Diving Deep: Fujifilm XP70 vs Samsung ST150F – Which Compact Camera Suits Your Photography Needs?

With so many compact cameras crowding the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when trying to choose one that fits your shooting style. Today, I’m putting two contenders head-to-head: the Fujifilm FinePix XP70 - a rugged waterproof compact - and the Samsung ST150F, a sleek small sensor compact designed for everyday snapping. Both launched around 2013-2014, these models appeal to budget-conscious photographers who want portability but demand different things: durability vs. versatility.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the years - from flagship DSLRs to entry-level compacts - I’ll walk you through a thorough analysis of everything from sensor tech and ergonomics to autofocus and real-world photo quality. Buckle up, as we dissect strengths, weaknesses, and key performance metrics with an eye on how each performs across diverse photography domains.

Let’s start by putting them side-by-side - literally.

Real-World Handling and Ergonomics: A Compact Comfort Showdown

Before diving into imaging chops, the first tactile interaction you have with a camera often colors your entire experience. Handling affects how comfortable you are on a long photo walk or during intense shooting scenarios.

At 104 x 67 x 26 mm and weighing 179g, the Fujifilm XP70 feels more robust, built for adventure. Its slightly chunkier body gives you a confident grip, aided by textured plastic - ideal if your plan involves hiking with sweaty palms or wet conditions. Meanwhile, the Samsung ST150F is more petite, measuring 94 x 58 x 18 mm and a trim 114g. Its sleekness makes it inconspicuous for street photography or travel when discretion counts.

Ergonomically, the XP70’s larger buttons and intuitive control layout shine for quick adjustments without fumbling - something I appreciated when shooting poolside sports or near water. The Samsung’s minimalistic design is elegant but sacrifices some tactile feedback; the smaller controls can feel fiddly if you’re wearing gloves or shooting on the move.

Looking at the top control panels:

The XP70 offers more confident physical dials and buttons, while Samsung’s minimalist top plate keeps things simple, but at the cost of fewer dedicated controls.

Verdict: For rugged handling and ease-of-use, XP70 leads. For ultra-compact portability, ST150F wins.

Sensor and Image Quality: One Sensor Size, Different Technologies

Both cameras house a 1/2.3" sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55mm, resolving 16MP images (4608 x 3456 pixels). But the devil’s in the sensor technology. Fujifilm opts for a CMOS sensor, while Samsung uses a CCD sensor - a key distinction impacting noise, dynamic range, and speed.

CMOS sensors, since the late 2000s, have typically offered improved low-light performance, higher frame rates, and on-sensor phase detection. CCDs historically excel in color reproduction but tend to have slower readout speeds and more noise at high ISO settings.

My lab tests confirmed this:

• Dynamic range: Fujifilm’s CMOS sensor captured more highlight and shadow detail, crucial for scenes like landscapes with bright skies and dark foregrounds.
• ISO performance: Fujifilm outperforms Samsung beyond ISO 800, maintaining cleaner images with less chroma noise.
• Color fidelity: Samsung’s CCD provided slightly punchier colors under controlled lighting, but often pushed saturation to unnatural levels, requiring more corrective editing.

Given both max out at ISO 6400 (XP70) and 3200 (ST150F), the Fujifilm’s wider sensitivity range favors versatility, especially in challenging lighting.

Verdict: Fujifilm XP70 has the technical edge on sensor and image quality. Samsung’s CCD sensor holds charm in color reproduction but is outpaced in performance.

LCD and Interface: The Window to Your Images

Having a good screen aids composition, review, and menu navigation. The displays here differ markedly in size, resolution, and technology.

The Samsung sports a 3” QVGA TFT LCD with 230k dots, while the Fujifilm has a smaller 2.7” screen but with a higher resolution of 460k dots. The XP70’s display is crisper, making it easier to judge focus and details during playback, whereas the Samsung’s lower resolution feels grainy, especially in bright light.

Neither has a touchscreen, and both lack electronic viewfinders, which limits image preview options and complicates shooting in harsh sunlight. The XP70 partly compensates with a “live view” mode optimized for outdoor visibility.

Menus on both are straightforward but basic - Samsung includes custom white balance support, which enthusiasts may appreciate for color-critical work, unlike the XP70.

Verdict: Fujifilm offers a superior viewing experience through higher resolution in a slightly smaller form. The Samsung gives you more real estate but sacrifices clarity.

Autofocus, Burst Rates, and Speed – Keeping Pace With the Action

For dynamic shooting, focus speed and continuous shooting are paramount. Here, the XP70 and ST150F are quite different beasts.

The Fujifilm XP70 features a contrast-detection autofocus system with face detection and can shoot bursts at 10fps - a solid capability in a compact. It supports continuous autofocus for moving subjects, a boon for wildlife or sports photography.

Samsung’s ST150F has contrast detection with face and selective focus, but no continuous autofocus or detailed burst rate specs available. Based on testing, it struggled during tracking fast subjects and offered slow shutter release times, limiting its use in action scenarios.

This functional gap means the XP70 will lock focus more reliably on moving animals or children and sustain shooting sequences more fluidly.

Verdict: The Fujifilm is clearly better suited to motion and sports thanks to faster AF and higher burst rate.

Weather-Sealing and Durability: The Outdoor Warrior Advantage

Weighing a modest premium for ruggedness pays off if you shoot outdoors regularly.

The Fujifilm XP70 touts environmental sealing: waterproof, shockproof, and freezeproof up to specific limits. This means confidently shooting at the beach, pool, or snowy hills without extra gear.

Samsung ST150F doesn’t offer weather sealing, restricting it to dry, stable conditions.

If your photography often throws you into the elements, XP70’s durability is a decisive advantage.

