The new 6.3-megapixel FujiFilm FinePix F10 ($399 MSRP) is a rather unassuming digital camera with a silvery metal finish and plain vanilla styling. Yet looks are very deceiving; this is one of the best performing cameras on the market. The camera has superb low-light shooting capability, film camera-like response, easy-to-operate controls and menus. And, of course, great photo quality. In effect, this is everything a point-and-shoot digicam should be in 2005. For slightly more than 300 bucks, this camera should be high on the list for those who want effortless picture taking. That said, the FinePix F10 is not God’s Gift to Photography; there are some annoying flaws we’re happy to point out in the hope that Fuji engineers will take the comments as constructive criticism.
The camera is supplied with the usual accoutrements including wrist strap, battery, a pathetic 16MB xD picture card, USB and AV cables, a nicely done 120-page owner’s manual, Quick Start guide, and the FinePix Viewer 5 software bundle on CD-ROM. It also has a somewhat awkward terminal adapter, which gets attached to the AC power cord rather than connecting it directly to the camera. This terminal adapter also has jacks for the video output and USB cable. Fuji said this was done to save space on the camera, but it seems like another piece of gear that could easily be misplaced. Without it, you can’t recharge the battery, a very big “oops” if you’re not near home. You can’t even connect it to a computer, another reason to own a card reader. A good suggestion would be an optional battery charger and an extra NP-120 battery, especially if you’re traveling.
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Slick performance, good build quality and excellent handling, but the biggest bonus is the remarkable high-ISO performance, which produces virtually noise-free pictures in all lighting conditions. FujiFilm FinePix F10 is a real breakthrough, and makes the FinePix F10 a unique camera. Although it is not without its faults, there isn’t another camera on the market that can match its low-light performance.
This is a camera for which I have been waiting with some interest for several months, ever since a marketing executive from Fujifilm told me that the company was working on a camera which eliminated image noise at all sensitivity settings right up to 1600 ISO – that’s like hearing about a car that goes at 200mph and gets 200mpg. Image noise is the bane of digital photography, so fame, fortune and glory awaits for the company that can conquer it first. The official press release that accompanied the review sample was a little less boastful, but still mentioned a “low noise” ISO 64-1600 sensitivity range, so I was keen to see what it could do.
The screen is specially toughened to resist scratches, and I can attest that it definitely works. The review sample that I was loaned by Fuji had already been used by one of the camera magazines, and it looked like part of their testing procedure involved kicking the camera down a flight of concrete steps. The corners of the case, the lens surround, the handgrip and the top panel were covered in scratches and scuff marks, but despite this the monitor screen was completely undamaged. Perhaps Fuji should have made the rest of the camera out of the same stuff it uses to coat the LCD.
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The Finepix F10 6.3 MP camera is one of the better digital point-and-shoots I’ve reviewed. The interface is incredibly easy to navigate and the photos typically come out looking pretty good. This camera seems to shine in brightly lit situations where you need a quick shot or if you want to take action shots. Unfortunately, because of how heavily the image quality suffers on indoor shooting without the flash, this may not be for everyone.
With an MSRP of $530 CAD or $325 USD, this camera is a bit pricy considering there are better performing 7.1 megapixel cameras with similar features available for just a little bit more. However, if you do a lot of sports photography, this camera might be your best bet. Despite the image noise it creates, the camera is also quite useful for use in low light situations where flash is not an option, such as a museum setting.
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The FujiFilm FinePix F10 boasts the companies new, 1/1.7-inch Super CCD HR sensor that uses a full 6.3-million gross pixels rather than the interpolated, dual pixel elements of yore. Fujifilm’s Super CCD technology has been with us for some time now and it just keeps getting better and to prove the point the F10 has its best incarnation yet in a camera of this class.
Image quality can be summed up quite succinctly as excellent. The level of detail outstrips many of the 7-megapixel digicams on the market. This fact is largely due to the very nice, sharp, F2.8 to F5, 3x optical zoom lens that gives a focal range from 36mm to 108mm (35mm equiv.), it has to be said however, that it’s still a fairly standard lens range for today’s digital compacts.
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The Fujifilm FinePix F10 is a camera that is very pleasant to use. Its external controls are few, and their function easily remembered, while their placement prevents errors. Moreover, just as is the camera itself, the controls are quick to respond. Similarly, the large LCD monitor with its fast refresh rate and instant brightness adjustment make it comfortable to use, effectively minimizing any need for an optical viewfinder.
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