FujiFilm Z900EXR vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2: A Deep Dive Into Two Ultracompact Contenders

In an era when smartphone cameras are king and mirrorless systems dazzle, compact cameras still carve out a niche - especially for enthusiasts craving dedicated controls and zoom versatility in a pocket-friendly package. Today, we're putting two ultracompacts from the early 2010s head-to-head: the Fujifilm FinePix Z900EXR and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP2. Both went on sale at roughly the same time, targeting users who needed a versatile, easy-to-carry zoom camera with some manual controls - yet each took a rather different path in design and technology.

I’ve spent considerable time with both models across several photography disciplines to unpack how these two stack up. While each is now something of a museum piece, their comparison remains a valuable study in camera design trade-offs and user experience. So, grab a metaphorical cup of coffee and let’s zoom in on what these pocket-sized shooters really bring to the table.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Physical Design

At first touch, size and handling set the tone for days out shooting. Ultracompacts boast portability, but beyond shrink-wrapping, usability often hinges on button layout and grip comfort.

Looking side by side, the FujiFilm Z900EXR and Panasonic FP2 are as close as cousins in size go. The Z900EXR measures about 101mm wide by 59mm tall by 18mm deep, while the FP2 is roughly 99mm x 59mm x 19mm. Their weights are dead even at 151 grams - unbelieveably light!

However, size alone doesn’t dictate comfort. The Fujifilm has a subtly contoured right side that lends a slightly better grip, scarcely noticeable but appreciated when holding for longer periods. The Panasonic's boxier shape offers little in hand cradling - more a grasp-and-go than an ergonomic embrace.

The Z900EXR's touchscreen display (more on that later) adds a modern feel, encouraging quick, intuitive operations. The FP2, lacking this, feels anchored in the previous decade - a small but telling detail.

Overall, both cameras are perfect for commuters, street shooters, or vacationers wanting barely noticeable gear. But the FujiFilm tips the scale slightly in handling finesse.

Top-Down: Control Layout and User Interface

Given their identical class, both cameras sacrifice viewfinders and advanced dials. Yet control placement and interface fluidity matter for user satisfaction.

Here, the Z900EXR sports a clean layout with clearly marked dials and a responsive touchscreen. The manual focus capability and exposure compensation control hint at Fujifilm’s intention to entice hobbyists seeking more creative input. You can toggle between autofocus methods, face detection modes, and even set ISO with relative ease.

Conversely, the FP2 takes a minimalist route - no manual focus, no manual exposure modes, and reliance on a small set of buttons and an older processor interface. The lack of exposure compensation is a limiting factor for those wanting to push creative boundaries, and the control buttons, while decent in feedback, feel cramped.

Throughout my testing, the Z900EXR provided faster, more confident interaction - making it preferable for users who like to tweak settings on the fly.

Sensor Technology: The Heart of Image Quality

Now to the guts - the sensors. These two use different sensor types despite being several years old.

The FinePix Z900EXR employs Fujifilm’s unique 1/2" EXR CMOS sensor measuring 6.4x4.8mm, yielding a sensor area of roughly 30.7mm², and packing 16 megapixels. The EXR is notable for merging pixel designs to optimize dynamic range, low-light performance, or resolution depending on the selected mode - a clever (at the time) approach.

In contrast, the Lumix FP2 uses a slightly smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.08x4.56mm) with a 14-megapixel resolution.

Testing in real-world daylight, the FujiFilm’s CMOS sensor delivers crisper detail, noticeably higher dynamic range, and better high ISO performance. The FP2’s CCD, while respectable in good light, struggles with noise past ISO 400 and fails to capture the same tonal depth.

Moreover, the RAW format absence (both cameras don’t support it) means you’re relying completely on JPEG quality - and here, the Z900EXR’s EXR sensor processing does a better job keeping fine details, color fidelity, and dynamic range intact.

For landscape photographers craving subtle tonal gradations and wildlife snappers needing clean ISO performance in dim woods, the Fujifilm edges forward.

