Fujifilm FinePix HS10 review

Guide price: £440/Street price: £400
IMAGE RESOLUTION: 10.3-megapixels
LCD / Live view: 3in / Yes
HD VIDEO: Yes
STORAGE: SD/SDHC
DIMENSIONS: 130.6x90.7x126mm
WEIGHT: 636g (without battery)
CONTACT: www.fujifilm.co.uk; 0870 736 8299

The FinePix HS10 is what we’d call a ‘bridge’ camera. In other words a camera that aims to bridge the divide between compact and DSLR. The difference between a bridge camera and a hybrid or DSLR is that it lacks an interchangeable lens, instead offering a built-in zoom. While being unable to change lenses can stifle the creative options available to photographers, Fuji has addressed this fact as best it can by providing the HS10 with a 30x zoom, equivalent to a 24-720mm, which is sure to meet the needs of most amateur photographers. It’s an amazing technical achievement, especially when you consider the zoom is a similar size to your standard 18-55mm kit lens.

In terms of size, the HS10 is virtually identical to the Pentax K-x, so it can’t really be classed as a compact. Its shape is similar to a DSLR and it handles and operates in much the same way too. The pronounced handgrip has a rubberised finish that provides a very secure hold and the wide, grooved zoom ring helps make this a very enjoyable and easy camera to handle. In terms of ease of use, the Fuji generally does very well, with a layout of buttons that is similar to DSLRs and easy to get around. The top-plate is relatively clean, with an exposure mode dial and large input dial dominating the right side, with two small buttons behind the shutter release for exposure compensation and continuous shooting. The majority of buttons are found on the rear to either side of the 3in LCD monitor. On the left, a strip of five buttons that select the key camera functions, such as AF, ISO and White Balance, allowing for a very fast and neat way of quickly making changes. To the right side is a four-way control that also covers lesser-used functions like the flash modes and self-timer. The menu system on the Fuji is good, but the layout, based around two main tabs, could do with refining, as it’s not as clean and simple to use as its rivals. The location of one or two functions aren’t where you expect them either, which can cause confusion. For instance, to select Raw you need to choose the tab with the spanner symbol, as opposed to the camera tab, which seems odd.
The 3in LCD monitor is good and has a swivel mount that tilts up or down. The Fuji also boasts an electronic viewfinder as an option to using the LCD.

In terms of features, the highlight is without doubt the powerful 30x zoom, which is unmatched by literally any other camera. The risk of blur from shake at the longer settings is an obvious risk, so the Fuji offers a triple image stabilisation facility. In terms of resolution, the Fuji has a 10.3-megapixel sensor that shoots 1080P HD video as well as stills. The ISO range is 100-3200 (plus Auto), with an ISO 6400 available if you shoot JPEG in Medium or Small setting. The mode dial allows instant access to the core four modes (program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual), along with the SR Auto mode, a fully-auto mode that adjusts settings to suit the subject. There are also three custom settings for users to set their favourite scene modes. Additionaly, there is a mode for shooting panoramics by sweeping the camera along the scene, which proves to be great fun to use, but don’t expect similar quality to photo stitching.

The FinePix HS10 deserves to do well, as it’s a good package for the photographer looking for an all-in-one option. The zoom lens is impressive in its range, but in use, you’ll find you rarely need to extend it to its limits, unless you need to shoot a relatively small object at a great distance. Its image quality is impressive and while it cannot match the other cameras on test here for detail (in particular at the tele end of its zoom), optical performance throughout its range is very good. Camera shake becomes a real issue, even with the stabiliser, so if shooting at the telephoto end, be prepared to have to raise the ISO or support your camera on a stable surface. The metering system is OK, but scenes with expanses of sky do tend to underexpose, so take care. A key area where the Fuji lags well behind its rivals is with processing speed, which is very slow, especially when shooting in Raw + JPEG. Other than that, it’s not a bad package at all.

Verdict
The HS10 is one of the more expensive bridge cameras but is also as highly-specified as you can hope to find. It offers a fair range of features but it’s the 30x zoom that will appeal most to travel photographers. It's versatile but must be used with care as the risk of shake at longer focal lengths is a real concern. The 24mm wide-angle may also prove limiting to those who mainly shoot landscapes. Image quality doesn’t match the DSLR or hybrid but it’s very good and overall, the HS10 is a very good all-in-one package.
Handling & ease of use: 4/5     
Feature: 4/5
Performance: 3/5    
Value for Money: 3/5
Overall: 4.5/5