Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd review

Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd Review

Reviewed by: Rich Trenholm

Reviewed on: 13 November 2007

Performance
The Z10fd is not at all fast. Without high speed shooting enabled, the Z10fd captured seven images in 10 seconds. High speed shooting managed much the same, the difference apparently being the camera speedily refocussed each time. The continuous mode is arthritic, managing only 0.5 frames per second over five minutes.

This crop from our test shot at maximum speed ISO 1,600 shows atrocious noise, as even plain white areas are pebbledashed with artefacts

The Z10fd's is a basic budget point-and-shoot. As such we didn't expect much from the pictures. The good news is that picture quality was reasonable. Colour was, appropriately enough, the high point. Saturation was vibrant and flesh tones were smoothly produced. This is fortunate as there is only two colour options -- standard and chrome -- neither of which seem to be very different.

At lower ISO speeds the images are reasonable, as in this crop at ISO 64, but watch for purple fringing

Noise rears its ugly head at the higher ISO speeds. Even in decent lighting, shadows and contrast areas are speckled with purple noise at ISO 800 and 1,600. The camera should really be kept at lower noise levels, ideally no more than ISO 400 for prints. It may well be unlikely that the Z10fd's target audience are unaware of the importance of ISO speed, but for 'disposable' online snapshots it probably isn't an issue.

Conclusion
The Fujifilm FinePix Z10fd stands and falls by its styling, and in a world of grey snappers its rainbow colouring and nu-rave marketing makes it stand out. It's an unremarkable camera, but if the choice is between the economy of models like the Pentax Optio E40 or the style of, say, the Canon Digital IXUS 75, the Z10fd strikes a compromise. A decent present for style-obsessed teens.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday