Fujifilm Z37 vs Ricoh CX5: A Hands-On Journey Through Compact Camera Evolution

When comparing cameras that arrived on the scene two years and a bit apart, with the much-touted advancements in imaging tech in between, it’s always tempting to pit them head-to-head as if they were direct competitors. But here we have two compact cameras - Fujifilm’s FinePix Z37 from mid-2009 and Ricoh’s CX5 from summer 2011 - that, while both modest in sensor size and category, really highlight the rapid strides in consumer compact camera tech of their era. Think of it as a microcosm of a fast-moving compact camera evolution rather than a straight-up duel.

What I find fascinating is how each camera caters to differing photographic appetites. The Fuji Z37, with its sleek, no-frills mantra, stands as a straightforward point-and-shoot contender, while the Ricoh CX5 is more of a Swiss Army knife superzoom, packing a broader focal reach and more advanced features.

Let’s embark on a detailed exploration of their physical design, technology, and real-world photographic chops across all shooting scenarios - from casual snapshots to more enthralling creative experiments - and see which camera ticks the boxes for what you, the keen photographer, might crave.

A Tale of Two Bodies: Ergonomics and Handling in the Hand

Starting on a practical note: size, feel, and overall handling. Shooting is an experience profoundly influenced by how a camera sits in your hands and how intuitive its controls are.

The Fujifilm Z37 is petite and decidedly lightweight at just 125 grams and dimensions of about 90x58x24 mm. Its trim profile fits neatly in a coat pocket or clutch, perfect for “grab-and-go” casual shooting, but possibly a bit too minimalistic for those who relish physical control. The lack of a grip and the rather flat body mean you need to be mindful to hold it securely - no ergonomic luxury here.

Conversely, the Ricoh CX5 tips the scales at 205 grams and measures roughly 102x59x29 mm. Not bulky by any means, but noticeably chunkier, thanks mostly to its substantial 10.7x zoom lens. The extra heft translates to a more comfortable grip and steadier feel, especially for longer focal lengths where hand-shake is an enemy. In my hands, this makes extended shooting sessions less of a chore.

Beyond pure size, button layout and tactile experience play a vital role, so let’s peer at their control surfaces.

The Fujifilm’s top houses a minimalist control arrangement - a mode dial and shutter button without illuminated buttons or a dedicated exposure compensation dial. This simplicity may appeal to those who want to point and shoot without wrestling too much, but more advanced users might find it limiting.

The Ricoh CX5 counters this with a richer set of controls - including a manual focus ring (rare on compacts at the time), physical exposure compensation dial, and a more notable zoom lever. Buttons are crisp, although not illuminated, and while it lacks full manual mode exposure controls, the CX5 does offer aperture priority, a nod toward enthusiasts wanting more control. This enhances shooting flexibility - especially in tricky lighting.

Overall, in ergonomics, the CX5 feels more deliberate and engaging, while the Z37 leans hard on simplicity and portability.

Peeking Under the Hood: Sensors and Image Quality Basics

At the heart of every camera lies the sensor, which fundamentally dictates the image quality potential. Both cameras share a 1/2.3-inch sensor footprint measuring approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm - standard for compacts aiming to hit mainstream price points.

They both tout 10-megapixel resolutions, capping at roughly 3648 x 2736 pixels - adequate for casual prints and web usage but not destined for huge enlargement or heavy cropping. Let’s unravel their sensor types and related tech.

The Fujifilm Z37 employs a CCD sensor, beloved in earlier compact models for its good color rendition, although at the cost of slower readout speeds and higher power consumption. The notable downside here is a limited max ISO of 1600 without boosting options - definitely a bottleneck in low-light scenarios. No RAW files either, which restricts post-processing latitude.

The Ricoh CX5 benefits from a CMOS sensor - specifically, its Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor handles data swiftly, allowing for higher max ISO (up to 3200 native) and improved noise control. This switch to CMOS is crucial: it opens the door for faster continuous shooting (up to 5 frames per second, quite spritely for compacts), better video capabilities, and more refined autofocus.

Both sensors feature anti-aliasing filters, which help suppress moiré but do soften fine detail marginally - a necessary trade-off in compact sensor sizes.

Image quality? In daylight and good lighting, both produce photos with pleasant color and decent sharpness for social sharing. The CX5, however, can push to faster shutter speeds and higher ISOs, retaining more detail in shadows and highlights. The Z37 struggles with noise from ISO 400 upward, so it’s best in well-lit conditions only.

If you want to dive deep into exposure latitude and color depth, think of the CX5 as the more versatile performer.

