Fuji X10 First Look

[DocC]

Hello friends,

I had a 30 minute hands-on with the new X10 yesterday. I really wanted to like this camera. Really. I had loved the feel and fit of the X100 but ended up returning it because of poor focus, incomprehensible menus and a jog/dial/wheel that was so sensitive I spent more time getting back to where I wanted to be than actually getting there the first time. I also felt the camera was very expensive given the fixed focal length lens. Hence I was hopeful that the X10 would maintain the fit and feel but have learned from the X100 since it has been out for a while and gone through some firmware updates.

The X10 does not feel as "comfortable" as the X100, although this is very subjective. I prefer the optical vs the hybrid viewfinder, but it is not nearly as bright as I might have liked and the linkage to the zoom is not readily apparent. The camera is unlocked by rotating the zoom ring. As the ring is very narrow, those with larger digits (like me) may find that the ring is not easily grippable and your fingers often intrude into the viewfinder area. The ring is stiff to rotate and while I have no data to draw lifecycle conclusions, I am concerned that the zoom is also the on/off switch.

I really like the zoom range on the camera which covers something on the order of 28-112 relative to a full frame. I found this reminiscent of the wonderful old Minolta CLE kit, albeit that had three primes instead of a zoom. Images captured were very sharp and Fuji has been smart imho by not over saturating the megapixel loading, keeping it at 12.0 and offering decent low light. Capture is RAW and/or JPEG, but I could only work with the Jpegs because I did not have time to install Silkypix to do the RAW conversion.

I had no issues with the autofocus when the lens was at the wide end of the zoom range. Sadly not so at the telephoto end of the range. A slow moving subject (man walking) gave two out of focus images out of three, reminiscent of the focus problems encountered by many X100 users (including myself).

The battery is a tiny entity similar to some of the Fujifilm point and shoots. I was hoping for a decent sized battery so I could carry the camera with me all the time without worrying about power and recharging. I fear that with this teeny battery this won't be the case. Battery drain was observable in the short eval time as I burned through a number of test images, about 50% with the built-in flash.

The settings wheel is as sensitive and lacking in feedback as on the X100. The menu system is nominally better (similar to the improvements that came with the firmware updates on the X100) but still requires too many clicks and moves to get to the things that I would want to get to quickly. I won't say incomprehensible but would still encourage Fujifilm to hire a good UI person.

In summary, the images are really nice when they are in focus, the zoom range is great for a rangefinder style camera, but it's not enough of an improvement from the X100 for me, despite a more realistic price point. That said, having to spend a disproportionately high amount of money for a lens hood and a filter mounting ring is intentional pocket picking by Fuji and these products should cease being used as a cash grab and instead be bundled with the device. Hopefully Fujifilm will make the menus more usable via firmware updates.

As the young folks say. your mileage may vary, but I still don't have a viewfinder oriented rangefinder camera that I like and can afford. So count me underwhelmed.

[xxpinballxx]

Now see I feel almost the exact opposite. The only issue I had when I took one out for a spin was the manual focusing and the fact the lens was visible in the viewfinder (which I could over look).
I found the auto focus to work great at all ranges and fully intend to ad one to my collection once the Holiday season is over. (not allowed to buy it right now since we just got them in.) The super macro and the movie mode are both fantastic!
I see this camera as a great carry anywhere type of camera. the burst works great and focus is fast enough for me and shooting any type of street photography. the optical viewfinder could be a bit bigger and better but its a compact camera. Find a better one in a camera in this category......they don't exist!
I know Fuji is going the Leica route and trying to make a high end brand and so far so good.....
Despite the few flaws they've had in the X100 and a few tiny issues i saw in the X10 I think their next entry in the market will be an ILC with a APS-C sensor and a first class look!
I definitely will be getting one.......but with the hopes of an NEX7 by end of Jan. and the Fuji LX10 sometime in spring I might should wait a bit......
Sucks working in a Camera shop and selling this gear all day and night...makes you want everything!

Just goes to show ya how differently two people can see the same thing.
Great review though, despite the opposite end of the spectrum I love hearing what others think of camera gear! Helps me sell it all the better!

[joemartin]

Should I get a contax t2 or fuji instant camera?
Should I get a contax t2 or fuji 210 instant? I was thinking I should wait until I save up another hundred or so for the contax t2 since the film is x10 cheaper than the fuji 210 instant but, most likely I'm going to get the contax g2 for my birthday in July. But I would really like a camera that's photo's come out looking like polaroids since I keep spending 55 on original polaroid film... Should I save up for the t2 or just get the fuji since I might get the g2 later?

[murraypics]

I held an X-10 yesterday for the first time.

I thinks its a beautiful creation, designed to be a pleasure to have, own, work with and create art. Granted anybody with large hands may find it too small and yes the menu's did appear somewhat convoluted. The 'white orb' issue has not gone away. But photography has become far too much about lugging vast amounts of expensive gear around, which I myself have been guilty off, and less about the captured image. Distractions abound. A camara such as the X-10 with its hands-on, tactile controls, a bright viewfinder and some wonderfully creative technology can help the photographer re-aquaint himself with the one thing more important that anything else; the image. It is a working tool. An object crafted to create with as much ease or complication as the artist chooses to draw from it.

I'm having one.

[Robenroute]

I recently purchased an X10 (fully aware of the "white disc syndrome"). Personally, I find that the amount of critisism directed at the X10 is diverting attention away from all the things done right:

- Photo quality (both RAW and OOC JPEGs)
- Exposure dial (although it's limited to +/- 2ev)
- Sturdy camera
- Fast lens
- Sharp lens
- Manual zoom
- Practical zoom range
- Great design
- AWB is mostly spot on
- Auto-bracketing functions
- Well-implemented panorama function
- Film & filter simulation modes
- In-camera RAW processing
- Fabulous design (I believe I've already mentioned something along those lines )
- Full manual control (although manual zoom is very impractical...)
- Smashing looks
- Fast to operate
- Fast AF

I've been shooting photos with Nikon SLRs (F801/8008, F2, F3), digital compacts (mainly LX2, TZ5), and a few others for years, but the X10 has brought back a lot of fun into my photography. I'll be testing and checking, just to get to grips with all its intricacies, and I'm sure that's going to be a lot of fun as well as delivering some nice photos.

Regards,
Robenroute

[trauet]

An exhilarating experience! The fun is back in photography and I do not have to carry 3 kg of equipment like I used to do in the 70's.

The menus are complex and the manual is hard to use (easy to read), but i found Greg and Billy on U-tube: Fuji Guys - Fujifilm X10 Part 3 - Top Features - YouTube 4 weeks after I got the camera - and this really was helpful: After 30 minutes with Greg and Billy my skills and understanding of this complex small camera where lifted several levels.

The EXR position of the programming wheel gives better JPG's than any other programming, both with colors, depth-of-field and light/contrast. So why bother with RAW? Just kidding - the RAW button is easy to reach, so when a really good (and difficult) subject comes along I use it. The trouble with RAW is that the technology in the camera and the Fuji RAF file format restricts you to Fuji's own editing software. Hopefully there will be some development here.

Don't let anyone scare you if you are testing the X10 - turn to U-tube and spend 30 minutes with Greg and Billy!

By the way, the camera is just a little too big to fit in the coat pocket, and the UV-filter (and other filters) are fitted to the sun protection hood, and make the whole package a bit more bulky. So far the UV filter has not been on my camera, but when sun on snow and beach becomes the standard, I guess I have to give in.