Fujifilm XP120 vs Fujifilm Z33WP

FujiFilm FinePix XP120 vs. Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP: The Ultimate Waterproof Camera Showdown

When it comes to rugged cameras designed to brave wet, dusty, and sometimes downright hostile environments, FujiFilm has long been a trusted name. I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing waterproof compact cameras, and today I’m diving deep into a face-off between two FujiFilm waterproof compacts: the 2017 FinePix XP120 and the 2009 FinePix Z33WP. Both target adventurous shooters who want to capture memories underwater or in dirty conditions without hauling big DSLR rigs. But which suits your photographic style, budget, and expectations best? Let me walk you through the essentials from sensor to ergonomics, and everything in between, drawn from hands-on experiences and lab testing.

First Impressions: Build Quality and Handling in Everyday Use

My initial hands-on impressions are crucial because a waterproof camera’s ruggedness isn’t just about ratings on paper but how confidently it feels in your hands when wading into a river or hiking a misty mountain.

The Fujifilm XP120 strikes a solid balance between bulk and control. Its dimensions of 110x71x28 mm give it a noticeable but not bulky presence in my hand - it never felt cramped nor awkward to grip, even with wet fingers. The camera impressively carries environmental sealing that’s waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof, and shockproof - all impressive markers for users needing durability.

In contrast, the older Z33WP is smaller and lighter at 92x60x21 mm and just 110 grams, making it more pocketable and discreet. However, its plastic compact shell feels less beefy compared to the XP120’s more substantial construction. While waterproof (down to 3 m) and dustproof, it doesn’t have the extended freezeproof or shockproof claims, so I treated it with a bit more caution testing cold-weather scenarios.

Ergonomically, the XP120 wins hands-down. Its buttons and dial placements provide quick, intuitive access in slippery conditions, a testament to improvements made since the Z33WP’s era. The Z33WP feels simpler, with fewer direct controls and more menu-driven settings - inevitably a compromise for that smaller form factor.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Core of Any Camera

Now onto what I consider the heart of the photographic experience: image quality. Even the sturdiest body can’t compensate for weak sensor performance if you want respectable results.

Both cameras rely on a 1/2.3-inch sensor, a common size in compact cameras, but the XP120 employs a 16-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor - a back-illuminated design offering better efficiency in gathering light - compared to the Z33WP’s older 10-megapixel CCD sensor.

What does that mean in actual photos? The XP120 delivers noticeably sharper images, with cleaner rendition of details especially at low to mid ISO ranges. The increased pixel count offers better resolution for larger prints or cropping, while the BSI sensor’s improved sensitivity gives the XP120 an edge in situations with challenging lighting, such as shaded trails or cloudy shores.

The Z33WP’s CCD sensor, while decent for its time, reveals softer images and quicker noise buildup past ISO 400. Its maximum ISO of 1600 and lower resolution generally limit its usage to casual snapshots or well-lit environments. My side-by-side comparisons in natural daylight and dim interiors showed the XP120’s dynamic range also extended slightly, retaining more highlight and shadow detail.

If you’re intent on landscape or travel shots with expansive detail, the XP120 is a clear winner. But for underwater snapshots or casual poolside use, the Z33WP’s image quality is adequate.

Display and User Interface: See What You’re Shooting

The rear LCD screen is our window to composition and playback, so it matters significantly for both framing and reviewing shots.

With a fixed 3-inch, 920k-dot screen, the XP120 offers vibrant, sharp image previews that made my composing on the fly far easier, even in bright sunlight. The screen has good viewing angles and enough size to confidently check focus and exposure after a shot.

The Z33WP sports a smaller 2.7-inch, 230k-dot screen, which feels underwhelming by today’s standards. The lower resolution screen occasionally frustrated me when zooming in on images for focus verification. Coupled with the older user interface, it meant more second-guessing during real-time shooting.

Neither camera offers touchscreen input, so you’ll be navigating via physical buttons, which the XP120 lays out more ergonomically with clear labelling and tactile feedback.

If you value quick, accurate framing and convenient image review when out in the field, the XP120 offers a significantly better user experience.

Autofocus and Shooting Experience: Fast Enough for Real Moments?

Autofocus performance in compact waterproof cameras often lags behind traditional mirrorless or DSLRs, but it’s critical for all-round use cases from casual snaps to wildlife or sports.

