This is the story of how I acquired my new Fuji XF10 camera in 2024. It’s about the thought process behind my decision to get this camera, how I accidentally ended up with it, and a few initial impressions from messing around with it. I’ll probably create a short series experimenting with this camera, but for starters, here’s how it all began….
The Backstory
A couple of weeks ago, my sister got married, and for once, I didn’t have a camera to capture candid snapshots while being part of the groom’s party. Since we weren’t allowed to have our phones, it felt odd not to be able to take photos throughout the day. It left me feeling empty and had me wondering, I don’t necessarily have a light pocketable camera to take simple snapshots for the sake of capturing the moment. Furthermore, I realized that point-and-shoot cameras are no longer being marketed, as cell phones have taken over for convenient photo and video capture. Although I have a Sony ZV-1, it doesn’t satisfy my photographic feel. It’s excellent in terms of specs and it does an amazing job with vlogging and being a B or C camera but it doesn’t have the friendly feeling of taking photos. It felt soulless for a lack of words. At the same time, my old Fujifilm Tiara P&S has also started acting up, so while I figure out the solution to fixing that camera, it’s time to find the next reliable, everyday camera for capturing moments, with the idea of not having to lug around a bulky mirrorless camera.
FUJI XF10 | FUJINON 18.5mm f/2.8 Lens | ISO 400 – 1/1000s – f/2.8
The Search for the Right Compact
It’s been an interesting few weeks getting back into the camera market to see what’s available. Recently, I was searching for a small and portable lens for my Sony A7R III for short professional business trips, but now even considering a ‘new’ camera, surprises me as it wasn’t on the radar. Point-and-shoot cameras seemed to be advertised about 10 years ago, but now they’re almost obsolete. Most of the options I found during my research were used cameras. The bottom line though, what I wanted most was a camera that lets me capture moments quickly and easily, preserving memories to share or keep for myself in a light, low-profile format. It didn’t have to have high resolution, take razor-sharp images, or include cutting-edge technology, but something that seemed well-built and relatively reliable.
After watching countless YouTube videos, I was initially drawn to the Sony NEX lineup. They were affordable and met all the basic photography needs, plus I could use my new Zeiss 35mm lens. However, with some reflection, I realized they were going to be too large to fit into my pocket for those moments when I wanted something more discreet. I gravitated to the Ricoh GR model but the prices of those cameras were too much for the simple need that I want to fulfill. Then I discovered the Fujifilm XQ2 and XF1 point-and-shoot cameras. They ticked all the boxes for my daily needs: quick startup times, compact and pocketable design, built-in flash, a decent lens with film recipes to experiment with, and enough resolution to keep file sizes manageable.
There was some hesitation with the XF1 after seeing numerous reviews mentioning a common issue: the camera sometimes fails to take photos due to its unique on/off mechanism, which involves pulling out and twisting the lens. Over time, this design flaw can lead to internal breakage with some electrical wires (which can be fixed but I didn’t want to have another future project). The XQ2 and XQ1 seemed like more reliable options, but comparisons were often made with other models like the X10, X70, and XF10. Down the rabbit hole, I go…
The compact market inflation
Seeing how intrigued I was with the X10, X70, and XF10, the prices seem almost as much as the Ricoh GR models, realizing that during my research these cameras have gone up in price tremendously. I hadn’t realized that the hype around Fujifilm’s ‘flagship’ camera, the X100VI, was causing significant price increases across the board, due to high demand and lack of availability causing other ‘alternative’ used cameras to spike in price. Many of these used alternative cameras were selling for double or even triple their original MSRP, which is crazy! Ideally, I wanted to find a point-and-shoot for $200 or less, but to my surprise, the XQ2 averaged around $400, and the X70 ranged from $650 to $850. Even the last of Fuji’s compact cameras, the XF10, was going for the same used price as the X70. If I only had this problem 4 years ago, I could’ve found any of these cameras for an amazing price of $350 at most, if I was patient enough.
Ultimately, it came down to the Fujifilm X70 and XF10. Although I was close to settling on the XQ2, its price was too similar to these other models, which offer the added benefit of manual controls for future flexibility. The debate between these two models is contentious: the X70, though older, embodies the norm Fujifilm specs and design, with the primary argument focusing on the type of sensor (X-Trans) compared to the XF10’s Bayer sensor. Personally, it would be nice to use a sensor that has been the hype nowadays amongst photographers and content creators online but coming from a Sony system, editing raw files hasn’t been an issue and to have the flexibility to tweak whatever colors you like later is always beneficial.
