Big test
PERFORMANCE: ISO
100
800
The X-S10’s native ISO range is 160 to 12,800, but it can expand to ISO 80, 25,600 and 51,200. These pictures were shot with the X-S10 and 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens. The camera’s long-exposure noise reduction was turned off and high ISO NR set to zero. No noise reduction was applied in processing, with the Raws going through Lightroom. The X-S10 delivers a very good noise performance and you get very smooth, clean images, even at high ISOs. I am confident shooting at ISO 2500 or even ISO 3200 and know that I can get shots with blacks that are still solid and deep and, while grain is visible, its effect isn’t so strong as to impact on fine detail. With the help of some noise reduction during processing, I think Raws shot at this speed can give critically good large prints. Image quality gradually deteriorates from this point, but shots through to ISO 6400 are still good, and it’s only beyond this point that digital noise becomes more obvious.
1600
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12,800
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51,200
to its default setting, zooms into the focus area in use and, when used as a joystick, lets youmove the focus point or zone. The rear command dial also lets you adjust the working focus area. You can change this and have the focus lever off, move AF zone or pick out one face in a group, but I was happy with the default, especially the ‘zoom in at a press’ option, which was a fast way to check focus. Of course, while the X-S10 is targeting potential DSLR switchers, it does not have an optical finder. Instead, there’s a very good electronic viewfinder that gives a lovely bright, detailed image, including when you’re using a magnified image to check focus. Its 2.36 million dot resolution is not the 3.69 million dots of the X-T4, but it is
While the compensation dial can’t be set to use other features, that’s not the case with the function dial on the far left of the body. This dial’s default role is to change Film Simulationmode, providing 12 main items, with filter options available in the Acros and black &white settings, taking the total to 18. There are 34 other options – including ISO – if you prefer to use this function dial in another way. The shorter body is probably the reason why the Q button (which brings up the Quick menu) is sitting on the top-plate next to the ISO button. You can edit to suit what you like to use and have four, eight, 12 or 16 options on show inmovie and still shooting. On the back is a focus lever or joystick that, when pushed in and set
nevertheless great to use, with plenty of information on view. Dig into the menu and you can fine-tune what’s on show and even the size of key settings. There’s the option of having no info except the actual image on show and that applies to the monitor, too. The three-inch touchmonitor has a 1.04 million dot resolution (the X-T4 has 1.62 million dots) and the screen itself swings out sideways. It can also be folded facing inwards if you prefer, or set to face forward for vlogging. A potential downside to a monitor that swings out to one side is that, if you’re a fan of using an L-grip, youmay be limited to just having a standard mounting plate on the camera’s base. I really enjoyed using the X-S10. Of course, I own Fujifilm X cameras
IMAGES Two unmarked function (far left) and command (far right) dials are part of Fujifilm’s plan to make the X-S10 less daunting to would-be Fujifilm owners
already, so I’m familiar with the system and the menus. It still felt somewhat new, at least to start with, but I got used to the changes quickly and it was soon second nature. In that respect, I think the X-S10’s design could attract those not invested in the Fujifilm system yet, which is the brand’s aim. On offer is a high- performing sensor, five-axis IBIS, swift AF, in-camera charging, andmore. With its feature set, it can surely appeal to current X Series owners, too. It’s a very portable camera – perfect for travel or as a backup – that delivers files as good as a ‘main’ camera. Of course, you could also say that of the X-T30, which is £200 cheaper, There’s battery compatibility on the X-S10 too, (X-T4 owners excluded) since the X-10S takes NP-W126S cells. However, its compact body does mean that there’s just one SDUHS-I card slot. I had the camera long enough for a few shoots during the short and very cloudy days of late autumn, so let’s turn our attention to performance and the camera’s output. Autofocusing was fast andmostly decisive, with hunting rare. When the
light was really flat or the AF point aimed at a plain area, the AF system might track back and forth, but that’s not unusual. Generally, the system latched on speedily even in very low light. With the focus lever, I liked being able to nudge it tomove the focus point about and immediately be able to change size using the rear command dial. With ‘all’ selected in the focus mode menu item, that gave the full range of focus areas immediately, but you can limit this – you can pick zone, for example. Testing AF tracking and face/eye detect while shooting movies showed the system to be very capable. Eye detect worked with the 18-55mm at IMAGES An integral flash is provided in the X-S10. Its power is limited, but it’s good enough for some fill-in with close- up outdoor portraits
TOP The X-S10 has an excellent high ISO performance as this low-light shot (exposed at ISO 3200) shows. Enlarged on screen, you can see digital noise in the darker midtones and deeper shadows but no noise reduction was applied during processing, so there’s more quality available with some extra work. The exposure was 1/180sec at f/2.8 and the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 standard zoom was used at 19mm
Issue 84 | Photography News 31
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