Camera Test Images – Fujifilm X10

Wow. I’ll start with that comment when it comes to my first impression of the new Fuji X10 “compact” camera. This is truly, hands down, “the” photographer’s compact camera.

My last “happy snaps” camera – the Olympus 5050 – fit that bill perfectly and there have been few since that time which could match up on specs. Many try and the Canon Gxx (10, 11, 12), and Nikon P7100 come close. But where they failed in my eyes were in the small maximum aperture (typically about f4 or 5.6 ish). The Olympus 5050 featured a super large f1.8 maximum aperture. It’s RAW files were stunning and it had a nice manual ability with focus and exposure.

Apparently, though…it did NOT like being taken down the River and I done kilt that poor cretur on my last trip down the Upper Colorado! Let’s just say I was relieved that I did not jump the gun and buy the Canon or Nikon cameras. (luckily, my niece, Rebecca, had a G11 on our last Upper Colorado trip so I got to use her camera!).

When I first heard rumor (DPreview.com) of the X10, I was S-T-O-K-E-D! First off, it looked like a real, film Rangefinder camera…sleek lines, professional appearance – a real “poor-man’s Leica” for real photographers (i.e. poor). This is the first camera I have ever pre-ordered, sight unseen. Don’t get me wrong, I spent hours pouring over reports, forums, and previews. (credit where credit is due: Steve Huff has an excellent blog and an excellent report and sample photos from the X10.)

Based on the information I read there – and the exceptional quality of the photos, I pre-ordered directly from Fuji. (A note about this. I can not ever recommend ordering from ShopFuji.com. Their terrible packaging and rediculous shipping method – UPS handoff to USPS – forced me spend almost 5 hours tracking down this little gem.)

Anyhoo, that said…let me share my first impressions:

• Size: It’s actually smaller than I prefer. Anyone with large hands will find this true. I’m likely to get the case (the leather case is quite pricey…though, when you compare to buying a Leica you’ve got tons o’ cash left over!). I plan on purchasing the case only to use the bottom half. I think it will add to protection and grip-ability.
• Build: Again. Wow! I have never seen a compact camera with this level of build quality. It’s metal! It’s solid. It feels like a real camera! A little “tank” you might say.
• Maximum aperture: f2~2.8: of all the “happy snaps” out there, I can’t think of any others with a lens this fast.
• Sensor: I wish it had a slightly larger sensor. The 2/3″ sensor performs amazingly, however – even with the ability for shallow depth of field (coupled with the fast lens, that is). I’m not going to get into all the technicology of the EXR sensor and blah…I’ll leave that to my counterparts more geekily oriented! Suffice it to say that image quality (especially at the 6 MP settings) is phenominal!
• Image Quality: so far my testing has all been high-ISO, natural light shooting – pushing the limits! And again, wow. The camera excels at ISO 1600! Holds together well up to 3,200 and – as one would expect – begins to degrade at 6,400 and 12,800! Again, these images are shot using a mode which only uses half the available pixels (6 mp vs. 12 mp). And again, I’ll let the techinerds ‘splain that info in more detail!

DRAWBACKS:

• My first overall complaint about this beauty is the optical viewfinder. At 85% the amount of crop makes accurately framing almost impossible. Bummer. But, practice of knowing what’s in the viewfinder and comparing to what’s in the big LCD screen will get me over that.
• ONE MORE…fairly pissed that the rear LCD screen does NOT come with any protective covering – not even for shipping. Within one day of very careful use, the screen is already scratched up. I have put a protective screen over it (better late than never?) – but am VERY UNHAPPY with Fuji for shipping the camera like this.
• I know that I’m going to find other facets of this camera I’m not happy with, glitches and the like, but for now…

FINAL THOUGHTS…

Okay, anyone who knows me knows there’s no such thing as Matt having a final thought! But anyway…

I love this camera! I plan on using it like film rangefinders of yore. That is, documentary-style, low-light, natural light, high-ISO shooting! I think this is actually going to fit alongside my D-SLR for the moment. As a travel companion to my Holga Toy Camera (since that’s the only real shooting I do outside my professional work), it’s going to allow me to produce (relatively) high-quality images.

I know for a fact (having spoken with a Fuji tech/rep) that there is a next generation of the X100 in the works. This next-gen rangefinder will feature interchangeable lenses and truly be a “poor man’s Leica.” So, I’m waiting to replace the S2 that my assistant used to test Newton’s law. In the meantime, I have complete confidence the X10 can fill its shoes!

Image Samples:

I’ve only had the camera for one day and haven’t had much chance to shoot. The following images samples include a Yoga training course, my ’67 Nikon F (doG, I love this camera!), and one of my photo students working on his final portfolio. I have posted the full-size JPEGs so you can really see detail. Except for converting a couple to B&W, I DID NOT make any changes to “noise” settings or exposure – i.e. I did not adjust the camera’s natural noise in LightRoom.

 

 

Crappy photo (!) but look at the detail at ISO 2,000!

ISO 2,000  f4 1/60  B&W mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 12,800  f5.6   1/160    mode: 6mp mode “M”:

 

 

 

 

ISO 640  f2.8    1/40    mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 2,000  f4 1/60  mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 2,000  f4 1/60  mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 2,000  f4 1/60  mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 2,000  f4 1/60   mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 2,000  f4 1/60  mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 12,800  f2.8    1/80   mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 6,400  f2.8    1/40   mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 3,200  f4    1/10    mode  (6mp mode “M”):

 

 

 

 

ISO 1,600   f4   1/8    mode  (6mp mode “M”):

NEW IMAGES SHOT WITH THESE SETTINGS:

Full 12 mp setting, Fuji Velvia film setting, DR varies with the shots…

 

ISO 1,600   f2.8   1/250    mode  (12mp mode “M”): I believe DR was at 400%: NOT as impressed with “noise” structure in the 12mp mode! I believe Fuji is heavy-handed on the Gaussian Blur using all 12 million pixels.

 

 

 

ISO 1,600   f4   1/8    mode  (6mp mode “M”): I believe DR was at 400%: NOT as impressed with “noise” structure in the 12mp mode! I believe Fuji is heavy-handed on the Gaussian Blur using all 12 million pixels.

 

 

ISO 1,600   f2.8   1/200    mode  (12mp mode “M”): I believe DR was at 400%: (-1 EV) NOT as impressed with “noise” structure in the 12mp mode! I believe Fuji is heavy-handed on the Gaussian Blur using all 12 million pixels.

 

 

ISO 800   f5.6   1/12 mode  (12mp mode “A” ): Similar thoughts on the skin tones looking like too much Gaussian Blur has been applied to the Blue channel. Just a guess on my part, though an educated one!

 

 

ISO 400   f5.6   1/700    mode  (12mp mode “A”): This was a grab shot as we walked in Denver. Again, 12 mp…just not as impressive as the 6mb schemata. BUT – let’s face it…6 mp is plenty big enough for most everyday use.

 

 

ISO 200   f8   1/200    mode  (12mp mode “A”) – Fuji Velvita film emulation. Pretty F’ing intense on the color…like Velvita on steroids…all other color settings were standard:

 

 

 

DR turned down…from 400% to 100 %.

 

And yes, I’m aware I spelled Velvia like the cheese. Duh.