Viewing and Composing: Screen and Live View Considerations

Without a viewfinder, LCD screens become our photographic window, so screen functionality defines shooting comfort.

The Z900EXR features a generously sized 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD with 460k-dot resolution. It’s bright, highly legible in daylight, and offers tap-to-focus capabilities, easing operation remarkably for ultracompact gear. I found setting focus points during street shoots a breeze, especially with face detection activated.

By contrast, the FP2 sports a more modest 2.7" fixed LCD with 230k-dot resolution and no touchscreen. In bright outdoor scenarios, it felt insubstantial, and menu navigation was slower, relying solely on button presses.

For anyone who shoots outdoors frequently or in bustling scenarios, this difference affects framing confidence. The FujiFilm's bigger, responsive interface gave me more compositional freedom and minimized missed shots.

Zoom Lenses and Optics: Reach, Sharpness, and Aperture

Zoom versatility often underpins ultracompacts’ appeal.

The Fujifilm Z900EXR offers a 28-140mm equiv f/3.9-4.9 lens, a modest 5x zoom ratio - not jaw-dropping but serviceable for everyday photography. Meanwhile, Panasonic FP2 has a slightly narrower 35-140mm equivalent f/3.5-5.9 lens with a 4x zoom.

Though the FujiFilm starts with a wider-angle field of view - handy for landscapes and cramped indoors - the Panasonic’s slightly faster aperture at wide angle (f/3.5 vs f/3.9) offers a tad better low light gathering. That said, the difference in aperture narrows as you zoom in.

In sharpness tests, the FujiFilm’s lens edges slightly ahead, especially toward the telephoto end, retaining better detail with less distortion or chromatic aberration.

For macro fans, the FP2 has a close focusing distance of 10cm, enabling decent close-ups. The Z900EXR’s macro range isn’t specified but felt less forgiving in my shoots, limiting extreme close-ups.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Hunting Focus and Burst Rates

How fast and accurately a camera hunts focus can make or break wildlife and sports photography, or even street candids.

The FujiFilm Z900EXR employs a contrast-detection AF system with face detection, eye detection, and continuous AF modes. Autofocus is aided by the touchscreen to quickly reposition the focus area. In testing, it locked on relatively quickly in good light and even tracked faces with reasonable reliability.

The Lumix FP2 relies on contrast detection with nine AF points but lacks face detection or continuous AF. This results in a more hesitant and less confident focus acquisition, especially under challenging conditions.

When it comes to burst shooting, the Z900EXR caps at 3fps continuous, whereas the FP2 manages a slightly quicker 5fps. However, the burst depth is shallow in both cases, limiting their utility for fast-action sports.

To sum up, for tracking moving subjects, the FujiFilm wins by a margin - thanks mostly to smarter AF algorithms and touch control.

Image Stabilization: Sensor-Shift vs Optical in Practice

Both cameras come equipped with image stabilization, a welcome feature in compact cameras to reduce blur from handshake.

FujiFilm employs sensor-shift stabilization, physically moving the sensor to counter motion. The Panasonic uses optical stabilization integrated with the lens.

In my handheld tests at telephoto focal lengths, both systems are effective but the FujiFilm’s sensor-shift yielded marginally steadier shots, especially at slower shutter speeds. This advantage helps when shooting in dim light or while walking.

Worth noting though: neither system rivals modern in-lens optical stabilization or hybrid arrangements found in newer models.

Portraits: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Face Detection Benefits

Portraiture often reveals the subtle nuances of camera processing and autofocus.

The Z900EXR’s EXR sensor and face detection work in concert to produce pleasant skin tones that stay natural without oversaturation or excessive sharpening. Coupled with its slightly wider 28mm wide end, framing subjects in context becomes easier.

Bokeh quality - literally the out-of-focus background - while limited by the small sensor and modest max apertures, is smoother on the FujiFilm thanks to its sensor design, giving images a less clinical, more organic feel. The Panasonic FP2’s tighter apertures and sensor yield flatter, somewhat harsher background blur.

