Fujifilm FinePix X10 Serious Compact Review

Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification



The Fujifilm FinePix X10 is the latest serious compact camera from Fujifilm and is a more affordable version of the Fujifilm FinePix X100, but with a zoom lens and 2/3inch sensor, this means the sensor is smaller than the X100, but larger than the other serious compact cameras available. This means it is in competition with other serious compacts such as the Nikon Coolpix P7100, Olympus XZ-1, Canon Powershot G12, Panasonic Lumix LX5 and others.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Features

The lens features a physical zoom that is also used as the on / off switch, with the lens compacting into the lens when off. The 28mm - 112mm equivalent 4x optical zoom lens with a bright f/2.0 to f/2.5 aperture is only slightly beaten by the f/1.8 - f/2.5 lens on the Olympus XZ-1.


Fujifilm FinePix X10 On

Key Features

• 12mp EXR CMOS 2/3inch sensor
• 4x optical zoom lens - 28mm - 112mm, f/2.0 - f/2.8
• 2.8 inch screen, 460k dots
• Flash Hot Shoe
• Optical viewfinder with dioptre correction
• Full HD Video mode, stereo sound
• Optical (Lens based) Image Stabilisation
• Burst Mode: 7fps full resolution 10fps at 6mp
• Manual Control, RAW
• ISO 100 - 12800 (6400 at 6mp, 12800 at 3mp)
• 1cm Macro mode

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Handling

Handling - The camera has an excellent rubber thumb grip on the back and a stylish texture covering surrounding the camera and front hand grip. With an extremely solid metal body, dials and shutter button on top, the camera feels extremely well built.


Fujifilm FinePix X10 Pop Up

The controls on the top of the camera are a mode dial with 2 custom positions, a shutter release, exposure compensation and function button (this defaults to ISO setting). The function button is used in conjunction with the control dial on the back that can be pressed in as well to select the option. The camera will be extremely popular with people who are a fan of physical controls, with a dial on the front to select the focusing mode.


Fujifilm FinePix X10

Menus and display: The default display on the back of the camera is to show a status screen, much like you would find on a Digital SLR or Digital Rangefinder, with the camera being set so that you can use the optical viewfinder. This display can be quickly changed by using the display button, where you'll also find an electronic spirit level and customisable screen, as well as the ability to switch the screen off.

Info Display	Standard View

The menus are like other Fujifilm menus, such as the X100 or F600EXR, so if you're familiar with Fuji menus then you should be able to find your way around quite quickly. Although there is no F / Finepix button. The majority of the photo settings are set in the shooting menu where you can alter colour strength, sharpness, highlight tone, shadow tone, noise reduction and more. Some of the more advanced photo options are found in the setup menu, where you can set the Fn button, AEL options, RAW mode and more.



Battery life - The battery life is rated at 270 shots according to CIPA standards. The camera uses a small battery with a 1000mAh rating, although by switching off the LCD on the back and adjusting additional settings, Fujifilm say 640 shots should be possible. We were able to take 260 shots before the battery went flat.

Speed - We tested each camera's performance at focusing, shutter response, shot to shot time, continuous shooting etc, and have posted the results below. To test this we took 6 or more shots and calculated the average, so that consistent results were produced, we also made sure to test all the cameras at the same time to ensure the cameras were being tested under the same conditions.

	Fujifilm X10	Canon S100
Shutter Reponse	<0.05	0.05
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response	0.15	0.35
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response	0.20	0.40
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo	0.9	2.1
Shot to Shot (without flash)	0.9	1.8
Shot to Shot with Flash	1.0	3.0
Continuous Shooting (JPEG)	7fps (7 shots then 2fps)	Norm: 2fps 10fps (8shots)
Continuous Shooting (with Flash)	N/A	1.8s
Continuous Shooting (RAW)	6fps (6 shots then 1.4s between shots)	0.8s

Tested at full resolution the camera will shoot at 7fps using JPEG, or 6fps using RAW. A quicker 10fps mode is available with the image size reduced to Medium (6mp). Shutter response, when pre-focused, is practically instant, with virtually no measurable delay. Focusing is equally quick, with very fast focusing on wide and telephoto. Switch on time is good when you switch on "Quick start mode", and the On / Off switch around the lens makes it very easy to switch on without having to look at the camera, and shot to shot time is good.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Performance

