Introduction

Fujifilm's X-S10 is a 26MP interchangeable-lens camera that shoots high-quality 4K video and comes with a deep grip and a different, though fantabulous, command scheme than about other Fujifilm cameras.

The company describes the X-S10 as a cross between the company's 10-T30 and the 10-H1 cameras: You get the guts from the former and the design and in-torso image stabilization feature (in a new miniaturized class) from the latter. The 10-S10 photographic camera is targeted toward both get-go and experienced users who may accept Canon or Nikon DSLRs and want something a footling more 'familiar' than a typical Fujifilm camera. And, with a price of $999 for the trunk – $100 more than than the X-T30 – it'due south not necessarily out of reach for that audience.



Cardinal specifications

  • 26MP X-Trans BSI-CMOS sensor
  • 5-axis in-torso epitome stabilization
  • On-sensor phase detection
  • 3", 1.04M-dot fully articulating touchscreen
  • 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder
  • 30 fps burst shooting with ingather (up to 20 fps without)
  • DCI and UHD 4K capture at up to 30p with F-Log support
  • External mic and headphone sockets
  • 325 shots per charge using LCD
  • USB Power Delivery support
  • Single UHS-I card slot
  • Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Photo taken with a pre-production Ten-S10.

ISO 160 | 1/800 sec | F5.6 | XF 16-80mm F4 @ 19mm (28.5mm equiv.)
Photo by Jeff Keller

The X-S10 is very much a blend of the existing X-T30 and 10-T4 in terms of specs. Yous become the aforementioned sensor, processor and performance of the X-T4, merely with things similar the EVF resolution and single, slower SD card slot on par with the X-T30.

You'll exist able to buy the X-S10 in iii kits:

  • Trunk merely: $999
  • Body + XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS lens: $1399
  • Body + XF 16-80mm F4 R OIS WR lens: $1499

Dissimilar most other Fujifilm cameras, the X-S10 only comes in black.


What's new and how it compares

Most of the features on the X-S10 are well-established at this point, and so in this section nosotros're going to focus on a few things on this photographic camera that you won't detect on other Fujifilm models.

New IBIS unit

Beingness a smaller camera, it's no surprise that the 10-T4's IBIS unit wasn't going to fit into the X-S10. And then, the visitor designed a new one that is 30% smaller and lighter than the X-T4'southward. A new movement sensor makes the unit more than efficient, and the Ten-S10 has a redesigned circuit board that reduces power consumption.

There's a very small difference in stabilization performance on the Ten-S10 versus the X-T4: just one-half a stop. It offers vi stops of shake reduction on all unstabilized Fujifilm lenses save for the XF 16-55mm F2.8, which weighs in at 5.5 stops. Virtually stabilized Fujifilm lenses vary from 5.five to vi stops, save for the XF 80mm macro, which offers five stops. These differences primarily have to exercise with how much coverage the lens offers outside the sensor area, not necessarily whether the lenses have their ain stabilization.

Refined auto and scene modes

Those who stick to auto and scene modes will proceeds a few new features. The X-S10 now has an 'auto' Film Simulation way which will select between Provia (Standard), Velvia (Vivid) and Astia (Soft) depending on the scene. (Users can still manually select any of the Film Simulation modes offered.) In our testing, the camera seemed to err on the side of selecting Provia, at least with portrait shooting.

Photograph taken on a pre-product photographic camera.

ISO 160 | one/320 sec | F5.half dozen | XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 @ 55mm (82.5mm equiv.)
Photo past Jeff Keller

Befitting its mid-range (or 'more photographer friendly') status, you can now use whatever AF expanse way in Automobile or Scene modes, from spot to zone to wide/tracking. Previous cameras were locked in the 'wide' mode.

Lastly, Raw shooting is now available in these modes, rather than the lensman being 'stuck' with JPEG.

New joystick functionality

The joystick (officially known equally the 'focus lever') works a bit differently on the Ten-S10 than on other Fujifilm models. Now, when you press it inward, it 'punches in' to the selected focus point. The clickable rear dials on other Fujifilm models operated this way by default. Simply nudging the stick in whatsoever direction allows you lot to select the focus bespeak, and you can also employ the dials to select the focus area mode (single-point, zone, wide/tracking).

