Big test
PERFORMANCE: EXPOSURELATITUDE
-4EV
-3EV
-2EV
This bracket was made using the X-S10’s autoexposure bracketing feature, with nine frames exposed at +/-1EV. The correctly exposed shot was made at 1/160sec at f/6.4 at ISO 160. Lightroom was used to make the exposure corrections, with exposure the only parameter adjusted. The usual finding when we abuse Raws in this way is that overexposure is handled poorly compared with underexposure, and so it proved here. The +4EV shot was beyond recovery and the +3EV fared little better, with highlights suffering from a grey, veiled look. The +2EV improved to some extent, but even here recovery still resulted in a colour cast and stark highlights, so really only the +1EV shot could be fully recovered to a high standard. Not unexpectedly, the underexposed Raws performed much better, with even the -4EV the wide end with a subject four metres away, so the target was pretty small, which was impressive. The system also tracked well as the subject walked towards the camera and ducked in and out of view. The only thing I noticed was that it was a tad slow to pick up a subject entering the frame, but once the system acquired its target, it held on well – even when the face was partly turned away. I also had no issues with the X-S10’s autoexposure or white-balance systems and both performed very
-1EV
0
+1EV
shot recovering very well – at least tonally. However, there was digital noise in the shadows and mid-tones. That noise decreased on the -3EV shot, and by the time we got to the -2EV shot, it looked identical to the correctly exposed shot. A good showing. The moral of this tale is that if you are going to make a mess of the exposure, make sure the shot features underexposure. IMAGES As part of the test, we shot exposure brackets using the X-S10 in a variety of lighting situations, from dull, overcast days to bright sunshine well and consistently. As such, there’s nothing to report in that area. There’s nothing much to report on the five-axis sensor-shift IBIS system either, except that it worked very well for stills and movie shooting in equal measure. The maximum benefit is 6EV (depending on the lens) according to Fujifilm and using the supplied 18-55mm zoom, I carried out some tests at 55mm shooting down to 1sec. Assuming 1/125sec is the slowest handheld speed at that focal length, a 6EV benefit equates to shooting
+2EV
+3EV
+4
at 1/2sec. In my tests, that was achievable. I even managed to get a 100% success rate with the mechanical shutter at 1/15sec and 1/8sec. Granted, that dropped at 1/4sec and 1/2sec, but I was still getting a decent hit rate. While the X-S10 is not touted as a speedmonster, it still has a fast continuous shooting rate: it manages 8fps with the mechanical shutter. I achieved that speed in this test, acquiring 20 uncompressed Raws using a Lexar 64GB 2000X Professional SD card before buffering, which took about 10 seconds to clear. Shooting fine JPEGs, I got a run of 70 frames before buffering at 8fps, while with the electronic shutter, the shooting rate is supposed to leap up to 20fps uncropped – I got 18fps inmy test. The X-S10 is blessed with a good array of movie features, including DCI 4K, 4K UHD and Full HD, all with a 30-minute recording time. In Full HD, there is a 240fps mode that provides slow-motion effects. In this mode, there is a three-minute recording time limit. There’s a microphone port and headphones can be connected via the USB-C port using the supplied dongle. The USB-C port is also responsible for in-camera battery charging via the mains or a power bank. To sumup, the X-S10 is a very accomplished camera with an impressive skill set that appeals to photographers of all levels and sells at a great price. WC
Final word
Verdict The Fujifilm X-S10 is a terrific camera that is lovely to use and small enough to carry with you all the time – especially when partnered with a prime wide-angle, such as the XF23mm f/2. It’s very capable, too. I can see it appealing to DSLR owners considering going mirrorless, but also to current X Series owners who want a backup or to update their older model. The X-S10, which arrives with a body price of £949 (or £1299 with the XF18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS), is a genuine bargain. 23 /25 FEATURES The X-S10 is very well equipped for stills and movie capture, given its price 24 /25 HANDLING Superb handgrip, huge customisation potential, swift autofocusing and in-camera battery charging 24 /25 PERFORMANCE The X-S10 delivers excellent Raws and out-of-camera JPEGs 24 /25 VALUE FOR MONEY Very competitive for the features on offer 95 /100 OVERALL An impressive mirrorless camera with huge potential and great value, too PROS Great sensor/processing engine, high ISO performance, compact, good handling, IBIS, excellent handgrip, function custom options, in-camera charging, focus lever functionality CONS Battery life, one card slot might deter some
IMAGES Loads of lovely fine detail for the eye to feast on in this X-S10 shot. Exposure and white-balance were spot on – the shadows were lifted in Lightroom. Exposed at 1/210sec at f/8 and ISO 160 and the 18-55mm f/2.8-4 standard zoom was used at 38mm
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO MAKE GOOD USE
Where will your kit go next? Inspire others, make some extra cash and make a difference.
Sell your used kit and let someone else love it as much as you have. Make good use of your used gear. Sell yours today at mpb.com/sell
32 Photography News | Issue 84
photographynews.co.uk
Powered by FlippingBook