- my Fuji X10 review – the perfect travel camera?
- how to set your Fuji X10 for best results
- Fuji X10 camera and mountain hiking
- flowers, raindrops and macro photography
After shooting with the Fuji X10 for several months, I decided to write a short review. I will not review all the specifications as other websites do a very good job in this.
Fujifilm X10 at a glance:
- advanced compact digital camera with manual controls
- a large 2/3″ 12megapixels sensor, Fujifilm EXR CMOS deisgn
- 28-112mm equivalent bright F2.0-2.8 lens
- manual zoom lens
- optical viewfinder (85% coverage) (no information in the viewfinder though)
- 2.8″, 460,000 dot back LCD
- RAW shooting (in Fuji RAF format) and in-camera Raw conversion
- shooting up to 7fps at full resolution or 10fps at reduced 6 megapixels
The big question, and the one that I will try to answer here, is this: is the Fujifilm X10 the best travel camera? And the answer is….’yes’, but it depends. It is very close to everything I need, it ticks most of my travel needs, it’s just that sometimes the Fujifilm X10 make me feel like pulling my hair out. But the X10 is the closest thing I have found to that elusive ideal travel camera.
I should start the Fujifilm X10 review with a short info about my history with cameras. The Fujifilm replaces my Canon 550D and Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8. This is a high standard to beat, or even get close. Were I to expect DSLR image quality from a (premium) compact, I would’ve been disappointed. However, I was looking for a portable solution, low profile street camera – and the Fuji X10 gets a lot of things right.
Before the details of my review, a short list of features and problems with the Fuji X10. I feel that this list should give a clear idea of what I like about the Fuji and what I expect from a camera.
Fujifilm X10 positives
- bright high quality lens
- good high ISO performance
- decent AF speed but high accuracy
- beautiful colours and details for street photography
- beautiful colours and details for portraits
- great dynamic range in EXR mode (EXR DR mode)
- great build quality
- can become completely silent
- macro mode, face detection, ‘mechanical’ zoom and good auto-ISO
Fujifilm X10 negatives
- AF sometimes misses or hunts a lot and there is not a clear sign why
- the optical viewfinder, for me, is mostly useless
- it eats batteries like popcorn
- RAW (RAF files) are not well supported in Lightroom
- full resolution (12MP) files are below other premium compacts (Sony RX100 or Canon G15)
- white orbs are a reality, and they are annoying. Fuji solved this issue by replacing the sensor in newer models, and to a lesser extent through a firmware upgrade
- sometimes when I start the camera (by rotating the lens) the X10 refuses to start. Usually turning it off and again on solves this problem.
My Fuji X10 review explain the previous points. Please bear in mind that some features, or lack of, which were not interesting for me are not included. I would have liked articulated LCD, GPS or a lower price, but when I bought the camera I already knew about the lack-of.
the (in)famous Fuji X10 white orbs
I will start my Fuji X10 review with the number one, most famous, problem with Fuji X10.
Yes, the white orbs are present and there are enough of them to notice but most of the time my photos work (or don’t work) regardless of these orbs. The white orbs are specular highlights that went crazy, and appear as white discs in photos.
I think the most problematic scenarios are cityscapes at night, photos of metallic surfaces and to a lesser extent powerful lights in the frame.
Fujifilm developed a new sensor, and any camera bought now should have no problems with this. If you have one of the older models you can (and should) install the Fuji X10 firmware update. This will improve the white orbs problem, and add a lot of improvements to the camera.
bright high quality lens
The lens, made by Fujifilm (famous for Fujinon medium format lenses), runs from 28mm to 112mm (4x zoom range), and has an impressive 2.0 – 2.8 aperture. This means that telephoto is usable in low light (I think compact digital cameras with F4.9 or F5.6 at tele are useless). Also the control of depth of field is comparable to a DSLR (APS-C) or m4/3 with its kit lens.
So while it is not possible to manage the creamy out of focus portraits one can do with a full frame DSLR and an 85mm F1.8, the Fujifilm X10 can do some good subject isolation.
good high ISO performance
Not in the same league as micro 4/3 or APS-C DSLRs, the large sensor on the Fuji manages to get good results at high ISOs (800 and 1600 ISO).
The EXR noise reduction mode – a clever technique enabled in EXR Auto – manages to get clean 6mp JPEGS even at ISO 3200. The camera manages to do this by averaging two frames, and the result is very good.
great dynamic range in EXR mode
This is one magic trick Fuji does that makes me love this camera! Analysis of the special characteristics of the Fuji sensor (it is not a Bayer one) is beyond the scope of this Fuji X10 review. Suffice to say that at DR400 and at 6mp JPEGS, the results are stunning.
Getting a bonus of 2 – 4 more EV (my estimation) with a beautiful per-pixel sharpness and detail make for some great images.
My time spent in Lightroom decreased to a very manageable few minutes per picture. While on my Canon I felt the need to tweak a RAW’s shadows, highlights and contrast, in the case of Fuji I usually just crop and straighten This is an amazing thing for me. I am very lazy processing pictures, and anything that helps me time-wise is great.