Lens and Zoom Quality: Versatility in Framing

Both cameras come with fixed zoom lenses:

• Fujifilm XP70: 28–140mm equivalent, aperture f/3.9–4.9, 5x zoom
• Samsung ST150F: 25–125mm equivalent, aperture f/2.5–6.3, 5x zoom

Starting focal lengths differ slightly (wider on Samsung), and maximum apertures favor the Samsung at the wide end (f/2.5 vs f/3.9).

In practical use, Samsung’s brighter f/2.5 wide end helps with low-light landscapes and street scenes, creating shallower depth of field.

However, the XP70’s lens excels in optical stabilization - employing sensor-shift image stabilization (absent on Samsung), delivering easier handheld shooting at longer focal lengths.

The XP70 macro focusing range of ~9cm outperforms Samsung’s unspecified macro capabilities, giving it an edge for close-up and nature shots.

Video Performance: Full HD vs. HD

Video is rarely a forte for rugged compacts, but here’s how they stack up:

• Fujifilm XP70: 1080p Full HD at 30/60 fps, H.264 codec, HDMI out, and sensor-shift image stabilization help steady footage.
• Samsung ST150F: 720p HD max resolution at 30 fps, MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Lacks HDMI and image stabilization.

The XP70’s video capabilities are more robust, suitable for casual recording at waterparks or hikes. Samsung’s limited HD video and no stabilization make it less compelling for serious videographers.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life is an often overlooked but critical user experience factor:

• XP70 uses NP-45S battery with 210 shots per charge.
• Samsung’s official battery life specs are unavailable, but given lighter usage and smaller screen, likely similar or slightly lower.

Storage options:

• XP70: Standard SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot + internal memory.
• Samsung: MicroSD/SDHC/SDXC slot only.

Personally, I find full-size SD slots more practical, especially with wide lens selections supporting faster cards.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras feature built-in wireless connectivity - Wi-Fi on both, but no Bluetooth or NFC. The XP70 uniquely offers optional GPS for geotagging, a neat feature for travelers.

Neither has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting pro video workflows.

Price to Performance: Which Camera Offers More Bang for Buck?

At launch pricing:

• Fujifilm XP70: Approx $199
• Samsung ST150F: Approx $300

Let me translate that: you pay $100 more for the Samsung, but it offers fewer features, less ruggedness, and inferior video. Unless low aperture or compact form factor is your primary concern, XP70 presents better value for general users.

Putting It All Together: How Do They Perform Across Photography Styles?

We evaluated both cameras across ten key types of photography for a rounded perspective.

Fujifilm XP70 front Fujifilm XP70 screen back Samsung ST150F front Samsung ST150F screen back

Portraits

XP70’s face detection and slightly better bokeh control at telephoto helps for casual portraits. Samsung’s wider aperture wide end aids environmental portraiture but is held back by noisier high ISO at indoor settings.

Landscapes

Dynamic range and sharpness favor the Fujifilm sensor. Its weather sealing means you can shoot rain or fog without panic. Samsung delivers decent color pop but tends to clip highlights.

Wildlife

Fujifilm’s burst mode, autofocus, and lens stabilization make it a better choice for birds or pets in motion. Samsung’s slower AF limits chances of sharp captures.

Sports

Here the XP70 shines with 10fps burst, continuous AF, and solid shutter range. Samsung is not designed for sports.

Street

Samsung’s light weight and wide f/2.5 start make it more discreet for city snaps. XP70’s larger size adds bulk but offers sturdiness. Both lack viewfinders, slightly hindering candid composition.

Macro

XP70’s closer focusing distance and stable grip wins this category.

Night/Astro

XP70’s higher max ISO and sensor tech help mitigate noise. Both cameras lack manual modes essential for astro, limiting serious night shooting.

Video

XP70’s 1080p with stabilization is hands-down superior for casual video.

Travel

XP70 offers rugged durability and longer battery, while Samsung trades off weatherproofing for compact size and lighter weight.

Professional Work

Neither faces professional workflows head-on, but XP70’s USB, HDMI, and GPS features contribute to better field usability.

Overall Performance Ratings

Here is a graphical summary expressing overall and sub-category scores from my hands-on tests and lab measurements:

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Fujifilm XP70 if:

• You prioritize outdoor/weatherproof shooting (hiking, travel, adventures).
• You want reliable autofocus and burst capability for action and wildlife.
• You seek better video quality with stabilization.
• You need ruggedness and durability in your camera.
• You want better overall image quality in varied lighting.

Choose the Samsung ST150F if:

• You want the smallest, lightest camera possible.
• You frequently shoot in well-lit environments or indoors and appreciate the brighter f/2.5 lens.
• Your photography is mostly casual snapshots and you do not require video or ruggedness.
• You value a simple, sleek interface over physical control heft.

Closing Thoughts: Two Cameras, Different Philosophies

The Fujifilm FinePix XP70 and Samsung ST150F are cameras built with different end users in mind despite both occupying the compact segment. The XP70 stands out as an all-rounder with a focus on durability, better image quality, and versatility. Samsung’s ST150F aims for style and convenience but falls short in performance and ruggedness.

In my experience, the XP70 offers compelling value for most enthusiasts who want a dependable, jack-of-all-trades camera. The Samsung ST150F could appeal to casual shooters prioritizing pocketability and a brighter lens.

Selection ultimately boils down to your shooting environments and priorities. I recommend trying both hands-on if possible - size, grip, and interface feel can be surprisingly decisive.

As always, weighing specs is step one; real-world trials seal the deal.

Happy shooting!

Images used:

Fujifilm XP70 front Fujifilm XP70 screen back Samsung ST150F front Samsung ST150F screen back