Testing / Performance

The FinePix F10 comes equipped with a Real Photo image processor, which Fujifilm claims does everything from create accurate colors and less noise to make your bed in the morning. Okay, so Fujifilm didn’t promise that last part, but we are expecting big things from the imaging processor. To test how accurately it reproduces colors, we take several well lit exposures of the 24-tile GretagMacbeth color chart. Industry professionals use this chart as a standard of ideal colors. We upload our images of the color chart into Imatest Imaging Software, which determines how accurate each color is compared to the corresponding ideal. The modified chart below shows the original color on the inner rectangle, the F10’s produced color on the outer square, and the color-corrected version on the inner square.

 The same information is displayed graphically below. The squares depict the Fujifilm FinePix F10’s produced colors. The circles represent the original ideal colors from the GretagMacbeth chart. The greater the distance between the two shapes, the greater the error of the imaging processor. Ideally, these shapes should be right on top of each other.

 The FinePix F10 performed decently, but tended to exaggerate the red colors more than necessary. Many compact models do this to enhance skin tones, but even this exaggeration is a bit overboard. Naturalistic color reproduction seemed to be the weakest performance element of the F10, which is oddly enough the case on many FinePix models. We’ve tested the color accuracy of another Fujifilm F-series digital camera, the F440, and it shared the same problem of red exaggeration, but it received a less impressive score of 4.65 because it exaggerated many cooler tones as well. The F10 makes some improvements, but still has a ways to go.

Still Life Scene

Below is a colorful still life scene photographed by the Fujifilm FinePix F10.

[

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: The linked image is very large!)](../viewer.php?picture=Fuji-F-10-StillLifeLG.jpg)

 **Resolution / Sharpness (5.47)**

Fujifilm advertises the F10 with 6.63 total megapixels on its 1/1.7-inch Super CCD. Of those 6.63 megapixels, 6.3 of them are effective in imaging. To test the exact resolution of images from the CCD, we take several exposures of the International Standards Organization resolution chart and upload them into Imatest Imaging Software. The software program then determines the number of pixels used in the pictures. We report these numbers as a percentage of the manufacturer’s advertised effective megapixel count to provide a standardized means of comparison — how effective the sensor is. A camera that scores within 70 percent of the advertised count is considered "good." Within 80 percent, it is "very good." A camera that scores within 90 percent is "excellent" and rarely heard of.

[

Click on the chart to view full resolution image](../viewer.php?picture=Fuji-F-10-ResCH-LG.jpg)

The Fujifilm FinePix proved itself a rare find, recording 5.47 megapixels. This is 90 percent of its advertised pixel count, which has only been found in SLR cameras up until now. Previously, the Canon SD500 held the title for most megapixels recorded by a compact digital camera. It recorded 5.28 megapixels, but advertised 7.1 megapixels. The FinePix F10 outperforms the SD500 with more megapixels and an "excellent" designation.

Noise Auto ISO ***(3.22)***

We test the automatic ISO setting in bright light, so users can see if their Florida family reunion pictures will have random purple pixels dancing across them. The Fujifilm F10 performed similarly to other compact models, most of which score in the 2-3 range. The F10 earned an automatic ISO noise score of 3.22, which is mediocre and should be the cause of some concern for straight automatic users. Unless you are shooting in bright daylight, in automatic ISO mode, the F10 will display significant noise. Note: the automatic ISO setting can be chosen at any time, but it does not automatically activate in the Auto mode; users must set it to Auto.

Noise Manual ISO ***(11.42)***

Fortunately, the F10 performed much better when the ISO rating was manually adjusted. The FinePix F10 offers the following ISO ratings for manual adjustment: 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600. This range goes far beyond what most compact digital cameras offer. To test the walk behind the talk, we tested noise levels at each of the ISO ratings and entered the data into a regression analysis to determine the overall score. The noise levels are depicted on the graph below on the vertical axis, with the ISO ratings shown on the horizontal axis.

 The Fujifilm F10 surprised us with an overall manual ISO noise score of 11.42. Most compact models score in the 4-5 range on this test, so reaching this level is pretty unbelievable. Images are virtually noise-free and they rival SLR photos. The F10 displayed less noise using its ISO 1600 than any camera released this year that we have tested at ISO 400 (including the Canon PowerShot SD500, the Konica Minolta Z5 [at ISO 320], the Kodak Z740, Panasonic FZ5, etc.). This is truly unbelievable! With results like these, you’re much better off adjusting the ISO yourself.

**Low Light ***(6.5)*

With this camera's ISO 800 and 1600 ratings, along with a Natural Light preset setting, the Fujifilm FinePix F10 is slated to be a strong low light performer. We typically test a camera's low light capabilities at decreasing light levels to highlight the sensor’s point of limitation. Each camera is tested at 60, 30, 15, and 5 Lux to see how it will perform in common low light scenes; 60 Lux equates to a moderately lit bedroom following sundown, 30 Lux is roughly the illumination given off from a single, 40 watt lightbulb, and 15 and 5 Lux are conditions approaching darkness.

Although clearly reaching its limitations at 15 Lux, the Fujifilm F10 performed admirably at all previous light levels. Images recorded at 60 and 30 Lux are sharp and defined with vibrant color tones. These are definitely the strongest low light images we have seen since we began reporting our low light results. Captured images display very limited noise, even at 15 Lux, and tonal gradations are clearly distinguishable. Issues do emerge when the available light dropped to 5 Lux, but that is expected, as very few imagers remain capable of reproducing acceptable images in those conditions. All around, the camera certainly lives up to the hype regarding low light performance, though it should be noted that these results were attained using the camera’s manual mode, ISO 1600 rating, and manually setting the white balance for each shot. When tested under the same light conditions using the camera’s touted Natural Light mode, illumination levels in the image remained the same, but color accuracy severely waned. If shooting in low light, it is strongly recommended that users opt for the manual mode and settings.

Speed / Timing
*Startup/First shot (8.66)
*The F10 produced the fastest startup time of a compact digital camera that we’ve tested. There is a tie for runner-up between the Konica Minolta Z20 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P150, both at 1.41 seconds. Users must hold the power button down rather than tapping it, which is nice because it won’t accidentally turn on in your pocket. The power button doesn’t need to be held down long — probably only a half second. The total time for the Fujifilm FinePix F10 to turn on and take its first shot: 1.34 seconds. Quickly getting that shot of your kid doing something spontaneously cute: priceless.

*Shot to shot (8.6)
*The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has three continuous shooting modes: Top 3, Final 3, and 40 Frames (all titled within the camera). The Top 3 mode takes the first 3 images with 0.4 seconds in between each shot, then pauses for 12 seconds before taking its next 3-picture burst. The Final 3 mode takes pictures at a slightly slower 0.43-second clip, but only saves the last three pictures. The title of the "40 Frames" mode refers to the amount of pictures that can be taken continuously without any breaks for reading or writing to the card. The camera takes a shot every 1.4 seconds, which isn’t much of a burst mode. The scariest part of the "40 Frames" mode is the noise the camera makes when it takes a picture.

*Shutter to shot (8.89)
*Photographers who are tired of slow shutter lag will appreciate the F10, which only takes .01 seconds from the time the shutter button is released to the time the exposure is captured. Very impressive for a compact camera!

**

Physical Tour

**

Front (7.5)**

The front of the F10 has a brushed silver panel that is slightly raised from the polished metal frame. The brushed silver panel is a sturdy plastic while the polished material and the lens are made of metal. This rectangular digital camera is flat except for a finger grip on the left side. At the apex of the slight lump and acting as the grip is the FinePix logo in polished silver letters. Slightly right of center is the Fujinon zoom lens, which is labeled on the top rim. On the bottom rim, the lens boasts its capabilities: "3x f='8-24mm' 1:2.8-5.0." Below the lens and to the left are the Fujifilm brand logo and two holes, which act as the built-in microphone. To the bottom right of the lens are the words "Digital Camera F10" and a square panel with the Super CCD logo. In the top right corner is the rectangular flash with the self-timer lamp and larger AF assist beam directly beneath it. Beneath the assist beam, the F10 flaunts its pixel count: "6.3 Megapixels," printed in black lettering.

**

Back**(7.5)

The large 2.5-inch LCD screen occupies most of the real estate on the back of the F10. The screen has a glossy black frame with the FinePix logo printed in white at the bottom. The LCD screen is situated more towards the left side, with the controls squished on the far right third of the camera body. In the top right corner is the zoom toggle, which looks like a single oval-shaped bar with a "W" on one end and a "T" on the other. Between the letters is a divot where the thumb can slide and differentiate between the two sides by feel. Below this feature is a circular divot, which looks like a shallow bowl. The top of the bowl overlaps with the toggle, so the thumb can grip or slide upward to easily zoom in or out.

Beneath the divot are two buttons; the left button has a playback icon on it and the right button has the letter "F" on it. This is Fujifilm’s Photo Mode button, which contains most of the exposure controls in a pop-up menu. Above the playback button is an indicator lamp that flashes when the camera is busy reading or writing to the memory card. Below the two buttons is the navigational dial, which consists of a Menu/OK button surrounded by a single ring. The ring has arrows pointing in each direction and an icon to the side to indicate which functions can be activated by pressing in that direction. The top of the dial has graphics of a sun and a trashcan above it to indicate the LCD brightness function and delete function in playback. The right side of the dial has a flash icon next to it; the left side has a flower next to it for the macro mode. The bottom has a self-timer icon. Below the navigational dial and slightly to the left is a small circular button labeled "DISP/BACK" which is used to switch info settings on the LCD screen.

---

Left Side **(7.5)**

The left side of the FinePix F10 is flat and void of major features. There is a small rubber cover with small letters on it indicating that it is indeed the cover to the A/V out and DC in jack. The cover protrudes slightly at the top, just enough for it to be pried open with a fingernail.

*

*

 
**Right Side (7.5)**

The right side is flat except for the wrist strap eyelet in the center, which is formed from a rotating polished silver-colored plastic.

---

Top **(8.0)**

In line with the camera’s décor, the top of this model is both visually and functionally very simple. A brushed metal panel has the words "Digital Camera FinePix F10" printed on the left side and the power button and shutter release button — surrounded by the mode switch — located on the right side. The self-labeled power button is circular and will not turn on if just tapped. The button must be continuously pressed for a bit less than a half second for the camera to wake up. To the right of the power button is the polished shutter release button, which sits atop the surrounding mode switch. The switch can be turned with a small grip on the right, although it is a little stiff. The mode icons and letters can be seen on the left. From top to bottom, they are "SP" (scene position), "Auto," "M" (manual), and a video camera icon to represent the movie mode.

Components

Viewfinder **(0.0)**

There is no optical viewfinder on the Fujifilm FinePix F10, possibly to make room for the large LCD screen. Users must rely solely on the LCD for viewing, which has its pros and cons. Pros: With a 100 percent field of view, you’ll always get the shot you framed. On compact models, optical viewfinders are often uncomfortable or poorly placed. Cons: If battery power runs low, there is no optical viewfinder to use as an alternative. Also, if users move the camera quickly, the view looks choppy. Some digital camera consumers have complained that LCDs are difficult to view in bright sunlight, but the F10 fares well in many types of lighting.

---

**

LCD Screen (7.5)**

The large 2.5-inch LCD screen has just 115,000 pixels on its 4:3 formatted display. The amorphous silicon TFT color LCD has 100 percent coverage of the view through the lens, so users can always frame their pictures just right. Because the screen is used as the viewfinder, it cannot be turned off. The Disp/Back button to the right of the screen simply changes the display setting on the screen from the view to the view with file info, to 3 x 3 grid with info, to real-time view on the right side of the screen and the last 3 shots taken aligned vertically on the left side.

 After a picture is captured, it can be displayed on the screen for a few seconds. Users can opt for 1.5 or 3 seconds, or turn the function off completely in the Set-up menu. The screen handles well in bright light and under normal lighting conditions. I never had to adjust the brightness, but it is available in the Set-up menu in a +/- 5 range. There is a sun icon on the top of the navigational dial that works as a quick LCD brightness function. One touch will brighten the screen; another touch will bring it back to normal. The angle of the screen affects viewing. When the display is pushed more than 10-20 degrees off-center, there is a significant amount of solarization and visibility is compromised. Overall, the screen is decently constructed and seems sturdy enough to survive a few falls.

***

Flash *(8.0)****

The F10’s built-in flash is located in the top right corner of the camera when viewed from the front; unfortunately, this is often where user’s left-hand fingers occasionally rest and they may therefore occasionally obscure the flash. When the flash was accidentally blocked, the picture took on a reddish hue — I assume from the blood in my finger. That’s right: this camera can flash through a finger. It is quite powerful for a compact model's flash; it can reach from 2-21.3 ft in the wide angle setting and 2-13.1 ft in the telephoto setting. The flash also functions in macro shooting, but not very well. It centers all its light and leaves a halo around the edge. There is no flash compensation; that would have come in handy with such a powerful flash! The flash looks fairly even, unless attempting to take a picture of a shiny surface in dark lighting (opt for that awesome ISO 1600 setting in that case). The following modes are available: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro, and Red-Eye Reduction + Slow Synchro.

---

***

Zoom Lens *(6.5)****

The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has a Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens that reaches from 8-24mm. This is equivalent to a 36-108mm lens on a 35mm camera. If this does not provide enough zoom, there is an additional 6.2x digital zoom, although it is not recommended to use this as digital zoom will only degrade picture quality. The lens boasts apertures from f/2.8-f/8, with the maximum aperture of f/2.8 in wide and f/5 in telephoto. The lens can focus from 2 ft to infinity in normal and 3 inches to 2.6 ft in macro. Surprisingly, the focus mechanism on the camera is louder than the zooming mechanism.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance(8.0)

Fujifilm put a lot of thought into the design of the F10. They wanted a slim camera that would be more durable than most waif-like cameras in its class. Fujifilm engineers crafted a monocoque design, which wraps a single sheet of metal around three sides of the camera. This same design is used to build airplanes, golf clubs, and race cars because of its strength and durability. The metal plate wraps around other plastic elements of the housing, and keeps a durable feel throughout. The F10 aims to attract the style-seeking crowd with a sleek silver casing and sharp-lined form but also strives to provide a bit more substance than some other more aesthetically-oriented point-and-shoot models. The design results in a feeling of substance and a bit of heft, but by no means is the camera heavy. The body is dense and does not feel easily breakable — an important characteristic of any electronic device intended for pocket transport. A few ergonomic features are also formed into the design, such as the thumb divot and finger grip for added control and comfort when shooting with one hand. These features are appreciated and do not compromise style for comfort.

**Size / Portability **(7.5)

The F10 has a compact rectangular form that looks similar to the Canon PowerShot SD400, but the Fujifilm model is a bit thicker. The SD400 measures 0.8 inches thick, while the F10 measures 1.1 inches thick. The F-10 will still fit in a pocket, but may feel bulky if you’re not sporting baggy attire. There is a slightly raised finger grip on the front of the camera, but it isn’t enough to snag your pants or cramp your style. The 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.1-inch digital camera weighs 5.5 ounces without the battery and card; it weighs 7.1 ounces with the xD-Picture Card and rechargeable lithium-ion battery included. The F10 has a wrist strap eyelet and included strap to aid in portability. While the F-10 is certainly not the smallest camera on the market, considering the additional density and durability of the frame, it might be worth the very slight inconvenience of transport.

**Handling Ability **(8.0)

The design of the Fujifilm FinePix F10 incorporates ergonomically pleasing features such as a finger grip on the front and a thumb divot on the back of the body to supply additional support and control when shooting. It does this without sacrificing style for comfort. The slightly raised finger grip has an embossed FinePix logo across it, which actually helps keep the fingers in place. (Blatant advertising with a secondary, surprisingly practical application - nice touch.) The grip is just large enough to supply comfort and support without adding much bulk; the height is not as exaggerated as in some compact models, such as Canon’s A-series cameras. A divot on the back of the camera provides a comfortable space for the right thumb to rest when it’s not toggling with the zoom lever just above, though unfortunately, there is no texture to the surface. These seemingly insignificant features go a long way in terms of comfort and handling aid for the F10.

***

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size *(6.5)****

Perhaps exaggerated by its large 2.5-inch LCD screen, the F10’s control buttons on the back of the camera appear slightly undersized. This would be excusable, except for the fact that all the buttons are also crammed together in the small space to the right of the display. While the handling of the camera is comfortable, actual use can be a little frustrating because of the button size and placement. Multiple buttons can easily be pressed at the same time, especially if you have large fingers. This is particularly true with the navigational dial. The F10’s navigational dial is used to scroll through menus and options and is formed around the OK or Enter button, creating the camera’s selection interface. The circular dial is formed of a single continuous piece, without any boundaries or distinctions between directions and can often create issues when making selections by feel, without looking at the controls directly. To make matters worse, the mode dial on the top is stiff and can be hard to turn.

All of the buttons are clearly intelligible except for the "F" button. This button is familiar to Fujifilm users, but may stump newcomers to the FinePix line. The "F" button is for the Photo mode, which engages an image control menu containing: Quality, ISO, and Color mode.

---

Menu **(8.0)**

There are two places to find menus on the F10: the Menu/OK button and the F button, also known as the Photo Mode control to those familiar with Fujifilm models. The menus always appear as an overlay superposed over the real-time view. The camera highlights selected options with a background color, which users can customize to be blue, purple, pink, orange, green, or black. The options within the menus are expressed with icons or abbreviations; a gray bar atop the menu displays the full text title of the highlighted graphic icon. The F10 offers live views for the exposure compensation, photometry, white balance, ISO, and color modes.

The menu options differ depending on the mode selected on the mode dial. When the "SP" (scene position) mode is selected, the F button has two options (Quality and FinePix Color) and the Menu/OK button yields the following options: Scene Position, High Speed Shooting, Set-up, and Continuous. The Auto mode has the same menu options* except for the Scene* Position; Auto mode does add a manual ISO selection to the F menu. In the Manual mode F menu, the following options are available: Quality, ISO, and FinePix Color. When the Menu button is pressed in the Manual mode, a short list of options appears: Exposure Compensation, Photometry, "White Ballance [sic],' High Speed Shooting, Set-up, Continuous, and AF Mode.

Yes, you read that right. White ballance, not balance. I guess Fujifilm doesn't have enough editors to produce a grammatically correct camera; a few spelling errors slipped into the first wave of cameras (one of which is the one we tested). Not only is the word "balance" spelled with one too many Ls, but the fluorescent option is labeled "Foluscent," for all those times you're shooting in foluscent light. Oops.

When the movie mode is selected, the scant menu consists only of a Set-up option and the F button brings only a Quality option.

The Set-up menu branches off from the others with a long list of options to adjust personal preferences: Image Disp., Shutter Volume, Beep Volume, Playback Volume, Frame No., LCD Brightness, Digital Zoom, AF Illuminator, Long Exposure, Auto Power Off, Format, Date/Time, Time Difference, Language, Background Color, USB Mode, Video System, and Reset.

The Playback menu is accessed by pressing the small playback button above the navigational dial, then pressing the Menu/OK button in the center of the dial. The following options appear: Erase, Image Rotate, Print Order (DPOF), Protect, Playback, Setup, Voice Memo, and Trimming.

If users want to change white balance or ISO settings, then entering the menus becomes a necessity, as there is no other way to adjust these. Macro, flash, self-timer, LCD brightness and delete functions are available on the navigational dial — and are accessible without entering the menu.

Ease of Use **(7.0)**

The degree of ease depends on what you’re doing with the camera. Taking pictures is simple. Point-and-shoot functionality is easy to attain with intuitive menus, although shooting options are found in two different places: the Menu/OK button and the F Photo mode button. If users are trying to charge the battery or transfer images to a computer or printer — or really anything involving wires — the F10 gets complicated. The connection of three separate wires to charge the battery or power the camera is ludicrous. In terms of performance, the camera excels when manually pushed. In auto mode, performance is run-of-the-mill and without any major strengths other than its expanded sensitivity range, which will help minimize apparent camera shake and motion blur.

Modes

Auto Mode **(6.5)**

The self-titled Auto mode can be found on the mode dial and blocks access to most image settings. The burst modes can still be changed, color modes can be added, and the ISO rating can be switched. The ISO rating has an automatic option, but users must manually select that option; the camera does not automatically choose it as a default in Auto mode. This could be tricky for beginners, who may assume that everything is automatically set in the automatic mode.

In practice, the F10 did not fare quite as well in Auto mode as it did when settings were manually selected. The camera seems to be fitted with a strong image processor and sensor, but the automatic metering system and other secondary components needed for autonomous functionality did not compare. Noticeable inaccuracies in color appear when using the auto white balance or "white balance" setting, and when the sensitivity is also set to Auto there is a drastic increase in perceivable noise within the image. All around, the camera will function as a straight point-and-shoot, but it does not have much beyond the competition. Only when the user switches to manual ISO and white balance will the F10 begin to pull away from the pack.

**Movie Mode **(7.0)

The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has a decent movie mode, but its nothing to get excited about. It records clips at 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 up to the capacity of the currently loaded memory card. Both sizes record 30 frames per second, which will reproduce full fluid motion. There is no zoom available in movie mode — neither optical nor digital. In fact, if you even try to move the zoom toggle or any other buttons on the camera, you will hear the sound of fumbling fingers later: the F10 records sound, but picks up sounds from the user's hands much better than sounds from its subjects. There are not many options within the movie mode — not even color modes. The lens focuses fine in movie mode, as long as subjects are farther than a foot away.

Drive / Burst Mode **(6.5)**

There are three continuous shooting modes on the F10: Top 3, Final 3, and 40 Frames. Both the Top 3 and the Final 3 take pictures at a 2.2-frame-per-second rate. The Top 3 mode takes the first 3 pictures and then displays all 3 on the LCD with a message that says "Storing." It takes about 12 seconds for the camera to take its next 3 shots. The Final 3 mode takes pictures at the same speed, but only saves the last three shots. It takes about 9 seconds to save pictures in the Final 3 mode. The 40 Frames mode is named for its ability to take 40 frames continuously at a not-so-impressive rate of one shot every 1.2 seconds. These burst modes are comparable to most similarly priced and categorized compact digital cameras and do not effectively compete, despite the inclusion of the heavily marketed Real Photo Processor.

Playback Mode **(7.0)**

The Playback mode is accessed from the Playback button, which is located directly to the right of the LCD screen. Once in Playback mode, users can view images in single frames only. There is no nine-frame index screen, which is common on most digital cameras. When users scroll between individual frames, file info appears for about two seconds before fading away. The visible file info does not include shutter speed or aperture; instead, it displays image size, exposure compensation, ISO, date and time. The Playback menu includes these options: Trimming, Auto Playback, Multi-Frame Playback, Sorting by Date, Image Rotate, and Voice Memo, as well as access to the Set-up menu. The Playback option refers to slide shows and allows users to view pictures normally or to introduce fades. The Voice Memo option lets users record up to 10 seconds of audio with each image file. Users can then listen to their attached clips and can even adjust the playback volume in 10 levels within the Set-up menu. When the F button is pressed in playback mode, it becomes the Print button. Users can choose the prints they want and how many of each for easier direct printing.

**Custom Image Presets **(4.5)

The Scene Position mode is labeled on the mode dial as "SP." Once selected, users must enter the menu to choose a specific scene from the following options: Natural Light, Portrait, Landscape, Sport, and Night. This list is somewhat disappointing; usually cameras that don’t have manual controls include a lengthy list of scene modes to compensate. The Fujifilm FinePix F10 takes the alternate route, going for the basics rather than the hyper-specific modes that some models opt for (i.e. cuisine, pets, fireworks, etc.). In the Natural Light and Landscape modes, the flash is disabled. According to Fujifilm, the Natural Light mode is intended to be a majestic savior for compromised lighting, disabling the flash and defaulting to the ISO 1600 setting. Unfortunately, for the point-and-shoot crowd, when the F10 was tested in low light, images were far stronger when captured in the manual mode. The Natural Light mode had difficulties attaining accurate color balance and though the resulting images were visible, they were not impressive.

Control Options

**Manual Controls
**The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has a mode designated as Manual, but don’t be fooled — that mode does not offer the traditional shutter speed and aperture manual controls you might expect. Instead, it offers the following manual options: ISO, Exposure Compensation, Photometry (metering), and White Balance. These will be discussed further in the coming sections.
**

Focus
Auto Focus (6.5)**

Within the Manual mode, three focusing modes are available: Center, Multi, and Continuous. The Multi focus option is the default; this automatically selects the object closest to the lens and focuses on it. Users can see where the camera is focusing with yellow brackets that are superimposed on the LCD view. Unfortunately, the item closest to the lens is not always the subject of the photograph — and there’s no way to fix this. The Center AF mode focuses only on the middle of the composition. The Continuous AF mode focuses on the center of the picture continuously instead of waiting for the user to press the shutter release button. Unfortunately, the focus mechanism makes an unsettling noise when it focuses. It is not very noticeable in the Center and Multi AF modes, but is absolutely obnoxious in the Continuous AF mode. It sounds like a large moth caught between a screen and a closed window, banging around helplessly before it dies. Charming.

Despite the noise, the Fujifilm FinePix F10 uses the TTL contrast-type AF system to focus from 3 inches to 2.6 feet in macro mode and 2 feet to infinity in the normal shooting modes. When the camera has a difficult time focusing, users must activate the AF illuminator, which is a green LED on the front of the camera. Perhaps because of the time needed for the camera to speak its dying-insect dialect, focusing adjustments are drawn out and will require some time to properly calibrate and set. The F10’s AF is faster than some other point-and-shoot models on the market, but it is about average by today’s standards.

---

Manual Focus (0.0)****

There is no manual focus available on the Fujifilm FinePix F10*.*

Metering **(7.5)**

This function is referred to as Photometry in Fujifilm digital cameras. The through-the-lens metering system offers three modes: Multi, Spot, and Average. The Multi mode is the default option for the F10 and measures settings from 64 different points in the frame. The Spot mode is particularly useful if subjects are backlit or there is heavy contrast in the composition. The Average metering mode measures from 64 points, then uses the same average value for the entire image. The user manual states that this mode is good for subjects wearing black or white clothing and landscape shots. It did work well in those situations, producing evenly exposed images.

Exposure **(7.0)**

There are four exposure modes on the dial — Scene Position, Auto, Manual, and Movie — but the typical exposure controls of shutter speed and aperture are not available on this digital camera. There is, however, exposure compensation available in the typical +/- 2 EV range, moving in 1/3-stop increments. To adjust the exposure within the menu, users scroll up and down on a graph-like bar with the numerical value posted atop the screen. A real-time view is available, so users can see the compensation effects on the image.

---

***

White Balance *(7.0)****

The Fujifilm FinePix F10, instead of sporting a white balance option, has an adjustable "White Ballance." Ok, so they're the same thing and all modes do function properly, despite the spelling errors here and elsewhere in the menu. The first production line of Fujifilm F10s will have a "White Ballance" menu with three "Foluscent Light" modes. (How did they miss this? There’s even a misspelled screen shot in the user manual!) It is unfortunate that these errors made it past the editor, but hopefully users can still decipher the words enough to choose an appropriate setting. The following settings (with spelling corrected) are available: Auto, Custom, Fine, Shade, Fluorescent Daylight, Fluorescent Warm White, Fluorescent Cool White, and Incandescent. As users scroll through the menu icons, a real-time view showing the lighting changes can be seen beneath the menu. While the spelling errors are an embarrassment to look at, the real-time view is a nice feature that users will pay more attention**to.

While the auto white balance setting is not terribly accurate, the included list of seven preset options and a full customizable option ensures accurate color calibration, so long as the user is willing to invest a bit of time.

---

**ISO **(8.5)

Most compact digital cameras have an ISO range of 50-400. The FinePix F10 goes above and beyond — far above and far beyond — with seven ISO settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600. The 800 setting is rare in cameras of this size, but the 1600 setting is unheard of. This high sensitivity will allow users to take photographs in low light without using the flash — a nice feature for those "No Flash Photography" museums or chiaroscuro scenes, and nice for significantly minimizing apparent camera shake. While the available ISO range rivals most prosumer SLRs in terms of sensitivity options, don’t expect quite the same handling of noise, as it is all taking place on a 1/1.7-inch sensor. Still, the F10 performs much more like a DSLR than a compact or point-and-shoot model in terms of sensitivity options available and noise handling.

Shutter Speed **(0.0)**

Shutter speeds cannot be manually adjusted on the F10, but they range from 3-1/2000^th of a second, depending on the exposure mode. There is also a Long Exposure option in the Setup menu that can be turned on and off. When it is turned on, it works only in the Night scene of the Scene Position mode and lets users take exposures from 3-15 seconds. The camera automatically determines the exact length of the shutter speed, but stays within the 3-15-second range when the Long Exposure option is turned on. The shutter speed is always displayed on the LCD screen just prior to image capture. Within the Setup menu, users can change the volume of the shutter sound to one of three levels or even turn it off. There is only one shutter sound — a kitschy high-pitched electronic noise that sounds like an attacking cat (to complement the sound of the Continuous AF's trapped and dying moth?).

Aperture **(0.0)**

Although the aperture cannot be manually adjusted, the aperture reading appears on the LCD screen just before a shot is taken. When the lens is at its widest angle, apertures can range from f/2.8-f/8. Apertures range from f/5-f/8 when the lens is zoomed in to its telephoto capabilities.

---

Image Parameters

Picture Quality **/ Size Options (6.0)**

Photographs can be captured in five size settings of JPEG image files. The image size can be changed in the Quality section of the Photo mode, although there are no compression settings. The following image sizes are available: 2848 x 2136 (6M), 3024 x 2016 (3:2), 2048 x 1536 (3M), 1600 x 1200 (2M), and 640 x 480 (0.3M). When users scroll through these options on the LCD, the camera displays the number of pictures that can be taken in each setting on the currently loaded card. In the Set-up menu, users can choose to continuously label their pictures or reset the numbering system to begin at number one again.

---

Picture Effects Options **(6.5)**

The Fujifilm F10 has three color modes, labeled FinePix Color in the Photo Mode. Standard, Chrome, and Black & White are available. These options are common on digital cameras, although some models have a Sepia mode that the F10 does not have. The Chrome mode is comparable to a Vivid option on other models; it simply over-saturates colors slightly for richer tones.

Connectivity / Extras

---

Connectivity

Software (7.0)

The F10 includes a CD-ROM with FinePix Viewer software on it. The CD-ROM has a 5.0 version for Windows and a 3.3 version for Macintosh. It took almost 12 minutes to upload the FinePix Viewer onto my computer, which uses Windows. The program is easy to use with a simple interface. Photographs can be viewed in three ways: thumbnails, preview, and details. The thumbnail view is self-explanatory. The preview view shows thumbnails at the bottom and a larger highlighted picture at the top. The details view shows vertically aligned thumbnails in a chart. File information appears in the chart next to the pictures. In these three views, pictures can be viewed straight from folders or users can reorganize their massive amounts of image files into chronological order. The FinePix Viewer automatically organizes photos — with the user’s consent. One more way to view photographs: the traditional slide show method. In the**thumbnail, preview, and detail views, a bar appears at the left side of the screen with editing and sharing options: Slide Show, Send Email, Rotate, Clip/Insert Text, Adjust Image Quality, Correct Red-Eye, Resize, and Change Format (this switches file types to JPEG, TIFF, or BMP). Some of these options cause a smaller window to appear with more options. For example, when the Send Email option is selected, a small window appears with image sizes. When the Adjust Image Quality option is chosen, the picture opens in a whole new window. There are step-by-step directions on the left and sliding bars with image parameters beneath the picture. The following parameters can be adjusted: Brightness, Saturation, Hue, and Contrast. This window also shows a before and after picture to show the effects of the adjustments; however, the pictures are so small that changes are hard to see. Overall, the software is simple to use and includes most basic editing functions such as red-eye removal and contrast adjustments. The only basic editing feature I’ve seen in other comparable programs that I did not see in this one is color balance. The Hue option changes colors to a degree, but individual reds, blues, and greens cannot be adjusted. All in all, the included FinePix Viewer is similar to most editing programs that come packaged with compact cameras — it is simplified and easy to use, but not nearly as elaborate as Photoshop or other external applications. If simple image extraction and basic manipulation is sought, this should suffice, but for more advanced alterations (e.g. specific color modification, extensive sharpening, etc.), the FinePix Viewer is not quite up to the task.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Jacks, ports, plugs (4.5)

The Fujifilm FinePix F10 has one port that connects to a terminal adapter with three ports in it in turn: USB, A/V out, and DC in. If users want to use external power, they must plug one wire into the wall and connect it to a port in the AC power adaptor, then plug a wire extending from the adaptor into the terminal, which then hooks into the camera. Phew. I think this is way too complicated. Perhaps Fujifilm wanted to reduce the number of ports located on the actual housing of the camera. However, the tangle of wires is a hassle and if the terminal adapter gets lost, users are stuck without connectivity. To make matters worse, when users want to print directly from the camera, they must switch the USB mode from DSC to PictBridge. The A/V out cable can be switched from NTSC to PAL within the setup menu.

Direct Print Options (6.5)

As I’ve already stated, printing from the Fujifilm FinePix F10 requires a few wires, a switch in the USB mode, and some patience from the user. The digital camera is PictBridge compatible, and will work once it’s connected. To select pictures to print, users must enter the playback mode and then press the F button. The F button acts as the Print button and lets users select which images to print and how many of each image to print.

Battery (7.5)

The FinePix F10 comes with a thin NP-120 rechargeable battery with a lifetime of about 500 shots. The camera does not come with a wall-mount charger. The battery must be charged within the camera; users must plug in the AC power adaptor and hook it up to the terminal adaptor and into the camera. To preserve battery power, the F10 has an Auto Power Off option in the Set-up menu. This shuts the camera off after 2 or 5 minutes of inactivity. This function can also be turned off completely, so that the camera will remain powered on until it is manually shut off.

Memory****(6.0)****

This digital camera does not have internal memory, though it comes with a 16 MB xD-Picture Card. When the camera is shooting at its highest resolution with this card, it can only handle five pictures. A large card is definitely necessary, so plan on dropping an extra forty bucks or so for a 256 MB card. The F10 can accept cards up to**1 GB in its slot, found next to the battery on the bottom of the camera.

Other features **(3.0)**

Self-Timer — Users can select the self-timer to capture a picture 2 or 10 seconds after the shutter release button is pressed.

Box Contents — Besides the F10 digital camera, the following items are included in the box: 16 MB xD-Picture Card, Li-ion battery NP-120, AC power adaptor AC-5VW, hand strap, USB cable, A/V cable, terminal adaptor, and CD-ROM with FinePix Viewer and ImageMixer VCD2 LE software.

Overall Impressions

---

Value **(8.0)**

When judging the value of a digital camera, we must consider the price against the makeup of the camera. The Fujifilm FinePix F10 retails for $399.95, which is similarly priced to other models with comparable functions and features, but can currently be found online for around $330 (USD). In terms of the price and features such as automatic modes, lack of manual control, 2.5-inch LCD, and 3x optical zoom, this is a modestly good deal. When the real imaging capabilities of the F10 are considered, this is an incredible deal. It’s like buying a Mercedes engine in a Chevy body at a Chevy price. A steal! This camera produces high resolution and low noise, making it one of the best compact models we’ve ever tested. There are some questionable areas of construction, but what do you expect from a $400 or $500 camera that sells for $330? There will always be sacrifices, but for straight performance, this is a strong value.

Comparisons
[*

Canon PowerShot SD500 —*](../content/Canon-PowerShot-SD500-Digital-Camera-Review-.htm) When we tested the PowerShot SD500, the camera performed well on color, resolution and noise tests. It advertises 7.1 effective megapixels and has similar automatic modes as the F10, although the SD500 packs in nine scene modes and numerous color modes. The SD500 also racks up style points with its sleek 1-inch thick body. It also has a fantastic movie mode that includes three sizes (640 x 480, 320 x 240, 160 x 120), all at 30 or 15 fps and a fast frame rate mode that records 320 x 240 pixels at 60 fps for a minute. The Canon PowerShot SD500 has a smaller 2-inch LCD screen, but has an optical viewfinder. Unlike the F10, the Digital ELPH model does not have the expansive ISO range and performed dismally when using on the ISO 400 setting. A 3x optical zoom lens and 2 frame-per-second burst mode round out the features on the SD500, but perhaps most noteworthy, the SD500 lists for a hundred bucks more at $499.

[*

Fujifilm FinePix F700*](../specs/Fuji/FinePix%20F700.htm)* —* The FinePix F700 has a long and lanky look with unattractive measurements of 4.3 x 2.1 x 1.1 inches. Looks are not everything though, as the F700 packs 6.2 megapixels on its 1/1.7-inch CCD. Coming to the digital camera market after an October 2004 announcement, the Fujifilm F700 has a 3x optical zoom lens and 1.8-inch LCD. It has more manual, priority, and automatic modes than the F10, giving it far more versatility. Both F-series models contain the expanded sensitivity range extending to ISO 1600. Currently, the new F10 retails online for about $75 more than the F700.

[*

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200*](../content/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-P200-First-Impressions-Review.htm)* —* This Cyber-shot remains true to its P-series roots with its flat rectangular body that has one rounded side. With 7.2 megapixels and a range of manual and automatic controls, the P200 offers more for the manually minded consumer, while the 2-inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens provide the basics for point-and-shooters. This Sony lists for a similar $399.

[*

Nikon Coolpix 7900*](../content/Nikon-Coolpix-7900-First-Impressions-Review-.htm)* —* With 7.1 megapixels on a 1/1.8-inch CCD, the Nikon 7900 offers limited manual control and extensive automatic options. 16 scene modes, a 3x optical zoom lens, 13.5 MB of internal memory, and a 2-inch LCD make this camera attractive to point-and-shooters. The 7900 has interesting features such as in-camera red-eye fix, backlighting compensation, and an auto focus mode that automatically detects faces. The sleek black body measures 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches and retails for a far pricier $449.95.

— With 7.1 megapixels on a 1/1.8-inch CCD, the Nikon 7900 offers limited manual control and extensive automatic options. 16 scene modes, a 3x optical zoom lens, 13.5 MB of internal memory, and a 2-inch LCD make this camera attractive to point-and-shooters. The 7900 has interesting features such as in-camera red-eye fix, backlighting compensation, and an auto focus mode that automatically detects faces. The sleek black body measures 3.5 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches and retails for a far pricier $449.95.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters— Users in this category will be attracted to the simple menus, but may be disappointed with the relatively short list of automatic scene modes. The Auto mode is simple to use, but requires users to set the ISO (it doesn’t automatically switch to auto in the auto mode), so even automatically-reliant users will have to be aware.

Budget Consumers— Buying a Mercedes for a Chevy price sounds like an attractive deal for a budget consumer. The F10 is similarly priced to comparable models of other brands, but comes with better resolution and less noise. For $330-$399 (depending on where you shop), this should be an attractive choice for budget consumers.

Gadget Freaks— Gadget freaks may be intrigued with the numerous wires required to charge the battery or print a picture, but will be bored or frustrated shortly thereafter with the rest of the camera.

Manual Control Freaks— Without manual shutter speed or aperture controls, the Fujifilm FinePix F10 probably won’t compete for attention in this category.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists— Serious hobbyists looking for a compact digital camera may want to check this one out if they’ve been disappointed by noisy, low resolution images before. The F10 takes surprisingly high quality pictures; its loud automatic focus and seemingly substandard construction may be the drawbacks that prevent some serious users from purchasing it.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Digital camera manufacturers have tried for years to combine high-quality images and a compact camera body. The Fujifilm FinePix F10 is the most successful fusion of the two that we’ve come across. The F10 has good solid guts — a 1/1.7-inch Super CCD with 6.3 effective megapixels and a Real Photo imaging processor — in a fairly lightweight 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.1-inch camera body. The Fujifilm F10 produced the highest percentage of resolution from a compact camera we’ve tested to date, recording 5.47 of its advertised 6.3 megapixels (90%). It also produced an overall manual ISO noise score to rival that of high-end, thousand-dollar DSLRs (obviously, without the dynamic range). This compact camera has several SLR elements to it, including the high quality images and fast startup. However, there are drawbacks. One is somewhat substandard construction that is manifested in wretched noises when focusing and using the shutter mechanism. The misspelled headings and settings are inexcusable. Fujifilm has expressed plans to limit the defective releases and ensure that further shipments do not include these oversights, and they're contemplating an update to correct the flaw. Additionally, the F10 does not exactly reflect its high-end guts in its exterior appearance. The body is compact, but not very sleek and not quite a pocket model. The F10 is the camera equivalent of a brainy person with a few weird quirks (strange shutter and focusing sounds, misspelled menus, etc.). At a retail price of $399, and available online for closer to $330, consumers should be more apt to overlook those quirks and invest in a great tool for producing high-quality photographs.

Specs

Specs Table
{{manufacturer_specs_table}}{{raw_scores_table}}