Compared to...

Below you will find a studio comparison between the FinePix S5500 and the similarly specified Nikon Coolpix 4800 at ISO 400.

Studio scene comparison (@ ISO 400)

• Fujifilm FinePix S5500 Zoom: Program mode, ISO 400, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, 0.3 EV compensation
   
• Nikon Coolpix 4800: Program mode, ISO 400, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, 0.3 EV compensation
   
• Lighting: Two 800W studio lamps with dichroic daylight filters bounced off the ceiling

Fujifilm FinePix S5500	Nikon Coolpix 4800
ISO 400, 1/14 sec, F4.4	ISO 400, 1/20 sec, F3.5
1,831 KB JPEG	1,364 KB JPEG
Noise, std dev: 5.5	Noise, std dev: 4.8

At ISO 400 both cameras are showing noise, but not enough to stop you using the setting if you needed the extra sensitivity. The Coolpix's noise reduction is obviously a little stronger, but this simply makes the image look even softer compared to the S5500.

At lower ISO settings the S5500 has a tendency towards slightly over-saturated reds, but not enough to really leap out at you; at ISO 400 the reds look distinctly 'overcooked' when compared with the rather muted nature of the other colors in the scene.