Oops, I Bought A Fujifilm Camera
It's March, still early into the year, and not long since writing a very difficult ‘What’s In My Camera Bag 2024’ article. After being unhappy with last year's setup, 2024 brought some major (and very expensive) lens changes while staying within the Canon system.
Now, just a few short months later - and after much incessant research - I'm now the owner of a Fujifilm camera that could potentially make this year's setup do a complete 180.
So, how did this happen?
Last December I wandered into a camera shop while in Liverpool and was able to check out the much hyped Fujifilm X100v… which in my opinion felt terrible in the hands and looked somewhat cheap. I’m sure the silver finish didn’t help the latter - the black version certainly looks better - but I was still unimpressed.
Then something unexpected happened.
I saw a Fujifilm XT30 in Charcoal Grey, picked it up, and fell in love. The form factor, the dial placements, everything just spoke to me. I could immediately imagine myself enjoying street photography with an APS-C camera this small, especially coupled with the 27mm pancake lens. It was even pocketable with said lens - I checked (much to the store assistants’ horror).
The Decision
Upon returning home I fell into a Google black hole researching the XT30 and trying desperately to justify it having a place on my camera shelf. In the end I couldn’t. Although it has the same sensor size as my main camera (the Canon R7) but in a smaller and sexier body, it lacks the in-body image stabilisation and a fully articulating screen - both of which are pretty important for my style of photography. It was clear the XT30 couldn’t replace the R7 as my main street photography camera, and so it slipped into the category of ‘nice to have, but not needed’.
Fast forward a few months, and I stumbled across a Fujifilm camera online that I hadn’t seen before, the X-S10. Another similarly compact APS-C camera, but with in-body image stabilisation and a fully articulating screen!
Was this what I had been looking for?
For too long I have been dreaming of a satisfyingly compact camera with IBIS, a screen I can move, capable autofocus, 4K video and at least an APS-C sized sensor. As I’ve said in previous posts, it always seemed too much to ask for, and now here’s this lovely looking Fujifilm X-S10 telling me it ticks all the major boxes.
Again, I went through the lengthy process of research and justification only to find myself struggling to find reasons NOT to at least give it a chance. The decision was solidified when I put a very cheeky offer on an Ebay listing and to my surprise, the seller accepted it. So now, even if I decide the camera isn’t for me, I can sell it on and not lose anything. I’m ok with that.
I do, however, have some reservations with this camera going forward. The autofocus and general speed being the main points of concern. Modern Canon mirrorless cameras, for all their plasticky exterior, feel incredibly snappy and responsive to use. With my Canon R7, and even the RP, I never found myself waiting on the autofocus, buffer or menus - they always feel reliable.
Fujifilm on the other hand, is notably slower in these areas. I wouldn’t like to trust it for sports or wildlife, but I'm a street photographer 99% of the time, that’s my bread and butter, so it should be fast enough for my general needs in a smaller covert package that lends itself so well to street photography and I have been so desperately craving. A worthwhile trade off.
There is, of course, the newer X-S20 to mention. The successor to the X-S10 with speedier autofocus and other small improvements could be worth exploring if I feel like I’m missing shots, or as a future replacement if I fall in love with this line of cameras and my X-S10 dies. But for now, I feel like this one does enough.
So many camera reviews will tell you this or that camera is the best, and Canon mirrorless models often top them lists, but ask yourself what is best for YOU? What do you need from your camera? Learn to prioritise what features matter to you the most.
A Closer Look At The X-S10
People love Fujifilm cameras for their retro analogue looks and manual dials, and while that appeals to me too, the X-S10 is one of the only cameras in the Fujifilm line to stray from this approach.
Instead of a dedicated shutter speed dial on the top, there is a DSLR style PASM selector, and they have followed the typical DSLR design further by adding a generous hand grip.
Both of these design changes actually work in my favour, strengthening the cause for this particular camera. I change the shutter speeds on the fly quite a lot, so assigning the shutter speed to the quick dial on the back of the camera is both quicker and easier to do one handed. The hand grip also helps with one handed operation and general stability - especially helpful with my arthritic hands.
Another draw for Fujifilm cameras is their film simulations - allowing classic film and custom looks to be ‘baked’ into jpegs in-camera and therefore images don't necessarily need editing afterwards.
Although (much like the notable Jared Polin) I prefer to shoot RAW and have full control over my images, I can imagine some scenarios where I might want to shoot simple snapshots with a consistent look. A relaxing day out, where photography is not the priority, and the camera is a compact companion ready to document the day and can be shared or archived without the need to edit. It puts simplicity and fun back into photography.
Final Thoughts
There was some hesitation before buying this camera, mainly because I had just spent a sizable amount of money on new Canon lenses that I still have yet to test fully, and it seemed premature to be looking at different options already. I felt like I was setting myself up for a hefty dose of ‘buyers remorse’.
I quickly came to the realisation that if this truly is a much more enjoyable and suitable camera for me and my photography, then what is there to gain in forcing myself to wait? I might feel a bit foolish buying gear I potentially won't use or need, but I can sell them on again if needed. Surely it would be more foolish to make myself wait a year, forcing myself to use big expensive lenses that will degrade in condition and value, only to sell them for a bigger loss and still end up switching to this camera.
Let’s see how it goes!
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