The Official Fuji X10/X20/X30/XF1/XQ1 Thread

[Spiritflier]

DPReview have done a little 'test' on the whole 'white orb' issue... If you pay any attention to the comments underneath it, you'd swear blind that Fuji had done something criminal!

I really don't see what all the fuss is about... The camera's not perfect but nothing ever is!

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

DPReview have done a little 'test' on the whole 'white orb' issue... If you pay any attention to the comments underneath it, you'd swear blind that Fuji had done something criminal!

I really don't see what all the fuss is about... The camera's not perfect but nothing ever is!

It's interesting that they have found significant variation camera to camera.
Back in the early days a thread was started on DPReview collecting serial numbers of cameras with pronounced problems; it didn't come to anything, but with hindsight that would have been valuable.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Snapsort has

http://snapsort.com/compare/Fujifilm-X10-vs-Fujifilm_FinePix_X100

That's a useful looking resource
Bookmarked for future reference.

 

[The Lorne Ranger]

I am sure that the G1 X will perform well and I did consider that as an option but the price put me off. Would love to have a play with one though.

Not sure on the design of the G1 X either but thats form over function.

Picking up an X10 today i reserved at Jessops.....

 

[Spiritflier]

Here's one from another session with the missus last night... We're keeping a record of her pregnancy so here she is at week 21.

X10 on manual. ISO100. 1/160sec @ f6.4
I used a Canon 580EXII from one side and a 430EXII from the other and triggered them with Yong Nuo RF-602s.

 

[DayDreamer]

Help pleeease

I see a number of you have the Lowepro Apex 60 case and wonder if you could measure the total length of the neck strap. I do like my camera case to be around my body and towards my bum and as low as I can get it ( the case not my bum)

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Help pleeease

I see a number of you have the Lowepro Apex 60 case and wonder if you could measure the total length of the neck strap. I do like my camera case to be around my body and towards my bum and as low as I can get it ( the case not my bum)

Have to ask one of the others as I've never used my neck strap and I'm not sure which one it is in the drawer.
I always wear mine over a belt or rucksack strap.

 

[DayDreamer]

Duncan thanks for getting back to me. I can just about carry the weight of an X10 but not a DSLR and am more sensitive to these small details. I first sent a DSLR back as too heavy to hold (I have health problems), then a Panasonic G3 went back for similar reasons so can't get much lighter than an X10

So if anyone else can help with this this size I would be grateful.

 

[jondc]

Taken inside a barn, lowish light and hand held. As I was with my daughter, so no time for setting up really, the camera was in on EXR mode and used as a point and shoot. The ISO auto selected was 1000, the low light image looks acceptable to me quality wise, may not be the best technically but it is just to capture a record of our day out.


_DSF0325 by Jonnydee9, on Flickr

 

[marcQc]

I see a number of you have the Lowepro Apex 60 case and wonder if you could measure the total length of the neck strap. I do like my camera case to be around my body and towards my bum and as low as I can get it ( the case not my bum)

It's 150cm long. Here it is at its lowest, I'm about 5'11"...

 

[DayDreamer]

It's 150cm long. Here it is at its lowest, I'm about 5'11"...

Hi marcQc and thank you very much for a superb way of showing the length. And I am very slightly taller but the strap is a perfect length for me. I was worried as I have a Lowepro 20 and it doesn't even get to my waistline. Unless the person who gave it to me had put a different strap on.

Again

 

[Thunderbird010]

Well first day out with the X10 and im pretty impressed I used the EXR mode mostly but just one thing that I may be doing wrong is that it seems to be picking a large apeture ie 2.2-2.5 for most of the shots am I doing something wrong?

1

[/url] Railings by Thunderbird_010, on Flickr[/IMG]

2

[/url] Lytham by Thunderbird_010, on Flickr[/IMG]

3

[/url] Lytham Windmill by Thunderbird_010, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Well first day out with the X10 and im pretty impressed I used the EXR mode mostly but just one thing that I may be doing wrong is that it seems to be picking a large apeture ie 2.2-2.5 for most of the shots am I doing something wrong?

Remember that f2 on the X10 is not the same as f2 on a DSLR.
It lets the same amount of light in, but the DoF is completely different.

