Fujifilm Finepix V10 Digital Camera First Thoughts

The new Fujifilm FinePix V10 is an ultra compact 5 megapixel point & shoot digita camera with a 3.4X optical zoom (38mm-130mm equiv) and a large 3.0 inch high-resolution (230,000 pixels) LCD screen.  Fuji claims the stylishly square little V10 substantially reduces image noise via the high efficiency Super CCD HR sensor and Fuji's proprietary Real Photo Technology (which automatically subtracts noise from captured images). 

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The folks who write digital camera reviews are always talking about image noise, but they rarely explain just what image noise is and why it's important.  Noise is comparable to the static (or snow) seen in weak broadcast TV signals. Noise degrades image quality by reducing sharpness and lowering contrast, especially in pictures shot at higher (ISO) sensitivities or in low/dim/indoor lighting.   

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For digital camera manufacturers the holy-grail in the digicam wars is a camera capable of capturing high resolution, noise free images, even at higher ISO settings.   The ongoing search for better ways to surpress/remove/manage noise is almost as important in digital camera product development/marketing as the continuing push for higher resolution (more megapixels).  Consumers benefit from all this research & development because cameras that consistently produce lower noise can capture more detail at higher ISO sensitivities.  Shooting at higher sensitivities, combined with faster shutter speeds, allows users to avoid the blurry images resulting from camera shake/subject movement and the low contrast, fuzzy, un-natural look of images shot in dim/low/indoor light.  Does Fuji's Real Photo Technology work?  Check back here in a few days for the complete Fujifilm Finepix V10 review.

Sample Images

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