Fujifilm X10: better than the X100?

September 1, 2011 @ 5:35AM

Fujifilm X10: better than the X100?

The X100 has a bigger sensor, but size is not everything. The X10 promises to set a new era for compact cameras.

By Jose Antunes

Fujifilm just announced the addition of a new premium compact camera to its digital camera line up for autumn 2011. The X10 features a large 2/3" 12 megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor and a high-definition F2.0 wide-angle and F2.8 telephoto Fujinon 4x manual zoom lens (28-112mm 35mm equivalent) characterised by its brightness and superb picture quality right up to the edge of an image.

The X10 is, states Fujifilm, “a highly advanced compact camera with specifications that follow in the footsteps of the multi award-winning Fujifilm FinePix X100 (released in March 2011): the ultimate in refined design, components, functions and specification. Featuring a bright optical zoom viewfinder with a wide viewing angle, the X10 allows users to enjoy the pleasure of photography via a traditional viewfinder, providing all the benefits and ease of composition that this brings.

While this is true, what I feel is that for general use and for a lot of people, the X10 might be a better camera than the X100. I know some readers might just think I don’t know what I am talking about, but consider one thing: this camera as the zoom lens that the X100 misses (the X100 has a 23mm f/2 (equivalent to 35mm/135 format). The little X10 has a 28-112mm f/2-2.8 (again equivalent to 35mm) that Fujifilm has graced with a complete manual zoom, instead of following recent trends of electronic motorised zooms or power-zoom, that we need to fight with to get the proper framing…

So, yes, I am interested. Also because this camera falls into the high-end compact camera category but has a sensor a bit bigger (compare the image on this page). Having just finished playing with a Canon PowerShot G12, I know, as everybody else, that the sensor is sometimes too small for going above 400 ISO. The X10 features a newly-developed large 2/3" 12 megapixel EXR-CMOS sensor with approximately twice the sensor area, and approximately 2.5 times the pixel area, compared to existing Fujifilm camera models. And the rest of the cameras, that mostly use smaller sensors. So, at least in theory, this sensor can deliver more.

This bespoke EXR-CMOS sensor combines Fujifilm's proprietary EXR technology. What that means is that it can select the optimum shooting mode from the three options SN / DR / HR:

SN High Sensitivity and Low Noise mode - produces clear and sharp high-sensitivity images whilst keeping the noise levels low, and is an ideal choice for capturing night scenes or indoor situations with poor lighting.

DR Wide Dynamic Range mode - delivers a much increased dynamic range (up to 1600%) delivering rich gradations and detail in both the shadows and highlights.

HR High Resolution mode - takes full advantage of the 12 megapixel resolution to reproduce the finest details in landscape and portrait scenes, perfect for use on bright clear days

In addition the X10 features a high-speed EXR-CMOS sensor and EXR processor which facilitate high-speed continuous shooting at up to 7 frames per second at the full 12 megapixel resolution (L size), and 10 frames per second at the reduced resolution M size.

The all-metal lens barrel hides inside 11 glass lens elements in 9 groups, including 3 aspherical glass lens elements (6 sides) and 2 extra-low dispersion lens elements. And with a newly developed Optical Image Stabilisation mechanism present, you can rest assured that any lens aberration is kept to an absolute minimum and image resolution is maximised making the most of the sensor performance and delivering high quality images.

Also, the lens is capable of taking super-macro shots as close up as 1cm. This function can also be combined with 7-blade aperture to deliver a stunning soft-focus "bokeh" effect perfect for shooting portraits using the telephoto zoom.

The Fujifilm X10 has a viewfinder. Let’s rephrase that: a bright optical viewfinder with a wide viewing-angle. Fujifilm's engineers used an arrangement of 3 aspherical lenses plus a special dach prism configuration to deliver a viewfinder with superior brightness and a superb field of view with its extra wide viewing angle, and all whilst still maintaining a compact camera size. This, combined with the Manual Barrel Zoom functionality, makes a real difference and brings a welcome old-style photographic feel to the X10.

Autofocus works through a 49-point matrix contrast AF which provides high-speed and high-precision auto focusing thanks to the fast CMOS capabilities and the advanced EXR Processor's AF system.

With its super speedy shutter-release time lag of approx. 0.01 seconds, the X10 can capture even the most fleeting of photo opportunities. And it's also worth mentioning that it features best-in-class4 1080p Full HD movie recording capabilities.

