Fujifilm FinePix T300

Noise (18.40)

As with most compact point-and-shoot cameras, we found noise to be an issue as low as ISO 400, though the T300 utilizes heavy noise reduction techniques to keep it in check. We found that ISO appeared to rise sharply at ISO 200 (nearly crossing 1% of the total image), and then rose slowly at ISO 400 and above as noise reduction took over. By ISO 1600—the maximum full resolution sensitivity—noise crosses 1.5% but text and other fine details are still in decent shape. More on how we test noise.

The most difficult part about shooting in low light conditions with the Fuji T300 is the camera’s limited shutter speed and aperture range. As such, the camera had extraordinary difficulty exposing at low light, often requiring wildly variant exposure compensations from one ISO speed to the next just to get a proper image. Once that was accomplished, however, we did find that noise levels were lower at every ISO speed except the minimum of 100. The camera was simply unable to get a proper exposure at ISO 100 in our low light test, however, so the darker image likely contributed to the higher levels of noise detected by our testing software.

Noise Comparisons
	ISO 100	ISO 400	ISO 800	ISO 1600
60 Lux
3000 Lux

Owing to its aggressive noise reduction feature, the T300 received great noise scores by our testing. The camera wiped away most noise in both bright and low light testing, though its ISO range only stretches from 100-1600, with a reduced resolution (three megapixels maximum) option for ISO 3200. The only camera in our comparison group that performed as well was the Casio ZR100, though that camera also applied noise reduction filtering aggressively compared to the competition.

ISO (3.25)

The T300 offers an ISO range of 100-1600 at the full resolution of 14 megapixels. There is an ISO 3200 option available in the menu, but it requires that you step down to the small image size, which caps out at three megapixels. There is also an automatic option that takes precedence in most shooting modes, which will set the sensitivity depending on the amount of available light, though it also caps out at 1600.

ISO Comparisons
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO Low
ISO 100	ISO 100	ISO 100	ISO 80
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 200
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 400
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 800
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 1600
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 3200
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 6400
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210
ISO 12800
Fujifilm FinePix T300	Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR	Casio Exilim EX-ZR100	Samsung PL210

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.