Fuji Finepix F10 reviewed

The holy grail of digital cameras may just be a cheap cam that takes good shots without making you wait through a slow startup and interminable shot-to-shot lag. While we're fans of Kyocera's RTUNE tech (can someone please license it, now that they've quit the camera biz?), there are other proprietary solutions out there, and Forbes took a look at Fuji's 6.3 megapixel Finepix F10, which uses that company's Real Photo system. According to the review, startup time is about 1.3 seconds and shot-to-shot is 2-3 seconds. The $500 camera also has good battery life, rated at up to 500 shots between charges. What's not to like? How about the fact that it uses Fuji's xD cards instead of SD? Won't Fuji (and co-conspiritor Olympus) ever learn? Unless you're Sony, you can't get away with foisting a proprietary card format on the world.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

They don't seem to mention that the camera has ISO settings from ISO80 to ISO1600 - which should mean you can take way more photos without using the flash - saving even more power.

[yuppicide @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

It doesn't look like you can use add-on lenses, so I'm not interested.

[Adrian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

1.3s startup and 2-3s between shots??? Check out the new Canon PowerShot SD500. It's 7mp, just as small, has a 1.0s startup time and can shoot a continuous 2fps at 7mp!! (Until your memory card fills up.) Don't forget it can shoot at 640x480x30fps and also 320x240x60fps. Impressive.

The ISO ratings are misleading on digital cameras -- and one's ISO 50 is equiv to another's ISO 100. So I bet the ISO 1600 on the Fuji is similar to the ISO 800 on the Canon.

I'm personally a Sony camera fan, but had had lots of experience with Fuji and Canon -- and I wouldn't recommend Fuji. Go with Canon or Sony - they are the leaders in pocket sized digital camera's, IMHO.

[paul s @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

yes, 800 on canon would be nice... but it only goes up to 400 (same as my sd300). i'm not a fan of a flash at all, and seem to take hand held pictures in low light situations more then anything, 400 just doesn't cut it. If their noise reduction is as nice as they seem to demonstrate, i'll be seriously considering trading in my canon for the fuji for this feature alone. also, shutter lag is supposed to be .1 of a second. my sd300 seems to still be half a second or so (but maybe their .1 doesn't include auto focus - we'll see). the xD card thing kinda blows, though.

[Darren @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

This camera has been #1 selling model in Japan for the past two weeks, as soon as it came out.

The reason is that its ISO 800 and ISO 1600 mode pics seems to have less noise than ISO200 of Canons or Sonys.

This means that you can take previously impossible shots, such as indoor shot without flash (no noise, no shake, full ambience)

I am picking this up this Saturday, so I'll see for myself.

[Darren @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Here is the promo info from Fuji

Look at some samples, which are striking assuming Fuji marketing folks did not dare to post-process the images...

http://www.finepix.com/promo/f10/

(flash based)

[dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/content/Fujifilm-FinePix-F10-Digital-Camera-Review-.htm

here's one review. it has done better than any digital p&s camera to date in the areas of noise, and low light ability, and flash power.

[Terry Iverson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I almost consider myself a professional researcher of small compact, pocketable cameras. I'm on the search for the holy grail which is the perfect small digital camera.

I've had in my hands 10 digital cameras in the last six months. Canon, Pentax, Sony, Fuji, Casio and Nikon.

Everybody's goals are different. At first my goal was to obtain crisp results, so sharp the photos almost hurt your eyes!

After all my tests, I ended up with the Sony P150. Not even the Canon S500, G6 or Nikon's equivilent matched the output of the Sony.

However....

Indoor shots were the same as all the rest. Good flash but dark backgrounds and the effective range of the flash, although better than most, just didn't provide coverage. Besides, I dislike using Flash.

Along comes the Fuji F10, which I picked up. The pictures are not as sharp as the Sony, the difference is noticable. However, indoor shots without flash and also shots taken without the inevitable blur when the subject moves.

I'll put up with not so razor sharp pictures! And the movie mode is excellent! I've taken shots of downtown Portland, just sitting the camera on the window sill of the car and got pictures none of the rest would even come close to getting.

There are many more reasons but it would be pages long. I now have to sell my fairly new Sony P150 on ebay!

[Notany @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Actually ISO settings in this camera are very accurate. Canon (and others) have only ISO 400 in similar offerings. I'm big Canon fan but F10 happens to be the best compact 2005-2006 in this price range.