Hot Products
Fujifilm FinePix HS10 early review: Long-zooming thirtysomething
This Craver turned 30 at the weekend. Waking up with the sort of brain-melting hangover that 20-year-old tykes can't even conceive of, we discovered all our trainers had been replaced by sensible shoes and our T-shirts had metamorphosed into a selection of V-neck pullovers with lovely patterns. This put us in the perfect state of mind to take a first look at the Fujifilm FinePix HS10 camera, which is a superzoom -- the camera world's equivalent of a mid-life crisis. It's not a compact and it's not a dSLR, but it does boast a giant, 30x optical zoom.
The HS10 specialises in multi-tasking: taking multiple images and combining them in different ways. It shoots raw stills, and will capture raw and JPEG images simultaneously. You can fire off a blistering 10 frames per second at full resolution, or constantly record for as long as you hold down the shutter button, saving the last seven images before release, so you don't miss a piece of the action.
The camera stitches together multiple panorama shots -- captured in one sweeping movement of the camera -- multiple shots of a moving subject, or multiple bracketed shots at different ISO speeds for low-light situations.
We weren't able to get a good look at the results -- Fujifilm might have noticed had we whipped the HS10 off its stand at the Focus on Imaging show -- but we were impressed by the different multiple-image features. Each one took a few seconds to process, so you have to cross your fingers that you won't miss another shot while you're waiting.
High-definition video is recorded at a 1080i resolution, benefiting from stereo sound. The twist zoom barrel means you can zoom in and out while filming. A 1,000-frames-per-second super-fast mode is available at a lower resolution for slow-motion video.
The HS10 runs on AA batteries, which cuts down on charging but increases the amount of time you'll spend rifling through drawers looking for those spares that you just know are there somewhere.
Click 'Continue' for more photos of the HS10 in action, including that giant zoom at full stretch, and the price.
You might like these...
Post your comment
Make your comment count. Log in or register to skip the 'Are you human?' question and get an avatar
Twitter 
RSS Feeds 
Facebook 
Newsletters
Comments 13
Add your comment
anonymous 10 March, 2010 12:52
Where is this camera available now?
johnfrater 10 March, 2010 19:07
How long before we get a full review of the HS10 please?
anonymous 10 March, 2010 20:30
This is quite an offering. To get a DSLR to have the wide to long telephoto coverage of this system would unquestionably cost quite a bundle. If the quality of the image of a small sensor camera like this is acceptable enough to those who are looking at purchasing an entry level DSLR, this would be an attrative alternative. Although you cannot beat the (APS or fullframe) size of the sensors of DSLRs, the technology of today has narrowed the performance gap quite considerably. And, of course, if you are a purist and constricted by your belief that DSLRs are the only way to go, this may not be the right tool for you. But I think in view of the recent developments and improvements in image capture, processing and lens technologies, this new model would be hard to beat. This is a great camera, but my wish list for an improved version over this Fujifilm Finepix HS10 would be to keep most of the features, have a similar EVF-based camera with much higher resolution - i.e., 1 mbit(there is no need to keep the reflex mirror housing as the sensor can actually see what the lens is already seeing, which was the primary reason why the original SLR was invented in the first place), with the EXR technology applied on an APS-sized CMOS or BSI CMOS sensor to handle High Dynamic Range and low light situations, keep a permanent zoom lens with a similar range so there is no need for exposing the sensor to dust as there would be no longer any need to replace the lens, extend the f2.8 aperture all the way to the long end, include a fully articulating LCD monitor (not just rotating), make the body weather, shock and freeze proof (like the Pentax K7), add a digital level (a lot of people do not appreciate the significance of this) and add those Art filters similar to the Olympus E-30 camera and price it at no higher than $999. I think if Fuji does that, it will be able to take a good chunk of the Canikon DSLR market share and would seriously challenge the existence of the 4/3 offerings from Olympus and Panasonic.
Rich Trenholm 11 March, 2010 10:07
It's available to pre-order on the Web, and will be in shops shortly
anonymous 11 March, 2010 17:34
I am in the market for a bridge camera - having got fed up with on the one hand with carting DSLR plus multi lens whilst trekking or on the other making do with a compact. This new model sounds good but so far I have not been able to see any full hands on review that includes actual images taken with the camera. I will therefore resist the temptation to buy for just a bit longer having seen some of the actual results from previously hyped bridge cameras.
anonymous 15 March, 2010 02:46
The HS10 shoots 1080p, not 1080i.
anonymous 13 April, 2010 01:06
QVCuk.com have a good deal on fuji HS10.
anonymous 16 April, 2010 22:26
dose the uk/europien version record video at 25fps?
anonymous 24 April, 2010 07:17
Plz go to Flikr.com and see the pix captured by Fuji HS10.
anonymous 1 May, 2010 14:18
I've tried this camera & sadly the Image stabilisation is poor at the long zoom end, especially in low light video. I found it difficult to get consistent sharp photos. If youre buying this also download the new Fuji firmware HS10 update to help make pictures look more focused. Early testers complained about IQ so theyve had to bring in a firware update just after it was released
anonymous 10 May, 2010 19:05
The cons outweigh the pros (see http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Fujifilm-FinePix-HS10-13479#verdict) so I'm looking forward to something new and better than the FZ35/FZ38 by Panasonic
anonymous 8 June, 2010 19:22
I have been living with the HS10 for three weeks now and after the firmware update and some trial and error experimentation I would like to make some comments on the IQ. Up to ISO800 the close up and macro images are outstanding and compete favourably with my Nikon D40X. Where there is an issue is with the lens fully zoomed out to 24mm. There can be some smudging in dull light but this is not always the case. In landscape mode the image is slightly better. The zoom is extraordinary and images zoomed x30 are crisp so long as you have a reasonably steady hand. The stabilisation is very successful on the whole. This camera has been much maligned and once you know how to use it it will reward you handsomely. I love it. It is not as fool-proof as the Panasonic Fz28/38 but its zoom is far greater. Do not go fully wide-angle and everything will work for you.
anonymous 17 June, 2010 09:17
Thanks for that comment you have made my mind up and I am going out to see one today and get one. just a question is the macro good?