Is the X10 a bust?

[ath]

Just bought one two weeks ago. The sensor issue (WDS) has been solved and new cameras are fine.
If you have an older one and have a problem with WDS Fuji will repair it for free (acutally from what I read they simply exchange them).

 

[menthel]

I love mine. Its a great little carry round camera with nice image quality. Its quick enough to get photos of my boy and shooting in jpeg gives nice images that don't really need editing.

 

[D.O'K.]

Ditto.
Excellent build quality too.

Regards,
D.

 

[Rob-F]

About the only "ergonomic" issue for me is that I wish it had an on/off switch in the same place as the X100, on top of the camera. That way I could leave the lens set to the focal length I want most of the time, and not have to move the lens from there to "off" and back to my focal length setting in order to use the power switch.

The other issue I have is with the viewfinder. I find it just about useless. I get out of focus pictures with it because I don't know what the camera is focusing on.

The ideal camera would have the small size and zoom lens of the X10, but with the OVF/EVF finder of the X100. And, of course, the power switch in the right place!

 

[rodfelici]

I have my X10 since three weeks. I am really enjoying mine, never had a camera like this (and I have quite a lot of cameras!).
It is perfect and really well planned for me, something brilliant like Olympus XA or OM, it could has been designed by Maitani. It contains the archetipal of all the rangefinders camera for me. It is little, black, with a viewfinder, the on-off switch is something that recall both the lock of Contax than the collapsible lens of Leica, and the wheel on the top also are positioned to recall both the Leica II than the over-underexposure selector of the OM2. Reeeally silent in the stealth mode (if you press the noise off button), more than any other camera I ever had! Just this would woth buying.
I do not have the X100, I suppose it is a great tool, but this is black and has a zoom lens, with focal expressed in 35mm equivalens, so it is a great, totally different camera from the X100. I do not mind it is not an X100, I would buy an X10 anyway.
It is a great rangefinder-alike camera at a very low price for its capabilities, and I think that it can do something that most of the other cameras can not do (except maybe the little XA): to shoot in a totally invisible quite silent way.
The EXR mode is something that any camera should have. If you wish, you can select any of the function of the camera going through the menus, but when you are doing street photography and you need a fast, intelligent choice taking the best from the small sensor you can select EXR and just mind about framing. It is something that any camera should have, like autofocus (I do not think it is essential, I love to shot without exposure meter and autofocus, but those option are good on a modern camera).

I am a GREAT X10 fan!! 🙂

 

[tbhv55]

I've had the x10 for about six months, and the more that I use it, the more impressed I become. Although not the equal of the x100 in IQ, it is nonetheless impressive for a camera with such a small sensor. In particular, I find the results for low-light B&W work very appealing.

The zoom range is very convenient, and the lens is fast throughout the range. The Jpeg quality is excellent, and makes Raw shooting (almost) superfluous - although I do continue to shoot Raw as a kind of "insurance".

Overall, I rate the x10 as very good value. I guess that the ergonomics won't be suitable for some - but that applies to all cameras, and indeed most engineered products. For me, the x10 suits very nicely...

 

[tonal1]

Best P&S I've ever used.

 

[Snowbuzz]

The reason I sold it was frustration. The JPEGs it produces are magnificent, but the RAW files have more information and range, something meatier to work with. But I could never get a RAW file to look half as good as an out of camera JPEG. I've never really come across that before in ten years of digital use. The second frustration was the functions of the camera. They were beyond me, so many choices to be made to make the best photograph possible. After three or four variations on the theme with different menu options I lost the will to live and photograph. So eventually just left the camera on Auto and it became a P&S rather than a creative tool. And so it went to a good home.

Steve

I had a similar experience. Very polarising camera, apparently. Reminds me of the Linhof Technikardan 45s in that respect: I hated it with a passion whereas others loved it to death.