You can alter the functions of the joystick to a limited extent. Pushing the joystick straight inward volition let you to modify the focus surface area instead of punching in (or you tin can assign it to exercise zilch), while nudging it in a management can but adjust the focus indicate's size and position (rather than as well allowing you to modify the focus fashion with the dials).

It can also be assigned to switch betwixt detected faces in a scene if you lot enable this capability in the menus. Information technology can exist found as 'Setup -> Button/punch setting -> Focus lever setting'. For 'tilt,' we recommend placing information technology in Direct AF Point Selection / Face select.' If yous don't want the camera to be preoccupied with faces in a scene, you lot only press in on the joystick, and you lot tin go dorsum to picking your AF expanse yourself.

Unfortunately, the Ten-S10 doesn't recollect whether y'all've opted out of the face up selection mode in favor of selecting your own point after a power bicycle. You'll need to push the joystick in each fourth dimension you starting time upwards the photographic camera to get out of face choice way. Yet, we like the ability to take all of this available from the AF joystick, instead of requiring a custom push button for 'Face Selection' every bit nosotros've seen on previous Fujifilm cameras.

Updated Film Simulation mode interface

Now, when you switch Picture show Simulation modes, which you can do using the top-left dial or the menus, you tin press the Q button to see a description of what each mode does, forth with an prototype resembling a classic film box.

Compared to...

The closest competitors to the X-S10 in our opinion are the Nikon Z50, Olympus OM-D E-M5 III and Sony a6600. The Nikon is a flake cheaper, but lacks the in-trunk image stabilization of the 10-S10, East-M5 Iii and a6600. It's also worth pointing out that the Olympus and Sony cost a few hundred dollars more than than the Fujifilm. (Sony offers the a6400 for less, although again it doesn't take stabilization.)

Fujifilm X-S10 Nikon Z50 Olympus E-M5 III Sony a6600
MSRP (body) $999 $859 $1199 $1399
Sensor res. 26MP X-Trans 21MP 20MP 24MP
Sensor size APS-C APS-C Micro 4/3 APS-C
Image stab. In-body Lens only In-body In-trunk
LCD blazon Fully articulating Tilting Fully articulating Tilting
LCD size/res 3.0" / 1.04M-dot 3.2" / 1.04M-dot iii.0" / 1.04M-dot iii.0" / 921k-dot
EVF res / mag
(equiv.)
2.36M-dot
0.62x
ii.36M-dot
0.68x
two.36M-dot
0.68x
2.36M-dot
0.71x
Built-in flash Yep Yeah No No
Outburst westward/AF 20 fps 11 fps 10 fps 11 fps
Video res. 4K/30p 4K/30p 4K/30p 4K/30p
(i.23x crop)
Log F-Log
(8-fleck internal, 10-scrap over HDMI)
No OM-Log
(eight-bit)
Due south-Log
(8-bit)
Mic / headphone socket Yeah / Yeah (with adapter) Yep / No Yes / No Yes / Aye
SD card speed UHS-I UHS-I UHS-II UHS-I
Battery life (LCD) 325 shots 320 shots 310 shots 810 shots
Weight 465g (16.4oz) 450g (15.9oz) 414g (xiv.6oz) 503g (17.8oz)

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Body, controls and treatment

As mentioned earlier, the overall pattern of the 10-S10 is different than the majority of Fujifilm cameras, though it does resemble the much larger Ten-H1 from the front, and has similarities with the Ten-T200 to the left of the grip. Its DSLR-shaped body has a prominent EVF 'hump', on which yous'll find the built-in wink, along with a big handgrip.

The Ten-S10's build quality is so solid we wondered if it was weather condition-sealed (unfortunately, information technology's non)

The X-S10's build quality is very solid, to the point where we wondered if it was conditions-sealed (it's non). The only parts that experience plasticky are the ii unlabeled dials on the elevation plate and the door that covers the HDMI and USB ports.

The handgrip is deep and well-designed, and gives you piece of cake access to the front punch and nearby buttons. Controls on the rear plate are fairly sparse, but it feels like the correct amount for the photographic camera's target audition. On the other hand, nosotros found ourselves wishing for a defended switch for focus mode, like many other Fujifilm offerings.

Perhaps the almost notable thing that differentiates the X-S10 from the X-T30 and 10-T4 is that, instead of having dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure bounty, there'southward a traditional style dial and then customizable control dials for your exposure parameters. While Fujifilm traditionalists may scream in horror, the switch to a mode dial is part of the company's outreach to both beginners and more than experienced upgraders from DSLRs who seek something more familiar.

The LCD and electronic viewfinder specs are unremarkable for this course. The former is 3" in size and has a resolution of 1.04 million dots. The usual touchscreen features are here: you lot can tap to focus, change carte options and swipe through photos you've taken. The OLED viewfinder has 2.36 one thousand thousand dots, a magnification of 0.62x and a refresh charge per unit of up to 100 fps in 'Boost' style: the same as on the 10-T30.

'Boost' manner takes the viewfinder upwardly to 100fps

The camera doesn't accept the clever 'slider' interface when you lot're browsing through Film Simulation modes, and there aren't whatsoever selfie modes similar you'll find on the (lower-stop) X-T200 and X-A7.

The 10-S10 also has Fujifilm'southward standard Car ISO beliefs, giving you three sets of ISO ranges you tin can customize, each with a minimum shutter speed threshold. There is an 'auto' setting for the shutter speed, but information technology simply allows for 1/focal length speeds, with no option to bias information technology faster or slower.

The Ten-S10 uses the same NP-126S battery every bit the X-T30, and not the college capacity NP-W235 pack found on the X-T4. The official CIPA bombardment life is 325 shots per charge when using the LCD. Unless yous're using Wi-Fi a lot, you lot'll likely do quite a bit better. The photographic camera can be charged and operated over its USB Type-C connector, though to do the latter you'll need a USB PD compatible ability source.

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Epitome quality

As a team, we detect Fujifilm's default Provia profile to give pleasing color response across a variety of situations. Out-of-camera JPEG.

ISO 200 | 1/ 60 sec | F2.8 | Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8
Photo by Carey Rose

Our test scene is designed to simulate a variety of textures, colors and detail types you lot'll encounter in the real globe. It also has two illumination modes to see the effect of different lighting atmospheric condition.

As you might wait given its sensor and processor, the Fujifilm 10-S10 turns in essentially identical image quality to the higher-end 10-T4. That means that Raw detail capture is solid against its 24MP peers. Noise levels at college ISO values also wait slap-up, but we practise call up there might be a bit of racket reduction going on that is helping to tamp down on some chroma noise.

JPEG color looks excellent besides, with pleasing yellow tones that are free of green-tinge and blues are mostly gratis of magenta. Fujifilm's JPEGs don't requite yous quite as much fine detail as Sony'south a6600 at lower ISO values, but at higher ISO values it puts up a good bear witness of detail while tamping down on distracting noise.

Dynamic Range

The Fujifilm Ten-S10 has plenty of dynamic range for most purposes. The out-of-camera JPEG of this epitome showed most white-clipped sky in the top left corner, and pitch-black lake reflections on the correct side of the frame. These were easily recoverable one time the Raw file was pulled into Photoshop. You can also make some of these edits in-camera, as well as fine-tune the JPEGs.

ISO 160 | 1/200 sec | F5 | Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8 | Processed in Adobe Photographic camera Raw
Photograph by Carey Rose

The Fujifilm X-S10'southward dynamic range is, once again, identical to the X-T4. The sensor has what's called a 'dual gain design'. This means that at very low ISOs, you get maximum dynamic range, and at higher ISO values, starting at ISO 800, you become a little less total dynamic range but yous as well get less shadow noise. Every bit we'd wait, this means the lower ISO settings are a touch on noisier, when lightened, compared to this better-optimized mode.

That said, the brightened ISO 160 epitome isn't dramatically noisier than the native ISO 3200 issue. This suggests that in its depression gain setting, the camera isn't adding as well much noise to the images. This ways you lot can underexpose an epitome with the purpose of using a depression ISO to preserve highlight information, rather than using a higher ISO setting, without too much of a racket penalty; or you can shoot at ISO 800 mode instead of a college ISO with essentially no noise cost.

This low corporeality of read dissonance means it's reasonable to reduce exposure and lighten shadows at the time of capture, when you're shooting high-contrast scenes at base ISO. Overall, the X-S10's Raw files should give plenty of processing latitude.

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Autofocus

Unlike many competitors, the Fujifilm X-S10 does not offering an animal-specific AF mode, so this image of a very friendly and patient mallard was made using a single betoken over the subject's centre. Just also, goodness, ISO 3200 looks mighty expert these days. Out-of-photographic camera JPEG.

ISO 3200 | ane/ 320 sec | F5.6 | Fujifilm XF 18-135mm @ 135mm
Photo by Carey Rose

The X-S10'south autofocus system is a lucifer for the 10-T4's. This means that you get a multifariousness of area modes, including a 'tracking' style when using continuous autofocus, which shows the user a green box on the bailiwick the camera is tracking, and the X-S10 lets you position the box in the frame to specify the field of study you desire to track.

For sports and action, nosotros can't wholeheartedly recommend the 10-S10'south subject tracking

There is also a face and eye detection system that tin be enabled or disabled via a custom push. This mode more or less sits on peak of your standard AF style, and should and then choose via the menus, you have the selection of using the AF joystick to toggle between faces in a scene, or to override the system altogether and give you lot a standard AF surface area if you want to focus on a non-human subject in a scene where there are human being subjects.

To assess tracking functioning, we accept a cyclist weave around the frame in a way the camera can't necessarily predict. Equally you can come across, the Fujifilm X-S10 struggled with hunting in and out of focus, just similar we saw on the X-T4. We use the XF 50-140mm F2.8 zoom for this test.

If you're a sports or action photographer, we tin't wholeheartedly recommend using the X-S10's tracking. You'll get ameliorate results using a single point or 'zone' of autofocus points and follow the action yourself, and you may want to fine-tune the AF custom settings for actually unpredictable action. But for casual users, the face / centre detection and subject tracking will likely exist constructive for most photography.

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Video

Click or tap the video above to jump to hearing our resident video expert, Jordan Drake, give his have on the X-S10 equally a video camera.

The Ten-S10'due south video features are essentially the same every bit the X-T30'southward, just they're still worth a quick mention.

The camera captures oversampled DCI and UHD 4K video, at frame rates of upward to 24p and 30p, respectively. Fujifilm estimates that you lot can tape up to 30 minutes of 4K video, thanks in function to a new heat dispersion organisation that uses the magnesium alloy front plate every bit a estrus sink. The Ten-S10 can besides capture high speed Full Hd video at upward to 240 fps.

The magnesium blend front plate is used equally a rut sink to allow longer recording times

As in stills style, the 10-S10 can take advantage of its capable on-sensor phase detection system for face and eye tracking, though unfortunately, this is the only kind of tracking you get in video (you cannot use subject tracking on a not-homo subject area). As with stills, the photographic camera allows you to quickly switch betwixt faces using the joystick. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be a bit unpredictable and hunt in the eye of your clips, since it doesn't seem know what to do if information technology briefly loses the face up it was tracking. The in-body image stabilization system is along along for the ride, and shake can be reduced further with electronic IS (which adds a i.1x ingather).

Nosotros did find that the stabilization is fantastic for keeping handheld static shots from shaking too much, but information technology will occasionally fight you lot a little chip if you're doing an intentional pan.

Video quality is essentially a match for the X-T30 (and the X-T4 in comparable modes). This means great overall detail capture in 4K, and decent but moiré-decumbent Full Hd capture. Its 4K footage is basically head-and-shoulders to a higher place what'south possible on Canon's EOS M6 Mark II, a lilliputian stronger than Nikon'southward, and really close to the Sony a6600 (though without the Sony's very noticeable rolling shutter artifacts).

The camera supports apartment F-Log recording for preserving the option to colour-grade later, only merely captures 8-flake 4:2:0 video internally. For more than flexible 10-fleck iv:ii:2 output, yous'll demand an external recorder or the higher-end 10-T4, which can record such footage internally. When F-Log is in apply, you can turn on the View Help feature, which gives y'all a experience for what the footage will await like when graded. The 10-S10 also features the Eterna profile, a favorite of video shooters.

To speed things up, you tin download LUTs (look-upwardly tables) straight from Fujifilm for both F-Log and Eterna, to go you almost set up-to-become footage that y'all tin tweak further if yous and then desire.

One new characteristic that video shooters may appreciate is that the camera now counts up from naught seconds when recording, rather than counting down from whatever the chapters of the memory card is.

The X-S10 has 3.5mm mic socket, and adds a headphone connector if you attach the included USB dongle. Sound levels can exist adjusted, and both current of air and low cut filters are bachelor.

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Conclusion

What nosotros similar What we don't
  • Lovely prototype quality
  • First-class grip, comfortable treatment
  • Strong video feature prepare
  • Effective in-body stabilization
  • Meaty size, good build quality
  • Can use USB-C port for headphones with included dongle
  • Improved control/input in Motorcar modes
  • USB charging
  • Autofocus tracking performance lags behind the competition
  • Viewfinder is a chip small
  • More custom buttons would be nice
  • No split up charger included
  • So-and so battery life
  • Automobile ISO could be more flexible

The Fujifilm X-S10 is i of those cameras that is certain to tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people. At a suggested toll of $yard body-only, it'due south non what most average consumers would consider 'cheap,' merely if you're into photography and are looking to get a serious photographic camera that can do a little bit of everything, the 10-S10 represents really solid value for money.

Handling is a item strong adapt. The mode dial and triple customizable control dials make the X-S10 an easy camera to quickly manipulate settings with. Nosotros do wish there was another customizable button or two, but the touchscreen (with customizable 'swipes') and AF joystick are welcome.

Processed in Adobe Photographic camera Raw.
ISO 160 | 1/600 sec | F5.half dozen | Fujifilm XF 27mm F2.8
Photograph by Carey Rose

Image quality is beyond reproach. With 26MP of resolution (plus an effective in-body stabilizer to aid you get the nigh out of that resolution), a pleasing and tuneable JPEG engine, and a broad lineup of high-quality lenses, the X-S10 churns out really fantastic images. Video features are as well strong, with detailed 4K capture, Log recording and the selection for using an external mic and headphones.

The Fujiflm 10-S10 is an easy camera to recommend for photographers of all kinds

So are in that location whatever existent downsides to the 10-S10? The most significant is in terms of autofocus. While single autofocus and using a single point or zone in continuous autofocus work well, the 10-S10'southward subject tracking is simply behind the competition at this point. Other than autofocus, nosotros find that the viewfinder is on the small side and we wish the Automobile ISO settings were more than flexible.

But really, the Fujifilm X-S10 is an easy photographic camera to recommend for photographers of all kinds. If y'all've been eyeing the Fujifilm lineup for a while but didn't necessarily demand dedicated shutter speed, ISO and aperture dials that take become signature on their mid-and-high-end cameras, the 10-S10 is well worth a await.

Compared to...

Against Sony'southward a6600, the Fujifilm Ten-S10 has more friendly controls, a better touchscreen interface and more video features. On the other manus, Sony'due south autofocus implementation is but superb and yous may detect there are more affordably priced lenses at your disposal.

When pitted against the Nikon Z50, Fujifilm's Ten-S10 has more resolution, but handling is almost a wash (both cameras handle exceedingly well). Faster burst speeds and a few more video features may sway users in the Fujifilm's favor, merely the Nikon is a competent all-rounder as well.

The Olympus E-M5 Mark Three is our last comparison, and is also a fantastic pick. Its smaller and lower megapixel sensor means it can't match the Fujifilm X-S10's 26MP of resolution nor its dynamic range, but the Olympus is a good match in terms of shooting speed, plus information technology is incredibly well-built.

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Sample galleries

Please do not reproduce whatsoever of these images without prior permission (encounter our copyright folio). We make the originals available for private users to download to their ain machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review).

Pre-production gallery

Photos are from a pre-production camera. Fujifilm has requested that Raw images not be fabricated available for download.

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Scoring

Scoring is relative only to the other cameras in the same category. Click here to acquire about the changes to our scoring system and what these numbers hateful.

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