You can read some more information on how I set my Fuji X10 here .
auto-focus speed and accuracy
I will admit: I am a face detection fan. When shooting on the street, taking someone’s portrait, and even in general photography – I keep face detection on. Being almost guaranteed to have a good focus on the subject is great. This is especially useful in harsh light when the LCD is hard to see, therefore I have to use the optical viewfinder. I even set my Fn button (customization button) to deactivate the face detection function for the occasions when I do not need it (or it returns false positives).
In good light the AF speed is very fast – it is close enough to my Canon. And it is faster than DSLR live view mode. As the light drops, the focus struggles somewhat but mostly this can be helped by searching for high contrast details. AF illuminator and decent focus confirmation help reduce the problems. The problems appear when light drops to a level that I have to use ISO 1600 @ f2.8 with 1/4 – 1/30s (pretty low light!).
the optical viewfinder
I used to shoot with a viewfinder (and I find electronic VFs not that great), so the optical viewfinder on the Fuji seemed like a great idea. Suffering from parallax error (unavoidable in this camera design) and seeing the barrel of the lens make the viewfinder less than ideal. The lack of any visible focus confirmation or a cross-hair type of marking for the center focus point make shooting with the optical viewfinder very frustrating.
A Fuji X10 review cannot really explain the benefits and annoyances of the viewfinder so it is best to visit a local store and experience it for yourself.
miscellaneous pro’s and con’s
- the camera feels very solid and well-made (+)
- the on/off system is brilliant as it give great feedback and I hope lower battery consumption (+)
- the Fuji X10 really needs one or two secondary batteries as I cannot get more than 200 photos per charge (-)
Fortunately third-party batteries for Fuji X10 are pretty cheap and the ones I use hold good charge and save me from missing photo opportunities.
- in silent mode the camera is completely silent – a nice change from the loud mirror slap of a DSLR, especially when shooting bracketing bursts or using the panorama function (+)
- the macro mode is limited to the wide-angle of the lens, so I have to get pretty close to the subject (-)
- the macro mode however saves me carrying a dedicated lens on the DSLR (+).
I could not continue the Fujifilm X10 review without the most important yet hard to quantify feature. The camera feels great in use, is very responsive and I never wait for it. Once I found my preferred custom mode settings it feels great taking pictures.
is Fuji X10 the best travel camera?
If weight and size are the important factors, yes I would say that the Fuji is an amazing choice. While not perfect, it is great to use. For me, the Fuji X10 is the current travel camera.
If you feel OK taking a DSLR with fast lens, or prefer having a wider range of shooting possibilities the Fuji loses some of its appeal. But if those extra lenses – or even the DSLR – stay in the bag most of the time, maybe the Fuji X10 is the right choice.
update: A step-up from a premium digital compact like the Fuji X10 are the various mirrorless systems. They have better image quality, a growing choice of lenses and size somewhere between a compact and a DSLR. I chose a Fuji X-E1 and got the great Fuji colors and very high image quality.
Do I need the most image quality in every shot, all the time? As I do not, and I enjoy photography more for the creation process, I am very happy with my Fuji X10. Were I to sell stock photography or be on an assignment – I would probably take the DSLR.
In the end – every photography tool makes compromises. It is not really possible to have great image quality, low-cost, low weight, lens flexibility, speed, all in a very small, good-looking package. We just try to find a good balance.
conclusion of the Fuji X10 review
While not perfect, this camera gets very close to my ideal travel camera. It is not a DSLR killer (nor does it pretend it is), but offers great photo features. And taking into account its quirks, one can do some amazing stuff with it.
Fuji X10 in more detail
other opinions and reviews
If you read all the way through my Fuji X10 review, and would like more information about this camera and maybe even buy it, here are a few more reviews on the Internet. studiofd.com, the dpreview.com complex analysis or kenrockwell.com all are a good start.
The Fuji x10 is available on Amazon, with a hefty price reduction, so if you do not need the advancements in the X20 this might be a good time to buy.
feb 22, 2013 update: is it time to upgrade?
This post about the Fuji X10 proved very popular. After a few more months I still find the camera very helpful and producing consistently pleasing results. Is it perfect? I think no camera can do it all. But one can dream…and read a lot about the Fuji X20.
The Fuji X20 is the upgrade to the camera presented here and has just started to hit the virtual shelves on Amazon. At least on paper it is a great successor. If you want to see what are the main improvements over the Fuji X10, you can read my piece is the Fuji X20 a worthy successor to my X10 ?
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Hi I’ve just brought an X10 for my 5month trip to India and 2 months in Bali.
can you recomend a good bag..??
I will be wearing the camera naked around my neck most of the time, but for when it is packed, I’d like to to be packed well.
Hi Gavin
I am mostly carrying the camera either in my hand or dangling from my neck. I haven’t bought a special camera bag for it – but I am looking into this…
When not shooting – or just going to work, pub etc – I am keeping the camera in my normal bag (messenger type bag). I feel the Fuji X10 is safe enough in this bag.
