IN THE FIELD
AP’s Deputy Online Editor Jessica Miller took the Fujifilm X-S10 to New Zealand to find out whether it is the perfect upgrade for a DSLR user
Spectacular views, snow-topped mountain peaks, Christmas in the sun, quirky aunts, and incredible wildlife – New Zealand has much to offer, especially for photographers, regardless of genre. So, when I booked my month-long bucket list trip across the world for December 2022 with my other half and his family, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to try something new and leave my beloved Pentax K-70 behind.
Choosing my kit
As an avid DSLR user that in the near-to-distant future is looking to upgrade her kit, I really didn’t know where to start when looking. This is where AP’s buying guides and expert reviews came in to help me explore camera options and make a decision.
When I was searching for a camera the top things I considered were: if it was DSLR-user-friendly, compact in size, lighter than my Pentax, easy to use, and within a budget of around £1,000. I would call myself a fine art photographer, and usually my work incorporates street, landscape, and architecture – with my pinky toe dipping into wildlife and portrait photography occasionally. So, most of all, whatever I chose needed to be a good all-rounder. I wasn’t necessarily looking for a mirrorless camera. But given there are so many options out there now and I had an opportunity to try something completely different, then why not consider it?
I made my decision for what to borrow based on what I would genuinely look to buy myself in the future. After a few weeks of research, I settled with the Fujifilm X-S10. I also considered the Fujifilm X-T4, but given my mentioned requirements and the fact I only had a month to use the camera, the junior X-S10 seemed like a better way to go.
The reduced size and weight were a big bonus, especially when travelling around. It weighs a mere 465g (including battery and SD card), a whole 200g lighter than my Pentax body, taking the complete system with kit lens to less than a kilogram.
Not only that, but as a junior version of the X-T4 it also offers many of the top-level features and performance, such as the 26-megapixel image sensor, AF system and in-body stabilisation, in a smaller, entry-level body.
I also chose a selection of lenses that were near the equivalent o
