Considering X-S10

Currently have a Sony rx100m5. That's not bad, but if I'm in a hurry, the fiddliy button/dial menu navigation is difficult, especially in the custom Fn menu. I also would like a larger sensor.

So I'm looking at the X-S10.I like the features, especially IBIS and the touchscreen Q menu.

I have some questions:

How is the navigation of menus with the joystick? Is it easy to push when you meant to tilt?

The 18-55 f 2.8-4 lens that often comes as a kit lens seems like a very good set of specs, at least compared to typical kit lenses from other brands (which are dark as heck). How is that lens, optically speaking?

Also, how high can the ISO go before things get contrasty and colors get blotchy? I know noise is easily fixed in post these days.

Any other comments are welcome.

bobnn wrote:

Currently have a Sony rx100m5. That's not bad, but if I'm in a hurry, the fiddliy button/dial menu navigation is difficult, especially in the custom Fn menu. I also would like a larger sensor.

So I'm looking at the X-S10.I like the features, especially IBIS and the touchscreen Q menu.

I have some questions:

How is the navigation of menus with the joystick? Is it easy to push when you meant to tilt?

Navigation is easy - it would be very hard to mix up tilt and push

The 18-55 f 2.8-4 lens that often comes as a kit lens seems like a very good set of specs, at least compared to typical kit lenses from other brands (which are dark as heck). How is that lens, optically speaking?

Also, how high can the ISO go before things get contrasty and colors get blotchy? I know noise is easily fixed in post these days.

For both of these you are better looking at the many reviews online.

Any other comments are welcome.

bobnn wrote:

So I'm looking at the X-S10.I like the features, especially IBIS and the touchscreen Q menu.

The camera is a joy to use. The results are phenomenal.

How is the navigation of menus with the joystick? Is it easy to push when you meant to tilt?

I've never thought about this. So it must mean that it has never been a problem for me.

The 18-55 f 2.8-4 lens that often comes as a kit lens seems like a very good set of specs, at least compared to typical kit lenses from other brands (which are dark as heck). How is that lens, optically speaking?

I also bought it with that kit lens. It is the lens I use the least. Not really something wrong and I have taken a lot of good photo's with it. I just prefer some other lenses more. The sigma 30 when I'm documenting life, the xc 50-230 when I'm hicking, the xf 100-400 when I'm after wildlife.

Those are preferences and preferences might change with more use in the future.

Also, how high can the ISO go before things get contrasty and colors get blotchy? I know noise is easily fixed in post these days.

Others will be able to comment beter on the numbers. But often I lower the noise reduction in a dark environment. Just so that the photo would give a vibe. I would need to experiment more with a higher noise reduction to answer this.

Any other comments are welcome.

It is a small camera with a very good grip. Even with the good grip, I added a smallrig bottom plate to make it a bit larger. It feels very durable. I bought mine at release and it is still in pristine condition and I use it a lot outside in the elements. I would buy it again.

The S10 gets good reviews. I've not used it, but if the menus are like my Fujis are/were you can easily drop the few things you use regularly into a my menu group. The X-S20 seems just round the corner, so you may find bargains if you hang on.

The 18-55 gets good reviews. I use the 16-55 but I spent a lot of time comparing good scientifc reviews and came to the conclusion the 18-55 (and now the 16-80) are not as good but are jolly nearly. I doubt you'll be disappointed. Actually it is difficult to be disappointed with most of the Fuji lenses.

Here is dear ofd Ken's set of high ISO images, but you could equally look at X-E4, X-T3 or 4 or X-Pro3 reviews as they will all be pretty much the same.

Hello.

bobnn wrote:

Currently have a Sony rx100m5. That's not bad, but if I'm in a hurry, the fiddliy button/dial menu navigation is difficult, especially in the custom Fn menu. I also would like a larger sensor.

So I'm looking at the X-S10.I like the features, especially IBIS and the touchscreen Q menu.

I have some questions:

How is the navigation of menus with the joystick? Is it easy to push when you meant to tilt?

I have no problem with it.

The 18-55 f 2.8-4 lens that often comes as a kit lens seems like a very good set of specs, at least compared to typical kit lenses from other brands (which are dark as heck). How is that lens, optically speaking?

