Here we compare the Pentax Optio X70 with the Fuji Finepix S100FS. Images below are all 100% crops from their respective cameras. ISO and aperture were set on each the camera. Every other setting was left on automatic. All images were taken at the highest resolution possible for the set ISO sensitivity. For the X70, ISO 100 to 1600 all support a full 12 megapixels, while ISO 3200 and 6400 are limited to 5 megapixels. For the S100FS, ISO 100 to 3200 are crops from 11 megapixels images, while ISO 6400 is limited to 6 megapixels.
Both these cameras are the flagship ultra-zooms from their respective manufacturers. They each offer a wide range of ISO sensitivities and a full complement of manual controls. The Pentax Optio X70 is a smaller ultra-zoom with an electronically controlled 24X stabilized optical zoom lens, the Fuji Finepix S100FS is a DSLR-sized ultra-zoom with a mechanically controlled 14.3X stabilized optical zoom lens. The S100FS features a relatively larger sensor with higher sensitivity and wider dynamic range.
Pentax Optio X70
Fuji Finepix S100FS
ISO 50 - 1/30s F5.6
ISO 100 - 1/60s F5.6
ISO 100 - 1/56s F5.6
ISO 200 - 1/125s F5.6
ISO 200 - 1/105s F5.6
ISO 400 - 1/250s F5.6
ISO 400 - 1/200s F5.6
ISO 800 - 1/500s F5.6
ISO 800 - 1/400s F5.6
ISO 1600 - 1/1000s F5.6
ISO 1600 - 1/750s F5.6
ISO 3200 - 1/1600s F5.6
ISO 3200 - 1/1500s F5.6
ISO 6400 - 1/3200s F5.6
ISO 6400 - 1/3000s F5.6
The Fuji always delivers about three full ISO stops of better detail and sharpness. The Pentax Optio X70 suffers from more noise and higher softness even at its base ISO of 50. Things get worst quickly and ISO 400 is the limit of what the X70 can usefully capture.