Oh, I might add that Maggie's Flickr photostream is what convinced me to buy one. Grrrrr... 😉

 

[Axel]

I don´t think that the camera itself polarizes. Users or skills might do this.

The options I got with my X10 are mighty but I understood that as a challenge.
The X10 makes it easy to start, regardless where someone comes from.
The EXR-mode gives the camera a useful point-and-shoot-function and also
I found a real manual mode that is easy to use.
With this two settings I spent the first year with my X10 and I got the technical best
and appealing shots I ever had with a digital camera.
It is possible to explore the other functions of the X10 step-by-step.
I love my X10 for its reliable function and results and for its fast and responsive handling.

RAW is no option for me so I can´t imagine what the X10 is worth for somebody that wants to
use it for that kind of photography.

Regards, Axel

 

[maggieo]

I had a similar experience. Very polarising camera, apparently. Reminds me of the Linhof Technikardan 45s in that respect: I hated it with a passion whereas others loved it to death.

Oh, I might add that Maggie's Flickr photostream is what convinced me to buy one. Grrrrr... 😉

Bwhahahahahaha! 😀

I seem to love the things that are polarizing- Sonnars, the X10, heck, Leicas, Telecasters, etc... I guess I'm just kind of a stinker that way, Doc!

 

[Snowbuzz]

So evil of you to post those awesome pics on Flickr: I just HAD to buy the camera after viewing your images some months ago. Didn't know it was you on RF; just did a search on Flickr, and arrived at your X10-propaganda-set-for-the-gullible. Grrrrr.... 😡

- Rory

 

[maggieo]

Here's the latest shot from it, of another polarizing camera that I love and use:


Olympus XA, December 27, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[Tejasican]

Oh, I might add that Maggie's Flickr photostream is what convinced me to buy one. Grrrrr... 😉

Funny, that's how I ended up with my LX2.

 

[maggieo]

I'm an enabler! Um, YAY? 😉

Here's today's shot from the X10, of it's bigger sister:


X100 and Dharma Coffee, December 27, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[tbhv55]

Here's the latest shot from it, of another polarizing camera that I love and use:
Olympus XA, December 27, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

I just wish that there were a digital equivalent of the XA...

 

[maggieo]

I just wish that there were a digital equivalent of the XA...

It's the X10! 🙄😱😉

Actually, the X100 comes kind of close, but it is bigger.

 

[unixrevolution]

It's the X10! 🙄😱😉

Actually, the X100 comes kind of close, but it is bigger.

I just got a Sony Rx100, and it seems like it'll fill the same gap, even if it isn't a FF prime-lens rangefinder.

 

[tbhv55]

It's the X10! 🙄😱😉

I know what you mean🙂, but I think what I really meant to say was "I wish that there were an actual digital XA..."

 

[teleparallel]

I've got one recently, as my digital camera to go along with my film. After spend some time to get the ergonomics the way I wanted(use the viewfinder, with no live view, basic info screen, no fake shutter sound), it's now one of the best cameras. Two complains: no on/off switch, the directional wheel is too loose with no clear steps. Viewfinder exposure info, would make it the best PS ever.

I really like the zoom ring, and the big optical viewfinder(compared to Canon Gs and Nikon Ps).

 

[tonal1]

Here's the latest shot from it, of another polarizing camera that I love and use:


Olympus XA, December 27, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

My 2cents on the XA: I'm convinced there is a lot of "sample variation" with these cameras, which makes a lot of sense considering it's original price point. So many people rave about these little cameras, and at the same time, people who's opinions I have respect for have told me that their XA was not that great. For that reason, I avoided them and stuck to the razor sharp and highly unreliable Minox 35's... I just came across an Olympus XA, and had it, *ehem*, overhauled... and the thing is amazingly good! It has quite a nice viewfinder, adequite rangefinder, and a sharp little lens with decent contrast. It's my walk around and don't care if I get robbed camera now... Total investment, $95, plus nice pictures = happiness.