FUJI XF10 | FUJINON 18.5mm f/2.8 Lens | ISO 200 – 1/680s – f/8
Accidentally winning a fuji xf10
While browsing for a camera deal on the used market, I came across a local auction featuring a like-new Fuji XF10. With only a few days left until the auction closed, the bid was still relatively low. Although I anticipated that the final price might exceed $600, I decided to place a bid of $500 for fun, even though the current bid was around $425.
I waited until the auction’s end, and to my surprise, my final highest bid of $487 won. I was shocked—not only because I got the camera for such a great price compared to what I had seen online but also because I hadn’t planned on spending that much for an everyday camera. Still, I was thrilled to have won.
The camera turned out to be practically new, having been used less than ten times and mostly sitting on a shelf. The seller mentioned they couldn’t get used to the camera’s controls and preferred using their Canon 90D instead. Being it was a local auction, the camera was delivered to my door within 2 business days.
FUJI XF10 | FUJINON 18.5mm f/2.8 Lens | ISO 400 – 1/1000s – f/2.8
What Did I Like About the Fuji XF10?
The internet is full of mixed reviews for every camera model, making it tough to choose the best one. The XF10, in particular, has a strong love/hate reputation. Critics often mention its poor autofocus, lack of a flip screen, a non-Fuji X-Trans sensor, no custom slots for film recipes (as well as no Acros Film Simulation), and sluggish performance. While these points may be valid in today’s standard of technology, it wasn’t so valid for my personal needs. Don’t get me wrong, critics strongly mentioned the AF is unusable but I would rather have the personal hands-on experience to judge it. Honestly, it seems like the reviews year by year have been more sensitive to the type of negatives with these cameras, and ‘instantly’ gives it a bad reputation from the get-go. It’s almost tough to gauge reviews based on things that are trending and making strong comparisons between the next best thing on the market. From what I’ve seen and read, I’m going to give this Fuji XF10 a shot, regardless of its drawbacks.
But having the XF10 for less than a week serves my everyday use thus far. What sets this compact camera apart is its 24.2MP APS-C sensor, being significantly larger than the typical compact camera sensor that is being offered today (micro 4/3s or 1″ size). Packed with the bigger sensor, it has a fixed prime lens (a focal length equivalent to 28mm in 35mm terms) and a f/2.8 aperture (which again can be a ‘drawback’ to photographers today). While the f/2.8 maximum aperture might not seem as dazzling as some other enthusiast compacts, it’s fairly standard for an APS-C model at this price point and still delivers excellent performance. Crazy enough after a few days of messing around with the Fuji XF10, it reminds me a lot of the Fuji Tiara P&S film camera that I’m trying to fix.
FUJI XF10 | FUJINON 18.5mm f/2.8 Lens | ISO 400 – 1/900s – f/3.2
XF10 Reminds Me of their Mini Film Point and Shoot: The Fuji Tiara
The XF10 brings to mind the classic Fujifilm Tiara point-and-shoot camera, which also featured a fixed 28mm lens and was beloved for its simplicity and quality. Just like the Tiara, the XF10 is designed for photographers who appreciate straightforward, high-quality photography without the bulk and complexity of larger systems. It cuts back a lot of its extra bells and whistles which the flagship X100 series will offer but honestly, those things aren’t necessarily needed for taking the everyday capture I want.
With its blend of modern sensor technology and the timeless appeal of a fixed prime lens, the XF10 feels like a perfect homage to the simplicity and excellence of the Tiara. You can enjoy the on-camera flash just like the good old days of flash photography and have the option of snap mode to get faster in focused shots. This was probably what I appreciate the most about the XF10: It is a step above the beloved Tiara with extra features, controls, and flexibility.
closing thoughts about the fuji xf10
It’s been several years since the pandemic, and during that time, I lost my passion for photography. My interest and motivation shifted to videography, driven by the demand for online video content and live streaming. Fast forward to the past few months, and I’m starting to get back into the rhythm of photography. I realized that one of the things I had been avoiding was taking photos daily and enjoying photography for what it is.
Rediscovering the joy of the craft and the memories it captures, rather than focusing solely on work and technicalities, has been refreshing. It seems like the trend is returning to the imperfections of picture-taking, which is something I truly appreciated growing up as a traditional film photographer. This camera may not meet today’s high standards, but its small form factor, impressive sensor, and user experience reminiscent of the film era make it perfect for filling that void.
Who knows? It might even become a fun camera for certain professional projects in the future, depending on the project and travel situations.