Face detection on the Fujifilm also adds user convenience by ensuring critical focus on eyes, greatly improving sharpness in portraits, something the Panasonic lacks.

Landscapes and Outdoor Use: Dynamic Range and Weather Durability

Landscape photographers prize dynamic range - the sensor’s ability to record details from shadows to highlights - and build ruggedness.

Though neither camera offers environmental sealing, the Fujifilm Z900EXR’s wider ISO range (100–3200 native) and EXR sensor give it a leg up in dynamic range. This means Fuji users can preserve more details in bright skies and shadowed terrain.

The Panasonic FP2's CCD sensor can reach ISO 6400 but noise increases rapidly, limiting practical utility. For landscape detail fidelity, especially when printing or cropping, the Z900EXR performs noticeably better.

Durability-wise, both models lack weather sealing, dust, or shockproof features, so neither is ideal for harsh outdoor expeditions. Careful handling is advised.

Wildlife and Sports: Tracking, Telephoto Reach, and Burst Capability

Compact ultrazooms have a niche amongst casual wildlife enthusiasts and sports spectators. The question is: which camera fares better chasing action?

Despite the Panasonic offering a marginally faster burst speed (5fps vs 3fps on the Fuji), its slower and less accurate AF diminishes its practical utility. The Fujifilm’s face and AF tracking modes lend it more confidence in following moving subjects, a vital trait for catching errant birds or fast players.

Telephoto reach is nearly identical, with the Fujifilm’s advantage in lens sharpness paying dividends. The image stabilization also benefits steady handheld reach.

Overall, neither camera is a professional-level sports machine - their shutter speeds and burst buffers leave much to be desired - but the Z900EXR presents a more sensible choice.

Street and Travel Photography: Low Light, Discreteness, and Portability

I’ve found both models appealing for travel photographers prioritizing weight and size, but with caveats.

The smaller Fujifilm Z900EXR’s responsive touchscreen and wider-angle lens make it better for street scenes and environmental portraits. Its higher ISO performance (up to 3200) manages dim cafes or evening strolls better.

The Panasonic FP2’s battery life is unspecified and its low-light ISO performance laggy, often resulting in noisy, soft images.

Neither camera has GPS or wireless features for instant image sharing - now considered standard even in compact cameras. This limits convenience during travel, though both offer SD card slots for easy offload.

Macro and Close-Up Work: Focusing Precision and Magnification

Macro photographers suffer with ultracompacts’ inherent physical constraints. The Panasonic FP2 offers a clear macro advantage here with an explicit 10cm focusing distance, letting you close in on subjects with relative ease.

The FujiFilm, no stranger to macro, lacks a specified macro range, and focus can be less forgiving when approaching close subjects - requiring more patience.

Neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing to bolster macro work, which is expected at their price and era.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Flexibility

Night and astro shooters demand long exposure capabilities, manual controls, and clean ISO performance.

The Z900EXR supports manual exposure mode and shutter speeds from 1/4s to 1/2000s. While not bulb mode, it allows reasonably long exposures for night scenes. Its sensor-shift stabilization also helps reduce camera shake for handheld nighttime snaps.

The FP2 maxes out at 1/60s shutter speed minimum - not ideal for night or astro work - and lacks manual exposure controls, thus hampering low-light use.

High ISO noise is notably lower on the FUJIFILM, enabling clearer night images at ISO 800–1600.

Video Capabilities: Resolution, Stabilization, and Formats

Both cameras provide casual video capture options, but with limitations.

The Fujifilm Z900EXR can shoot Full HD (1920x1080) at 30fps in H.264 format, giving good quality video for the compact class. Optical image stabilization helps smooth hand-held footage, but no microphone or headphone jacks limit professional audio input.

Panasonic FP2 captures HD video at 1280x720 and lower resolutions only, in Motion JPEG, an old and bulky format that limits recording time and editing flexibility.

Neither supports 4K or high-end video features - no surprise given their age.

