The X-T10 is less expensive and in some aspects a
more “basic” version of the top of the line X-T1. The body is a little smaller
and lighter than the X-T1, but it retains the “retro” look characterized by the
clearly defined edges and the “prism bulge” on the top. The camera uses an
electronic viewfinder system with a small LCD. This electronic viewfinder
offers 2.36 million dots and shows a really brilliant and crisp image, but
isn't as large as the X-T1 version with the same resolution: the X-T1 offers a
0.77x factor for the field of view yet the X-T10 viewfinder offers a 0.62x
scaling factor. Nevertheless, working with the X-T10 viewfinder is very
comfortable, with an overlay electronic leveling system and focus peaking,
which aids manual focusing.
The camera has a lot of
function elements and setup dials to get direct access to shutter speed, aperture
size, EV compensation and more controls. Shutter speed can be controlled by a
large dial on the top of the camera. It offers standard EV steps like 1/250,
1/500 and 1/1000 second. Intermediate shutter speed settings can be reached by
pressing the setup dial on the back.
Using the “Q” button on the
back starts a quick menu on the screen which allows for setup of the most
important settings like image size, file format and more. Using the lens ring
to change aperture size is as comfortable and intuitive as working with an
analog SLR system. The lens ring of the Fujifilm X-T10 can be used for
additional parameters as well.
The camera offers many
individual settings and customer defined functions. The photographer can change
the direction of the focus dial on the lens system, for example, because
focusing of the lens is based on a servo system which allows the user to
reverse direction for getting from “near” to “infinity setting. There are many
other settings that can be defined by the user, so beginners may be a bit
confused, although experienced photographers will enjoy the flexibility.
The camera doesn't offer an
internal stabilization system and depends on optical stabilization in the
lenses. Fujifilm offers some lenses with these systems, but many wide-angle lenses
and lenses like the 56mm and the 60mm macro lack a stabilization system.
Working with third party lenses that are mounted by an adapter system means
that no image stabilization is available.
Comments on Image Quality
Color: The Fujifilm X-T10 showed a good performance in our
color test. The colors in standard mode are highly saturated (117.5 percent).
Some nuances are highly overdrawn like darker blue nuances and darker green
tones, while red nuances and especially skin tones are shown with a more
natural saturation. The automatic white balance system caused a shift of gray
tones into the green and yellow area. This is noticeable in our test box shot
(gray background) and our portrait shot (nearly white background).
Sharpness: Anti-noise filtering generates a smoothing effect on
fine details. The X-T10 compensates this effect by additional sharpness
filtering. This is noticeable in the hair of our model in the portrait shot.
The high-resolution test result of 3124 of 3264 lines per picture height is
accompanied by some overshot effects and “clipping” warnings in our ImaTest
software. Due to this effect, hard contrast lines in the image may show a
double contour line.
Noise: The
Fujifilm X-T10 keeps luminance noise on a very low level. The y-factor stays
far below 1.0 percent; even at ISO 6400 mode it is only 0.61 percent. The camera
achieves this effect by increasing
anti-noise filtering. This filter system keeps colors noise on a low level,
too. Color noise artifacts (smoothed by filtering) are only noticeable in
images taken with ISO 3200 and ISO 6400, but are really inconspicuous.
The dynamic range results are
a little disappointing for a Fujifilm camera with X-Trans CMOS sensor. The X-T10
achieved a maximum of only 10.3 f-stops.
Comments on Video Functions
and Quality
The Fujifilm X-T10 records
Full HD videos with 1920 x 1080 pixels and with high frame rates up to 60
frames per second (PAL mode: 50 frames per second). These high frames rates
allow the user to take shots of fast moving objects (sports videos) that will
retain a smooth look.
In addition, the Fujifilm
X-T10 offers standard frame rates with 25 and 30 frames per second and is also
able to record videos sequences in “cinema” mode with 24 frames per second. All
videos are saved as QuickTime MOV files and use H.264 video compression.
The camera allows the user to
make manual exposure settings when recording videos. The video recording button
on the top is very small and located directly in front of the EV compensation
dial. This location makes it a little difficult to activate video recording
without camera shake, so the first frames may be a little blurred. The camera
also allows for use of an external microphone for better sound recording. An
interface for an earphone/headset is missing.
The video quality of the
Fujifilm X-T10 can't be compared with its results in photo mode. The resolution
chart was reproduced with only 448 of 1080 lines per picture height, which is a
very poor result. However the video sequences still have a lot of aliasing and
moiré problems. These results are caused by a very intense sharpness filtering
that cause an unnatural or artificial video look. The camera uses very high
data rate for its videos. The overall bit rate is nearly 37 Mbit/s and should
allow for better results. The high data rate requires fast storage media. For
video recording the photographer should use SDHC or SDXC cards.
The color reproduction in
video mode is good. A lot of colors are highly saturated and the white balance
system causes a little yellowish touch in neutral gray tones (just like in
photo mode).
The camera showed higher
luminance noise results in video mode than in photo mode. While the luminance
noise factor is about 0.45 percent in images taken with ISO 200 in photo mode,
setting the same ISO speed will cause a luminance noise factor of 0.98 percent
in video mode. Dynamic range is nearly on the same level as in photo mode. The
maximum dynamic range in videos was 10.3 f-stops.
Pro:
*compact system camera with
high quality finish
*electronic viewfinder with
very high resolution (2.36 million RGB dots), but not as large as the very big
X-T1 viewfinder
*easy handling, a lot of
filter effects including film simulation like “classic chrome”
*Wi-fi function
Con:
*swivel LCD not fully
articulated. LCD an only be flipped up- and downwards
*due to the many functions
settings the menu navigation may confuse or overwhelm beginners
*no internal image (sensor shift)
stabilizer; stabilization depends on optical systems of the lenses
Test results and comments by
Betternet, TIPA’s testing lab. I serve on the Technical Committee of TIPA and
edited this test report for this posting. For more information on TIPA visit www.tipa.com.