F2 on a DSLR is uber-shallow DoF.
But on the X10 it is 'sensible'...
At the other end of the scale; on the X10 f9 is diffraction limited but on a DSLR is only just getting going......

Or have I missed something (quite possible as it's Saturday night - Yeah!)
As always - do yer own test and see see what you are happy with

Edited to add - that railing shot is a classic example of shallow DoF.
Very Nice....
What did I miss ?

 

[Thunderbird010]

Thanks Duncan your reviews have been great although you are partially responsible for me buying this camera!!

Think I am comparing it to a DSLR and the pictures are quite sharp on f2 anyway. I like the way you can just use the EXR mode and it just pics the right settings very handy when your 4 year old is getting bored!!

What mode do you guys tend to use the most??

 

[Spiritflier]

...you are partially responsible for me buying this camera...

Hahaha... That's you and half of the contributors to this thread (including me)!

Duncan's got a lot to answer for!

 

[Firebaby]

I'm on that list. Thank you Duncan!

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

After a few glasses of wine last night I decided to skim this thread through from beginning to end.
There's some amazing piccies in here!
I do seem to have a lot to answer for.
I hope for all our sakes that in six months time with the benefit of hindsight that I'm not going to look a complete idiot :|

In contrast...
I'm not aware that I've recommended the 5DII to anyone.
The 5DII is an easy camera to take 'good' images with, but to get the best from those 21Mp requires a deep understanding of technique. IMHO only a small proportion of photographers practice that level of control.
I'm not advocating every shot on a tripod, MLU, cable release, base ISO, IS off, lens sweet spot, etc - real life is not like that; and that's the problem.
It's about appreciating how all the factors work together and making an informed compromise.
I went on a workshop earlier in the year and the term used was The Limiting Factor. For each shot what are the constraints/challenges - Subject Movement, Contrast, DoF, Hand Held, etc and how best to work around them to maximise image quality.
Without this understanding there is little benefit from upgrading from a 60D.

I'll admit that when I upgraded from a 20D straight to the 5DII the results were very disappointing.
I expected a quantum leap in image quality and didn't get it.
Once I realised that I was the problem (not the camera) I set about looking at my technique and gradually started to appreciate just how much I didn't have a practical working knowledge of. For example, knowing the theory of DoF is not the same as using it appropriately on location.
It took me about two years before I could honestly say I had reached a standard I was happy with. That was a long time ago; I got my 5DII when Black Dot Syndrome was still a hot topic, and I'm still learning.
If I look back at the images I was taking 12 months ago, there's a tangible difference. Although my technique is continuing to improve, the big difference is what I'm taking and how I'm taking it.
I'm no longer worrying so much about camera settings as I'm now kinda doing it instinctively; and this freedom is changing how I approach subjects.
No idea where I'm going with my photography, but I'm loving every minute of it.

The reason for telling this tale is of course the X10.....

It's very easy to get decent shots out the X10; just leave it alone and let it make the decisions.
There is a steep learning curve needed to go beyond this point.
And because the X10 does such a good job it's a tough bench mark to compare yourself against.
I'll admit that although I can get better results by taking control of the X10, but I'm not getting results that are consistently better.
It's back to The Limiting Factor. Where I've got it wrong the results are poor, and I'm getting it wrong far more often than the X10 when I leave it alone.

Finally - coming full circle in this post.
Looking at my early X10 images which were all JPEG straight out the camera - they are great!
I've lost something by trying to take control.
It's not the technical side; when they are good, they are very good.
I reckon it's the spontaneity and freedom from not worrying about camera settings, and that approach has a lot to recommend.

 

[Spiritflier]

Mornin' Duncan,

That was all very nicely put!

My X10 was bought to fulfil a specific role... I got it to act as a 'stand-in' for my 5DMKII and 7D when it simply wasn't appropriate or possible to use either of those. There's no way it could replace either camera but there are times - especially when I'm travelling with work - that the little one comes into its own!

Initially, I was mildly disappointed with the IQ from the X10 but I realised that I was too busy looking at the individual trees to determine the real shape of the woods! In other words, I started looking at the images as a whole rather than just pixel-peeping!

The X10 does everything I expect of it - and then some. I've been using it a lot for portrait stuff and I really can't fault it. You've seen some of the results on here and to be honest, at web resolution I'd be hard pressed to tell what they'd been taken with.

