Fuji The X10 has landed

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dixeyk

Guest
I recently purchased a Fuji X10 from a fellow board member and got a chance to take a few shots today. I have a few basic observations. THis cameras has a ton of capability but using like a typical point and shoot will not get you the best that it can do. It looks like it requires some thinking about how to best approach things. The build quality is amazing and I really enjoy the way it feels in hand. Here's a first shot in low light at ISO 1600, handheld ay 1/20th. I gotta say so far it's an impressive little beast. I'm not expecting it to replace my NEX 5n but I think it punches way above it's weight class.

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Alarm by dixeyk, on Flickr
 
A few more observations. I like the lens ring/power up thing but it does take so me getting used to. I keep wondering where the power button is. The NEX has spoiled me so I expect a camera SHOULD take noise free images at ISO3200 without a hiccup. The AF is fast but the fact that the camera takes a few ate thumb rest fits great and really makes a big difference in handling . The Gordy strap looks cool and I have a red soft release on the way (with a golden dragon on it).
 
Good innit? You are right in your observation that it should not be approached as a normal p&s. I know some very good, very experienced photographers who have not given it a chance by taking the time to master it and in particular tailoring it to their handling and output tastes, who have given up in frustration. Persevere and you will be rewarded. :)


Sent from another Galaxy
 
The NEX has spoiled me so I expect a camera SHOULD take noise free images at ISO3200 without a hiccup.
Its not quite that good. But with the EXR function working right, its quite good up to about 2000-2500 and plenty useable at 3200, but not as good as a good APS or m43 sensor (or even the 1" in the RX100) at 3200. Still, the sensor is capable of more than any of the other compacts except the RX100, and the lens is a whole lot faster as you move through the zoom range - not quite as fast as the LX7, but close...

Enjoy!

-Ray
 
Kevin, congrats on the X10. I think it will bring out the best of you..... Looking forward to seeing more of what your doing.... Flickr page is very nice....
Don't be afraid of 3200...... b&w is the key.....
don
 
Its not quite that good. But with the EXR function working right, its quite good up to about 2000-2500 and plenty useable at 3200, but not as good as a good APS or m43 sensor (or even the 1" in the RX100) at 3200. Still, the sensor is capable of more than any of the other compacts except the RX100, and the lens is a whole lot faster as you move through the zoom range - not quite as fast as the LX7, but close...

Enjoy!

-Ray

Ian impressed with what it can do so far. Like any camera there is learning curve and think the X10's might be a bit steeper a climb than some but I get the feeling it's worth it.
 
Kevin, congrats on the X10. I think it will bring out the best of you..... Looking forward to seeing more of what your doing.... Flickr page is very nice....
Don't be afraid of 3200...... b&w is the key.....
don

Been playing around with the DR400 setting.
 
A quick recommendation. Put it in medium resolution, whichever PASM mode you usually prefer, put it in auto ISO up to either 1600 or 3200, whichever you trust, and Auto DR. Then it acts just like its auto EXR modes except you still control the aperture and/or shutter speed and basic exposure parameters. It'll figure out when it need DR 400 or DR200 or whatever. But when its in a low light situation, it'll keep the DR lower and boost the ISO, which is what you want it to do. I had a whole different group of settings for street work, but that was my setup for general walk-around shooting in almost any conditions I could imagine. And it pretty much never let me down. This limits you to 6mp, but it pulls the most out of the sensor. Worth a try anyway...

-Ray
 
FWIW, I just use it as a dumb point and shoot set on EXR. The sensor is small enough that I don't monkey around with choosing aperture for DOF (most of the time), and the 6MP options (when the camera deems it necessary) are lovely. I think the learning curve is only as steep as you want to make it.

Really, the only thing different about it IS the way the EXR mode works and once you understand it, you can choose when and how to use it, but you don't NEED to ever use it if you don't want. I think a lot has been made out of a little regarding learning how this little camera works.
 
Kevin,
The real experiment is on file size. I find just a tad difference between LF and MF. In print there is an edge to LF.
I have had no issues at 3200 other then some noise in the darkest shadows. B&W kills that.
Still no real luck with Raw but if anyone discovers the golden chalice... Please enlighten me.
 
Kevin,
The real experiment is on file size. I find just a tad difference between LF and MF. In print there is an edge to LF.
I have had no issues at 3200 other then some noise in the darkest shadows. B&W kills that.
Still no real luck with Raw but if anyone discovers the golden chalice... Please enlighten me.

Don,

I did a little playing with RAW last night and on the X10 I am not at all sure it gives me much over JPEG (much like Olympus JPEGs). I'll keep trying to see if I can figure it out. I'm going to try out MF today and see what happens. Do you use DR400 or go DR Auto on your stuff?
 
I have a few settings that I use....

C1 MF-DR400-100 ISO (sometimes 400)- A mode f/4

C2 LF-DR100-400 ISO A Mode f/4

I set these because I need to know what the camera is doing. I wish it didn't have the EXR sensor but it does. There are subtle differences on screen but more obvious on paper.

Normally as with all other cameras I have used....
M Mode- Auto ISO-1600 or 3200 for low light.
I keep the camera on M 90% of the time.

As far as raw goes, there's a few fellows at another forum that have worked for months for a solution but in my eye ... Ain't happening.

Kevin, remember that what is acceptable to you probably means my stuff won't be.
I have been known to kill pixels to get my images.....
 
Your getting it going. I agree about the file size. In print is where you'll see it.

Kevin, do you use LR4?

Yeah, I like LR's ability to remove noise (when I want to). I also use Siler Efex Pro 2 (shoot in color and use it to convert to BW) and True Grain when I want real looking grain. I want to run a few MF files through the printer then compare with some LF files.
 
The X10 doesn't get half the credit it deserves. I actually think it is the best Compact Camera ever made. It just "works", which is what a compact camera should do, and the final images are better than they have any right to be. The only bad thing about mine is that it is actually my wifes. :( Fortunately I have an RX100 for EDC, and an E-M5 for serious work, but I actually enjoy shooting with the Fuji the most on the rare occasions I get to use it.
 
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