Fujifilm’s X10 Boasts Impressive Features

Fujifilm X10
The Fujifilm X10 boasts impressive features at a humble price

Earlier this month Fujifilm launched the X10, another in its line of inexpensive but feature-packed retro-styled cameras.

The X10 starts with a respectable 12-megapixel, ⅔-inch EXR CMOS sensor behind a Fujinon 4x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, sporting a 28mm-112mm equivalent zoom range.  The lens turns in a respectable f/2 at the wide end and f/2.8 at the zoom.

Even though it’s smaller than the X100, the shell is die-cast magnesium alloy for durability and a bit of heft.  The barrel on the lens controls the zoom, but it’s also the camera’s power switch.  A very clever design feature.

The X10 has a side-mounted optical viewfinder with a 20 degree angle of view that takes me back to my Rangefinder days and a host of external menu controls that are easy to work and intuitive.  The internal software is supplemented by a wide range of manual options and colour presets.

The EXR-CMOS, in conjunction with Fujifilm’s EXR imaging technology, gives the camera three specialty exposure modes:  The SN mode for high sensitivity and low noise, the DR mode for wide dynamic range and the HR mode for high resolution shots.  It also includes an electronic horizon level to insure the camera is level.

Fujifilm X10
Top view of the Fujifilm X10 showing some of the many manual adjustments - photos via Fujifilm

The improved EXR processor is fast enough to give the X10 a continuous burst rate of 7 fps at the full 12-megapixel resolution and the ISO range is listed in the specs as 100 to 3200 but has a feature to push the ISO to 12800 at a reduced quality setting.

For video the X10 records 1080 HD at 30fps with stereo sound and uses the H.264 codec.

Importantly for people who like to work with their photos in post, it supports storage in jpeg or RAW format.  All in all pretty impressive specs for a camera.

Check out some comparisons of the Fujifilm X10 vs some of its competitors: