All this provides the HS10 that in many places with the S6500fd is also comparable. Here are a few key differences:
- Focal length of 24-720mm vs. 28-300mm (S6500fd)
- 10.3 megapixel resolution vs. 6.3 megapixels (S6500fd)
- SD / SDHC cards vs. xD cards (S6500fd)
For the other characteristics such as weight, dimensions, program modes, handling, batteries, etc., there is no or only slight differences.
After I tested intensively between a Canon SX20IS and this did not quite meet my requirements (see my review on Amazon), I ordered the Fuji HS10. Although not in stock, I had the camera within 1 week in hand. For my full praise to Amazon !!!
I have the HS10 undergo an intensive test and compared using identical motifs with my "old" and the S6500fd Canon SX20IS. When shipped firmware 1.00 or had been playing; the update to 1:01 was smooth.
Plus points:
+ Manual settings and automatic modes have nothing to be desired
+ Reasonable layout of the controls, (almost) everything you need direct access
+ Built-in flash highly efficient
+ Effective image stabilization
+ Very good and large display, but low resolution
+ High-quality processed, non-slip surface is, great in the hand, not a cheap plastic
+ Very compact dimensions despite Monster Zoom
+ Natural colors
+ In good (!) Light low shutter lag, fast and reliable focusing
+ Long battery life with standard NiMH batteries
+ Fantastic telephoto and macro shots
+ Very good image quality from 50mm focal length
+ Low noise even at high ISO values; useful to ISO800 (significantly better than S6500fd and SX20IS)
+ Gigantic zoom range while virtually no distortion (prima in architecture); slight vignetting only at high zoom
+ Very good quality of night shots, different night programs
Contraindications:
- The less light, the slower autofocus; In indoors until up to 3/4 sec for recording!
Partial remedy the continuous autofocus.
Full remedy only by switching to manual focus -> once focused touch of a button, then super-fast triggering
- The red-eye reduction can not be deactivated. This additional delay to the photo.
Remedy only by external flash
- Poor and vermatsche Picture detail at wide angle, especially in landscape green (trees, shrubs, grass) and in shadow areas
Partial remedy by adjusting the sharpness on HART
- Picture detail increases with low light decreases further
- Low frame rate times, especially with Raw and Raw + JPG
- No TTL external flash; small selection of suitable flash units, such as Metz Mecablitz 36 C-2
- External flash must be activated and deactivated in the menu
- Software included little use, except the Raw converter (despite functional limitations)
- Extremely long activation period for movies
In direct comparison with my Fujifilm S6500fd, the HS10 offers additional amenities, comfort and adjustment. But was offset by significant compromises in image quality in terms of picture detail and sharpness, especially in wide angle. Where branches are just at the HS10 at times recognizable trees with leafy greens, I can count the individual sheets in the S6500fd - and with the same settings (in fact identical, since 2x Fuji)! The HS10 photos just reach the level of my 8 year old Olympus C-40 Zoom 4 Mpixels! The recordings are not bad per se, but for good grades, it is not enough simply.
I fear that the camera lens at the wide angle simply reached its limits, because even from the raw data could be - at least by Fuji software - do not generate significantly better image details. If the firmware is not here, despite further optimization from the start at a loss, remains to be seen.
As Tati describes in his review, I had first thought only to incorrect settings and tried many, many manual variants. But it was no use; Although the results were partially better but never optimal. Shooting with automatic were rarely failed, but max. "only" good, probably because the ISO setting very quickly goes up. For better photos you have to deal at length with the HS10 and must not be afraid of manual settings.
My general conclusion to HS10:
The HS10 is a solidly built camera with great amenities, very good image quality from 50mm and top quality in macro photography. For this, a very good price / performance ratio. Some weakness can be with matching settings at least mitigate or deal - creativity.
Depending on the application of gravity results in a two-part evaluation:
For those who want to make PRIMARILY telephoto, macro, or architectural shots, I can fully recommend the camera. Even indoors succeed very well; small flaw here is the long shutter lag and the compelling red-eye flash. Here 5 points for the HS10.
Who as I photographed a lot in the wide-angle end, is in the countryside on the road, will take landscape or emphasis on fast camera response, will not be permanently happy with the HS10. Here are just 3 points.
Hence my overall score of 4 points. Depending on the application, the HS10 to recommend or not.
A real alternative to the HS10 is not known to me currently. DSLRs with similar lens equipment are expensive. A comparison of image quality because of the price difference would not be fair. BUT: The level of a 4-year-old bridge camera from the same house, but I would have expected. Most of the other (and good) Bridge cameras have no external hotshoe or other vulnerabilities and are therefore not interesting for me.
Ultimately, I have struggled through my HS10 returned again, so appeal to me the camera is still. But I will make no such setbacks in the image quality. Presumably's with me now but a DSLR as a supplement to my S6500fd.
A couple of my test photos - good and less good - I uploaded at the customer images.