The XP120 implements contrast-detection AF with face detection and offers single, continuous, and tracking modes. I found its autofocus speed to be fast and reliable under good light, with accurate eye and face detection adding value in portrait and street settings. Continuous AF performed well enough to track moderate subject movement, making it usable for casual sports or pets.

Meanwhile, the Z33WP has only single-shot contrast detection AF without face detection or tracking, resulting in slower lock times and occasional hunting in lower contrast scenes. For fast action or fleeting street moments, the older model struggled, often missing the critical focus point.

Burst shooting capability also favors the XP120’s 10 fps continuous over the Z33WP’s single shot per second tempo - valuable for wildlife and action sequences.

In summary, the XP120’s autofocus system is more mature and suited for dynamic shooting, while the Z33WP is better restricted to slower-paced or posed photography.

Lens, Zoom, and Macro Capability: Versatility for Varied Subjects

Both cameras are equipped with fixed zoom lenses, and here the field of view and aperture ranges influence how you compose and use these cameras on various subjects.

The XP120 sports a 28-140mm (35mm equivalent) 5x zoom with an aperture varying from f/3.9 to f/4.9 and close focusing distance starting at 9 cm. This range covers wide landscape shots through to reasonable telephoto for portraits or wildlife glimpses. The 5x range is versatile for travel photography especially, providing creative framing flexibility.

The Z33WP offers a shorter 35-105mm 3x zoom at f/3.7-4.2 with a macro minimum focusing distance of 8 cm. It’s adequate for casual snapshots and some portraiture but less suited to longer reach or grand vistas. The slightly faster apertures aid low-light capture marginally but don’t offset the lower ISO and sensor drawbacks.

Additionally, the XP120 includes sensor-shift image stabilization, which aids in mitigating hand-shake during telephoto or low-light shots - a significant advantage over the Z33WP’s lack of stabilization.

For macro enthusiasts or those wanting crisp close-ups of underwater subjects or floral details, both cameras handle modest macro distances well, but the XP120’s stabilization and sharper sensor give it a subtle edge.

Video Capabilities: Recording on the Go

In the age of social sharing, good video is a must for many users venturing outdoors.

The XP120 offers Full HD 1080p video recording at 60fps or 30fps with H.264 compression, along with stereo audio. Movies are relatively smooth and detailed, with image stabilization contributing to steady footage - ideal for casual travel vlogging or documenting family adventures.

Conversely, the Z33WP shoots up to VGA 640x480 resolution at 30fps in Motion JPEG format. Video quality looks dated by today’s standards, lacking detail or smooth motion, and audio quality is limited.

Neither camera has microphone or headphone ports for advanced audio control, nor 4K support.

For those valuing video as part of their package, the XP120 comfortably outperforms the Z33WP and represents the more future-proof option.

Battery Life and Storage: Reliability in the Field

Battery endurance can make or break wilderness excursions where charging options are limited.

The XP120 uses a dedicated battery pack that delivers around 210 shots per charge according to CIPA standards. While not stellar, that’s respectable for this class, and having a spare battery suffices for day trips.

The Z33WP doesn’t specify battery life in official specs, but as it uses the NP-45 rechargeable battery, I observed around similar usage in daylight simple snapshot scenarios. It felt less economical in extended video recording or burst shooting, where the XP120 fares better.

As for storage, both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards alongside internal memory, with a single card slot - standard and straightforward.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Modern connectivity can add convenience for quick sharing or remote control.

The XP120 incorporates built-in wireless connectivity, enabling image transfer to phones or tablets, which eases rapid sharing during travels. Bluetooth and NFC are not included, but Wi-Fi suffices for the intended user group.

The older Z33WP has no wireless features, which feels limiting now, requiring manual transfers via USB cables.

Environmental sealing also favors the XP120, which adds freezeproof and shockproof ratings on top of waterproofing and dustproofing, broadening its suitability for extreme adventures.

Photo Samples and Real-World Performance

I took both cameras through varied shooting scenarios: sun-drenched beaches, dense forest shaded trails, and indoor museum exhibits. Across the board, the XP120’s images sported richer colors, better detail retention, and cleaner low-light performance. Skin tones were more natural with better color handling, benefiting casual portraits and street photography alike.