We've taken a number of sample photos in a variety of settings to show you the image quality produced by this camera, you can view them full size by clicking the "High-Res" link. Additional sample photos can be seen here in the equipment database, where you can add your own images.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Sample Photos

Sample photos show good detail and colour in photos. EXR DR 1600% shows extended dynamic range. There is very little to no red-eye in the portrait photo and colours are good.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Lens test images

Purple fringing is visible in the shot of the trees, but low in other photos. Lens distortion - there is slight barrel distortion at the wide end, very little pincushion at the telephoto end. Very little vignette at the wide end with the lens wide open (f/2.0), and detail is good at the corners. Macro - excellent 1cm macro mode available at the wide end of the lens.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Scene modes

Scene modes - Two low-light modes: Advanced Pro Low Light Mode (above left) combines 4 photos for enhanced detail, and low noise, and also EXR SN: High ISO & Low Noise (above right), shoots at 6 megapixels for improved low light performance by combining neighboring pixels.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 ISO test images

ISO shots show low noise at ISO100 - 800, with ISO1600 producing usable results. At ISO3200 you can see the loss in image quality, but results are certainly impressive for a compact sensor camera. Colour levels are good right up to ISO6400, where the size is automatically decreased to 6 megapixels. At ISO12800 image detail is clearly lacking as the resolution is further decreased to 3 megapixels.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 White-balance test images

White Balance - Auto white balance under tungsten lighting gives warm results, however using the tungsten preset gives much better results. AWB under fluorescent lighting gives excellent results, with the fluorescent presets giving either a yellow or magenta cast.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Digital filters

Digital Filters - The X10 has a number of film simulation and colour options. On the Adv. mode dial position you have the choice of: 360 panoramic (choice of: 360° Vertical 11520 x 1624 Horizontal 11520 x 1080, 180° Vertical 5760 x 1624 Horizontal 5760 x 1080, or 120° Vertical 3840 x 1624 Horizontal 3840 x 1080), pro focus (blurs background), and Pro Low-Light (takes a number of shots and combines for low noise).

Video Example - The camera will record Full HD video at 1920x1080 at 30fps with stereo sound, and gives a number of high speed video modes, 70fps at 640x480, 120fps at 320x240, and 200fps at 320x112 - examples of high speed video can be seen on the ePHOTOzine youtube page. There is the choice of centre focus or continuous focus, as well as colour / film simulation options.

Value For Money

The Fujifilm FinePix X10 is available for around £529, this puts it at the top end of the market, although the build quality and design of the camera could help justify this additional cost. The majority of alternatives are cheaper, including mirrorless cameras, although to get such a bright lens on a mirrorless camera would likely cost more. Alternatives include the Nikon Coolpix P7100, Olympus XZ-1, Canon Powershot G12, Panasonic Lumix LX5, and others.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Verdict

This camera feels great in the hand, but more importantly it feels great as a camera to use, with extremely quick focusing and shutter response it's very easy to get candid street shots. It's also quick and easy to take shot after shot without being slowed down by the camera. The on/off switch that is part of extending the lens is genius, and the manual zoom control of the lens makes it feel like you're using a real camera. The optical viewfinder can be used with the rear screen switched off for enhanced battery life. The EXR sensor gives the option of enhanced performance in low light or can be used to extend dynamic range, and provides additional versatility. With lots of external controls, and great image quality this camera would make an excellent choice, as long as you can justify the price of the camera.

The Fujifilm FinePix X10 is an excellent shooter, giving quick performance and high image quality.

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Pros

Optical Viewfinder
Great on/off zoom control
Excellent handling and controls
Excellent shutter response, and focus speed
Printed manual included in box
EXR Dynamic Range works well
Bright saturated colour
Low noise

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Cons

High Price
Larger than other "serious compacts"
EXR Low Noise / DR Modes reduce resolution to 6 megapixels

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
VERDICT

Fujifilm FinePix X10 Specifications

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