I have to mention that I am a careful person with my gadgets, and I never had any serious mishap with cameras bumping into hard stuff, so I feel confident in risking the X10 in this way…
Good luck in your search for a suitable bag. Remember to provide space for one or two additional batteries!
Hello Andrei
Enjoyed your blog, you have travelled to some wonderful places, and your writing and photography are both excellent and very engaging.
I am thinking of buying an X10, so your posts on this camera have been really helpful, and very much appreciated. At the moment I’m juggling the idea of X10 or Lumix DMC-LX7. I don’t travel anywhere near as much as you unfortunately, but still enjoy carrying a small camera around for casual photography, and my old Canon G10 is beaten and battered.
How on earth did you work out how to make your blog post images pop up from the page? It’s superb – I’ve tried that on my blog but cannot figure it out.
All the best with your future travels and thanks again.
Rob, Toowoomba, Australia
Hi Rob – these are very interesting times for compact cameras. Probably whichever you chose from Fuji X10 or or Lumix LX7 you will not be disappointed.
Sony RX100 is also a modern and powerful camera (with a larger sensor, which at least in theory should deliver very good quality images.) so probably the best solution for you is to check all these models in a store and decide based on your feeling.
In the end remember that it is still the photographer that takes the picture, the camera helps but it is just a tool in the end.
Regarding the plugin for the blog – I use Highslide plugin now (highslide.com),This plugin should automatically (or automagically) enable galleries and popup images in your blog. You only have to insert smaller versions of the images (thumbnails) that link to a larger version, and Highslide does the rest (JS and CSS).
Once you have installed and activated Highslide, edit a new post and insert an image with “Link URL” set as “File URL” and “size” being thumbnail or medium. This should be all. You can also try Lightbox or Fancybox instead of Highslide.
I like Highslide because it also reverse adapts old posts, so when I switched and unified my galleries, it did the work for me.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for your fab, no nonsence views on the K10. My mind is made up, its the Fuji fo me.
Hi Andrei:
I travelled Europe earlier this year with an X10 and an E-PL2. Both were fine performers but the X10 is sensational. I sold it on my return to Australia and purchased an OM-D, which I still have.
I just purchased another X10. It is such a brilliant travel camera, my OM-D is getting lonely. I also have plans to return to Europe next February with just the X10 and an ipad.
BTW, earlier this evening I framed 4 18inx12in prints from the last trip, taken with the smaller cameras. I believe I could print perfectly well up to 30in x 20in with the X10, maybe even larger. It is built like a tank, and the Fuji colours are sensational.
Regards,
Max
Hi Max,
Indeed the X10 is very good even at large print sizes. I only found that it starts to struggle when the camera is pushed to ISO 1600 and more, and the light is bad (mixed lighting, lots of shadow details). In other words – in situations where most cameras struggle.
Great practical review. Thanks for sharing
Have you tried the Canon G1X? Comparison vs X10 for every day travel camera?
Thanks a lot
Have you comoared X10 vs Canon G1X?
Comments?
Hello Eduardo,
Sorry for not commenting earlier. When I purchased the Fuji X10 – late 2011 – the Canon G1X was not launched yet. So it was not possible for me to compare the two.
However, later on, I did look very close at the Canon and handled it in a camera shop and I didn’t really like it. I am not saying it is not a very nicely specced camera, but I liked the handling and purity of the Fuji better. It is a personal thing, so I advise to try them both if possible, but right now I think Fuji manages to strike a good balance between features and elegance in use. Plus, the Canon G1X feels significantly larger.
If you have not yet made the decision maybe you can wait 1 more month for the Fuji X20. From reading the improvements and the first hands-on previews with this camera, I feel that it would be an even more absolute winner. If that is possible…
(if you look at the minuses I have with the X10, a lot of them are solved by the new camera).
Hope this helps somewhat.
thanks for the review! I realize that at this point, the X10 been discontinued, obviously, but someone near me is selling an almost-new one and I am interested. I too am looking for a good travel / everyday camera that’s light, responsive and has great image quality and this was very helpful.
Hi Amanda – if you feel the price is right you should be happy for a long time with the Fuji X10.
While it is true that the new model (the Fuji X20) has some notable improvements, that does not invalidate the older model.
I hope you will enjoy your new camera.
I usually wait until cameras are 18 months to 2 years old, two reasons, mainly because they become more affordable for me as a pensioner but also because they have been used by people who know what they are talking about, I think your review proves you are one of those people. Thank you for a great review and for pointers on set up. My used X10 should arrive in a day or two and I am looking forward to forming a long lasting partnership following on from my many years with my Canon G10. Thanks again for a superb review.
From what I have seen Fuji does not ignore users of the “older” cameras. For the X10 they added through firmware a few well received features, and also solved (or tried to solve) the complaints users had. You should be very happy with the X10 provided you accept it’s limitations though.
Happy shooting!
I know this is an old post but i was in a dilemma i am on holidays this sunday and have packed my canon 5D mkIII/lenses but i was thinking of taking my X10 instead so i had to google to get convinced that this is a good idea and found your post. will i regret it, who knows.