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Fuji Finepix HS10 review (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Tanager
- Start date
kristoffer
Used Register
One of Swedens most famous camera retailers has tested the HS10 now. They gave it mixed reviews. They did not like the "smear" from the noise reduction and they did not like it in 24mm wide angle, however they really liked the lens on 30x and as long as you use the really large zoom it is a good camera.
http://www.cyberphoto.se/?http://www.cyberphoto.se/info.php?article=HS10
http://www.cyberphoto.se/?http://www.cyberphoto.se/info.php?article=HS10
RJM
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
earleybird
Well-known member
Niels is right here, to judge ANY camera's image you need to know the extent of the enlargement factor in relationship to the cameras resolution and the output device.
We are also looking at images which have been reduced in resolution and basing a decision regarding the camera.
As I wrote those city hi-res images which were posted, viewed on my hi-res monitor were acceptable in context to the enlargement/resolution parameters.
From that review: With spot focusing, the camera often had problems homing in on small subjects like birds and pets at focal lengths longer than about 30mm. In addition, focusing was sometimes inaccurate, landing on the background or foreground - but not the main subject.
and
Response times for the review camera were slow for a modern digicam. We measured an average capture lag of 0.75 seconds, which reduced to a consistent 0.1 seconds with pre-focusing. However, it took 2.6 seconds to process each Large/Fine JPEG file, 5.3 seconds for each raw file and 7.9 seconds for each RAW+JPEG pair.
My reason to highlight these two quotes is not to bash this camera and say it is no good; my reason is to say that it, like its competitors, is a camera with some quirks and flaws. It is therefore not a competition killer, but a worthy competitor; each potential buyer have to look at the drawbacks for each camera and decide which of the cameras have the flaws he or she can live with (I hope that makes some sense).
Niels
ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
From that review: With spot focusing, the camera often had problems homing in on small subjects like birds and pets at focal lengths longer than about 30mm. In addition, focusing was sometimes inaccurate, landing on the background or foreground - but not the main subject.
and
Response times for the review camera were slow for a modern digicam. We measured an average capture lag of 0.75 seconds, which reduced to a consistent 0.1 seconds with pre-focusing. However, it took 2.6 seconds to process each Large/Fine JPEG file, 5.3 seconds for each raw file and 7.9 seconds for each RAW+JPEG pair.
My reason to highlight these two quotes is not to bash this camera and say it is no good; my reason is to say that it, like its competitors, is a camera with some quirks and flaws. It is therefore not a competition killer, but a worthy competitor; each potential buyer have to look at the drawbacks for each camera and decide which of the cameras have the flaws he or she can live with (I hope that makes some sense).
Niels
I agree that no camera is perfect, Niels, if it was, it would make all the other Camera Manufacturers redundant (I wonder if that's more than a coincidence
). And I too have said this may be a great camera for some. But for those thinking of buying this camera, it's important that they know what they are getting. With those two paragraphs that you've quoted, they are not getting a camera that's well suited to bird photography.
Pictures taken of Butterflies and Flowers a few inches from the camera are one thing, but birds taken in low light and 20 meters away etc...that is another issue entirely. I like the super zooms but it appears that the images are just not quality enough.....great ID shots granted...but not there yet.
tittletattler
Well-known member
Sums it up perfectly. Do any of the superzooms produce even half decent images?
Cheers,
Andy.
kristoffer
Used Register
Dealbreaker for me then, I can stand some lag if I shoot in raw on a compact or bridge, but 2.6sec for a jpeg, that I can´t live with.
ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
Check my gallery, Andy, decide for yourself.|=)| You'll find a mixture of close-ups and 100 yards plus shots, good light and bad light. EXIF data is included in all of my pictures.
earleybird
Well-known member
As I understand it we are not assessing here whether or not this super-zoom compact is capable of completly replacing the DSLR .........
but rather if the camera is suitable to take acceptable shots in reasonable conditions in order to save carrying all the lenses and other equipment necessary with a DSLR ? in other words a convenient flexible, lightweight alternative for hobbyist and amatuer photograhers .
I would assume that those of us that require exacting standards would not be considering the purchase of a £300.00 compact superzoom to replace their £5000 DSLR camera and telephoto lense in the first place
The reviews didn't manage to take one decent shot of a bird at any range but then there were so few image examples in the reviews I don't think its possible to make a definitive assessment .
I would wish to see a few dozen images at various magnifications to determine if the camera was suitable for bird photography for me but frankly the camera has so many excellent features for £300 it has to be a bargain for someone like me that could never afford £5000+ for an occasional hobby.
I think the reviewer sums it up nicely when they say 'just don't expect it to offer DSLR-like quality and performance and you won't be disappointed.'
but rather if the camera is suitable to take acceptable shots in reasonable conditions in order to save carrying all the lenses and other equipment necessary with a DSLR ? in other words a convenient flexible, lightweight alternative for hobbyist and amatuer photograhers .
I would assume that those of us that require exacting standards would not be considering the purchase of a £300.00 compact superzoom to replace their £5000 DSLR camera and telephoto lense in the first place
The reviews didn't manage to take one decent shot of a bird at any range but then there were so few image examples in the reviews I don't think its possible to make a definitive assessment .
I would wish to see a few dozen images at various magnifications to determine if the camera was suitable for bird photography for me but frankly the camera has so many excellent features for £300 it has to be a bargain for someone like me that could never afford £5000+ for an occasional hobby.
I think the reviewer sums it up nicely when they say 'just don't expect it to offer DSLR-like quality and performance and you won't be disappointed.'
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earleybird
Well-known member
Heres a review with a good quantity of sample images :t:
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_finepix_hs10_review/sample_images/
WARNING 15mB+ r Image file size in raw
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_finepix_hs10_review/sample_images/
WARNING 15mB+ r Image file size in raw
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ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
A link to that review was posted earlier in this thread.
Again, there's nothing wrong with the camera. However, it's next to useless for bird photography. You often have to take pictures of birds in trees/bushes; this camera misses the focus too often. You often need to take a sequence of pictures, but not in Continuous drive mode if the EVF blacks out. 2.6 seconds between shots is much too slow, the bird will have gone before the camera is ready to take the next shot.
This would be a very frustrating camera to use for Wildlife, you would miss too many shots. More importantly, you're likely to miss the best photographic opportunity you're ever likely to have of a bird that you may never see again.
I can't see any point in saying more, it's all been said before.
earleybird
Well-known member
but Chris you are still not actually reading what i wrote .We are not all obsessed by taking professional quality pictures of birds !
Some of us are looking for a good all-round compact camera for its cheapness, excellent features and versatility.
I take pictures of everything I come across in my daily life .
You are only assessing this camera in terms of taking pictures of birds in low light conditions at full magnification at the best quality.
I think you are missing the point of this camera.
Anyway whilst there are members that are interested in discussing this camera here I don't think the fact that you don't see the point in discussing it further, relevant.
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ChrisKten
It's true, I quite like Pigeons
It's relevant if you're expecting a further response from me about this camera.|=)|
RJM
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
Having shot the camera, the shutter lag/VF going dark default behavior is a usability issue that is a real problem, and not just with bird photos, as the camera gets in the way of timing the shot. Unless there is a menu setting work around that mitigates it without hindering functionality, I would hesitate to purchase it even though the lens, button layout, and ergonomics are pretty nice. And no matter how cool the other shooting features and high IOS performance are, the camera needs to not get in the way of the shot.
Rick
Rick
earleybird
Well-known member
:-O:-O
earleybird
Well-known member
yes the in camera image transfer rate to memory card is slow but isn't that only when transferring multiple raw images ?
I reckon there is also a pretty big delay transferring raw images from the camera memory card to a PC also ............. they are 15Mb+ each for crissakes.
edit In other words perhaps we shouldn't expect a faster raw image transfer rate in the camera than we'd get in a PC with considerably more memory
I don't think anyone is considering buying a cheap compact to take max size raw images are they ?
I'm going to buy one and unless I'm very disapointed I'll keep it and sell some of my other compacts. It is only half a weeks wage for heaven sake
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RJM
Don't Worry, Be Happy!
No, this is not about transferring pics to the PC. The response delay happens when you press the shutter. The EVF/LCD goes dark and the camera is unresponsive for several seconds. It is quite disorienting. I wrote about it here when I first shot the camera at its debut. I don't think it is something one can learn to live with. And there is no need to since the superzooms from Canon and Panasonic don't do it to the same degree.
If you don't have a superzoom then you may want to give it a try and hope they fix it with a firmware update if enough reviews complain about it. I know I did to the reps at the show but they seemed suprised.
I already have a very competent Canon SX1 that meet most of my needs. All the things I like about the Fuji HS10 are overshadowed by this strange behavior that takes the joy out of shooting with it.
If you don't have a superzoom then you may want to give it a try and hope they fix it with a firmware update if enough reviews complain about it. I know I did to the reps at the show but they seemed suprised.
I already have a very competent Canon SX1 that meet most of my needs. All the things I like about the Fuji HS10 are overshadowed by this strange behavior that takes the joy out of shooting with it.
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