoints if its controls feel clunky or unintuitive. On that front, the Stylus 1s impresses more with a polished, user-friendly interface. Its top-mounted dials for shutter speed, aperture, and mode selection provide tactile feedback and quick adjustments without menu diving - critical when a fast pace is key.

The Fuji SL1000’s buttons are functional but can feel cramped and less refined by comparison. The absence of a dedicated focus area selector or multi-directional joystick slows down AF point selection, making it less nimble for tracking moving subjects.

The Olympus also integrates a touch-sensitive rear screen - an advantage that aids menu navigation and focusing via tap-to-focus, particularly useful in live view. Fuji doesn’t have touchscreen functionality, which in 2013 was standard for some models but feels dated by 2015 standards.

Sensor and Image Quality: Critical Tech Behind the Pixels

Let’s talk the heart of any camera - its sensor. Both cameras use small 1/2.3” or 1/1.7” BSI-CMOS sensors, but there’s a significant difference in size and resolution. The Fuji SL1000 operates with a 1/2.3” sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm and delivering 16 megapixels. Olympus ups the ante with a larger 1/1.7” sensor at 7.44 x 5.58 mm and 12 megapixels.

The larger sensor area (~41.52 mm² on the Olympus vs 28.07 mm² on the Fuji), despite fewer pixels, generally translates to better light gathering, dynamic range, and noise control - qualities vital for low light and detail retention.

Indeed, in testing, the Olympus consistently outperforms the Fujifilm in color depth and shadow detail, especially at base ISO and moderate ISO ranges. The Fuji’s higher pixel count on a smaller sensor risks more noise and less latitude. Both cameras feature a built-in anti-aliasing filter, which is common for smoothing moiré but can slightly soften fine details.

ISO performance tops out at 12,800 for both, but usable image quality at high ISO is notably better on the Olympus, thanks to its larger sensor and efficient noise reduction algorithms.

Autofocus and Focusing Performance: Pinpoint Precision or Missed Moments?

Accuracy and speed of autofocus are decisive factors for many photographers - especially wildlife, sports, and macro shooters. Here, the Olympus Stylus 1s again shows clear superiority.

With 35 contrast-detection AF points and live view touch AF, the Olympus is capable of single-shot, continuous, and tracking autofocus modes, including reliable face detection. The 1s even allows AF point selection across the frame, enhancing composition flexibility.

The Fuji SL1000, on the other hand, lacks almost all these advanced AF features. It does not support continuous or tracking autofocus, and offers no selectable focus points or face/eye detection. Autofocus is contrast detection only, fixed to the center area, which makes tracking moving subjects a challenge in practice.

For static subjects or landscapes, the Fuji’s AF is adequate but slow, with some hunting in low contrast conditions. Olympus’s system handles low light and moving targets more deftly, producing more keepers, especially at telephoto.

Lens and Zoom Performance: Reach Versus Speed

The defining feature of bridge cameras is the zoom lens. Fuji’s SL1000 boasts an extraordinary 24-1200 mm equivalent zoom - a massive 50x optical reach. Olympus Stylus 1s offers a still respectable but shorter 28-300 mm equivalent (10.7x zoom), emphasizing wider apertures.

Fujifilm’s lens has a variable max aperture of f/2.9 at wide end to as narrow as f/6.5 at telephoto. Olympus keeps a constant bright f/2.8 throughout its zoom range, which is remarkable for a superzoom.

In hands-on testing, Fuji’s ultra-long zoom lets you capture distant wildlife or sports scenes unreachable by many competitors. However, the extreme reaches of 1200 mm come with compromises: noticeable softness, chromatic aberration, and slower autofocus. The lens’s slow aperture at long focal lengths limits low light usability and depth of field control.

Conversely, Olympus’s bright constant f/2.8 aperture delivers much better low light performance and more attractive bokeh for portraits, macro, and street shooting. Its lens optics are sharper and maintain consistent contrast across zoom range.

The Olympus also supports a macro focus range down to 5 cm, enabling close-up shots with excellent sharpness – an area where the Fuji’s 0 cm macro claim is likely a quirk in specs, as in practice the close focusing at long zoom is challenging due to lens design.

Display and Viewfinders: Composing and Reviewing Images

A high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) and a quality LCD screen add immense value for framing, especially in bright conditions. Olympus’s EVF boasts 1,440k dot resolution with 100% coverage - making it crisp and accurate. Fuji’s EVF matches at 920k dots but lacks full coverage information, which means some framing guesswork.

The rear LCD screen sizes are identical at 3.0 inches, but Olympus edges ahead with a higher 1,040k dot count and touchscreen capabilities aiding AF control and menus. Fuji has a tilting 920k resolution TFT screen with no touch functionality.

I found the Olympus’s display system overall more responsive and detailed, facilitating better review and composition flexibility in field conditions.

Burst Shooting, Shutter Speeds and Video: Catching Action and Motion

The Fujifilm SL1000 can shoot bursts at a rapid 10 fps, which is impressive on paper. However, buffer limitations and slower AF reduce practical burst usability, especially under continuous focusing conditions the camera cannot perform.

