Fujifilm set up expectations for the week as one of its Canadian social media experts confirmed that leaks were real. The camera maker would “repair” leaks of the X10 on Thursday. It hasn’t so far publicly acknowledged the features of the camera, which will serve as a step down from the X100.
Recent unintentional brochure leaks (cached), however, have confirmed much of what the X10 will bring along with images. The camera won’t have the SLR-sized sensor of the X100 but will still have a two-thirds sized sensor much larger than on most compacts. The design will also be the first X series camera with zoom, getting a 4X, 28-112mm equivalent f2 lens with zoom control on the barrel.
Although not as advanced as the X100’s, the viewfinder on the X10 will be a real optical viewfinder that follows the camera zoom. Photographers will get light sensitivity up to ISO 3,200 at the full resolution (ISO 12,800 through combining pixels and lowering resolution) as well as full manual control and the same variety of bracketing modes as its more expensive counterpart. Fujifilm still plans its film simulation mode, continuous shooting, and “full HD” movies.
The smaller sensor and less elaborate eyepiece are all expected to contribute to a much lower price than the $1,200 X100, possibly dropping down to $599. The cost would put it above cameras like the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon P7100 but might give it an edge over Micro Four Thirds and Sony NEX cameras through the wider-aperture lens and more extensive controls.