I bought XS-10 with 15-45 which is not bad (if you can live with PZ), but  buying now I will choose18-55. Lens is also much cheaper as kit.

Also, how high can the ISO go before things get contrasty and colors get blotchy? I know noise is easily fixed in post these days.

I use 1600 ISO out of camera. Higher ISO (max. 6400) need postprocessing. Colors are very good at all settings IMHO.

Any other comments are welcome.

Interesting. I have small hands, but I couldn't get on with the X-S10. I found using the joystick for everything very uncomfortable and, with wide lenses, there wasn't much of a gap for my fingers.

I would suggest you need to try it before you purchase.

bobnn wrote:

Currently have a Sony rx100m5. That's not bad, but if I'm in a hurry, the fiddliy button/dial menu navigation is difficult, especially in the custom Fn menu. I also would like a larger sensor.

So I'm looking at the X-S10.I like the features, especially IBIS and the touchscreen Q menu.

The X-S10's IBIS is truly incredible, and it's not even the best Fuji has on offer. I've managed half-second shots handheld at wider angles (<30mm equiv.) and longer focal lengths (like 30-50mm equiv.) in the 1/5-1/3 range with a bit of luck and a couple tries. I personally never use the touch screen, but I also rarely use the LCD in general.

I have some questions:

How is the navigation of menus with the joystick? Is it easy to push when you meant to tilt?

Not really, no. I'm not sure if I've ever accidentally "clicked" when I've meant to tilt.

The 18-55 f 2.8-4 lens that often comes as a kit lens seems like a very good set of specs, at least compared to typical kit lenses from other brands (which are dark as heck). How is that lens, optically speaking?

For this, I can't speak - I purchased a kit that came with the 15-45 and 50-230. The 50-230 is incredible for the money, and the 15-45 is a good lens but I bounced off the power zoom pretty hard and replaced it with the 16-80. The 18-55 generally seems to be regarded as a lens with pretty extreme copy variance, where if you have a good one it's shockingly good for a kit lens but just as many, if not more, soft lenses are out there.

Also, how high can the ISO go before things get contrasty and colors get blotchy? I know noise is easily fixed in post these days.

Any other comments are welcome.

Personally, the X-S10 is my first "real" camera - before this I had a reasonably nice Panasonic point-and-shoot, but it never really felt like it was doing much more than I'd use my smartphone for besides slightly higher resolution and much better optical zoom. You already have a real camera, so you might not see as much of a difference, but the X-S10 made me like photography for more than just the "I was here" style vacation photos. I also find it extremely comfortable to hold - much moreso than the X-T5 or X-H2 even, and I'd say I have medium-large hands for someone born male. Those two make my hands sore even after just handling them in the store for a few minutes, while I'll happily shoot all day on my X-S10 without feeling any cramps. Do try it in a store if you can, though! The camera's physical handling is just as important as the actual imaging quality if you plan to actually hold it much.

The only things I wish is that it had a slightly better EVF and weather resistance. Maybe the rumored X-S20 will improve on it... either way, the X-S10 is incredible value for money in terms of how much camera you get for how little you're paying. Heck, it even has a built-in flash! No idea if it's any good, I've literally never used it, but hey, the "higher tier" models don't have one!

I had the original rx100 and get what you mean about the fiddly menus. My XS10 I can't remember the last time I went into the actual menus. I have the buttons on the back, the few there are, customised to what I need and then the Q menu is easy to access.

Ideal one handed camera, I have the 16-80 which gives me all the reach I need, the 18-55 f2.8-4 is a lovely lens. If mine had come with that then I would have no complaints.

Only 2 negatives for me, one of the dials is not customisable, it does the film presets which I don't use and the screen I would prefer the one from the XT4 but these are personal preferences.

Someone did mention the XS20 coming out soon, you can probably work out the specs the way that Fuji works. Just up to you if you need the camera now or happy to wait and see.

AlexBG wrote:

Only 2 negatives for me, one of the dials is not customisable, it does the film presets which I don't use and the screen I would prefer the one from the XT4 but these are personal preferences.

I no longer have an X-S10, but I'm guessing you are referring to the Fn dial, which defaults to Film Sims. That dial certainly can be customized to do many other things:

https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en-int/manual/x-s10/shortcuts/function_buttons/#function_dial