JohnK Joins the Growing List of Fuji X10 Owners!

[JohnK]

Based on Stephen's comments and some Q&A, I decided to order an X10 a few weeks ago. With Costco's liberal return policy I thought - I can't go wrong. My main reason was getting a non-DSLR that had a viewfinder.

I took it out of the box. "Solid" was the first word that came to mind.

I like to try things out without instructions first - to see how easy something is to use, at least for it's basic operation.

"Uh-oh," I thought. I can't even find the On/Off switch. I removed the perfectly and snug fitting lens cap, and turned the barrel. "Click." OK, that's the On/Off switch, makes sense, and feels solid. I smiled.

Mode dial. I'm a Nikon SLR guy, I like to shoot aperture preferred. Turn the mode dial. "Click. Click." Solid. My smile widened.

Exposure compensation dial, up on top right. "Click. Click." Solid. I was almost giddy.

Dedicated buttons for the most used features, and a thumb rest too. Even before I loaded the memory card, I knew I was going to keep this.

I've never owned a film rangefinder, but given that's where this camera looks
for its design cues, I'm tempted to go find one...

Oh, and that snug and perfectly fitting lens cap? It is lined with a ring and a disc of felt, helping to provide that fit and helping to prevent scracthing
any contact points on the lens barrel.

Way to go, Fuji!

[Puma Cat]

Wonderful write-up, John!

I love that lens cap every time I take it on and off. Fuji really thought through all the little details on this one.

Be sure to download and install the latest firmware from Fuji, Version 2.00. It turns the Raw button into a quick menu access button, and you can use the rotating wheel on the main control knob to toggle through different values for each setting, e.g. ISO, Dynamic Range, white balance, focusing scheme, etc. It works great!

Try shooting your X10 in DR400+ mode, and don't be afraid to try the EXR "auto" setting; it works surprisingly well in a number of situations. Be sure to toggle whether you wnat maximal dynamic range or high ISO/low noise setting. Once you get used to the menus, they really are quite intuitive and quick to access.

Practice with the optical viewfinder (OVF), too. It's 85% coverage, so that means you can't see about 7.5% of what will be captured on either side of the frame. With a little practice, you will get used to what you will be "seeing" with the optical viewfinder. With some practice, you will get to be very quick and intuitive with exactly what will be in or out of frame. I listen for the beep indicating AF lock, and I can see the AF light in my peripheral vision when using the OVF, so I know I've got my subject in focus. There's so much exposure latitude with the Auto ISO 400 or 800 (1600 in low light) that you don't have to be bang-on with respect to exposure. Just check the basic setting via the EVF, then go.

By the way, the lens as built-in Optical Image Stabilization. I've shot this puppy handheld in low light as long as 1/20th of a second and have images remain sharp. It's an amazing camera.

[JohnK]

Thanks for the tips, Stephen. BTW I just realized my first SLR was not Nikon, it was a Fujica. Completely manual. I forget the model number but it was, I think, Fuji's equivalent to the Pentax K1000. I'm thinking mid to late 70's ?

[AudioNut]

Good choice John, I think I'm really going to enjoy mine (as soon as I figure it out).

Only caveat so far is battery life - be sure to get a couple of extra batteries. Mine gave out in the middle of a shooting session and I was really glad that I'd bought a second one and had charged it up! Fortunately, the batteries are cheap.

Oh, and by the way . . .

[Pider]

John... Great write-up!

[Puma Cat]

Great posts, guys! Keep us posted on your pics and experiences!

Julian, I love that photo...

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Good choice John, I think I'm really going to enjoy mine (as soon as I figure it out).

Only caveat so far is battery life - be sure to get a couple of extra batteries. Mine gave out in the middle of a shooting session and I was really glad that I'd bought a second one and had charged it up! Fortunately, the batteries are cheap.

Oh, and by the way . . .

I always carry a spare charged battery with me. I have to get another for the X-Pro1.

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Good choice John, I think I'm really going to enjoy mine (as soon as I figure it out).

Only caveat so far is battery life - be sure to get a couple of extra batteries. Mine gave out in the middle of a shooting session and I was really glad that I'd bought a second one and had charged it up! Fortunately, the batteries are cheap.

Oh, and by the way . . .

Interesting, isn't it? Using film, we alway carried several rolls. In the early days of digital, maybe a couple extra memory cards. Now batteries (truth be told, I did carry extra batteries for the film SLR).

I need to make/schedule time and go out and shoot.

My delight with this camera continued when I found the Provia/Velvia/Astia film modes. With my other digital, the permutations of vivid, saturation, +/- compenstation were crazy. I started to search forums to see if anyone had a combination of settings to simulate, say, Velvia, Kodachrome, TMax... here we have a start.

[Puma Cat]

John,
How's it going with your new Fuji X10? We wanna see pics!

[JohnK]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

John,
How's it going with your new Fuji X10? We wanna see pics!

I've been working crazy hours with clients affected by Hurricane Sandy... hope to get out this weekend and make some pictures.