Fuji FinePix HS10

Photo answers review

Photo answers rating

Fuji’s HS10 has a 10.3MP BSI CMOS chip and impressive 30x optical zoom. The CMOS chip has received some speed enhancement that allows the sensor to capture images faster and still deliver wide tonal range in low light.

Phenomenal zoom
Putting the sensor technology to one side, the most obvious feature on this camera has to be the quite phenomenal 30x optical zoom. This delivers the 35mm equivalent range of 24-720mm, which is pretty impressive for a camera that’s no bigger than an entry-level DSLR. To help manage such a massive zoom, Fuji has included triple image stabilisation. This comes in the form of a sensor shift system combined with a digital image stabilisation and sensitivity control (raising the setting to keep shutter speed higher).

Cool features
Other than the large zoom, there are plenty more features on this camera. Starting on the outside, the HS10 has a large 3in LCD and Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) for composing and viewing your images. The screen can be tilted out from the back of the camera, which is ideal for framing down low or even viewing over a crowd to get your shot. There’s a built-in flash on the top of the camera and the lens has a manual focusing ring, which is located right at the back of the lens where it joins the body. It’s on the inside where you find a whole host of other cool features. The BSI CMOS sensor gives a fast operation, but despite Fuji quoting a speed of 10fps, the camera can only actually capture 7 frames in one continuous burst. You have Best Frame Capture that allows you to keep your finger half-pressed on the shutter while you are following the action, and then when you release the shutter the camera remembers the next three and previous three frames plus the one at the moment of capture. You can then select the one you wish to keep. HD movie is offered on the HS10. It does, however, add a slightly different movie feature in the form of Super High Speed Movie for freezing action. Scenic fans will enjoy the Motion Panorama mode where you simply press the button and sweep the camera around to get a quick and easy panoramic shot. This can be used in both the vertical and horizontal plane, but you need to be careful about your framing as the top and bottom may get cropped to create the final shot. Another cool feature is the motion remover that takes five frames in quick succession, analyses them and then removes any moving objects to create one clean image. You can also lay five frames on one image using the Multi Motion Capture function. The BSI CMOS sensor comes into its own, with tools like the Pro Low-Light mode. This utilises the sensor technology to capture four images at different exposures and sensitivity settings, which are then combined to create a single image with the best elements of each. The HS10 does, however, reduce the resolution to either 5MP or 3MP when using these modes. You also have tracking AF, wide dynamic range plus the ability to shoot RAW and JPEG files.

Ease of use
We didn’t find this camera to be the most intuitive we’ve tested, but given some time and a flick through the manual it becomes a lot clearer. The camera’s DSLR-style design ensures it sits well in the hand, and the controls are well positioned for your digits to locate them as required. A slanted top-plate and command dial are a nice touch, and other brands could learn from this simple modification to conventional design. Delving into the menus reveals no added complication, but again, the manual is needed to start with.

Performance
The HS10 is a fast operator on paper, but in reality it can appear a touch slow. Yes, it can shoot fast, but it is elements like the time taken to store an image, especially when using the creative tools, that are slow. Image quality is good, but the noise levels are very poor at high ISO. Optically the lens isn’t bad, but the more you zoom the harder it is to get a sharp image if light is low. The image stabiliser does help a great deal, and is essential at the longer end of the zoom. With such a compact lens, the downside is that the lens flares quite badly, so ‘into the sun’ shots are not recommended.

Final verdict
The features on the FinePix HS10 are great fun to use, and you will find yourself trying out different types of photography as a result of them being on the camera. Having such a massive zoom range on a camera this small is very welcome, but you do get downsides in image quality. The sensor technology is best used in low light, rather than just ramping up the ISO, and if you limit yourself below ISO 800 you will be happy with the results.
www.fujifilm.co.uk


Product specifications
Street price: £400
Effective resolution: 10.3MP
Sensor type: 6.16x4.62 BSI CMOS
Lens (35mm equivalent): 24-720mm f/2.8-5.6
Exposure modes: PASM, Panorama, SR auto, SP (creative modes)
Metering modes: TTL 256-zone
ISO range: Auto, 100-6400
Shooting speed: JPEG/RAW 7fps
Card type: SD/SDHC
LCD monitor size: 3in tilt screen
Aspect ratio: 3:2, 16:9
Live View: Yes
Focus: Contrast AF, Continuous AF, MF
Integrated cleaning: Yes
Built-in stabilisation: Yes
Weight/size (wxhxd): 636g/130.6x90.7x126mm