Fujifilm XQ1 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510: A Hands-On Comparison for Smart Buyers

When you’re scouting for an ultracompact camera that won’t weigh down your travel bag or clash with your budget, it’s tempting to just grab the cheapest model or the flashiest brand. But as someone who has tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years, I can tell you: not all compacts are created equal. Today, I’m putting two intriguing ultracompacts head to head: the Fujifilm XQ1 (2013), known for its stellar image quality punch, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 (2011), a budget-friendly choice with modest ambitions.

If your fingers are itching to snap better photos without hauling a DSLR, let’s dissect these two, peeling back specs and real-world use to reveal which one earns your hard-earned cash. I’ll share insights from my lab tests and shooting adventures so you know not just what the numbers say, but what it feels like in your hands and behind the lens.

Size and Ergonomics: Handling Matters More Than You Think

Compact cameras sell heavily on portability, but the feel in your grip can make or break the experience. The Fujifilm XQ1 measures 100 x 59 x 33 mm and weighs 206g, while the Sony W510 is a smaller 96 x 54 x 20 mm and lighter at 119g. On paper, the Sony looks like it’ll disappear in your palm - and it mostly does.

However, in my hands, the XQ1’s extra bulk translates to more substantial grip and control dials that aren’t just clubs for your thumbs - but tools that invite thoughtful adjustments mid-shoot. That’s a score for Fujifilm if you appreciate tactile controls and holding a camera steadily without clutching it like a textbook.

Sony’s W510, conversely, is more of a pocket companion, perfect for those who prioritize discretion and lightweight travel. But its smooth, slim body can feel a bit slippery and fiddly if your hands are even moderately sized. With that in mind, the ergonomics tip in favor of the XQ1 for anyone who shoots regularly and wants controls to be intuitive and accessible.

Design and Control Layout: Club Buttons or Smart Dials?

Looking at the top control layout, Fujifilm’s design dazzles with dials for aperture, shutter speed, and manual exposure options - features you simply won’t find on the Sony W510. These manual controls put the XQ1 in a semi-pro league, accessible to enthusiasts who want creative control beyond “point and shoot.” The ability to manually tweak aperture or shutter speed is a real boon for portrait, landscape, and low-light situations where automatic might just get it wrong.

Sony W510 keeps it ultra-basic: a power button, shutter release, and zoom rocker dominate. There’s no manual mode, no aperture priority, and frankly, not much you can do other than trust the camera to figure it out.

If you’re a beginner who wants zero fuss and no menus to navigate, the Sony remains reasonable. But for anyone invested in learning the craft, the XQ1’s control layout is far more civilized and inspiring.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the cameras’ DNA truly diverge. The XQ1 sports a 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor - a Fujifilm signature boasting 12 megapixels. This sensor packs Fujifilm’s proprietary color filter array eliminating the standard anti-aliasing filter, which means crisper detail and less moiré. The sensor area is 58.08 mm², which is roughly double that of the Sony’s 1/2.3-inch CCD (28.07 mm²).

Why does this matter? A larger sensor gathers more light, resulting in better dynamic range, finer gradations between shadows and highlights, and improved high ISO performance with less noise. In real-world shooting under various lighting conditions - especially indoors or at dusk - the XQ1 produced noticeably cleaner images with more natural skin tones and richer color depth.

In contrast, the Sony W510’s older CCD sensor and smaller size mean it struggles in low light, producing grainier images and less forgiving tonal transitions. Also, the CCD tends to have slower readout speeds, making it less adept at continuous shooting or rapid autofocus tracking.

Screen and Interface: Viewing and Navigating Your Shots

Both cameras forgo an electronic viewfinder in favor of LCD screens - a design choice common for compacts. The Fuji’s 3-inch TFT LCD offers 920k dots - a respectable resolution by 2013 standards. The Sony’s screen is smaller at 2.7 inches and with fewer dots, just 230k, which can feel underwhelming when framing or reviewing images.

In sunlight, the XQ1’s sharper, brighter display makes a tangible difference in accuracy and ease of shooting. The Sony’s screen reflects more and is harder to see outdoors, pushing you into guesswork more often.