Last night I took it down to the beach with an infra-red filter to give it a quick test. The light wasn't brilliant but the camera acquitted itself well. I also tried the pano feature for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised with the result (I'll get a couple of shots posted in a bit).

I've also been reading a lot of the comments on DPReview and I can't say I've ever witnessed so much vitriol and nastiness directed at one camera or its owners in my life! I know of one user who's actually removed references to the X10 from her blog because she was getting really badly flamed! Most of these comments have been directed at the so-called 'white orb' phenomenon. Whilst I'll admit that I've seen them for myself, they certainly don't detract from the overall image and so I don't understand why people are being so nasty! If anything, I'd say it was another case of looking at the trees...

There's one other thing I've noticed that the X10 (and the X100) has done... It's united a lot of photographers regardless of what other system we use. We all banter about whether Canon, Nikon or whoever is best and yet there are an awful lot of us who for one reason or another have bypassed our respective brand-specific compacts in favour of the X10! That says a lot for it I think.

To those of you who are still wavering; I'd say go and get one. The price is far more attractive now and there's a greater range of accessories out there for it too. By the time you buy a half decent case, a spare battery, a couple of adapter rings and filters; you've got a very capable little system in a very small package!

 

[DayDreamer]

To those of you who are still wavering; I'd say go and get one.

Until now Duncan was taking all the credit, or may be blame (in due course). Now it looks as if you are happy to share the burden. A true gentleman.

 

[AshleyC]

what a lovely warm fuzzy thread the polar opposite to the acidic bile you get on dpreview, i do like their reviews but their forums are one of the darkest places ive ever seen on the internet!

I got my x10 simply as a replacement for my old panny lx3 as a "stick in the coat pocket every day just in case i feel like a walkabout at lunchtime" camera. I just love it to bits, and with my kindle its been the purchase of 2011 for me. Im in two minds about raw and jpeg though, i know the camera can do wonderful things when you flick it into exr mode and just concentrate on composition, but the die hard in me wants to control it all regardless, so i still cant make my mind up as to the best settings to use.

Anyway, back to some pics Thought id have a go at some jewelry shots ....

 

[robenroute]

Mornin' Duncan,

I've also been reading a lot of the comments on DPReview and I can't say I've ever witnessed so much vitriol and nastiness directed at one camera or its owners in my life! I know of one user who's actually removed references to the X10 from her blog because she was getting really badly flamed!

Hi Spiritflier & Others,

I've been keeping a skew eye on what was going on there, and it wasn't pretty. In fact, it made me sick to the stomach! I hope she'll find her bearings again soon and share more of her worthwhile contributions, including stuff on the X10.

As for Duncan, well, I owe him a big thank you as he was indeed the person starting the fire (here on TP). I've been using my X10 for about a month now and I couldn't be happier (I could, but that's beyond...). I've bought some accessories and I can imagine using this little gem for quite some time to come.

here's a picture of our daughter (we went for a stroll to the playground today):

DSCF0422 by Robenroute, on Flickr

Have a good weekend y'all!

 

[mr_pants]

I haven't seen it in the thread yet (I have missed some bits, it's fair to say), but it is possible to shoot a panorama using macro mode. Only tried it once and it didn't do too much for the background, but never mind.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

I haven't seen it in the thread yet (I have missed some bits, it's fair to say), but it is possible to shoot a panorama using macro mode. Only tried it once and it didn't do too much for the background, but never mind.

OOO - now there's something I want a go at!
How about an urban pano of something in the foreground like a coffee table or market stall with people/traffic moving in the background.
I reckon that could prove really funky

Meanwhile - a big thank you to everyone for keeping this thread so friendly.
And an even bigger thank you to Spiritflier for sharing the blame

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Just glanced at my image counter
Number in the top right of image playback says 106-6996.
I think it's trying to tell me I've taken 6996 images since I got the camera!

How's everyone else doing.....

 

[meruby]

just realised today that I seem to have bought another camera altogether. At least that is what the strap says...



Guess I've got the only x100 with a zoom-lens :nuts:

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Mornin' Duncan,
That was all very nicely put!

.....

Initially, I was mildly disappointed with the IQ from the X10 but I realised that I was too busy looking at the individual trees to determine the real shape of the woods! In other words, I started looking at the images as a whole rather than just pixel-peeping!

