Fuji X10

N

Nikon Bob

Guest
My local camera store had the Fuji X10 in stock and I had a very quick play with it. The initial impression was what a sweet looking camera with what appeared to be good build. OTH I have big hands and the X10 is getting to the point of being maybe a little small for me for a comfortable hold. The X100 is better in that regard for me. The optical VF is very nice to look through but devoid of any info including any focus point and covers nowhere near enough area to accurately frame with. I really appreciated Fuji's implementation of the manual zoom with a ring at the lens base to control not only the zoom but also the on/off function. It works very well. The camera seems quick to start and quick to focus, at least inside the store on a very dull daylight flooding in. It may not be the camera for me in the long run but I sure appreciate the effort that Fuji put into the X10 and I think they may have a winner on their hands in this class of camera. If you are interested in this class of camera it is worth your while to try it out more thoroughly than I and see if it is for you. Like I say, this is just the briefest of impressions and for the most part I came away with a mostly good feeling about it.

Bob
 
cheers for some hands on usability testing. waiting for some photo reviews. i recently tried a X100 in a shop (its difficult to find places which actually have it in stock..tried 3 before finding one) and came away impressed. the VF felt close to one in a leica/hexar RF...bright, with room around the framelines to tune the composition. AF was fast and quiet. overall it felt like the right size and heft in my hands. if my wallet could also agree but the X10 is more palatable from that point.
 
I've been thinking about the X10. But the viewfinder, IMO, is a let down.

The other issue I have (in looking for my first digital) is size. Is the X10 big enough that I would just be better off with a NEX or 4/3?

I have to play around with one which means waiting until it's in a store here. That also means going to a real camera store and having to put up with the staff.
 
I carried a Retina Ia as a daily shooter for enough years that the X10 VF doesn't bother me in principle. My X10 gets delivered tomorrow...
 
i played with one the other day and i found the viewfinder to be quite good. considering what it does and the price point i mean.
 
Paddy C said:
The viewfinder was/is such a big part of the X100, I was thinking it might be something more than bigger/brighter than the competition.
Click to expand...

All reports indicate that the VF *is* better than the competition - assuming you're putting it up against the P7000/7100 and G12. I'll tell you my opinion later today - I may even be able to stop by Best Buy for a side-by-side squint with their display G12.
 
Ken Ford said:
All reports indicate that the VF *is* better than the competition - assuming you're putting it up against the P7000/7100 and G12. I'll tell you my opinion later today - I may even be able to stop by Best Buy for a side-by-side squint with their display G12.
Click to expand...

I may not have been clear. I know that it's better. But...no focus confirmation and only about 80% coverage.

I'm looking for an all-around camera. Something for travel, events, day-to-day etc. So I have a decent list of candidates but I'm having trouble sorting through the options and the possible permutations.

The X10 is on that list but I'm thinking that, given the size and price, does it make sense for me to select it over a NEX or M43.
 
Makes sense. It checked a lot of boxes for me as an everyday carry, but then again I'm still planning on going with a digital ILC in addition to the X10 at some point.

I'll report back with my VF impressions after it arrives. Be warned, though - I carried and used a Retina Ia as a daily shooter for years, so my tolerance for undersized but well centered VFs is high. :p
 
Ken Ford said:
Makes sense. It checked a lot of boxes for me as an everyday carry, but then again I'm still planning on going with a digital ILC in addition to the X10 at some point.

I'll report back with my VF impressions after it arrives. Be warned, though - I carried and used a Retina Ia as a daily shooter for years, so my tolerance for undersized but well centered VFs is high. :p
Click to expand...

Would love to hear what you think of it especially as it may be some time before I'm able to handle one in person.
 
Zooming the VF should have been optional so one could use 28mm setting in the VF and zoom the lens to 35, getting close to 100% coverage.

The $600 price tag is too expensive compared to $700 Sony Nex5N and other m4/3 cameras, not to mention used X100 prices.

If someone already has a decent P&S with a zoom lens, then it makes sense to buy a X100 rather than this one.
 
I, too, used a Retina 1a for years.
I've ordered an X10 but won't have it for about three weeks yet, so I'm very glad to see these hands-on reports. Nothing there that deters me. Mainly for travel, family snapshots and a go-anywhere colour camera. It replaces my m43 camera.
I just sold my GF1 because I think m43 is a dead end now. Panasonics output since the GF1 has been regressive and who knows if Olympus will even survive? And I don't see other manufacturers with any enthusiasm to jump on board - they're all doing their own thing.
I'll keep using my M6 and R4a until the new Fuji ILC comes out early next year (hopefully) and then review what I want to do about a higher spec camera to pair with the X10.
 
Last edited:
I think you'll be pleased! I'm trying to come to grips with the metering and automagic modes, especially the dynamic range mode that is available all the time (i.e. not in actual "EXR Auto" or "EXR Priority" mode.) I did take it out in the neighboring downtown after dark last night for a few quick snaps, I think this will be completely usable to 1600 with no concerns.
 
Steve- its bigger than the s90/95/100, not any bigger than a g12, feels Much better made. Has a little bigger sensor than any of those. Good vf, nice screen on back, seems to share some of the menu/ controls of the x100, canon's menu might be a little more straightforward, but the Fuji's is very full featured. Oh, and the lens is faster- having the 2.0-2.8 zoom is much nicer than the 2.0-4.9 on the s95. If I was in the market for a camera at this level I would definitely have it at the top of my list- I think it's definitely worth the 100.00 more than the g12. I'm away this weekend, but we just got a shipment in if you end up out over this way anytime soon.

-Brian
 
Just got my X10 today, as the sun was going down, and so far I've only been taking pictures of my feet on the coffee table while watching the tele and reading the manual.

I think I can easily say the IQ is miles better than my Canon S90 from early comparisons, and so it should be. It feels far superior to my Canon G11 in the hand, but I wouldn't say the build quality was vastly better. But long ago I gave up thinking an 'enthusiast' P&S could ever get close to a larger sensor camera even in medium sized prints, so feel very much more relaxed about this camera. It will be used in a more 'expressive' way, rather than pixel peeping, and for that it has some killer features. Stand outs at the moment seem to be the 'Pro Focus' mode that gives a darned good impression of shallow DOF, the sweep panorama mode, and the EXR dynamic range mode that really does control highlights. Actually these are all modes that reduce the sensor resolution, but still good quality. As for RAW, I'm not even going to load Silkypix and will wait for Adobe to update ACR, in the meantime straight 'Fine' JEPGS will have to do. Having not used a Fuji before the menu system was easy enough that I only needed to find information in the manual twice, and then the answer was stareing me in the face if I'd looked at the camera more closely. Oh, and the OVF is bright and big, easy to see with glasses!

I can see a lot of people making some great images with the X10.

Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom