Fujifilm is considered by many to be the champion of APS-C sensors. Heavyweights like the X-T4 and X-Pro3 dominate the ring with top-notch performance and an equally great price tag. What is available to a person with a more modest budget who still wants to enter the ring? Check out the Fujifilm X-S10, a new model in the X line at a reasonable price.
Despite the lower price point, Fujifilm has included an impressive array of features in this camera, including the X-Trans 4 BSI CMOS sensor and X-processor 4. Image quality is as high as the flagship model. But since this is a different price point, there are of course small trade-offs. We will discuss all this in the proposed Fujufilm X-S10 review.
Fujifilm’s new X-S10 camera is a completely new mid-range camera line that falls somewhere between the X-T3 and X-T30 . It has built-in stabilization, making it the most affordable X-Series camera from Fujifilm. Featuring the same imaging pipeline as the flagship X-T4, the X-S10 is in many ways a smaller, lighter and even more affordable X-T4 .
However, the design and ergonomics are slightly different from the typical “retro” style of Fuji X-series cameras. The X-S10 has a more simplistic design, a deeper grip (in this case, more like the X-H1 ). It uses more traditional camera controls (such as the front and rear dials plus the regular mode dial).
Fujifilm X-S10 Design
As mentioned, the Fujifilm X-S10 is a very portable and compact APS-C mirrorless camera. And yet it has a deeper grip, more like an SLR. This is why it resembles the rugged X-H1. However, the X-S10 fits easily in the palm of your hand. Another notable design change for the X-S10 is the use of standard exposure controls and a PASM switch.
Most Fujifilm cameras have a unique combination of discs – ISO disc, shutter speed dial and lens aperture ring. You set them in various combinations to switch the camera to different shooting modes. You have to get used to it to get used to it. The X-S10 aims to avoid this by allowing photographers to grab the camera and start shooting with a familiar set of controls.
The X-S10 has both front and rear command dials for initial exposure settings, as well as a dedicated ISO button on the top panel. The camera is equipped with a standard PASM mode dial with four custom modes. To the left of the viewfinder is an additional unlabeled dial that lets you switch between different film simulations.
The back of the X-S10’s camera is pretty minimalistic. There are only a few buttons for things like menu access, view mode and drive setup, and a joystick. Like the X-Pro3 and X100V , this model lacks a 4-way control button group. The joystick is great for changing the AF point, but navigating the menus is a little easier with the selector buttons.
In terms of display, the X-S10 has a fully rotatable LCD touch screen with selfie mode. 3.0-inch diagonal, 1.04 million-dot resolution, 100% field coverage. Meanwhile, the electronic viewfinder is pretty much the same as on the X-T30. It has a 0.39-inch OLED panel with 2.36M dots, 0.62x magnification.
Several other notable differences between this camera and its larger sibling, the X-T4, are that it uses only one UHS-I SD card slot and is not weatherproof. The camera is very pleasant to hold in the hand during use. The grip is made of magnesium alloy, as are the front and top panels, making the camera overall solid and reliable.
Image quality
The image processing pipeline of the new Fuji X-S10 is essentially the same as that of the X-T4. The cameras use the same back-illuminated 26.1-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 image sensor and the X-Processor 4 quad-core image processor 4. Native ISO 160… 12800 with 80… 51200 extension.
Like other X-Series cameras, the XS10 can capture both RAW (including losslessly compressed) and JPEG images. Of course, a full range of film simulations is offered, including the latest version of ETERNA Bleach Bypass Film Sim. Film Simulation goes beyond standard “image filters” and allows you to easily customize the look of your photos in-camera without the need for post-processing.
There is an AUTO / SP (scene position) mode in which the camera automatically detects the scene and adjusts the exposure and image settings. This allows beginners to take easy pictures. However, you can now shoot in RAW in these modes. In addition, the Fujifilm XS10 now also allows you to select the AF point here.
One of the main features of the Fujifilm XS 10 is built-in image stabilization. The Fuji X-H1 was the first X-series camera to offer IBIS, but still had an impressive size in the X Series. In the end, Fuji was able to squeeze its IBIS technology into a slimmer X-T4, which remained nearly identical in size to the X-T3.
The Fujifilm X-S10 5-axis IBIS is 30% smaller and lighter than the X-T4, but offers almost the same degree of stabilization up to 6 stops depending on the lens (the X-T4 IBIS is 6.5 stops). The X-S10’s IBIS is more powerful than the earlier X-H1, which offered just 5.5 steps.
Autofocus and performance
The autofocus system and performance characteristics are generally the same as the X-T4. Phase detection autofocus works on the basis of 2.16 million pixel phase detection. They cover the entire sensor area and have up to 425 user-selectable points. Fujifilm claims the system is capable of capturing focus in about 0.02 seconds and can operate in low light conditions down to -7 EV.
The Fuji X-S10’s burst shooting capabilities are slightly different. The camera can shoot at up to 8 fps with a mechanical shutter, while the X-T4 can shoot up to 15 fps. However, with an electronic shutter, the X-S10 is on par with its big brother, offering blackout-free shooting at 20fps at full resolution or 30fps in 1.25x crop mode.
Video
Fujifilm aligns the X-S10 with people who create both photos and videos, not one or the other. In this way, the camera has attractive video performance without some of the complications aimed primarily at video creators. The maximum video resolution is 4096 x 2160 (AKA DCI 4K) at 29.97 / 25/24 / 23.98 fps. This is without a crop.
The maximum recording on the card is 8 bits 4: 2: 0. An external storage device connected via HDMI can record in 4: 2: 2 10-bit format. The X-S10 can record in any of the Film Simulation modes, but there is also an F-Log recording for further color correction. As usual, Full HD footage can also be recorded. And in Highspeed recording mode, you can select 240 fps for slow motion playback up to 10x.
Connections and power
Fuji’s XS10 camera has a USB Type-C (USB3.2 Gen1x1) port that supports charging and data transfer as well as headphone output. The camera is equipped with a 3.5 mm mini-jack for a microphone, but does not have a separate headphone jack. Instead, a small USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter is included. In addition, there is a micro HDMI connector (Type D) and a hot shoe at the top of the viewfinder.
The X-S10 only has one SD card slot which is only UHS-I compatible. The camera supports wireless connectivity (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) and is compatible with the Fujifilm Camera Remote smartphone app for wireless image transfer, geotagging and remote control functions. The novelty is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery NP-W126S.
Conclusion
Fujifilm X-S10 shares most of the great technology found in the Fuji X-T4 in a more versatile body. Some performance degradation is a well-planned tradeoff. The camera fits perfectly in the hand. Due to its compact size, anyone looking for a really good travel camera will be extremely pleased with it. It will also make the camera very attractive for video bloggers and content creators.