In terms of ISO settings, the X10 can capture shots between ISO 100 for well lit conditions and top picture quality, and ultra-high ISO 12800 for the most minimal of lighting conditions. If the correct exposure cannot be obtained with the selected ISO setting, the ISO Auto Setting function adjusts it automatically between 100 and 3200.

For those of you that like to experiment, the X10 offers Fujifilm's unique Film Simulation modes, reflecting the company's background in photographic films. Eight settings are available, including Velvia / PROVIA / ASTIA which allow you to reproduce the well-known tones of highly popular colour reversal films, as well as X10 expands the scope of photo expression with Monochrome Mode that can be fine-tuned with R / Ye / G filter settings.

In addition to Auto White Balance, the X10 provides a choice of 9 white balance presets to compensate for the colour of different light sources. Users can also set a Custom White Balance using a grey card or other surface, or select the optimum Kelvin value.

The X10 also features detailed image adjustability settings with options including "Colour" to adjust colour strength, "Highlight Tone" / "Shadow Tone" to adjust contrast in highlight / shadow sections, and "Sharpness" to sharpen or soften pixel edges.

Finally there is a Noise Reduction Adjustment function to set the strength of noise reduction at five different levels according to the users' emphasis on whether to prioritise high resolution or low noise.

So, the Fujifilm X10 might be a smaller camera than the Fujifilm X100, but it surely feels like a tool that more people will buy, as it does make sense as a “take anywhere” compact. I would not mind having one for testing. I hope someone at Fujifilm reads this as I am not sure Fujifilm is present in my country.

For more info get the PDF catalogue

Comments

steevy

8 months ago

Comments on the Fujifilm X10.

Obviously aimed at the 'enthusiast compact' niche occupied by the Canon G12 & S95, Nikon P7000 and Panasonic LX5 the predicted price of £499 ($599) seems a little high but that is an introductory price and will soon be discounted to the correct level.

To compare minute details of the spec seems a little trivial when what really counts for image quality is pixel size (note pixel not sensor size). The 2/3"sensor is the same size as the 11MP (non superCCD) fitted to the Fuji S100 - referred to as 'the legend' by its users for its impressive IQ. So there's the precedent.
This sensor area is 20% larger than the LX5 and 48% larger than the G12/P7000/S95. OK so it does have 12MP instead of 10MP but I think that more than balances out.

Now for the first REAL difference - the X10 has an 12MP EXR sensor thats 20% larger than any previous one. Those of you who have never shot with an EXR sensor probably don't appreciate this but results have to be seen to be believed. By combining adjacent pixels in a unique Fuji way the sensor can achieve depth of colour and level of detail remarkable for its size. So you get a camera with 6 'super' megapixels - I can sense some of the 12 and 14MP guys shudder at this but more megapixels means smaller pixels which means more noise which results in more noise processing and smearing.

I first discovered EXR when I bought the first EXR camera the F200 in late 2008. Since then I have all the Fuji EXR compacts and none could match the F200 image quality until the HS20 bridge camera which comes close.

So how does the X10 compare to the best of the EXR cameras? To start with it has a 12MP sensor 20% larger than the F200. I addition it is an EXR BSI-CMOS sensor which gives around 50% more output per pixel which is the reason the 16MP HS20 with a sensor half as big and 30% more megapixels comes close to the F200.

Adding all this together I believe that this camera could well be a winner IQ wise but what else has it got going for it?
At last someone has taken a lot of the menus out of everyday shooting.
The X10 is genuinely 'retro' with manual zoom (power switch built in - clever idea). manual aperture, manual EV compensation, manual focus mode, mechanical remote - just like a film camera - I still have some in case they are not made anymore. In addition you can buy an adapter to fit a 52mm filter on the lens - don't think you can do that with an LX5, S95 or even a G12. Good for Fuji!
The 80% viewfinder is a bit of a compromise but for years now I've used a 'Hoodman' loupe on the LCD for composing and viewing shots (works far better) and so for me this is no great deal.
Some have commented on the use of a NP50 battery but if you are trading up from another EXR camera most use this (I have around 12) so even this makes sense.

To summarise, as a user of Canon and Panasonic compacts as well as Fuji, this camera makes much more sense than just about anything released recently. To date I have dismissed 'retro' cameras as 'designer cameras' with a retro shell.

But this one is different!