Fujifilm FinePix XP10 Review

Fujifilm has attempted to mix "tough" camera features with a stylish look, as my Fujifilm FinePix XP10 review shows.

The XP10 looks pretty cool, and it works surprisingly well for a sub-$150 camera. Image quality with this camera isn't quite at the top of the list of point and shoot cameras, but the XP10 shoots very solid photographs, both in terms of sharpness and color accuracy. It's also very easy to use, and its thin design makes it easy to shoot one-handed.

Throw in its limited shock-proof and underwater capabilities, and the XP10 is a good value. It's one of the most versatile and best sub-$150 cameras around.

Image Quality

With its 5X optical zoom lens, the XP10 creates very sharp and bright photos. Image quality is better than I expected for a stylish point and shoot camera like the XP10. This model's lens does not include any wide angle options, though.

You can shoot at seven different resolutions, ranging from 12MP to 0.3MP with the XP10, but options for shooting at ratios other than the 4:3 ratio are limited.

In addition to standard color photography, the XP10 allows for black and white or sepia photos.

One of my favorite shooting features with the XP10, called "natural and flash," has the XP10 shoot two photos back to back, one with a flash and one without. You then can keep the better image.

Performance

For a sub-$150 camera, the FinePix XP10 performs very well. Shutter lag is not noticeable in outdoor photos, and it is minimal for indoor photos. The XP10 is ready to shoot almost immediately after you press the power button.

The 2.7-inch LCD can be tough to see in direct sunlight, but Fujifilm did include 11 brightness settings with the XP10, giving you plenty of options for finding the best mix between battery power conservation and LCD brightness.

The auto-focus works well with the XP10, and its flash performance is surprisingly good for a camera in its price range, as long as you remain inside the projected range of the flash, about 9 or 10 feet. (When holding the camera, you'll want to be careful that you don't block the flash with your finger.)

Design

The XP10's design is where this model initially will grab your attention. The XP10 has a tapered design, with the right side (as seen from the front) taller than the left side. The upper right corner of the camera contains the round lens housing, which is trimmed in silver. The lens never extends outside the camera body. Additionally, Fujifilm offers the XP10 in five different body colors: Black, blue, green, pink, and silver.

The tapered look does create a slight problem on the back of the camera, where the right side, which contains all of the navigational buttons, is curved, leaving less room for the buttons. The navigational buttons are very small, and it's easy to inadvertently press the wrong button. Also, the zoom buttons are somewhat awkwardly placed.

I did like the small grip nubs on the front of the camera, which make it easy to hold and operate the XP10 one-handed.

The XP10's menus are easy to use, and, if you press the wrong button, the camera pops up a help menu, which should provide some clues as to how to fix your error.

Of course, the key design component of the XP10 involves its "tough" features. The XP10 can work under up to 9 feet of water, can survive a fall of up to 3.3 feet, works in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and offers a dust-proof body. Those tough features aren't quite as good as you'd find in cameras like the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 or the Panasonic Lumix TS2, but the XP10 offers a good variety of features and a very good value for its price.