The X20's new sensor delivers much better photos than the X10.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Despite its advanced sensor technology, there's no getting around the fact that the sensor is small; as a result, the Fujifilm X20's photos generally look about the same as those of competing cameras from Canon and Nikon. JPEGs look okay to ISO 200, but when the noise reduction kicks in at ISO 400, artifacts become obvious.
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ISO 100 JPEG
The camera does produce nice detail at low ISO sensitivities.
(1/125 sec, f4, AWB, multi metering, ISO 100)
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Sharpness
While I occasionally think some of the images are oversharpened-looking, it does handle detail like this well.
(1/1900 sec, f4.5, AWB, multi metering, ISO 100)
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X20 vs. RX100
The RX100 delivers better results, in part due to its higher resolution. (Caveat: the shots have slightly different angles of view despite attempts to frame them both at 50mm equivalent.)
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ISO 200, raw vs. JPEG
Here you can see the difference in sharpness. I think the JPEG looks a little artificial, but the tradeoff is the stippling artifacts in the red on the left side. Still, the JPEGs are fine at ISO 200.
(1/125 sec, f4, AWB, multi metering, ISO 100)
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ISO 400 JPEG
There's a big increase in softness and noise between ISO 200 and ISO 400. Using raw helps maintain some sharpness, but the tradeoff is increased graininess.
(1/80 sec, f3.2, AWB, spot metering, ISO 400)
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ISO 800 JPEG
Part of the X20's problem is that its processing algorithms seem to treat all areas equally, so there's noise in all but the most blown-out areas. That said, I still obtained a print of another ISO 800 scene with no noticeable artifacts.
(1/125 sec, f2.5, AWB, spot metering, ISO 800)
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ISO 1600 JPEG
This is pretty typical for a camera in this class.
(1/60 sec, f2.8, AWB, spot metering, ISO 1600)
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ISO 3200
Despite all the artifacts in the out-of-focus areas, the text is surprisingly sharp.
(1/80 sec, f3.2, AWB, spot metering, ISO 3200)
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Color
The camera produces pleasing, reasonably accurate colors at its default settings.
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Film simulations
Here's a comparison of the three major film simulation settings. None of them quite got the right red, though. I really wish there were a neutral color setting.
(1/125 sec, f5.6, AWB, spot metering, ISO 100. -0.3 EV)