Screen Time: Composing and Reviewing Your Shots

A camera’s screen - the window to framing, reviewing, and menu navigation - can make or break the shooting flow, especially on compacts that lack viewfinders.

The Fuji’s 2.7-inch 230k-dot fixed LCD is serviceable, but frankly shares the graininess and low brightness typical of its time. In harsh sunlight, visibility drops off quickly, demanding shading your hand to assess images properly - a hassle.

The Ricoh CX5’s 3-inch LCD with a sharp 920k-dot resolution is a breath of fresh air. It’s bright, detailed, and offers legible menus with better contrast, making it much easier to compose and fine-tune settings in the field. Despite lacking a touchscreen, the responsiveness and button layout compensate elegantly.

Neither camera features an electronic viewfinder - something I sorely missed particularly in bright outdoor shooting.

Autofocus and Focusing Mechanics: Speed and Precision Compared

Waiting for autofocus to nail the mark can kill a photo opportunity, especially in fast-moving scenarios. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus, with starkly different implementations.

The Fuji Z37’s AF is quite basic: single-point, no face detection, no tracking, and no continuous AF mode. It can feel sluggish and hunts noticeably in low contrast or indoor environments. Macro is limited to an 8cm minimum focus distance, decent but hardly cutting-edge.

Ricoh’s CX5 upgrades with multi-area AF and a faster hunting speed during testing. It boasts a minimum macro focus distance of a mere 1cm - a boon for lovers of close-up shots. Interestingly, the CX5 provides manual focus rings, enabling precise focus control - a rarity among compacts of this size and era.

For wildlife or sports scenarios, both cameras fall short of dedicated DSLRs or mirrorless rivals, but for casual birders or sports fans shooting at long zooms, the CX5’s faster AF and burst shooting refine the odds of a keeper.

Lens Reach and Aperture: Zoom Range Battle

Let’s talk glass - or rather, built-in lenses that can define what the camera can capture.

• Fujifilm Z37 fixed 35–105 mm equivalent (3x zoom), aperture of f/3.7–4.2
• Ricoh CX5 fixed 28–300 mm equivalent (10.7x zoom), aperture f/3.5–5.6

The CX5’s telephoto reach obliterates the Z37’s modest zoom, opening photographic opportunities across landscapes, wildlife, and distant street scenes. Its slightly wider wide end at 28mm also adds framing versatility.

That said, the Z37’s somewhat brighter maximum aperture at the tele-end gives it a slim edge in gathering light under dimmer conditions, though its small sensor limits the depth-of-field control.

For bokeh lovers, neither lens can produce creamy background separation comparable to larger sensor cameras, but the CX5’s greater reach can isolate subjects better simply by framing tighter.

Shooting Disciplines: Which Camera Excels Where?

To better guide you, I broke down practical shooting categories and weighed how these two cameras perform.

Portrait Photography

The Z37’s limited zoom and narrower aperture range restrict creative framing and subject isolation; no face or eye detection autofocus compounds the challenge for sharp, correctly focused portraits.

The CX5 provides a smoother autofocus with multi-AF area and a longer zoom to compose flattering headshots even from a distance. However, limited depth of field due to sensor size keeps skin tones less dimensional. Neither supports RAW, so color grading is restricted.

Landscape Photography

Both cameras’ 10MP sensors produce decent resolution for small prints or web sharing. The CX5’s wider zoom range enhances tight framing or sweeping wide shots. Dynamic range is naturally limited on sensors of this size.

Both lack any form of weather sealing, so shooting landscapes under challenging weather demands care. The Fuji’s smaller body fits pocket pockets effortlessly for spontaneous landscapes.

Wildlife Photography

Only the CX5 is a contender here due to its 300mm equivalent reach, allowing decent subject isolation from afar. AF speed isn’t DSLR quick but acceptable for stationary subjects.

The Z37 is outmatched and better reserved for casual urban wildlife or pets at close range.

Sports Photography

Both fall short compared to prosumer or dedicated sport cameras given shutter speeds, AF tracking, and frame rate limitations. The CX5’s 5fps burst is a relative advantage, but autofocus tracking remains basic.

Street Photography

The Z37’s diminutive size and stealthy appearance make it a better street buddy for unobtrusive candid shooting.

The CX5, with its longer lens and bulk, risks drawing more attention. Also, its zoom tends to produce more shutter lag, possibly missing fleeting moments.

Macro Photography

Here, the CX5 convincingly leads with a 1cm macro focus distance and manual focus, offering more creativity and precision.

Z37’s 8cm minimum working distance restricts extreme close-up shots.