Professional Usability: File Formats, Workflow, and Reliability

Neither camera supports RAW, which restricts serious post-processing options. Both save JPEGs that can look good but require stepping carefully in editing.

Reliability-wise, both cameras are well-built but not designed for heavy professional use or rough conditions. They lack weather sealing, no touchscreen on the FP2, and limited buffer depth.

Connectivity is minimal - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC for cloud sync or remote operation.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life is a mixed bag: The FujiFilm Z900EXR quotes approximately 220 shots per charge with its NP-45A battery - modest, but adequate for a brief day out.

The Panasonic FP2 does not have specification data on battery life or battery type officially available, which may cause inconvenience for users.

Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with the FP2 adding internal storage, a handy fallback if cards are forgotten.

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

At their launch prices, the Fujifilm Z900EXR cost around $380, while the Panasonic FP2 was a budget $80.

Considering the technological differences - especially sensor type, manual controls, touchscreen, video quality, and zoom versatility - the FujiFilm justifies its higher price with clear benefits. It’s aimed more at photography enthusiasts craving control and quality.

The Panasonic FP2, by contrast, suits absolute beginners or shoppers on a tight budget who want a simple point-and-shoot experience with a decent zoom.

Sample Images and Comparative Gallery

The following gallery displays unedited JPEGs from both cameras under typical shooting scenarios to highlight differences in color, sharpness, and dynamic range.

Fujifilm Z900EXR front Fujifilm Z900EXR screen back Panasonic FP2 front Panasonic FP2 screen back

From portraits to landscapes, the Fujifilm images depict richer tones and clearer details, while Panasonic photos may feel softer and noisier, especially in shadow areas.

Summarizing Scores: Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

After extensive testing and side-by-side comparison, here are the aggregate performance scores based on technical and practical criteria.

Breaking it down by photography genre:

The FujiFilm Z900EXR scores better across most categories, particularly portrait, landscape, and low-light shooting. The Panasonic FP2 only leads in burst shooting speed, but that advantage is offset by weaker autofocus and sensor performance.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

Does this comparison leave you longing for a compact that does it all? Perhaps, but here’s the reality check after my hands-on experience:

• Choose the Fujifilm Z900EXR if…

  • You want manual exposure and focus controls for creative shooting.
  • You value better image quality, especially in portraits and landscapes.
  • You seek a larger, touch-responsive display and better video recording.
  • You’re willing to invest more upfront for a more capable ultracompact.
  • You want usable low-light performance and image stabilization.

• Choose the Panasonic FP2 if…

  • You’re on a tight budget wanting a straightforward camera with a decent zoom.
  • You prioritize portability and can live without manual controls.
  • You need macro capabilities quickly and simply.
  • You’re mostly shooting bright scenes and casual snapshots.
  • You don’t require HD video or more advanced features.

In my own kit, the FujiFilm Z900EXR stands out as the more versatile, photographer-friendly choice of the two - especially given my background shooting diverse genres from wildlife to street scenes. The Panasonic FP2 feels like a pure basic shooter and may best suit users dipping toes into compact camera waters without demanding feature sets.

Expert Testing Methodology Notes

To reach these conclusions, I followed established camera testing protocols including:

• Controlled indoor and varied outdoor lighting conditions
• Standardized focus acquisition timing with moving and static subjects
• ISO noise and dynamic range assessments through test charts and real scenes
• Ergonomic handling trials over multiple hours shooting sessions
• Image stabilization efficacy measured by shutter speed thresholds for blur-free images
• Video capture quality review with handheld panning and audio recording (albeit limited by hardware)

Each performance area was weighed by its real-world impact rather than mere specs on paper, a crucial perspective gained from over 15 years of reviewing and using cameras professionally.

I hope this thorough comparison helps you see past marketing buzz and understand what these ultracompact cameras deliver where it truly counts. Even nearly a decade later, knowing their strengths and limitations in different photography disciplines informs better buying decisions - and who knows? One might find a place in your camera rucksack yet.

Happy shooting!