The Olympus Stylus 1s offers 7 fps burst with continuous AF tracking activated, making it more practical for capturing action like sports and wildlife.

Shutter speed ranges are similar - Fuji covers 30 sec to 1/1700 sec; Olympus goes from 60 sec to 1/2000 sec. The Olympus’s slightly longer max shutter and longer exposure help in night and astro work.

On video, the Fuji offers 1080p at 60 fps and various lower-resolution slow-motion modes using Motion JPEG codec, which is less efficient. Olympus records 1080p at 30 fps using MPEG-4/H.264 codec, producing better quality files.

Neither camera supports 4K or external microphones, so video-centric users will find them limiting.

Battery Life and Connectivity: How Long and How Smart?

For extended use, battery life matters. Olympus claims about 450 shots per charge, outperforming Fuji’s 350 shots. In field testing, the Olympus lasted noticeably longer, meaning fewer battery swaps on travel or day-long shoots.

Connectivity is starkly different. Olympus features built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer and remote capture, a major convenience feature in modern workflows. Fuji SL1000 offers no wireless connectivity, resulting in a more old-school tethered approach via USB or HDMI out.

Environmental Resistance and Durability

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or freezeproofing, limiting outdoor ruggedness. Their builds feel solid enough for everyday use but keeping them dry is advised.

Real-World Image Gallery and Performance Summary

Side-by-side sample images reveal the Olympus Stylus 1s’s cleaner noise control, more natural color rendition, and better detail - even with fewer megapixels. Fuji’s images tend toward oversharpening and some purple fringing at extreme telephoto.

Fujifilm SL1000 front Fujifilm SL1000 screen back Olympus 1s front Olympus 1s screen back

Our expert reviewers’ performance ratings across multiple axes further reinforce these findings.

And examining genre-specific strengths:

The Olympus 1s proves a versatile all-rounder excelling in portraits, landscapes, macro, and street, while the Fuji SL1000’s ultra-telephoto zoom is unmatched but compromises image quality and autofocus performance.

Reviewing Photographer Use Cases: Which Camera for Which Shooter?

1. Portrait Photography

   • Olympus Stylus 1s: The constant f/2.8 aperture and accurate face detection autofocus deliver natural skin tones and creamy bokeh, making it better suited for portraits.
   • Fujifilm SL1000: Struggles with shallow depth of field and slower autofocus, limiting portrait creativity.

2. Landscape Photography

   • Olympus: Larger sensor and superior dynamic range produce more detailed and vibrant landscape images. Compact size helps portability.
   • Fujifilm: Longer zoom is less critical, but slower AF and smaller sensor limit image quality.

3. Wildlife and Sports

   • Fujifilm: Massive 1200 mm zoom is impressive to reach distant subjects.
   • Olympus: Better AF tracking and burst modes overall yield more keepers despite shorter reach.

4. Street Photography

   • Olympus: Small size, discreet operation, and excellent low light performance make it ideal.
   • Fujifilm: Bulkier, slower AF less suited to quick candid shots.

5. Macro Photography

   • Olympus: Close focus, stabilization, and aperture control give an edge.
   • Fujifilm: Limited macro capability.

6. Night / Astro Photography

   • Olympus: Superior high ISO noise handling and longer exposure max support better.
   • Fujifilm: Limited by noise and max shutter speed.

7. Video

   • Both are basic 1080p shooters, but Olympus’s codec and smooth exposure control offer more usable video.

8. Travel Photography

   • Olympus: Lightweight, versatile zoom, long battery life, and wireless features make it a travel winner.
   • Fujifilm: Zoom reach helps distant subjects but at cost of portability and weight.

9. Professional Use

   • Neither camera replaces professional DSLRs or mirrorless bodies but Olympus’s more flexible image control and connectivity fit better as a backup.

Price-to-Performance and Value Assessment

Priced around $600 for the Fuji and $700 for the Olympus at launch, the Olympus Stylus 1s commands a premium for its superior optics, better sensor, faster AF, and connectivity.

Considering long-term satisfaction and image quality, the Olympus justifies the higher price for serious enthusiasts, while the Fuji could appeal to those prioritizing maximum zoom reach on a tighter budget.

Final Thoughts: Making an Informed Choice

In my extensive testing of both cameras, the Olympus Stylus 1s consistently delivers a superior shooting experience through a better sensor, refined autofocus, brighter lens, and intuitive controls. Its versatility across genres is unmatched by the Fuji SL1000, which nonetheless surprises with its extraordinary telephoto reach at a competitive cost.

If your photographic priorities focus on image quality, AF accuracy, portability, and shooting ease across portraits, street, macro, and landscapes, the Olympus Stylus 1s should be your pick. For those who absolutely need 50x zoom and accept slower AF and some image quality compromises, the Fujifilm SL1000 remains a niche but effective option.

Both have now been on the market for a while, so secondhand deals can further tip value. Whichever way you lean, understanding these strengths and compromises will help you pick a bridge camera that fits your style and subjects.

As always, I recommend hands-on testing whenever possible, since personal ergonomics and photo goals vary widely. But armed with these insights and detailed analysis, you’ll make a confident, well-informed decision to elevate your photography adventures.

Happy shooting!