Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The big challenge for manufacturers when introducing a camera beneath an existing model is to give the new model appeal without wiping out the attraction of the original camera, and we think Fuji has done a remarkably good job with the X-T10. Its price is attractive, and significantly lower than the current street price of the X-T1, yet the overall build and feel of the new camera is very similar.
Apart from the price, the main differences between the X-T10 and the X-T1 are the lack of weatherproofing, the smaller electronic viewfinder and the loss of the sensitivity dial. As the traditional exposure controls are still present, along with many of the features of the X-T1 (not least the sensor and processing engines), there's still plenty to offer enthusiast photographers. Meanwhile novices get a bit more help, with a more obvious route to the drive modes and a fully automatic override switch that puts the camera in control of exposure, white balance and colour.
We liked
Although it doesn't have the weatherproof sealing of the X-T1, the X-T10 feels great in your hand and has all the most important controls within easy reach. As well as enabling quick adjustments to be made, the dials on the top plate enable you to check the setting at a glance without even turning the camera on. Novices will especially appreciate the switch that enables the camera to take control over the settings.
The new autofocus system is a significant improvement on what went before for anyone interested in shooting moving subjects. Helpfully, this is combined with an excellent electronic viewfinder that has a refresh rate that's high enough to allow fast moving subjects to be followed.
In addition to the useful and customisable Quick Menu that enables you to access and change settings quickly, many of the buttons on the camera can be customised to reach the features you use most often.
We disliked
There's a lot to like about the X-T10, but there are a few areas that could be improved. The sensitivity expansion settings and Advanced Filter options, for example, are JPEG-only. It's unusual to have ISO 200 as the lowest sensitivity setting for shooting raw files, and it would be nice to be able to apply bespoke noise reduction when processing high-expansion setting raw files. It would also be nice to be able to record a clean raw file when using the Advanced Filter effects.
A touchscreen, preferably a vari-angle unit to make it more useful when shooting upright images, would make the Quick menu even quicker to use.
Verdict
The X-T10 is a great camera for those wanting to get more serious about their photography, but it's also a good choice for more experienced photographers and those looking for a backup to their X-T1. Although it is a compromise on the X-T1, it doesn't feel like much of one, and it produces the same high-quality images. In addition, the autofocus system has taken a big step forward, making it much easier to shoot moving subjects.