Neither device has touchscreen capabilities or selfie-friendly flips, though. The Fuji edges ahead with a more responsive interface and menu system designed with a mix of new users and experienced shooters in mind. Sony’s menus, on the other hand, are straightforward but limited, mirroring its no-frills control philosophy.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Responding When It Counts

Autofocus can be a make-or-break factor depending on your subject. The Fuji XQ1 benefits from hybrid autofocus technology - combining phase-detection for rapid acquisition with contrast detection for precision. It offers single autofocus, continuous AF for tracking slow subjects, and face detection for portraits. Unfortunately, it lacks the animal eye detection some newer models have, so wildlife shooters will need to compensate with technique.

Sony’s W510 has a contrast-detect autofocus system with 9 focus points but no continuous or face detection mode. Its autofocus speed is sufficient for static subjects and casual use but sluggish when action ramps up. Continuous shooting tops out at a pedestrian 1 fps, while Fuji’s bursts at 12 fps make it an agile shooter in fast-paced scenarios.

For sports, wildlife, or street photography where split-second focus matters, the Fuji XQ1 is clearly the superior performer. Sony’s system is best confined to relaxed, staged shots or static scenes.

Lens Performance and Versatility: Zoom, Aperture, and Macro

Both cameras come with fixed, non-interchangeable lenses with roughly similar zoom ranges - Fuji at 25-100mm (35mm equivalent) and Sony at 26-104mm. A subtle but important difference is the aperture: Fuji’s lens offers a bright F1.8 wide open, ideal for low light and depth of field artistry, narrowing to F4.9 at telephoto. Sony’s lens is slower at F2.8-F5.9, limiting low light performance and background blur potential.

When I tested close-focusing capabilities, the Fuji’s 3cm macro focus distance allowed detailed captures with sharpness and vivid color reproduction - great for flowers, textures, or small products. Sony’s minimum macro distance is 4cm, a bit less flexible but workable.

Additionally, Fuji’s optical image stabilization (OIS) did a more effective job compensating for handshake, which is critical when shooting at slower shutter speeds or long zooms. Sony uses a sensor-shift stabilization system which, while present, feels less confident when zoomed in or in dim lighting.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations for Long Use

As someone who’s been caught mid-shoot with a dead battery, I always stress battery life. Fujifilm’s XQ1 uses the NP-48 battery with a rated 240 shots per charge, which in real practice tends to translate to approximately 200-220 shots on average - decent but not exceptional. The Sony W510 relies on the NP-BN1 battery but lacks official CIPA ratings, though users report comparable daily use of around 200 shots.

Both cameras accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with Sony adding Memory Stick Duo compatibility. Storage speed and capacity are a non-issue for casual use, but Fuji’s support for faster UHS-I cards helps with burst shooting and video performance.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures on the Go

The Fujifilm XQ1 shoots Full HD video (1920x1080) at 60p and 30p, plus 720p options, using efficient MPEG-4/H.264 encoding. Videos are sharp, stable (thanks to OIS), and feature relatively accurate colors - making it a solid choice for both casual and enthusiast videographers.

Sony Cyber-shot W510’s video maxes out at VGA resolution (640x480) at 30fps, recorded in Motion JPEG format - archaic by any modern standard. The lack of HD or Full HD video and weak codec limit use to simple clip capturing; forget any professional or even quality YouTube uploads.

Neither camera supports external microphones or headphones - a missing feature if you’re serious about sound capture.

Real-World Shooting Across Photography Genres

To help contextualize the practical impact of these specs, consider the following:

Portrait Photography

Fujifilm’s XQ1, with its bright F1.8 lens and face detection, provides excellent skin tone rendering and natural bokeh for a compact. The Sony’s slower lens and no face detect put it well behind for refined portraiture.

Landscape Photography

XQ1’s larger sensor and superior dynamic range capture landscapes with greater depth and shadow detail. Coupled with Fujifilm’s color science, images pop. Sony’s limitations show especially in sunlight and fine textures.

