Fujifilm’s X10 proves retro chic is still in
It's round two for Fujifilm's retro compact cam X series at IFA 2011
If Fujifilm’s retro-tastic X100 had you frantically offloading some of your most beloved possessions on eBay in order to raise the funds for that £1,000 price tag, you’d better prepare yourself for a serious case of de ja vu. The little brother to the much loved X100 has arrived.
It’s old skool stylings still scream retro chic, from its magnesium alloy shell, right down to its aluminium-covered mode dials and lens ring, bearing all the hallmarks of its older brother. This time round, Fujifilm’s compact cam features a large 2/3in12MP EXR-CMOS sensor – so it doesn’t have the SLR-sized sensor of the X100 – high-def F2.0 wide-angle and F2.8 telephoto, metal barrel Fujinon lens and optical viewfinder.
The biggest similarity to its big brother is the use of manual knobs and dials on its control deck which takes care of aperture, shutter speed, exposure compensation, power and zoom. Yep, unlike the X100, the X10 packs in 4x manual zoom functionality (28-112mm equivalent). Interestingly, the manual zoom lens also doubles up as an on/off switch, ensuring you’re always ready to get those all important shots. And with a claimed 0.01 shutter release time lag, you’ll have have no excuses for missing those fleeting shots. 1080p full HD video recording is also on the cards, as is ISO up to 3,200 at full res and up to 128,000 when you lower that resolution.
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The X10 lacks the X100’s unique selling point – a hybrid viewfinder – Fujifilm has instead chosen to equip the X10 with an optical zoom viewfinder, complete with a wide viewing angle. Bad news if you liked this feature on the X100; good news when you realise it knocks a substantial amount of moolah off that price.
And while unknowing spectators may be secretly sniggering at what they believe to be your great grandparents camera, you’ll have the last laugh with its manual pop-up flash, optical image stabilisation, EXR-Auto for intelligent scene recognition, Fujifilm’s simulation modes – to recreate traditional Fuji films – nine white balance presets motion panorama 360 functionality, noise reduction adjustment and a 2.8in 460k dot LCD screen.
A retro leather case, lens hood and external flash also form the X10 accessory line-up.
It’ll be flaunting its wares in our neck of the woods come October to go up against the likes of cameras such as Canon’s G12. And although Fujifilm won’t be announcing its price tag until its official launch, the web points to a $600 price tag. Our verdict? Want.
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Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
