Fujifilm X-T10 Review

Performance starts with image quality, which is the criteria used as the foundation of our digital camera ratings. Ergonomic issues may get in the way, but in the end, image quality counts the most. For an ILC, image quality greatly depends on the lens used. While color, noise, exposure and dynamic-range are properties of a camera, distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberrations are properties of the lens. Sharpness and contrast depend on the weakest link. That is, a camera cannot capture more details than a lens lets through. Conversely, it is quite possible for a lens to transmit more details than a sensor can capture.

Those who have read the Fuji X-T1 review
Fujifilm X-T1 should know that image-quality is identical and can skip the next three subsections. There are noteworthy changes in metering and speed though.

Image Noise & Details

The Fuji X-T10 produces images of exceptional quality, exceeding the quality of the almost all cropped-sensor DSLR throughout its range of ISO sensitivities, making it even comparable to some full-frame models. Image noise is inexistent all the way to ISO 3200 and becomes barely detectable at ISO 6400. ISO 12800 is almost the same and only at ISO 25600 do some details get affected by noise. Still, mid-size prints are possible at such high sensitivity.

The final expanded ISO of 51200 is actually usable for small prints. This signifies a new milestone for APS-C sensors! Small 4x6" prints are obviously noisy at that sensitivity but allow subjects to be recognized.

The unique X-Trans CMOS II sensor of the Fuji X-T10 is capable of extracting very fine details from scenery when combined with a sharp lens. Fuji offers excellent ones, including the Fujifilm Fujinon XF16mm F/1.4R WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XF16mm F/1.4R WR and Fujifilm Fujinon XF16-55mm F/2.8R LM WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XF16-55mm F/2.8R LM WR which both delivered spectacular results.

Sharpness is controllable in 5 levels. Things start from a very soft to over-sharp, so each step is quite coarse. Default sharpness is just right, delivering crisp details without any artifacts. There 5 levels of noise-reduction too which are extremely close in output quality. Still, each level is more aggressive at higher sensitivities, so a setting of -1 delivers an optimal compromise between noise and details.

Color & White Balance

Color accuracy of the X-T10 is very good. Hues realistic with different Film Simulation modes mostly affecting saturation. The standard Provia film exaggerates saturation which can be improved by setting Color to -1. Alternately, using Astia film simulation provides a similar rendition of color.

Automatic White-Balance is quite dependable under typical conditions. It handles both natural and artificial lighting surprisingly well, only leaving the occasional yellow cast under artificial lighting. The Custom White-Balance option is there for difficult situations and is perfectly accurate.

Auto Focus

The Fuji X-T10 features a hybrid Phase-Detect and Contrast-Detect AF which debuted on the X100S
Fujifilm X100S. This camera exposes a 49-point AF system which uses both systems at each point to achieve fast autofocus speeds. These systems work together which make the camera appear more decisive.

Autofocus performance matches closely that of the X-E2 in both speed and sensitivity. Under good light it locks in between ¼ and ½s. It can take a tad longer on low-light. Low-contrast subjects slow autofocus a little more when it can take a full second to lock. It appears that Phase-Detect brings the focus within some tolerance and Contrast-Detect refines it. This shows up as back-and-forth movement of the lens towards the end the AF cycle but not at the start.

Continuous autofocus (AF-C) is reasonable in good light yet never manages to keep up in moderate-to-low lighting. It moves the lens to the approximate distance quickly but then spends a lot of time moving the lens back and forth to lock focus. This is clearly too slow for moving subjects. Oddly, the mid-range X-E2 does better in this regard.

The AF-L button performs focus on-demand in both autofocus and manual focus modes. It adjust focus further, AF-L must be released. Manual Focusing is done via a fly-by-wire ring at the front of current XF-mount lenses.

Exposure

The Multi-Segment metering system of the X-T10 is extremely reliable and consistent. It rarely blows anything but the smallest highlights, although it may not seem like it on the EVF and LCD because their dynamic-range is more narrow than what this camera can capture. The X-T10 takes into account a greater portion of the scene when evaluating exposure, this means it produces even more conservative results than the X-T1. This makes images more usable but high-contrast scenes may require a reduction of Shadow Tone and Highlight Tone settings to look natural. Having both these settings at -1 produces the pleasant results the majority of times.