The X10 does everything I expect of it - and then some. I've been using it a lot for portrait stuff and I really can't fault it. You've seen some of the results on here and to be honest, at web resolution I'd be hard pressed to tell what they'd been taken with.

.....

Cheers

I spent the afternoon having a long lazy lunch with my Photo Guru.
She's an FRPS in her late 70's, but hugely switched on and great fun to chat to
I showed her what I typed into this thread earlier (and your response).
Not only did she agree with what I was trying to say, but she said it was true for far more than just photography.

The reason I'm mentioning this is to bring up the subject of the X10's image quality.

My guru and I were discussing candidate images for my A-panel (three rows of five images).
She's madly keen that this one is considered for use as the centre image.

She's seen it filling her 1920x1200 screen (bigger than A3) and it does look good; far better than the small web sized image I've included here - it's all about the rich colours in the fine detail.
Then I could see a little bell going off in her head just before exclaiming that it couldn't possibly have been taken on the X10!
It was....
And worse than that it's JPEG only, DR400, ISO 400, Velvia simulation and hand held

I've just pixel peeped at the original and yup it looks plenty good enough for printing to A3+.

This would be wonderfully fitting as the centre image on my L-panel was also taken with a compact.
It was the only image in that whole panel taken with a compact. A 4Mp Canon Powershot S40. It was printed to A3 and looks great
Plus being a compact camera I was able to take the shot with a pint of beer in the other hand

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

just realised today that I seem to have bought another camera altogether. At least that is what the strap says...



Guess I've got the only x100 with a zoom-lens :nuts:

LOL - amazing
I had a play with an X100 last week and it's a quality bit of kit.
I think there is a limited edition black X100 which costs twice as much as the silver one.
So wear that strap with pride

 

[viewfromthenorth]

Cheers

I spent the afternoon having a long lazy lunch with my Photo Guru.
She's an FRPS in her late 70's, but hugely switched on and great fun to chat to.

Off topic, but is this a certain lady from north wales? If so she was my mentor for my successful ARPS panel.

 

[Spiritflier]

Until now Duncan was taking all the credit, or may be blame (in due course). Now it looks as if you are happy to share the burden. A true gentleman.

Haha... I'll quite happily stand up and be counted for this one!

...i do like their reviews but their forums are one of the darkest places ive ever seen on the internet...

I quite agree with you... There's one particular individual on there who seems to think that anyone who defends the X10 is a 'shill' in the employ of Fuji! What a complete plonker! :shake:

...here's a picture of our daughter (we went for a stroll to the playground today):

DSCF0422

That's a lovely shot Rob!

...Meanwhile - a big thank you to everyone for keeping this thread so friendly.
And an even bigger thank you to Spiritflier for sharing the blame

You've laid the groundwork for this one Duncan!

The results speak for themselves however... It's a bloody good little camera! Period!

As promised, here's one of the panoramas I shot yesterday...

 

[Spiritflier]

Off topic, but is this a certain lady from north wales? If so she was my mentor for my successful ARPS panel.

Margaret Salisbury?

Now there's a formidable but very knowledgeable lady! I used to have a part time job as a meter reader many moons ago and her house was a part of my run.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Off topic, but is this a certain lady from north wales? If so she was my mentor for my successful ARPS panel.

Margaret Salisbury?

Now there's a formidable but very knowledgeable lady! I used to have a part time job as a meter reader many moons ago and her house was a part of my run.

LOL - And no....
I've met her. IIRC she was on my LRPS workshop.
I've never heard a bad word said against her other than she speaks her mind!

Mercifully my guru is much closer to home and does a legendary Sunday roast.
Ann Cook........
She was one of the photographers whose images represented Glastonbury Festival's 40th Anniversary Celebration.
Her F-panel is a set of phenomenal images of James Brown, Madonna, Blondie, Robbie Williams, etc, etc all taken at Glasto.
Last Glasto she was interviewed by Russell Grant and said it was very surreal
Ann had FRGS for her travel photography but hasn't kept up the subscription and no longer uses the letters.

She's not a landscape photographer, but by heck she can put into words what is good and bad about my images.
I keep dropping hints that if she needs someone to carry her bags at Glasto I'm her man; but so far they keep making it easier for her, so she hasn't needed help. I'll keep reminding her that the offer is still open.

