Fuji Finepix HS10 review (3 Viewers)

[earleybird]

No, this is not about transferring pics to the PC. .

sorry you have misunderstood what I said . Where did I say it was about transferring images to a PC ?
I was using the transfer rate to a PC as an analogy to suggest that we cannot really expect a faster transfer rate in the camera itself than we get from the camera to a PC uggggggggg :-C:-C:-C ......................forget it

 

[pe'rigin]

I take pictures of everything I come across in my daily life .

EB's right, this camera provides the chance to record a situation.

It's not going to capture a flying Swift or out of the blue Peregrine stoop.
It hasn't been designed for that purpose.

It's a general camera which enables the user an extended zoom.

The most important aspect of ANY camera, is its image quality.

What I've seen, are not bad, I would like to see more or even try this camera out, before recommending it.

I buy and commission images most weeks from professional photographers, and I see some pretty shocking results from some of these people who are using equipment far more expensive than the Fuji.

 

[njlarsen]

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.

Unfortunately, they did not fix it with a firmware update on my E900 (which I use underwater; and which also goes black while saving the previous shot). It is a pity that a camera with so much promise did not hold up better to scrutiny. I am crossing my fingers for the next panasonic to have improved high iso performance and a better viewfinder than on the last couple of models, but I am not holding my breath ...

And just to make sure it is abundantly clear: I am a confirmed superzoom user, I don't compare the Fuji to the dSLRs.

Niels

 

[u1978]

Does anyone know if any of the pictures we have been discussing have been taken with an HS10 with the upgraded firmware recently (27th) announced by Fuji? I got the following from their website regarding the update. Looks like they have made some IQ adjustments and might have rushed the initial batch out too early - market pressures.

"Detail of the update

The firmware update Ver.1.01 incorporates the following item.
It corrects the problems below.

1. Some distorted images with pin-cushion type can be captured at AE bracketing mode

2. Sometimes unclear details in images

3. In RAW + JPEG mode, JPEG images are sharper

4. Soft image or not smooth enough color gradation in D-range 200, 400% than in 100%"

 

[u1978]

Have found some images posted on Flickr with upgraded frimware, see link below. On balance I think there has been an improvement, in particular with the feather detail, although while some pictures are excellent others still have the odd fuzzy feather detailing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40273503@N03/

 

[Wildmoreway]

This thread suddenly died, was there any progress from new owners?

 

[earleybird]

Have found some images posted on Flickr with upgraded frimware, see link below. On balance I think there has been an improvement, in particular with the feather detail, although while some pictures are excellent others still have the odd fuzzy feather detailing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40273503@N03/

I think some of those shots are very impressive indeed. Are they all taken at maximum zoom ?

I particularly like the sparrow on twig . The detail on the both the bird and the twig is excellent imo.

I would be very pleased to achieve that level of detail with a camera costing £350 Thank you for posting the images :t:

 

[u1978]

I agree, some of the images are very impressive. In answer to your question the majority on the page referenced below are taken at full zoom (126mm). You can find the settings under 'more properties' once you have selected an image to view. It is in the bottom right of the screen.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40273503@N03/sets/72157623991559365/

 

[Mike Penfold]

Attached is a photograph of a female Piping Plover, sitting over newly hatched young, at Sauble Beach in Bruce County, Ontario, from about 50m -- using an HS10 handheld at 720mm, cropped in-camera. IMO the results were marginally better than digiscoping with a Fuji F30 at 3x, and Zeiss 85 at 20x.

Nice tip about shooting at 3 fps in burst mode.

The EVF seems better at 60 fps.

Spot metering and focus/exposure lock are useful for photographing birds -- while manual focus, using the focus check feature, manual focus indicator, and AE/AF lock button is available for difficult focussing issues.

FWIW, the HS10 would have been useful on Pelee Island this spring, when an active female Blue Grosbeak evaded attempts to be digiscoped. It certainly weighs less than the Canon T90 (with its sadly obsolete lenses) that I used to haul around.