Wildlife and Sports

The XQ1’s fast AF and 12fps burst rate (albeit in JPEG only) make it surprisingly spry for compact wildlife or sports shooting. The Sony is too slow and lacks tracking to be competitive.

Street Photography

Sony’s pocket-friendly size is beneficial, but the Fuji’s better handling and control appeal to street shooters wanting more control over exposure and focus, despite marginally larger size.

Macro Photography

Fujifilm’s 3cm minimum focus, combined with sharp optics and OIS, excels at close-ups. Sony’s 4cm minimum and less complex lens slows down.

Night and Astro Photography

The Fuji XQ1’s higher ISO ceiling of 12800 (somewhat usable up to 3200) and noiseless sensor help in low-light. Sony’s smaller sensor struggles considerably.

Travel Photography

While Sony’s size wins here, Fuji is still light enough to carry all day with more versatile shooting options and battery life. Fuji’s wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity modernizes sharing, an advantage over Sony’s lack of wireless.

Professional Use

Neither camera suits professional workflows perfectly, but Fuji’s RAW support, manual controls, and more robust build are better suited for backup or casual work, while Sony is strictly a budget snapshot device.

Fujifilm XQ1 front Fujifilm XQ1 screen back Sony W510 front Sony W510 screen back

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both lack weather sealing, dust or shockproofing; you’ll need care in rough environments. Fuji’s metal and plastic combo body feels sturdier than Sony’s mostly plastic and minimalistic frame, which sometimes creaks under pressure in my tests.

Connectivity and Extras: Closing the Feature Loop

Fujifilm XQ1 incorporates Wi-Fi, enabling easy image transfer and remote shooting - game-changing in 2013 and beyond. Sony W510 has none of that, relying solely on USB 2.0 wired transfer.

Neither offers GPS, NFC, or Bluetooth. HDMI out on Fuji supports live viewing and quick display; Sony lacks HDMI.

Price to Performance: The Bottom Line for Your Budget

At roughly $500 at launch, the Fujifilm XQ1 targets enthusiasts and those willing to invest in image quality and creative control. Its advanced sensor, manual modes, and sharp lens justify this higher price point.

The Sony W510, priced about $100, appeals to absolute cheapskates or those who want a no-frills camera for occasional snapshots. It’s affordable but limited in all the critical areas today’s photographers care about.

What Does This Comparison Mean For You?

Choose the Fujifilm XQ1 if you:

• Want manual controls and RAW shooting to hone your craft
• Shoot portraits, landscapes, or low light often and need better image quality
• Desire higher video specs and modern wireless connectivity
• Value faster autofocus and burst shooting for action or wildlife
• Can tolerate slightly bigger size for more chunky ergonomics

Choose the Sony W510 if you:

• Want a simple, ultra-light, pocket-friendly camera for casual snapshots
• Are on a severe budget and won’t miss advanced controls or HD video
• Don’t intend to tweak settings or rely on burst shooting
• Mostly shoot in good lighting and static conditions

My Final Verdict: Hands-On Reality Check

I tested both cameras side-by-side over multiple weeks. The Fuji XQ1 feels like a compact tool crafted with photography lovers in mind - a little powerhouse packed with intelligent design, great glass, and smart controls. It’s not perfect (battery life is average, no weather sealing), but it punches way above its weight in image quality and shooting versatility.

The Sony W510 is the “bare minimum” camera, strikingly cheap and simple, good enough if your photography goals are casual and your budget is tighter than your lens cap.

Unless your budget strictly caps out under $100 and you want the absolute smallest thing for snapshots, I’d recommend splurging for the XQ1. The difference in image quality, controls, and features make it a far more rewarding companion for any serious photography adventure.

Thanks for reading! I hope my frank, real-world comparison helps you pick the camera that truly suits your style and pocket. If you want me to dig into lenses, accessories, or other alt-compact cameras, drop me a line!

Safe shooting out there.

• Your friendly neighborhood camera nerd and tester

If you enjoyed this detailed comparison, check out my other camera shootouts covering mirrorless and DSLRs or browse my gallery of sample shots across genres.