Dynamic-Range of the X-T10 is spectacular when increased to 200% starting at ISO 400 or to 400% starting at ISO 800 which is possible all the way to all the way to 6400. This camera handles high-contrast scenes even better than most digital cameras, including top-of-the-line DSLRs.

Speed

The Fuji X-T10 is generally quick and responsive. Dials change settings without delay and most buttons start their action immediately. Only the Video-Record button takes about ½s to activate. The menu does not have the fade-in effect for its higher-end sibling, so it appears instantly now. Only sub-menus slide-in at a leisurely pace, so one has to occasionally wait for the X-T10. Still, with ISO mapped to a customizable button, all common settings are accessible and there is little need to use the menu regularly.

Continuous shooting occurs at a maximum of 8 FPS which is comparable to high-end DSLRs but slower than several mirrorless models from Olympus and Sony. The buffer is capable of absorbing 8 frames, either JPEG images or RAW files, in one burst while using a UHS-II memory card. Besides the lack of a weather-sealed and freezeproof body, this is the only other significant cut-back compared to the X-T1.

The following measurements characterize the performance of the Fuji X-T10:

• Power-On: 1s without sensor-cleaning. Good.
• Power-On to First-Shot: 2 seconds. Slightly below average.
• Autofocus: ¼ - 1s, depending on the light. Highly variable but average.
• Shutter-lag: Immediate with just over ¼s blackout. Good.
• Shot-to-shot: Just over 1s with AF. 3/4s with MF. Average.
• Playback: ½s to enter, 3/4s to exit. Slow.
• Power-Off: Just over 1s. Good.
• Video: ½s to start. Instant to stop. Below average.

The performance of the X-T10 is reasonable yet below par for a high-end offering. The shutter-lag is great yet the black-out is a little slower than expected. Autofocus speed ranges from very fast to downright slow. Phase-Detect AF is fast. However, the camera often needs to refine with Contrast-Detect before finally locking focus which can take a while. This definitely makes the X-T10 unsuitable for action photography except perhaps in bright light.

Shot-to-shot speeds are decidedly average. Despite the camera being able to shoot continuously at 8 FPS, a noticeable delay occurs between shots when the shutter-release is pressed each time. Although entering and exiting Playback mode is slower than usual, only starting to record video is disappointingly slow.

The Fuji X-T10 is powered by a small proprietary Lithium-Ion battery which provides 350 shots-per-charge. This is about average and goes down quickly while reviewing images. Another battery is highly recommended not to run out unexpectedly.

The Fuji X-T10 is an extremely compelling mirrorless camera. Its fusion of analog and digital controls makes it highly efficient while its excellent 2.4 megapixels EVF with 100% coverage and 0.62X magnification delivers a very nice viewfinder experience. The newly designed body is sturdy and very compact for an APS-C camera with dual control-dials and it still manages to add direct dials for EC, Shutter-Speed and Drive Mode.

A 16 megapixels X-Trans CMOS II sensor with built-in Phase-Detect autofocus, paired with an EXR II processor, produces outstanding results. Even when raising the ISO, noise-reduction is gentle enough to make usable prints at ultra-high sensitivities. The APS-C sensor on the Fuji X-T10 requires no anti-alias filter and therefore takes advantage of the maximum sharpness a lens can deliver. The X-T10 matches the image-quality of the X-T1 Graphite and is now the smallest mirrorless and lowest cost digital camera to be awarded our rare Excellent+ rating.

The metering system is excellent and Fuji's color-rendition is quite good. Automatic white-balance handles most types of lighting well too, leaving the occasional yellow cast when confronted with dim tungsten lighting. The X-T10 is naturally equipped with other white-balance settings to capture neutral colors in such conditions.

The performance of the X-T10 is generally solid. While shot-to-shot speeds are good, the hybrid autofocus system is highly variable. It can lock focus very quickly yet slows down considerably in moderate light. The lack of a video mode makes this camera miss almost a second of action which is disappointing for videographers.

The Fuji X-T10 produces superior image-quality while being efficient to operate. At the same time, one must be keep an eye on camera settings more closely than usual. Its EVF is fantastic and provides a great experience. Although it lacks the weather-sealed and freezeproof body of the top-of-the-line X-T1 Graphite
Fujifilm X-T1 Graphite, in many ways the X-T10 is more compelling. It is smaller, easier to use and even faster in some areas. Of course, the buffer-depth for continuous shooting has diminished but these cameras were not ideal for action photography anyway.