BTW, the HS10 has a silent mode, which shuts off all the sounds and lights (with the exception of flash in the scene position mode, using the natural light and flash setting), so that when you're trying to get a shot of a White-bellied Antpitta at 6:00 a.m. at San Isidro, Ecuador, you won't have a buzzing, clacking dSLR a couple of feet from a fellow birder's ear.

Mike

 

[Mike Penfold]

Attached are two photographs of an Upland Sandpiper taken this afternoon from about 60m.

The first is digiscoped with an F30 and Zeiss 65, cropped in-camera. The second is taken with the HS10, handheld at 720mm in shutter priority at 1/800 and f8, at ISO 400, cropped in-camera. The greater depth of field with the HS10 created an interesting background with the windblown grass.

JFY.

Mike

 

[Matt_RTH]

At 60m that is a very nice shot from the HS. Why F8 and ISO 400? How is it wide open?

 

[Mike Penfold]

Matt,

Being able to photograph birds without being limited by the slow nature of digiscoping has become interesting. At the same time, dSLR's with telephoto lenses and tripods are heavy and expensive --- and I choke when I think about our obsolete Canon lenses.

I chose a shutter speed as fast as the focal length of the lens, with an aperture that would have more depth of field, in order for the focus to be more forgiving of camera movement at that magnification.

Not sure what, "How is it wide open?" means.

Thanks for the positive comment.

Mike

 

[njlarsen]

I think the question should be read as: is the lens sharp at wide open and maximum zoom?

For my own money, I would have tried a few shots with the camera wide open hoping that the diminished DOF would be outweighed by luck (one of the pics in focus) and counting on better iq from lower iso. (of course, I don't have a HS10, so cannot make that experiment myself)

Niels

 

[RJM]

Well if you choose Shutter Priority the camera will control the appropriate aperture. Most small sensor cameras are sharper at apertures less than F8, ie F2.8-5.6 due the effects of diffraction. The camera designers know this so the programed exposure mode will seldom exceed F8 unless the scene is too bright and you have chosen a higher ISO than is needed and the camera shutter speed is maxed out. The HS10 is fortunate to allow pro-level shutter speeds though vs 1/1200sec max typical of most digicams.

Rick

 

[Matt_RTH]

Yes, Niels got it, ie, is it sharp at full zoom/F5.6 or do you have to stop it down to F8 to get max resolution? The FZ28 (the one for my next superzoom to beat) will allow faster shutters but only at smaller apertures, unfortunately, meaning slower shutter or higher ISO.

On a side note - is the silence deafening vis a vis the fact that dpreview has not posted a review yet for what may be one of the most significant camera offerings in the last couple years (in this segment)?

 

[etudiant]

Right on, Matt!
I too have been surprised by the failure of well recognized sites such as dpreview or cameralabs to cover this camera.
Is Fuji, with its superior optics know-how, too much of a threat to the established industry?

 

[njlarsen]

Right on, Matt!
I too have been surprised by the failure of well recognized sites such as dpreview or cameralabs to cover this camera.
Is Fuji, with its superior optics know-how, too much of a threat to the established industry?

Or have they refused to pay a review fee? (of course completely off the record) :-O :-O

Niels

 

[etudiant]

Or have they refused to pay a review fee? (of course completely off the record) :-O :-O

Niels

Niels,
You are probably exactly right.
Unfortunately, if Fuji is unwilling to upfront a $10-20,000 review fee, it suggests that they are not competing wholeheartedly in this segment.

 

[Matt_RTH]

There was some blurb on the forum about the HS10 not being a "DSLR or replacement for the DSLR user" (ie, when a DSLR guy goes light) and thus not reviewed but "may be reviewed in a future shootout". Smells like conflict of interest now that Amazon owns DP.

 

[Mike Penfold]

Attached is a photograph taken yesterday from about 15m of a Savannah Sparrow, handheld at 720mm, in aperture priority mode at f5.6, 1/240, ISO 100, in burst mode at 3 fps, cropped in-camera.

BTW, I'm using a SanDisk Extreme 4GB SDHC card at 30 MB/s.

Mike