The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has a 6.3-megapixel Fujifilm Super CCD HR camera sensor, 3x optical zoom, 6.2x digital zoom, and a large 2.5-inch LCD display. All of this is housed in a compact and beautiful small package that is easy to carry. The Fuji F10 is available for the suggested retail price of $499 but the street price is around $275.
Price: $499 US
Fujifilm FinePix F10 Pros and Cons
Pros
Lightweight and compact
Natural-light mode for low-light shooting
High sensitivity ISO 1600
Extraordinarily long battery life
Anti-blur technology
Fast start-up
Cons
No aperture or shutter-speed control
No optical viewfinder
Poor low light auto focus
Lower resolution than competitive compact digital cameras
Introduction During a recent trip to Paris, I met with a PhotographyREVIEW.com community member who couldn't stop talking about his Fujifilm FinePix F10. His passion is street photography and he has taken some great photos with the camera. I value his judgment and consider him a very capable photographer. He convinced me that I should test the F10 if the opportunity arose. Because of my personal interest in the camera, this was more than just a standard camera review--I was giving it a test drive because I was seriously considering buying it. It was great to be able to give it a spin before spending any money.
Right after I got the camera I flew to Atlanta to pick up my new black lab puppy, Max. I got to document our first days together with the FinePix F10. This was an important event for both of us, and a good opportunity to put the camera through its paces.
Fujifilm FinePix F10 Design
The FinePix F10 design is simple and easy. It will please some users but may frustrate more advanced photographers who want to take advantage of Fujifilm's Real Photo Technology. According to Fuji, the main focus of the design process was not the number of pixels, but rather, enhancing the camera's performance and image quality. In other words, Fujifilm engineers wanted to make a better camera, not just a camera with more resolution.
Because I have some experience and like control, I felt frustrated with the lack of exposure control. During the time I had the camera, I couldn't intuitively figure out how to adjust the shutter or aperture, so I ended up relying on the scene modes to get the effects I wanted. After I read the manual I discovered that the F10 doesn't offer direct shutter speed or aperture control. I find it hard to believe that a camera that's supposed to represent photographic innovation offers so little exposure control.
Although exposure control was not readily available, the control placement was superb. The Mode switch is located on top of the camera, around the shutter release, so the user can quickly change the shooting, movie, or replay modes. Buttons on the back of the camera change the flash mode, macro setting, monitor brightness, and set the Self-timer. All of the buttons are in logical and easy-to-reach locations.
Left: Fujifilm FinePix F10 Mode Switch Right: Fujifilm FinePix F10 menu controls and Photo mode (F) button
A beginning photographer who wants to learn the rule of thirds can turn on a composition grid within the viewfinder. These lines don't show up in a photo, but are very helpful for learning how to compose a shot. This is a very cool design feature that all digital cameras should have. It makes leveling your shot easier too. I've paid a lot of money to buy viewfinder grids for my Nikon F5 35mm SLR and Mamiya medium format camera to get this very same feature.
Increasing the "cool factor" of the camera is the large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Since the F10 doesn't have an optical viewfinder, the monitor must be bright, crisp, and provide all necessary information. Fuji doesn't disappoint with the F10's display. FinePix F10 owners will enjoy bright, crisp images with a histogram, camera shake warning, and exposure information. Under bright conditions you can easily adjust the brightness of the monitor from the rear of the camera.
Fujifilm FinePix F10 display during capture
Fujifilm FinePix F10 playback display with info on
Fujifilm FinePix F10 Photo mode (F) menu
Main menu with exposure compensation selected
Camera Experience The FinePix F10 appears to have been designed with a natural-light mentality. Sensitivity up to ISO 1600 makes the camera useable in situations where flash might be awkward or change the feel of an image. The F10 is also quick. When you turn it off, your current camera settings are saved. This makes it possible to take better advantage of the 1/100th of a second startup time. By remembering your settings, it's ready to go from the moment you turn it on. This can be the difference between catching and missing a photo - as long as the previous, saved settings are good for the photo you're trying to take.
The Fujifilm FinePix F10 really does perform well. But there were two areas that I would have handled differently. First, not having any manual exposure controls prevents a photographer from using his or her own style. Second, low light auto focus is poor and there's no manual focus option. This is the weakest link on the camera and I missed some shots. On the positive side, the FinePix F10's anti-blur technology will recognize the likelihood of a motion blur and adjust the shutter speed to a minimum of 1/60th of a second to avoid blurring. This can be a lifesaver for true point-and-shoot photographers, who snap away without worrying about technical issues like motion blur.
Despite the shortcomings mentioned above, the camera performs very well. Its size and weight, along with stellar battery life, enable you to use the camera on a very long day or even for a week without any hassles. I was able to use the camera for two weeks without having to charge the battery. That says a lot, considering that there is no optical viewfinder and you have to use the LCD monitor for all the time. Another benefit is the FinePix Color mode menu, accessed via the "F" button. The options are, F-Chrome, F-B&W, and Standard. It's great that the F10 gives you the ability to shoot with more saturation (F-Chrome) or in black and white. This saves time and keeps things simple, saving you from having to use software to get the look you want.
Image Quality
Image quality is where the Fujifilm FinePix F10 turns up the heat. When we think of ISO 1600, most of us expect horrific digital noise. I was blown away by images at the F10's highest sensitivity setting. There is noise, but it doesn't detract from the image. To me, the images were very similar in look and feel to those taken with the Nikon D70s digital SLR that I recently reviewed. And if you use noise reduction software, like Noise Ninja, image quality will be even better. I would not hesitate to use ISO 1600 on the FinePix F10 again.
Click on thumbnails to view ISO 1600 Comparison with Noise Ninja.
Shadow detail is very good. I took backlit photos of my dog, Max, and the camera captured plenty of detail in his shadow (See Below). He's a black Labrador retriever, a challenge for any camera meter, but the F10 did very well. My Parisian friend, Charles, says he printed 4 x 6 Fuji F10 and Nikon D70s images and then did a blind test among his friends. Nobody was able to tell the difference between the two cameras at that print size.
Click on thumbnails to view sample photos.
When I use film, Fujichrome Velvia 50 and Velvia 100 are my films of choice. They convey lush, green, scenery very well. This camera did very well with similar scenery. I was able to use very strong green scenery photos straight from the camera, without making any photo software adjustments. And the images had good white balance and tone. The Fujifilm FinePix F10 delivers great color and low noise and confirms Fuji's reputation as the leader for landscape photography in digital cameras as well as film.
Conclusion The Fuji F10 is a very good camera and most photographers will be very happy with it. I had a ton of fun using it to capture my first week with my puppy, Max. He doesn't pose for the camera so I didn't have time to get artsy. The FinePix F10 was a great P&S digital camera under pressure. Don't be fooled by cameras that have more megapixels; look at the end result. The F10's image quality is superb, and that's more important than the number of pixels a camera has.
My problems with the F10 - poor low light focusing and lack of exposure control - might not be an issue for everyone. Consider how you use a camera and whether those problems will affect you at all. To learn more, I recommend visiting the Fujifilm website and reading the FinePix F10 manual: http://www.fujifilm.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/bin/F10_Manual.pdf.
Who Should Buy The Fujifilm FinePix F10 Almost anyone will be able to get good results from the Fujifilm FinePix F10. Unless you need manual exposure control or consistently shoot in low light, the F10 will work well for you. It is simple enough for Mom to use, but capable enough for a pro photographer to use as a pocket camera. If you're considering a pure point-and-shoot digital camera, the Fujifilm FinePix F10 is a solid choice.
Sample Images
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