FujiFilm FinePix SL300 Pro Reviews

The SL300 proves to be a respectable option for those looking for a more affordable bridge camera, although while it's more respectable build quality is understandable due to it's affordable nature, the image quality issues are less excusable.

The Fujifilm FinePix SL300's main selling points are it's 30x optical zoom lens, ample rubber grip, long life battery and electronic viewfinder, all available at a very reasonable price. Unfortunately image quality isn't fantastic, particularly as colour reproduction leaves them looking a little flat and barrel distortion is clearly evident when shooting subjects which are fairly close to the camera. If you are on a budget and need a travel camera with a good zoom range, the SL300 is certainly worth some consideration.

On paper the Fujifilm FinePix SL300 has a lot going for it, especially considering the asking price. The 30x optical zoom means that you can reach subjects that are too far away for the majority of cameras, even other superzooms, and the camera looks good and is built to a decent standard. Image quality isn't up to scratch, though, looking more like a painting when viewed at 100% magnification, and we missed the physical zoom and focus rings that the more up-market HS30EXR and HS20EXR models offer. Still, if you really want a big zoom camera that looks and kind of feels like a DSLR, the SL300 certainly fits the bill. Picture quality is good when viewed at a normal distance or seen on a standard size print but when they're zoomed into, it has an effect we can only describe as painted. If you can put up with this then the colours are recorded very nicely and there's a decent amount of detail too. We're unsure why the sensor performs like this and it makes us wish that Fujifilm could put the EXR sensor in all their cameras.