Her guru was Joan Wakelin; everyone needs a guru.

 

[robenroute]

That's a lovely shot Rob!

Thanks Spiritflier, you're too kind. You know, the thing with the X10, at least with me, is that it's brought back the pleasure in taking photographs. After my F2, F801 and some other "real" cameras (also had a very loveable GR1), my venture into digital photography (no DSLRs, just P&S) had taken away the pleasure of shooting. But the X10 is a camera! (I hope you don't mind this phrase Mr Bailey - http://danbaileyphoto.com/blog/fujifilm-x10-camera-full-review/)

I'm not sure I can explain this correctly, but the X10 makes me think about my photography. When I'm just lazy, I put it in EXR mode (still with more than just acceptable results), but I normally have it in P or A mode. Fair enough, it has its peculiarities, but then again, so do I...

Happy shooting!

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Right - but what's with the sky?
My landscape panos with blown skies didn't have any weird colours in them (see my Snowdonia trip last Nov earlier in this thread).
Fess up... What happened?

Edited to add...
I've found that to take a pano where the exposure varies dramatically, the easiest way is to point the X10 at the bit with the exposure you want (often the bright bit), half press the shutter, then recompose to the start of the pano and press the shutter the whole way.
Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
P.S. I'm not having a go - honest. But my pano experience has never produced anything like that so I'm guessing it's PP.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

After my F2, F801 and some other "real" cameras (also had a very loveable GR1), my venture into digital photography (no DSLRs, just P&S) had taken away the pleasure of shooting. But the X10 is a camera! (I hope you don't mind this phrase Mr Bailey - http://danbaileyphoto.com/blog/fujifilm-x10-camera-full-review/)

I'm not sure I can explain this correctly, but the X10 makes me think about my photography. When I'm just lazy, I put it in EXR mode (still with more than just acceptable results), but I normally have it in P or A mode. Fair enough, it has its peculiarities, but then again, so do I...

Blimey - nice review of the X10 - I've not seen it linked before.
I love what he says in "Should You Buy the Fujifilm X10?"
Anyone starting in this thread HERE can save themselves a lot of time going straight to that summary.
I reckon it is spot on

 

[Spiritflier]

Right - but what's with the sky?
My landscape panos with blown skies didn't have any weird colours in them (see my Snowdonia trip last Nov earlier in this thread).
Fess up... What happened?

I think I may have been a little over-zealous with Photoshop! The colours were there but I added a gradient layer in ACR to try and recover some of the highlights but didn't drop the saturation slider! Oops!

With hindsight, I should have converted it to mono! Ah well, we live and learn!

 

[AshleyC]

I've found that to take a pano where the exposure varies dramatically, the easiest way is to point the X10 at the bit with the exposure you want (often the bright bit), half press the shutter, then recompose to the start of the pano and press the shutter the whole way.
Or am I barking up the wrong tree?.

Dont you have to press the AEL button while you half press the focus button in order to lock the exposure? I know it will keep the focus locked if you half press the shutter, didnt realise it locked the exposure as well?

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Dont you have to press the AEL button while you half press the focus button in order to lock the exposure? I know it will keep the focus locked if you half press the shutter, didnt realise it locked the exposure as well?

Half pressing the shutter and keeping it pressed locks everything.
I use the AEL button (exposure only) quite a lot, but not for panos.
In Pano mode the lens is forced nearly as wide as it will go and focussing is not critical unless you try a Mr Pants styleeee macro pano...

 

[souldeep]

Hi,

I have noticed that you can now source an x10 for around 360 new with free shipping on EBAY. Downside is its from Hong Kong although they say you can specify which country power cord you prefer.

Anyone ordered from HK or anything to watch out for?

 

[Ceejay]

Hi,

Anyone ordered from HK or anything to watch out for?

Import duty/Tax/Vat could possibly increase price by 20%

C

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Hi,

I have noticed that you can now source an x10 for around 360 new with free shipping on EBAY. Downside is its from Hong Kong although they say you can specify which country power cord you prefer.

Anyone ordered from HK or anything to watch out for?

And an X10 was bought for £337.99.. :nuts:
The post was two pages back, near the top.