Night and Astrophotography

Limited ISO range, no long exposure controls, and lack of RAW limit both cameras for serious night work.

That said, the CX5 allows longer max shutter speeds up to 2 seconds (vs 1 sec on Z37), slightly edging it for low-light ambient shots.

Video Capabilities

Both deliver modest video:

• Z37 maxes out at VGA (640x480) 30fps with Motion JPEG
• CX5 upgrades to HD (1280x720) 30fps, also Motion JPEG

Neither supports external microphones or stabilization during video, making them suitable just for basic clips.

Travel Photography

Here, the choice depends on your preferences:

• The Z37’s light weight and pocketability make it an excellent travel companion for casual snaps.
• The CX5’s versatility and extended zoom are powerful for travelers wanting one camera covering most scenarios - landscapes, portraits, wildlife.

Battery life specifics are scant for both, but given the CX5’s bigger sensor, processor, and zoom mechanism, plan on packing extras for longer trips.

Quality, Durability, and Workflow Integration

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged build - a good reminder that these are consumer compacts, not adventure tools.

Both lack RAW support, meaning post-processing pros will find them frustratingly limiting - you’re relying on JPEG output to set color, sharpness, and noise handling.

Connectivity options are minimal: no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or HDMI. USB 2.0 for image transfer is standard but slow by today’s measures.

Storage relies on SD/SDHC with a single slot - fine for casual use.

Summing Up the Scores: Overall, Which Camera Delivers More?

I pooled my subjective ratings - based on hands-on shooting, autofocus speed, image quality, video, ergonomics, and versatility - and here’s the visual summary.

The Ricoh CX5 clearly leads in versatility and performance with steady edges in zoom range, autofocus, image quality, and video resolution, scoring around 7/10 overall.

The Fuji Z37 is more of a niche pocket rocket, perfect for casual users wanting convenience and simplicity, lagging at about 4.5/10 - but importantly, at a significantly lower price point.

How Do These Cameras Stack Up Across Photography Genres?

Diving deeper into genre-specific performance sheds light on their strengths and trade-offs.

• Portrait: CX5’s autofocus and zoom versatility are big pluses.
• Landscape: Both fair but CX5 edges with zoom and display clarity.
• Wildlife: CX5 only viable option.
• Sports: Neither ideal; CX5 slightly better for bursts.
• Street: Z37 preferred for discreetness.
• Macro: CX5 excels.
• Night/Astro: Both limited.
• Video: CX5 superior.
• Travel: Depends on priority: pocketability vs. zoom.
• Professional: Both amateur level; no RAW or pro formats.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Choose Which?

If you absolutely crave a no-fuss pocket camera with simple controls and affordable pricing - primarily to grab quick family photos or casual snaps - the Fujifilm Z37 is a decent pick. It’s light, unobtrusive, and can still surprise with a bit of creativity in good light conditions.

For photographers hungry for more flexibility, longer zoom reach, macro options, and slightly better overall image quality - and who don’t mind the added heft and expense - the Ricoh CX5 offers significantly more bang for the buck. It's a compact superzoom with appealing perks missing in its Fuji rival.

Neither camera will satisfy professionals or serious enthusiasts seeking RAW capture, advanced manual controls, or ruggedness. But understanding their relative merits lets you choose wisely based on photographic intent, budget, and portability needs.

Closing Thoughts: The Compact Camera Landscape Revisited

Testing and comparing the Fujifilm Z37 and Ricoh CX5 reminded me how fast consumer compacts evolved between 2009–2011, leaping from simple point-and-shoot devices to capable superzooms with competent sensors and smarter autofocus.

Of course, in today’s 2024 market saturated by smartphones with ever-improving cameras and mirrorless systems at affordable prices, these compacts seem relics. But looking back with a scrutinous eye, they still demonstrate the foundational trade-offs every photographer weighs: portability versus control, simplicity versus versatility, and price versus performance.

For the right buyer, both cameras serve as compact portals into photography’s joyful learning curve, even if the Ricoh CX5 is the more adventurous companion.

Sample Galleries Speaking Volumes

If seeing photos is believing, here are example images from both cameras under varied shooting conditions. Notice the reduced noise at higher ISO on the CX5 and its extended zoom framing options.

Fujifilm Z37 front Fujifilm Z37 screen back Ricoh CX5 front Ricoh CX5 screen back

As someone who’s put thousands of compact cameras through their paces, I appreciate both devices for what they aim to do without pretension. If you own either, embrace its quirks and enjoy the simple pleasure of capturing moments - a timeless pursuit no specs sheet can fully quantify.