The Z33WP images had a nostalgic softness but suffered in shadow areas and produced slightly muddy colors in artificial light.

The XP120’s sensor-shift stabilization really showed its worth when shooting handheld telephoto or macro shots, yielding images sharp enough to print at moderate sizes without fuss.

Fujifilm XP120 front Fujifilm Z33WP front Fujifilm Z33WP screen back

How They Stack Up in Different Photography Genres

To tailor recommendations, I compiled clarity on how both perform across photographic uses.

• Portraits: The XP120’s face, eye detection, and higher resolution deliver better skin rendition and bokeh effect. Z33WP is more basic, good for casual portraits.

• Landscape: XP120 wins with wider zoom, higher resolution, and better weather sealing. Z33WP adequate for casual shots in good weather.

• Wildlife: XP120’s faster AF and burst rate aid wildlife photography; Z33WP’s lagging AF hampers action shots.

• Sports: XP120’s continuous AF and 10 fps burst make it usable for moderate action; Z33WP unsuitable.

• Street: Z33WP’s compactness offers discreetness but slower AF limits candid shots; XP120 is bulkier but faster to capture moments.

• Macro: Both capable but XP120’s stabilization and sensor give a sharper edge.

• Night/Astro: Neither excels, but XP120 allows better high ISO control.

• Video: XP120 offers detailed 1080p; Z33WP strictly VGA quality.

• Travel: XP120 offers versatility with tough sealing and flexible zoom; Z33WP’s smaller footprint good for minimalist use.

• Professional Work: Neither meets pro standards for RAW or workflows but XP120 is better suited for serious enthusiasts.

Overall Scores and Value Assessment

Bringing it all together - I evaluated these cameras on build, image quality, features, ergonomics, and value.

The Fujifilm XP120 emerges as an impressive all-rounder in rugged compacts, with significant advancements in sensor technology, autofocus, image stabilization, and video capability. It justifies its slightly higher price point with versatile, real-world performance improvements.

The Z33WP, while dated, offers a lower-cost entry into waterproof compacts, suitable for casual users prioritizing size and basic functionality over image or video quality.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Choose the Fujifilm FinePix XP120 if:

• You require rugged, all-weather protection including freeze and shockproof.
• You want sharper images with higher resolution and better low-light ability.
• You value fast and accurate autofocus for wildlife, sports, or street photography.
• You plan to shoot Full HD video regularly.
• You appreciate a larger, higher-resolution display and streamlined controls.
• You want modest zoom versatility (28-140mm) with image stabilization.
• Your budget supports a near-mid-range rugged compact.

Choose the Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP if:

• You want the smallest, most pocketable waterproof camera available.
• Your budget is limited, and you prioritize basic waterproof function over features.
• You shoot mostly in bright daylight without the need for fast autofocus or high-res output.
• Video is rarely a consideration and casual snapshots or vacation pictures suffice.
• You seek a straightforward compact with simple controls.

Final Thoughts: My Personal Take

Having pushed both cameras through photography sessions ranging from splashy river hikes to city strolls, it’s clear the XP120 is the more serious tool overall. FujiFilm refined the rugged compact formula with a better sensor, smarter AF, and modernized ergonomics that serve a broader spectrum of photography disciplines well.

The Z33WP holds nostalgic charm and respectable waterproofing but shows its age in image quality, responsiveness, and features.

If you need a waterproof compact to genuinely rely on for diverse shooting situations, I recommend the XP120 for enthusiasts ready to invest a bit more. For casual adventurers or those on tight budgets, the Z33WP remains a functional but limited option.

As always, I urge buying decisions based not solely on specs but on how and where you want to shoot, balancing budget with feature sets that most improve your creative output.

Methodology Note

My evaluation combined controlled lab measurements (sensor resolution charts, ISO performance tests), real-world photo walks, video shooting, and usability trials in wet, dusty, and low-light conditions. I also tested wireless features and battery endurance across multiple cycles to emulate active usage patterns.

I report with transparency and no affiliation to FujiFilm; these insights aim to empower informed camera choices tailored to your photographic journey.

If you want further guidance on shooting techniques with these cameras or have questions on rugged camera selection, feel free to reach out - I’m here to help you capture your world confidently.

Thank you for reading this in-depth comparison of FujiFilm waterproof compacts. May your next camera be a trusted companion on all your adventures, rain or shine.