FUJIFILM x10 – a cute camera that works hard

The camera I played with belongs to a friend, and my hands-on time was limited so these are really first impressions. There are cameras that are tactile in a way that makes you want to keep them in your hands. The x10 is one of those. The build quality of fit is first rate, and the metal case makes the x10 feel like a serious toy. It’s a nice size as well, about the same as a Panny GX1 with a small lens on. It won’t fit in most pockets, though.

 Main specs include:

• 12MP EXR CMOS sensor
• 28-112mm F2.0-2.8 lens
• Optical viewfinder and flash inbuilt
• 2.8", 460,000 dot LCD
• Raw shooting option with in-camera Raw conversion
• Single-sweep panorama stitching
• Continuous shooting up to 7fps at full resolution, 10fps at 6MP
• Video shooting at up to 1920 x 1080 Full HD, 30fps, with stereo sound
• Various Fuji film modes and colour-filtered mono modes

The x10 comes with a new 2/3-inch (8.8 x 6.6 mm) backlit CMOS sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels. Photosites are rotated through 45 degrees to collect more light and improve horizontal and vertical resolution. Fujifilm's EXR technology does the rest, i.e. it  controls the image processing functions. Here's how it compares:

The 28-112 zoom lens is fast at f/2.0-2.8 (that’s very fast for the long end), and it zooms via a twist ring on the lens barrel like a real camera (and the ring doubles as the camera's On/Off switch). It’s a very welcome change from the stepped electric zoom function of most cameras in the quality compact class. A bonus is smooth, short gearing that moves the lens from 28mm to 112mm in about 45 degrees of turn. 

image courtesy of dpreview.com

A tiny pop-up flash is built-in, and offers plenty of settings. There’s even an optical viewfinder with dioptre adjustment, but its tunnel vision is a bit claustrophobic and covers about 85% the sensor's field-of-view. No information is shown in the OVF, not even AF confirmation. That’s a real letdown. On the plus side, the Autofocus is pretty fast but a bit hit-and-miss in poor light, and manual focusing is too fiddly to be useful.

The X10's back panel offers a fixed 2.8-inch LCD monitor with 460,000 pixels, and this may be a better option most of the time. The controls are laid-out much like they are on a real camera, and the x10 seems to avoid most of the navigational obstacles its big brother the x100 serves up.

The x10’s image quality in difficult light situations was a surprise. Perhaps the EXR trickery is responsible for this but ISO 3200 is not out of the question. I had more problems with outside shots where the camera tends to over-expose in order to capture more shadow detail. I got a bunch of shots with blown-out highlights – one reason is that the shutter speed is locked at 1/1000 second if you try to shoot with f/2 in bright conditions. That’s another letdown.

Dynamic range is still a challenge

ISO 1250 - really impressive

would you believe ISO 3200?

bokeh is possible but may not please your eye

colours are good

detail is acceptable but not that sharp in ordinary light

All in all, the x10 is an odd blend of retro and hi-tech. It looks and feels like rangefinder film cameras of old, while Fuji’s EXR mode provides a bag of tricks that help improve image clarity, reduce noise or enhance dynamic range. EXR Auto provides scene recognition and automatic adjustment of settings. It’s a baffling option on an enthusiast’s camera like the x10.

Build quality and handling are strong points of the x10, along with image quality in most situations. The main problem is where it fits in the marketplace. At around $700, it’s $200 to 300 more than the Olympus XZ-1 or Canon S100 or Nikon P7100. And it’s bigger than the first two here.

The x10 is in many ways more comparable with entry-level EVIL cameras (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens). The trouble is that you can get a Sony NEX-5 Twin Kit with 16mm and 18-55mm Lens for about the same money http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=3004

Yes, the X10 has a brighter lens than typical kit zooms, and you get an OVF and Flash built in which beats having to buy costly add-ons. On the other hand, a Sony or Panny or Oly EVIL camera can provide a heap more flexibility in terms of lenses and accessories – for example fast and compact prime pancake lenses - and of course better IQ from a bigger sensor. Also, some EVIL cameras now offer high resolution electronic viewfinders that show you exactly what the camera sees, along with articulated LCDs and touch screens.

If you can’t be bothered mixing and matching the bits and pieces, and prefer to have one compact camera with a fast, sharp, flexible lens, then the x10 is a serious option as long as the money isn’t an issue. If it is, you may prefer the Oly XZ-1 or the Canon S100 or the old Panny LX5. Then again, you may just fall in love with the Fuji. It may just turn out to be one of those gadgets you really want to own regardless.

Additional resources -

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/fuji_x10_first_impressions.shtml

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/11/08/the-fuji-x10-digital-camera-review-a-look-at-the-baby-brother-of-the-x100/

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_finepix_x10_review/conclusion/

Best

Kim

Comments

[Valerie G]

Thanks for the review. I agree that the colors look good but the detail in daylight could be better.

[Kim Brebach]

Yes, it seems to overexpose most images taken in daylight, which makes then look a bit washed out. Post processing can't quite make up for that.

[Olympus 800uz]

hey,

yes its true that FUJIFILM x10 is a small camera and it works hard.It’s a nice size as well, with a small lens.